MATTHEW J. BRUDERMAN: LIVING A LEGACY. LOOKING TO TOMORROW

In the early weeks of 2022, Long Island native Matthew J. Bruderman was enjoying pancakes with his family at their Centre Island home when his son asked, “I wonder how they actually make maple syrup.” For Bruderman, that query sparked a curiosity that instantly became an all-hands-on-deck family project. He immediately bought a book online about the sugaring process, which led to tapping the maple trees on their Beachwood Farm property in Oyster Bay and finally producing their own syrup, which ultimately found its way to that same table.

Anyone who knows Bruderman wasn’t surprised by the way he tackled the challenge. He’s most comfortable when faced with a problem to solve or an opportunity to learn something new. Bruderman’s life has been one guided by his passion for living, intellectual curiosity and an industriousness borne from a family legacy whose philosophy, as he puts it, can be summed up in one word: work.

For Bruderman, life is about those ‘maple syrup moments.’ He sees every challenge as an opportunity to learn, and to succeed—but he isn’t discouraged by failure. “The key to a full life is to keep doing things that you’ve never done —to be bad at something and work to get better at it. That’s how you “live your best life,” as Bruderman says. He believes that has been a key to his success in business as well.

As the chairman of Bruderman and Co., a legacy financial services institution with its origins more than 120 years ago, Bruderman seems to deftly tread the line between past, present and future. He lives for today, while constantly drawing inspiration from his family’s rich history to propel him forward.

“After 45 years in business I needed someone I could trust to sell my business. Matt is a dynamic businessperson, good listener with great integrity,” remarked John King, JKings Foodservice.

He may be at the helm of a family company that had its inception in 1879, but Bruderman is quick to point out that he didn’t inherit his wealth. “I was a busboy, and a waiter. I had my first Pennysaver route in second grade. I parked cars and carried golf clubs. I was expected to work, there were no hand outs.” He recalls at one point having to start his car with a screwdriver because he didn’t have the money to get the ignition fixed.

“What I did inherit was my good name, good guidance and the opportunity to work to succeed…the value and the importance of treating people with both respect and honesty. I was taught to never see people as better or worse because of money or anything else. We were all equal.” He also inherited a sense of vision that goes back generations, from his relatives that came here in the 1620’s, fought in the Revolutionary War and established the town of Southampton, NY, to the family’s early entrepreneurs.

“Innovation is the key to success,” he says. “It’s about taking the best of what you’ve learned and being willing to pivot when necessary. Don’t see things as how they are, but rather how they can be.” He brings that approach to everything including his passion for redesigning cars, homes, buildings and even planes. “It’s all about figuring out how to design something for its best use,” he says.

Bruderman has been an executive or majority shareholder in dozens of large companies, but that doesn’t mean he’s tethered to a desk. An avid sportsman, Bruderman spends more time outside than in. Starting his day going for a run, wake surfing, hunting or fishing helps him clear his mind and set his mood for the balance of the day. He’s been known to invite business associates to share in his activities before getting down to work.

“I’ve known a lot of investors through the years and Matt has a creative mind that others simply don’t. It’s one thing to understand numbers and how business works, it’s another to think out-of-the-box and visualize the potential — creativity is in his DNA,” says Stallion, Inc CEO and longtime friend and frequent business associate John Georgiades.

Celebrity designer Dennis Basso, a long-time Bruderman friend, observes that “Matt moves seamlessly between situations like few people I know. Sit him next to a royal at dinner, put him in a duck blind in a swamp or in a boardroom with the most cutthroat negotiators and he’s always in his element. With his clean-cut good looks and charming personality, he defines the ‘modern but old-school’ businessman. Knowing him for so many years, it has been an amazing journey both socially and in business. He clearly has that ‘special something.’”

On the surface, Matthew Bruderman is a man who is at the top of his game. The committed family man is a successful businessman, advisor, entrepreneur and, more recently, a media presence as well. But you get the sense that he is neither enamored nor comfortable with it all. For him to live his family legacy, he strives to help others enjoy life as much as he does.

“I’m living my best life and I want to show you how to do it, too. You only get one turn,” he jokes.

Charitable work and philanthropy have been part of Bruderman’s family fabric since he was a child. For generations, his family has quietly devoted both time and resources to charitable work. “We’ve done it because it’s the right thing to do—not for tax purposes, not to draw attention to ourselves. We do this work because when you go to bed at night, you know you’ve helped someone. Nothing feels better. ”

“Matt is a creative businessman with a huge heart. We do many deals together, and he is always looking for ways to help under-resourced communities. I truly admire his passion – both as a businessman and a philanthropist,” commented James Metzger, Chairman and CEO of The Whitmore Agency.

As children, Bruderman and his siblings would often join his grandfather to distribute food to those in need. “He wanted us to see that even basic food and shelter was a challenge for some people every day. He felt it was really important to commit our time and not just our money. Helping isn’t just writing a check. It’s very easy to write a check, especially when you have the money. What’s harder – and even more charitable—is giving up your personal time. It’s a greater sacrifice, but also a greater gift. Both are important for the soul.“

Today, that sense of purpose instilled in childhood fuels Bruderman’s commitment to others. He serves as a trustee for several not-for-profit institutions and has provided legal, accounting, and strategic planning support to help other organizations amplify their positive impact on their communities.

Bruderman says he’s just getting warmed up. “I see significant societal challenges wherever I go, and I have a very definite idea of how I can best leverage my experience and relationships to help others succeed. I see addressing those challenges as being more pressing now than ever.”

While he’s coy about his future plan to take his philanthropic work to the next level, in typical fashion Bruderman clearly has an ambitious one in mind.

“I think all people should have opportunity. I was blessed with it: I was given a good name, a good family in the right place and in the right country. I learned early on that entitlements were bad and gratitude was great. If someone is willing to work, I want to help them achieve their potential. I was taught that I was entitled to nothing — I had to work for what I wanted.”

“You can’t give someone self-worth,” he continues. “They can only earn it. That sense of accomplishment is the greatest gift you can give.. It leads to a powerful confidence that creates greater personal and professional success.”

As Bruderman plots his next big moves, he relishes dropping his kids off at school in board shorts, running his businesses at top speed in between quick wakeboard breaks and hosting friends for hunting trips.

The excitement of the next ‘maple syrup moment’ or NYC Marathon propels him forward.  “Life to me right now is totally exciting because I’m looking at the next new chapter. I’m incredibly grateful for the life I have. Like those who came before me, with faith and hard work I believe anything is possible.”