Mayor Bloomberg’s development guru has been tapped to run the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce.
Carl Hum (below) was appointed on Tuesday to be the new president of the borough-wide business group, succeeding Kenneth Adams, who left the organization in October to head the Chamber’s state counterpart.
Supporters cheered the appointment of Hum, a Sunset Park native, citing his background in fostering small business throughout the city, especially in industrial zones.
Hum won’t take over the 1,500-member organization until September, so he wasn’t doing interviews. Instead, he said in a statement that he looks forward “to working with the dedicated staff in building upon the Chamber’s successes and shaping its agenda to respond to the diverse needs of Brooklyn businesses.”
Hum had served as the director of the Mayor’s Office of Industrial and Manufacturing Businesses since 2005.
In that role, he tangled with none other than Councilmember Bill DeBlasio (D–Park Slope) last year regarding the boundaries of an industrial tax credit zone near the Gowanus Canal.
DeBlasio, who sought affordable housing in the canal zone, and Hum, whose job was to retain businesses there, could have been adversaries — but DeBlasio came away singing Hum’s tune.
“He’s very open, very communicative and has gravitas,” DeBlasio said. “We started in different places, yet worked out an acceptable compromise. He is a great choice for the Chamber.”
The Office of Industrial and Manufacturing Businesses is but one line on Hum’s resume. He has also worked for the Mayor’s offices of Small Business Services and Intergovernmental Affairs; was an Assistant District Attorney in Manhattan; and did financial analyses for the City Council.
Hum is stepping into size 14 shoes at the Chamber. The popular Adams was credited for turning the Chamber from a clubhouse into a political powerhouse.
