Economic Alliance Chief Passes Away

Valley Economic Alliance President and CEO Bruce Ackerman died Aug. 26 after a long battle with cancer. He was 64. Serving in his Alliance post since 2000, Ackerman was credited with increasing the group’s revenues as well as its profile in the past several years. The Alliance was formed in part as the result of the 1994 Northridge Earthquake that devastated the Valley and Ackerman is credited with bringing the organization to the next level in ensuing years. A major presence within the business community of the Valley, Ackerman was well-known by many and a favorite go-to source for the media. Ackerman had more than 30 years of experience in leading chambers of commerce and economic development organizations. He was awarded the designation of Certified Chamber Executive “Executive of the Year” in 1988. In 2005, Ackerman was appointed by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to the Board of Commissioners for the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles, where he has served as chairman. At the time of the appointment, Ackerman was credited with increasing total revenues for the organization by 135 percent over a three-year period. He was also credited with increasing revenues for the San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership, the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce and the Van Nuys Chamber of Commerce in previous years. Among Ackerman’s strengths listed by the CRA are his revenue-enhancing, cost-controlling programs and his experience in creating private-public partnerships to boost economic development in communities. The economic development group leader also served as a faculty member for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Organization Management and taught courses for other organizations. Additionally, Ackerman authored and published The Management Bible, which focused on office organization, staff development and financial management.