Staci Bertrand

Story By: Beth Herbert

Ever since giving her life to God when she was 17, Staci Bertrand has believed that every life experience has a purpose; though it has not always been easy, she has stuck by this belief and encourages us to never turn our backs on God. From a young age, Bertrand was able to recognize the value of self-care. She grew up with a single mother who experienced her own tragedies throughout her childhood and adult life, but she taught Bertrand how to be hardworking, sacrificial and have a solid understanding of who she is. With these lessons, combined with a plethora of support from her friends and family, Bertrand has been able to propel and become the successful woman she is today.

Bertrand started her career at the University of Florida where she earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in education. Both she and her husband had been educators for a few years before deciding that they wanted to impact more students, not just the ones in their classrooms. They chose to leave their respective schools and open an educational company, which allowed them to increase their educational territory; in the 5-year span that they owned this company, they were able to serve over 700 children and their families. Though their company was incredibly successful, Bertrand still did not feel empowered in the world of education and felt that there was not room for career advancement; she decided to enroll in online courses to earn her MBA at Florida International University. Her newly attained business degree, as well as a specific course she enrolled in at the career center — the Art of Negotiation — helped empower her further and skyrocket her career. They sold their educational company and, in 2012, Bertrand began working for the Gainesville Chamber of Commerce, and is still with them today.

With her career right where she wanted it, Staci Bertrand was living a great life and had not faced many hardships, but on December 11th, 2019, everything in her world changed. Tragedy struck, and her husband suffered a head injury that took his life three days later. This unexpected incident was a major shock to her and her loved ones, but they never turned their backs on God. By the time of her husband’s accident, Bertrand had been following God for over 20 years, and it was time for her to practice what she had been preaching: God has a plan for all of us and everything happens for a reason. She was fortunate to have such a wonderful support system and, with the 2020 pandemic, she was able to work from home; this gave her time to spend with her family, seek counseling and process the passing of her husband. This event, combined with her other life experiences, caused her to realize that life is a journey, and there is no clear cut path. She believes that when life throws you curveballs, you must adapt with them, never give up, and keep God central.

Today, Bertrand is the Vice President (VP) of Economic Development for the Chamber of Commerce, which allows her to grow businesses, improve and diversify the economy, and create job opportunities for the community. She and her husband recognized the many disparities in the Gainesville area, and their goal with their educational company was to break the cycle of poverty that has existed in Florida — and the nation — for decades. With her current role as VP, she has been able to continue her husband’s legacy by accomplishing these goals, serving thousands of children and their families in low socioeconomic areas as her career has developed this past year. She believes that, though life can be unpredictable and we cannot plan for sudden tragedies —like the passing of a loved one — it is important to create goals and a plan for your life. She encourages others to serve their community and share their goals with others; spend time with their children, talk to them about their goals and be there to mentor them. We all face hardships in life, but there are always people in the world who will help encourage young professionals to be successful, and will help show them the best routes to achieve their goals. Staci Bertrand continues to be a pillar in her community as she encourages us to hold strong to our beliefs and never give up, even when it seems impossible.