AFP San Diego December 2018 Luncheon
Speaker: Trudy Bronner, Dr. Bronner's
Trudy Bronner is Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Dr. Bronner’s, the top-selling brand of natural soaps in North America. She is the mother of David, Michael, and Lisa Bronner. Together, the Bronner family continues to run the 70-year-old, Vista, CA-based, personal care company.
Trudy has served as CFO of Dr. Bronner’s since 1993. Upon the death of her father-in-law and company founder, Emanuel Bronner, in 1998, Trudy guided the company onto firm financial footing by coordinating the payment of $2.5 million in inheritance taxes. Since that time, she has steered the company through significant financial growth, from generating $4 million in annual revenue in 1998 to over $111 million in 2017.
Trudy’s life is anchored by deep love and care for her family, dedication to the community, especially through support of youth programs, and a committed work ethic in all her endeavors. After graduating college with a degree in mathematics, Trudy was a Junior High math teacher for eight years before retiring to focus on raising her three children. Together with her late husband Jim, they raised their family in her hometown of Glendale, CA. While a stay-at-home mom, she served two terms as PTA President; as Cub Scout den leader; and assisted all youth sports teams on which her children played. In those years she was a member of the Glendale Philharmonic Committee in support of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. During this time she honed her skills in serving the broader community, an experience she now applies in her philanthropy work on behalf of Dr. Bronner’s.
Within her role as CFO, Trudy oversees the management of the Dr. Bronner’s Family Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation funded by the profits of Dr. Bronner’s. She has facilitated over $2 million in donations since 2002 to local community and youth-focused organizations, including Boys & Girls Club of Greater San Diego, San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum, and Palomar YMCA, Boys to Men Mentoring Group, the AjA Project, Fraternity House, and TERI.
In her limited but treasured free time, Trudy enjoys spending time with her six grandchildren, playing Mah-Jongg, and is an avid reader.