David Beckerman
David Beckerman
David Beckerman is an accomplished businessman and longtime resident of Guilford. He founded Starter Sports, which manufactures team uniforms for high school sports teams.
Beckerman and his wife RuthAnn are passionate about supporting the Jewish community. To this end, they recently established the Beckerman Family PACE Challenge – a $2 million endowment fund for the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater New Haven.
Early Life and Education
David Beckerman was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts and raised with four siblings. Eventually, he earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Harvard University and a master’s degree in chemical engineering from MIT.
In his spare time, he volunteered at a local animal shelter and became active in the community as an avid sports fan. As a proud UNH alumnus, he has played an integral role in developing the school’s athletic department.
David is a lifelong learner who has gained an expansive knowledge base through his many educational endeavors. His interests span science and reading, making him an avid nerd who enjoys sharing his expertise with others. Furthermore, as an active member in his faith community, david takes great pride in being the proud papa to his wife Michaele and three children.
Professional Career
David Beckerman of Guilford served as the head basketball coach at Hamden Hall Country Day School from 1993 to 2004. During that time he compiled a record of 252 wins and 60 losses, producing more than 20 college-bound players.
Beckerman had a passion for sports, so he noticed an opportunity in the market: teams didn’t have easy access to licensed apparel that appealed to casual fans. So he borrowed $50,000 and used $25,000 of his own funds to launch Starter Sports Wear Ltd.
Beckerman’s company quickly obtained NFL licenses, leading to him selling jackets for teams across America. He even persuaded the Chicago White Sox to switch their color scheme from Blue to Starter, yielding annual revenues of $4.5 million. Despite eight years of rejection by the NFL, Starter became a staple among professional and college sports teams alike.
Achievements and Honors
David Beckerman has achieved much in his life. He has built a successful career in advertising and been honored for his dedication to the community.
He is a well-known philanthropist, having founded several charitable organizations such as the Starter Foundation. Additionally, he was inducted into the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame.
He has been instrumental in the UNH Athletic Department’s success and generously supports events like Charger Classic and Summer Breeze fundraisers. Additionally, he has endowed sports scholarships at UNH.
Personal Life
David Beckerman is a philanthropist who has shown great generosity to the Greater New Haven Jewish community. As founder and CEO of Starter Corporation, he has built it into an impressive sports apparel company with annual sales exceeding $700 million.
Coach Heindel also coaches high school basketball at Hamden Hall and Pine Crest High School in Connecticut and Florida, coaching his teams to eight New England Championships and six Fairchester League titles.
He has a longstanding tradition of giving back to his community and created the $2 million PACE Challenge to ensure the long-term viability of New Haven Jewish life. Additionally, he was inducted into UNH Athletics Hall of Fame for his leadership and philanthropy throughout the years.
Net Worth
David Beckerman has a longstanding commitment to giving back to his community. Currently, he serves as president and CEO of MKTG Canada – a global lifestyle marketing agency specializing in branding, online communication and customer behavior. Prior to this role, he held similar roles at Ariad Communications and Bluespire Marketing. Additionally, he founded Starter Corp. (1993), which was sold to Nike for 420 million dollars in cash.
He is a New Haven native who came from humble beginnings and was determined to give back to his community. Recently named one of the “Top 20 Influential People in Greater New Haven,” his connection to Greater New Haven is undeniable. Additionally, The Beckerman Family PACE Challenge – a $2 million fund established to ensure the long-term sustainability of local Jewish life – serves as his vehicle.