Meet Jeff Hoffman of Jeff Hoffman & Associates, Global CSR and Philanthropy in Long Beach

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeff Hoffman.

Jeff, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My family was very involved in the local community. Long Beach is in my blood, I am a fourth-generation resident, went to the same high school as my dad, and live close to where I grew up. Civic engagement is part of my DNA and this sense of community followed me in my career at Disney. I started out selling rubber snakes and shrunken heads in Adventureland at Disneyland while I was going to USC. While at Disneyland, I met my husband, Bob Lane. After graduation, I transferred to The Walt Disney Studios in Burbank and worked in The Disney University.

One of my first roles was managing the annual employee giving campaign raising money for the Entertainment Industry Foundation. In 1991 I was able to build upon Disneyland’s Community Action Team, take the program national and rebrand it Disney VoluntEARS. This employee volunteer program now has contributed millions of hours of community service in more than 50 countries globally. I’m very proud of this program and the impact it has made over the years, especially for children in need and those with serious health issues.

My other legacy from my 31 years with The Walt Disney Company is the Disney Legends program. I ran the program for its first 21 years and worked closely with Roy E. Disney on its establishment. The program honors individuals whose body of work has made a significant impact on the Disney legacy. Honorees have included stars such as Annette Funicello, Julie Andrews and Elton John, Animators and Imagineers including Frank Thomas, Ollie Johnson, Marty Sklar and Alice Davis to those behind the scenes such as Archivist Dave Smith and first Disneyland President Jack Lindquist.

When I left Disney, I had global responsibility for philanthropy, community relations, volunteering and cause related marketing.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
For the most part, I have been very fortunate in my life. I am surrounded by close friends and family. While I have had my share of obstacles, they were not insurmountable and always provided lessons learned. Mentors have provided me with their wisdom and guidance along the way and some were in positions to further my career. Life is a team sport and I have benefited greatly from great coaches and fellow team members.

Please tell us about Jeff Hoffman & Associates, Global CSR and Philanthropy.
Today, I have a professional portfolio made up of four components. They are my consulting business: Jeff Hoffman & Associates, Global CSR and Philanthropy; Leader of the Center for Corporate Citizenship and Philanthropy at The Conference Board; Corporate Governance; and Pro Bono service.

My business, Jeff Hoffman & Associates, Global CSR and Philanthropy, works primarily with either national or multi-national businesses, plus organizations and individuals, re-imagine a world full of hope, promise and opportunity while strengthening their own enterprise.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) are becoming more material to companies. In many instance employees, and prospective employees want to work for a company that operates with integrity so this work contributes greatly to recruitment and retention. Today’s company’s want to ensure that their supply chains have the same values that they do.

Customers want to buy products and services from brands that they feel good about. And cities want businesses that respect their neighborhoods and work for the betterment of the community. My business works with companies to achieve these objectives.

The Conference Board helps leaders navigate the biggest issues impacting business and better serve society. I am the founder and leader of the Center on Corporate Citizenship and Philanthropy where I lead the Global CSR & Philanthropy Council. This council looks at CSR outside of the United States with meetings having been held in China, United Kingdom, Mexico, Canada and Africa.

Board Governance is a long-time interest. I am a Governance Fellow of the National Association of Corporate Directors and a member of the advisory board of Unison, a tech start-up based in Detroit that helps corporations create value at the nexus of employees, customers, suppliers, investors, regulators, and society.

My Pro-Bono work centers around non-profit boards and public commissions. I’m a member of the Board of Directors of Points of Light, the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service, where I serve on the Executive Committee. I was appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and reappointed by Governor Jerry Brown, to the California Commission on Service and Volunteerism (California Volunteers) where I serves as a Past Chair and Chair of the Governance Committee. I’m on the Board of Advisors for The Center on Philanthropy and Public Policy at the University of Southern California and was appointed by Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia to the Queen Mary Land Development Task Force. For the last two years, I was Chair of Naples Fest, a community festival that brings businesses and neighbors together through food and entertainment.

What sets me a part in my field is that is I held the top job and created many significant initiatives at one of the world’s most admired brands and today apply that experience to help companies, and individual, be the best that they can be.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Spending summer days on the beach with family and friends.

Contact Info:

• Address: 5500 East Second Street
  Suite Five
  Long Beach, CA 90803
• Website: www.jeffhoffmanassociates.com
• Phone: 562-438-5333
• Email: jhoffman@jeffhoffmanassociates.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JeffHoffmanAssociates/
• Twitter: @CivicJeff

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