Brooklyn's Progress
August/September 2007

BY LETICIA THEODORE-GREENE

These days, Carl Hum is immersed in business – the business of transitioning out of city government and into his new role as the president of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce. For this Brooklynite, his new role is a chance to keep his personal commitment to creating a better Brooklyn by building on some of the advances the borough has made.

Perhaps most notable about Mr. Hum is not his pleasant demeanor and ready smile or the knitted brow and nod as he sits through a staff meeting, but the fact that he listens intently and asks the thoughtful questions that let you know he is hearing what is being said by Chamber Members, staff and board members.
 
“My first 100 days will be marked by listening and working to figure out where we can improve. In addition to actively listening,” said Mr. Hum, “I want to test the waters on what other initiatives we should be looking toward as an organization.”

In fact, Mr. Hum says the Chamber’s greatest potential lies in its membership and its ability to drive economic development. From the organization’s 1,500 Members to its noted initiatives like BKLYN DESIGNS™, Brooklyn Eats, Brooklyn Goes Global and the Building Brooklyn Awards, the Chamber has found innovative ways to meet the needs of its Members and support the larger Brooklyn business community. The Chamber has participated in the development and discussion of major economic development issues in the borough, from piloting workforce development projects and providing health insurance to small businesses to zoning, as well as the development of Atlantic Yards.

“The Brooklyn Chamber needs to be at the table and ahead of the curve regarding land deals. We have to work in partnership with other economic development organizations,” said Mr. Hum. “A lot of rezoning efforts came out of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce and it makes sense that the work of past presidents like Robert Bailey and Kenneth Adams gets realized.”

Mr. Hum’s perspective is not just a product of being raised in Sunset Park. He has spent most of his adult life in the borough – he currently lives in Crown Heights – and has worked in nearly all branches of New York City government from the Manhattan District Attorney’s office, City Council and the Department of Small Business Services (SBS), where he was appointed the first director of the Mayor’s Office of Industrial and Manufacturing Businesses. A stint at the South Brooklyn Local Development Corporation as director of economic development, where he spearheaded an employment program to link local residents with jobs in Red Hook’s industrial business community, gave him a taste of local economic development prior to his work with SBS. With these experiences under his belt, along with the Chamber’s history, Mr. Hum says Brooklyn’s diversity in both business and community scream for the Chamber to be a leader in economic development.

Finding What Works
Mr. Hum’s key phrase and what he considers the trademark of a competent leader is the ability to listen. He says as president and CEO, he is eager to meet with the Chamber’s Board members, energetic Chamber staff, its important sister economic development organizations and other vital borough stakeholders to understand their points of view. In fact, this is what he has spent the past month doing from attending staff meetings and Chamber events to having ongoing meetings with the Chamber leadership. He says he is intent on finding out from all stakeholders what at the Chamber “…works, does not work and should be working.” 

“What I want to do is improve the product of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce,” he said emphatically. “I want to create a brand identity that people will be proud of and desire to be associated with.”

And, he insisted, that should be so for all Brooklynites – particularly those who stuck with the borough through some of its darker days.

“While we all know that Brooklyn is experiencing a renaissance, it shouldn’t surprise anyone that Brooklyn has seen some lean times, as did the rest of New York City. Yet, in true Brooklyn fashion, folks stuck it out, put their noses to the grindstone and worked hard to make Brooklyn what it is today,” stated Mr. Hum. “As Chamber President, and more importantly as a Brooklynite, I want to make sure that as Brooklyn’s tide rises, all boats are lifted.” 

It is clear as you look at Mr. Hum that he is excited and his brain is alight with thoughts and questions. With eyes dancing he said, “I am excited and honored to be leading the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce as it enters its tenth decade of service and leadership to the borough’s businesses. Thanks to the great work of the Chamber’s membership and staff, the Chamber is well-positioned to continue to lead the Brooklyn business community into the 21st century as the borough grows in leaps and bounds.”