Herbert Liberman ’61 has spent a lifetime chasing possibilities and turning bold ideas into successful ventures across education, business, nonprofit and beyond.
Herbert Liberman ’61
Herbert Liberman ’61
An entrepreneur, educator, risk-taker and self-described “Type A personality,” Herbert Liberman’s leadership and strategic abilities have been in demand by an array of enterprises for decades. Liberman’s skills in teaching, negotiating and governance reflect a rare combination of ingenuity, versatility and managerial prowess. With the confidence to embrace new challenges and the courage to seize fresh opportunities, he consistently rises to leadership—whether in schools, corporations, nonprofit foundations or startups.
You can be a hard-nosed business person, but you have to be a compassionate business person.”
From Brooklyn to Adelphi
A native of Brooklyn, New York, Liberman was never one to sit still, working several jobs while attending Adelphi University in the late 1950s. He recalls with laughter favorite campus memories, including setting up movie screenings for nursing students, a performance by Louis Armstrong, lectures by the brilliant Professor of History Chester Barrows, PhD, a broken nose in intramural football and an accidental stumble into a figure drawing class featuring a nude model.
A Foundation in Education and Leadership
After earning an undergraduate degree in history and education, Liberman began teaching high school social studies and rose swiftly through the ranks of New York state public schools. Liberman found a passion for both the instructional and advocacy elements of the education profession. During his second year on the job, his strong negotiation skills were recognized, and he was elected president of the teachers’ union. Before long, he moved into leadership roles on the Board of Cooperative Educational Services of Northern Westchester and was named superintendent of the Livingston Manor Central School District.
His confidence to take risks led to other exciting professional opportunities, so he transitioned to a management career in automotive manufacturing. Despite knowing “nothing about manufacturing,” Liberman was confident in his management and leadership skills. He explains, “It didn’t take me long to learn the manufacturing part of it.”
Embracing Technology and Online Learning
Merging his unique talents in teaching, learning and managing people, Liberman was far ahead of his time, training computer programmers and pioneering online management and business classes in the 1990s. A quick study, he moved up to the administration of an online educational company, where, he says, “most of my training was on the job.” His adaptable nature led to notable achievements across sectors as varied as technology, agriculture, human resources and business development.
Liberman’s energy, curiosity and strategic thinking still keep him busy, and one of his favorite pastimes is to “peruse the newspapers’ classified sections.” He admits, “I am always scanning for new opportunities.” He has also opened doors to others. “I try to pay it forward,” he says, including offering second chances, like hiring and upskilling parolees and those living in shelters. “Small acts can change the world,” he believes, noting this is a principle he has lived by for decades.
Empowering People, Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses
His entrepreneurial and adventurous spirit is matched by his care and concern for the community. Liberman cultivates deep roots wherever he lives. After moving to California’s Wine Country, he worked as an economic development coordinator to put his small city of Healdsburg on the map, driving a prosperity that is still enjoyed today. A longtime advocate and strategist for small businesses, he continues to consult for the federally funded Small Business Development Center and enjoys advising new entrepreneurs on the lessons he has learned along the way.
Giving Back Through Mentorship and Advocacy
All of his adventures and achievements culminate in his core principle: “You have to give back.” His negotiating and strategic abilities have formed his philosophy that “you can be a hard-nosed business person, but you have to be a compassionate business person.” He and his wife founded the One at a Time Foundation, which helps train mentors for people in shelters who want to turn their lives around. Leading support groups for the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America holds a special place in his heart, as does his work with SCORE (Senior Corps of Retired Executives) and his local Rotary Club, where he coordinates international trips.
Liberman and his wife share five adult children and currently reside in San Diego, although their interests in the coffee and nut businesses, as well as nonprofit activities, take them far afield, from Central America to Africa. An inspiration to learn Spanish for a trip to Costa Rica ended in typical Liberman fashion, with yet another new business venture—this time, a partnership with local educators to build a Spanish language immersion school, which has enjoyed decades of success.
Legacy of Leadership, Learning and Compassion
With a life full of opportunities and a legacy of tremendous achievement, Liberman says, “my greatest joy is helping people,” and his greatest challenge is “finding the balance between life and work.” A plaque in his office reads “Never Grow Up,” and although he is passionate about teaching, sharing wisdom acquired over a lifetime of diverse work experiences, he is also still very much a student—curious to learn, eager to grow and committed to giving back to his community, every day.