As Director of Crest Associates and President-elect of the Malibu Chamber of Commerce Heidi Bernard works to embody Pepperdine’s motto by living a life of purpose service and leadership.
Starting as a student worker in the Crest Associates office her senior year at Pepperdine Bernard has worked her way up the ladder by striving to connect Malibu and Pepperdine interests. Bernard will be installed as the next president of the board of directors for the Malibu Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday at the 2009 Malibu Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and Member Appreciation Dinner. The dinner will be held at the Beachcomber Café on the Malibu Pier at 6 p.m.
Attendees for the special occasion include such prominent chamber members as Barbara Calandra of Malibu Times Newspaper Roger Gronwald of HRL Laboratories and Ed Gillespie of Malibu Yacht Sales.
The CEO of the chamber Rebekah Evans said she looks forward to the year ahead and the chance to engage the Pepperdine community in more Malibu affairs.
“[Bernard’s] background in encouraging people to work with and work for Pepperdine is [going to be] brought to the table she said.
This year’s theme for the Chamber of Commerce is Malibu: A Valuable Destination.” “Whether you live there work there have a business there go to school there; it’s a valuable place to be Evans said.
As president, Bernard aims to encourage businesses to support each other and Malibu citizens to shop locally. She also plans to strengthen the chamber by getting more Malibu residents involved in the committees.
Bernard sees her new role in the Malibu Chamber of Commerce as an extension of her job at Crest Associates. In both roles she works to foster business growth and relationships.
Many students have never heard of Pepperdine Crest Associates, which gives scholarships and supports academic programs and resources.
Most people ask me where the name came from and I have no idea Bernard said. It’s not an acronym or anything but I tell them it’s like the crest of a wave. I don’t know – it’s better than toothpaste!”
Anyone interested in donating funds to Pepperdine can join the Crest Associates program by making a minimum tax-deductible donation of $1000 and may pay an optional fee for use of the athletic facilities and the library.
The donations are used for scholarships and the optional fees for the use of campus facilities are used to maintain those facilities.
Bernard said having access to campus facilities encourages more donors to become involved. They are invited to attend athletic games and theatrical performances and to join athletic boosters. The 2009 Malibu Chamber Board of Directors and Member Appreciation Dinner will honor the supporters of the chamber’s goals introduce new members of the chamber and install Bernard as president of the board of directors.
For more information visit http://www.malibu.org/calendarof_list.php?id=32 or call the chamber at (310) 456-9025.