Photo Courtesy Bridget BrandtGreater Leander Chamber of Commerce incoming president
Bridget Brandt's experience with small businesses began at a young age. She opened her own dance studio in La Grange when she was 13, and, after studying at University of Texas while selling real estate, she worked as director of membership development at the Kerrville Chamber of Commerce until March 2001.
During the past dozen years, Brandt has worked in finance, marketing and technology, including a stint in the nonprofit sector. She also earned a master's of business administration from Texas State University. A resident of Cedar Park, in 2010 Brandt co-founded Support Behind the Badge, a nonprofit designed to unite the families of Cedar Park police officers and enhance the department's image in the community. Brandt is married to a Cedar Park police officer and has two young children in Leander ISD schools.
In April, she returns to her first passion, small business, as president and CEO of the Greater Leander Chamber of Commerce, where she plans to connect and grow the organization's membership base. Brandt replaces Mary Bradshaw, who left the position in December.
What aspects of your previous work experience can you apply to this new job?
I've had a lot of great experience that works closely and resonates with the community's goals. I worked at a chamber of commerce for three years, and when I left the chamber, I went into banking and finance. So I did marketing and was on the executive committee for a credit union for six years. Then I went into technology. I've worked at this nonprofit technology company for about six years, and so with that role I have been able to do a ton of nonprofit consulting, membership consulting and membership development programs all over Central Texas. As a result of that, I wanted to get into a true nonprofit and membership management, and, rather than telling people how to do it, I wanted to actually do the work myself.
