President and CEO, Economic Alliance of the San Fernando Valley
"Organizations like the Economic Alliance are the only true ‘guardians’ of our regional economies. We use all of the economic development resources we can assemble in order to build tomorrow's communities today."
Address: Economic Alliance of the San Fernando Valley
5121 Van Nuys Boulevard - Suite 200
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
Phone: 818-379-7000
Fax: 818-379-7077
E-mail: backerman@valleyofthestars.org
Website: www.economicalliance.org
Prior to taking over the leadership and management of the Economic Alliance of the San Fernando Valley, Bruce Ackerman was in charge of the San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership. His career also includes over 20 years of service as the Chief Executive Officer for Chambers of Commerce in the communities of Brawley, San Fernando, Van Nuys and Pasadena. He has extensive experience and background in the community economic development field, specializing in the creation of “private-public partnerships” between local or regional government municipalities and privately sponsored business groups.
As the President and CEO for the Economic Alliance, he is in charge of one of the most effective regional economic development corporations in Southern California. He directs their efforts in the development and implementation of programs focused on regional marketing, business retention, growth and recruitment, and education reform. Ackerman is credited with reviving the San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership, and helping create an image and identity campaign for that region. While at the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce, he helped organize the “Old Pasadena Business & Improvement Association” and assisted with the development and implementation of the highly successful Business Improvement District in Old Pasadena.
His community and professional service has included serving as Chair of the Stanford University Institute Board of Regents for the U.S. Chamber, on the Board of Directors of the American Chamber of Commerce Executives Association, and on the Board of Directors of the California Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives. He is currently Chairman of the Board of Trustees of West Hills Hospital & Medical Center, is on the Executive Board of the California Association for Local Economic Development (CALED), and is a member of the Van Nuys Airport Citizens Advisory Council. He is also on the Boards of Directors of New Directions for Youth, the Fernando Awards Association, Valley Industry and Commerce Association, and is Vice Chair of the Los Angeles City Workforce Investment Board (WIB).
Ackerman holds the highest professional designation that can be attained by a chamber of commerce executive - that of “Certified Chamber Executive.” He is a graduate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute Program, and the U.S. Chamber’s prestigious Academy of Organization Management at the University of Notre Dame.