Jerry Goldberg named Person of the Year by the Brattleboro Area Chamber of Commerce

Every year the Brattleboro Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors discusses possible nominees for Person of the Year. They look for individuals who not only have achieved a level of success within their profession, but who continuously give back to the community, are actively involved, and who seek ways to better Brattleboro and the area.’
On Friday night at the annual Chamber Gala, the Brattleboro Area Chamber of Commerce surprised the retiring executive director Jerry Goldberg with the honor of Chamber Person of the Year.
Jerry Goldberg accepts the Chamber award.
In leading up to the surprise announcement, Stephanie Huestis, president of the board of the Brattleboro Area Chamber said, ‘This year’s recipient is one that I would call passionate’passionate about our small business community, our way of life, and those who live and work within our community.’ A dedicated individual who possesses a diverse background in marketing, public relations and communications.’’
She went on to say, ‘One could say our recipient is deeply involved, an individual who is recognized as an active player, a familiar face among our town volunteers.
This is just a sample of their community involvement ‘
‘·’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Board of Directors, BABB
‘·’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Board of Trustees, Brooks Memorial Library
‘·’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Board of Directors, Brattleboro Community Television
‘·’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Board of Trustees, Health Care Rehabilitation Services
‘·’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Vermont downtown Development Board
‘·’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Town Meeting Representative
‘·’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Advisory Committee, Brattleboro Film Festival
Goldberg was born in Brooklyn NY and raised in Rockville Centre NY.’ He arrived in Brattleboro VT after a 23-year career at CBS where he worked as a Vice President, in charge of putting the best public face on the corporation and on its television network.’ Once settled in town, he started seeking employment, quickly finding a home at SIT / World Learning, becoming Executive Director of Communications, then Senior Creative Director overseeing marketing, publications, and media relations.
In 2005, Goldberg joined The Brattleboro Area Chamber of Commerce as executive director.
One of his first lobbying efforts was to restore the ‘Brattleboro ‘ Next Three Exits’ sign to interstate 91; signage that provided visibility to all three important areas in town.
‘ In 2009 he founded the ‘Skills for Success ‘ scholarship fund that awards scholarships to area graduating seniors seeking further education in a technical or other individual skill area. To date over $15K has been awarded to more than 20 recipients.
‘ In 2010 he launched the successful ‘One and Only Brattleboro’ marketing campaign. The ‘TOOB’ logo, as it has become known, has appeared throughout the area and in national publications, as well in Times Square, New York.
He parlayed the USDA’s Rural Business Enterprise Grant awarded to BABB into a RBEG for the Chamber.’ They built the Chamber’s major publication ‘ The Area Profile, Guide and Member Director- into a standard setting piece that represents both Chamber and Greater Brattleboro community, state and nation ‘ wide.’
He worked with Chamber Executive Director colleagues along the southern tier ‘ Manchester and the Mountains, Bennington and Mount Snow Valley, and is currently engaged in the Southern Vermont branding and marketing efforts founded though a major grant secured by Windham Regional and SEVEDS.’ ‘
In making the award, Huestis said, ‘I have had the pleasure of working with Jerry Goldberg for the past eight years, and I consider him a good friend. I have learned so much and appreciate the support he provided to me while on the board and serving as President of the board the past three years.’ As we know Jerry will be retiring this year, and to us (the board) it was what we like to call a ‘no brainer’ to honor not only his years of service to this organization but also his investment in the Brattleboro area. ‘
The Brattleboro Area Chamber of Commerce announced its first Person of the Year in 1954 to recognize an individual who did something special that year or who had demonstrated a consistent course of contributions to the community.’ The first recipient was Harold Putnam.
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