Russell Berg
Class of 2013
Russell S. Berg was born on January 27, 1961, in New York, the son of Florence and Harry, and the brother of David, Michael and Cynthia.
He graduated from Westwood High School in Westwood, NJ, in 1979 and Rutgers University in 1983 with bachelor’s degrees in Business Administration and English.
That same year, Russell joined the brokerage founded in 1923 by his grandfather, Edward Berg, and nurtured by his father Harry and uncle Edward. He first worked as a Sales Representative covering the Metro NewYork-New Jersey territory. In 31 subsequent years with E.A. Berg Associates, he has been an Account Executive,Vice-President, and was named COO in 2011.
He married Pamela Rosenbaum in 1985, and they have three sons: Daniel, Adam and Ethan. Active in his community, Russell coached basketball and baseball for the River Vale, NJ, recreation program for 10 years.
He was elected president of the NewYork Candy Club in 1989, and that same year he was named NCWA Candy Ambassador and joined the NCWA Young Executives Group.
Russell serves on the NCSA board of directors and is a member of the AWMA, NACS and NARMS.
Supporting the industry, Russell says: “Industry associations are vital for networking and communication,” and he adds: “Opportunities to share insights and develop relationships are an important part of our company’s success.”
He advises industry newcomers:”Listen and learn from your customers. Stay current with trends in the industry and technology, but don’t forget the importance of personal relationships. Make sure you conduct yourself with mutuality of benefit for both the principal and the customer.”
Of his induction into the Candy Hall of Fame, Russell says: “It’s humbling to be recognized by my peers and it confirms that my hard work and dedication haven’t gone unnoticed by those I respect. It’s wonderful to be listed with both my father (1991) and uncle (1984) in the Candy Hall of Fame.”
Russell passed away May 17, 2018.