Broadley named new chamber president

Last Updated on Wednesday, February 29, 2012 10:26 am Written by Ann Richardson Wednesday, February 29, 2012 01:00 am

OCEAN CITY — Newly installed as president of the Ocean City Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday evening, Brian Broadley said he looks forward to his new role.

The ship, he said, is pretty steady as she goes and as the skipper, Broadley said he will help keep it sailing in the right direction.

“It looks like I’m going to be pretty busy for the next two years,” said Broadley, who turned 60 on Sunday.

“The chamber is set up well and run well,” he said. “It’s very organized; everyone has done a very good job. Times are challenging, but we’re very optimistic, we’re looking forward to a great summer. Rentals are up and our brand, ‘America’s Greatest Family Resort’ is very strong. I’m looking forward to a very positive, economically advantageous summer for our businesses.”

Broadley was raised in Upper Township; his parents, Gabriel “Gam” and Betty Broadley live in Marmora. His father served on the boards for the local school and the Cape May County Vo-Tech school. Family members serve on various chambers of commerce throughout Cape May and Atlantic Counties where the family does business.

“My father was born on Asbury Avenue, I’m about as local as you can get,” said Broadley, who graduated from Ocean City High School in 1970.

After earning a degree from Gettysburg College, he returned to work in the family business, Broadley’s MDI, a plumbing, air conditioning and heating business.

While still working for Broadley’s MDI, he formed Broadley’s Mechanical Contracting in Somers Point and serves as president of the firm, which specializes in the design and building of energy saving mechanical work in the commercial, health care and entertainment markets in the Delaware Valley.

“We have a nice family business,” Broadley said.

His sister, Beth Darby and niece also work in the business. Broadley began working alongside his father when he was in grade school.

Broadley lives in Ocean City with his wife of 27 years, Caren and two daughters, Taylor, 20, a sophomore at St. Joseph’s University and Paige, 16, a sophomore at OCHS. The family has an 8-pound Yorki-Poo named Bean, a “smart and fun little dog” who Broadley says likes to go for walks throughout his Garden’s neighborhood.

Broadley said philanthropy is as much in his blood as air conditioning, thanks to his parents, who set the bar very high. His birthday celebration, he said, was a fundraiser.

“Because I have everything I want or need, I asked people to make a donation to the Wounded Warrior Project,” he said. “We collected over $2,000 in donations from my friends and family.”

Broadley is secretary and assistant treasurer of the Shore Medical Center Foundation Board, past co-chair of the Stainton Society, member of Habitat for Humanity of Cape May County, member and past treasurer of the Exchange Club and past treasurer of the United Way of Cape May County.

“I love living in Ocean City,” Broadley said. “We have a nice sense of community. I love the winter and when our summer friends come down it brings a nice diversity. I enjoy riding my bicycle in the mornings, going to the beach and the boardwalk. There’s a lot to do in Ocean City, it’s a great place to live and raise a family.

“It’s a nice small town to live in. People who visit from out of town think we’re very lucky.”

Broadley says he doesn’t anticipate any changes at the chamber in the coming years. Under the direction of Executive Director Michele Gillian, with the assistance of Rose Savastano and a strong staff, he said the chamber is in good hands.

“We’re looking to make improvements to the downtown; the beach and boardwalk are great,” he said. “We’re going to do everything we can to promote tourism. Ocean City has always been a great place to be, it will continue to be a great place. We’re just going to continue doing what we’ve been doing.”