Bruce Mendelsohn joined the U.S. Army motivated by his family’s history of military service. Three generations of Mendelsohns have served as U.S. Army officers. He grew up in the 1980s, where many of his contemporaries wanted to be like Gordon Gekko, but he wanted to be like John Rambo.
Having served overseas the majority of his military career, it was a challenge adjusting to the sheer abundance in America. He was overstimulated and overwhelmed. Now more than three decades removed from the Army, he tries to be mindful and grateful for this abundance.
Military service taught him the seven key principles of servant leadership: putting others first, authenticity, strong communication, integrity, compassion, empowerment, and continuous improvement. He learned the value of suffering. In the military, sometimes you have to suffer, go without, and sacrifice for others.
Over the past five and a half years at MassHire Central Region Workforce Board, Mendelsohn has written grant applications generating more than $21 million in awards. His success has directly benefited more than 5,000 adults and youth, including veterans. At the Massachusetts Department of Youth Services, he proposed and orchestrated a statewide hiring campaign to recruit recently discharged veterans. At Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, he coordinated biannual visits to New England by Israel Defense Forces veterans. For the past decade, he has been one of 10-15 wounded U.S. military veterans who spend an afternoon with wounded Israel Defense Forces veterans during annual Brothers for Life delegation visits.
