Hall of Fame Induction Year
2000
Preview
Inductee Biography
When Bergeron was a boy, he watched his parents build their first house. "We went to Port Everglades and got the wood for our house off the freight boxes. It was a small house, but it was ours, and we were proud of it. As my mother used to say, '˜Thank God for what you have and don't worry about what you haven't got because you haven't got it anyway.' We were always grateful for what little we had." Another important person in Bergeron's life was his grandfather, who was a game warden in the Everglades. He took young Bergeron with him on an airboat, giving him a tour of the tropical wetlands. "The whole thing fascinated me," says Bergeron. "The landscape, the wildlife, the smell of nature, the sunsets, it just became a big part of my life. My grandfather is the one who introduced me to nature and taught me the importance of the environment and conservation." Bergeron and his Scoutmaster formed a partnership and bought five tractors. One day, Bergeron went to him to talk about buying a bulldozer. His partner told him, "You are getting ready to go somewhere, and I've already been there. I'm going to give you my half of the business." In the end, Bergeron gave him the property they had bought together, and then he took over the business, which he incorporated in 1965 as Bergeron Land Development. By the time he was 25, he had 150 people working for him. Bergeron read about a developer, Mort Kalin, who was going to build one of the largest communities in Florida. Bergeron made an appointment with Kalin, telling him he wanted to be the one to build his community. Kalin asked how much equipment he had and Bergeron responded "One bulldozer and a dump truck". Kalin's response: "Son, I'm not building a driveway, I'm building one of the largest communities in Florida." Disappointed, Bergeron turned to walk out of the office. At that point, Kalin noticed Bergeron's rodeo belt buckle, boots and hat and asked if he was a cowboy. For the next 45 minutes, the two talked about their love of horses and how Kalin was in one of the last regiments of the mounted cavalry that went to war in World War II, by the end of the conversation, Kalin told Bergeron he was going to give him a chance. Bergeron built the community, and Kalin, who is now 98 years old, became a mentor to him and still today is one of his best friends. Bergeron began buying tracts of land that were in the path of development. His company would eventually build entire cities and major road systems and state highway interchanges. To succeed in the highly competitive world of highway construction, in 1969, Bergeron entered into the mining and quarry business and supplied all his companies with highway construction material. By the age of 25, he had become a very successful businessman and entrepreneur, yet he lived in a house trailer until he was 40. "That's the discipline of a young man with no safety net," says Bergeron. "The greatest gift I ever gave was to build my parents a home before I built my own home. I didn't have wealthy parents; our wealth was in our love for our family. I chose to live moderately, even though I was a millionaire at 25. That's discipline and determination with every cell in your body." Bergeron Land Development grew to be one of the most highly respected and largest site-development and roadway construction companies in Florida. The company has completed projects in the private and public sectors, including site preparation for residential subdivisions, commercial buildings, industrial, and other facilities as well as the construction of roads, highways, airports, and wetland mitigation areas. The company has been named among Florida's Top 100 Contractors in Southeast Construction magazine for the past several years and has been recognized worldwide by the American Civil Engineering Society for its Everglades Restoration project. In 1989, Bergeron incorporated a real-estate company, Bergeron Properties and Investments Corporation, which owns and manages a broad real estate portfolio of commercial and industrial properties throughout the United States and continues developing properties purchased by Bergeron more than 40 years ago. Bergeron credits his upbringing with his early success. "I did what my parents always taught me," he says. "I woke up and thanked God for the day, worked out like I was going to the Olympics, go to work with every cell in my body and then go home to be a good dad. It's important in business to always be honest and to live up to all your promises. That's how you build trust." Bergeron is quick to define himself as a cowboy and a Gladesman. "That's my culture," he says. "Even with all my success, it has never changed who I am. I never traded in my airboats for yachts or my roping horses for racehorses. No matter how rich or famous, you still put your pants on one leg at a time. I still have the same values my parents instilled in me: earn respect because you can't buy it; kindness is free; spread your wings; thank God for every day; and don't worry about what you haven't got. They are good, strong values, and I don't think they will ever go out of fashion." Appointed by two Florida Governors, Bergeron serves as a Florida Fish and Wildlife Commissioner. He is the founder of the Bergeron Everglades Museum and Wildlife Foundation. His philanthropic activities include The Boys & Girls Club of Broward County, Wayne Huizenga Broward Partnership for the Homeless, the American Heart Association, Boy Scouts of America, Fort Lauderdale Historical Society, Equine Therapies for Handicapped Children, Bit by Bit, The Old Davie School Historical Museum, Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, the Nova Southeastern Entrepreneur Program along with many other charities. "Another thing I learned from my parents is to give back to your community and to remember and support your heritage," says Bergeron. "I think it's important to make a difference when and where you can."
Digital Collection
Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame
Disciplines
Business
Rights
Educational use only, no other permissions given. U.S. and international copyright laws may protect this item. Commercial use or distribution of this digital object is not permitted without written permission of the Nova Southeastern University Archives.
Copyright
© Nova Southeastern University