FEATURED MEMBER - MITCH BLUMBERG

We are very pleased to introduce you to Mitch Blumberg, one of our newest Board Members.  He is currently the Deputy Executive Director for DesertArc, a large non-profit serving 550+ developmentally disabled people in the Coachella Valley. DesertArc provides social services and employment opportunities for its clients, enhancing their quality of life by improving their self worth, human dignity and self-sufficiency.  Mitch is involved in marketing, development, fundraising activities as well as finance and administrative matters.

Prior to moving to the Desert area, he was Executive Vice President, head of Legal and Business Affairs for RKO Pictures, Inc. and President/CEO of Ardent Entertainment, a film production and talent management company.
 
He was the managing Director/Member of Board of Directors of a public Internet-Telematics company in Toronto (AirIQ, Inc.) listed on TSX, Advisory Board Member and served on Audit and Compensation Committees, and Managing Director/Member of Board of Directors of public Internet-Telecommunications company (eDispatch.com Wireless Data, Inc) .listed on TSX..  He served on Governance and Compensation Committees and merged eDispatch with AirIQ (see above).  He was also the President/CEO of a public Internet company (Suite101.com, Inc.), Member, Board of Directors, served on Governance, Audit and Compensation committees, plus Chairman, Advisory Board. Merged public company into new entity, GeoGlobal Resources, listed on AMEX, a gas exploration company operating off the coast of India.

His fundraising abilities were honed with the Houston Grand Opera, Houston, Texas, and the Wortham Theater, also in Houston. In Beverly Hills, he was Chairman/CEO and Co-Founder of the charitable Sunshine Foundation established to aid families with a child needing prosthetic eye care.  Many insurance companies do not recognize the need to cover prosthetic eye care (deeming it ‘cosmetic’), and many families cannot afford the $5,000 - $10,000 cost of eye prosthetics which must be changed every two years or so during childhood growth.  The Sunshine Foundation addresses this problem. 

Locally he has also served on Board of Trustees and as Treasurer of St. Margaret’s Episcopal School (Pre-K through 8th Grade, 180 students).  Participated in fundraising programs for school.  Served on the Board of Directors for the La Quinta Chamber of Commerce.  Attracted new major hospital and medical industry sponsors at the highest financial level for the Chamber and served on Legislative and Golf Cart Parade committees of Palm Desert Chamber of Commerce.

To read Mitch’s complete bio and resume, please go to his listing in the Membership Directory.