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Bernard Strengthens University Ties with Malibu as Chamber Board President

Heidi Bernard, director of the Crest Associates at Pepperdine University, will be installed as president of the Malibu Chamber Board of Directors on January 27, broadening her role as a uniting force between the University and the neighboring Malibu community.

"It is an honor to be chosen to serve the business community as the president of the Malibu Chamber Board," says Bernard, who has been active with the Chamber Board since 2006. She has directed the Crest Associates, an organization of community supporters, for the last 22 years.

As a nonprofit business located in Malibu, Pepperdine University has been a member and active contributor to the Malibu Chamber of Commerce since the early 80s. Lou Drobnick, vice chancellor, also served as Chamber president in 1995. Other Pepperdine staff members sit on the various environmental and governmental committees that the Chamber directs. Pepperdine also offers resources to local business owners through programs such as E2B – Education to Business, which connects the needs of MBA students to that of the business community; service learning projects; and Seaver College Business and Communication division research projects.

"I think Pepperdine's involvement with the Malibu community is of the upmost importance, and it has been my privilege through my role as the director of the Pepperdine Crest Associates program to help facilitate that relationship," Bernard says. "We appreciate all the support we receive from our Malibu neighbors at our sporting, theatre, art, and educational events. In turn, the University gives back through our Student Volunteer Center, as a resource partner in times of disasters, free athletic clinics to local children, free children's art clinics, free educational lectures, and a yearly community reception sponsored by the Crest Advisory Board."

In addition, both Pepperdine students and Malibu businesses and residents benefit from the employment opportunities that are created through the University's relationship with the community. "At the Career Center, we maintain really close ties with the community," says Kimberly Hogan, director of student employment. "On average, we have 125 jobs posted a month on our Web site, Career Space, where local employers can post job opportunities for students for free. It's a great forum."

Nancy Shatzer, internship coordinator, notes that Pepperdine students have been interns at businesses including Malibu Times newspaper and magazine, SD Films, Malibu Association of Realtors, and Jakks Pacific, a toy company. "We get calls from businesses in town all the time," Shatzer says. "We've even had an intern at the Malibu Chamber of Commerce."

As president of the Chamber, Bernard says she hopes to continue to bring new energy  during these difficult economic times. "My goals are to support a strong local economy by connecting business-to-business support and networking and encourage residents to select Malibu businesses as their shopping destinations," she says.

Building upon the existing bond between the University and the community is also a priority, she says. "I will continually seek new ways in which our students, faculty, and staff can add to the business community and to the Malibu experience."

For more information on the Pepperdine's role in the community, visit the Malibu Chamber of Commerce Web site.