# Tom Bernstein, President & Co-Founder of Chelsea Piers, Joins MBA Students for Block Lunch

Tom Bernstein, president and co-founder of Chelsea Piers, joined Dean [Peter Henry](http://www.stern.nyu.edu/faculty/bio/peter-henry) and MBA students for NYU Stern’s Block Lunch event series this spring. Bernstein described his career, including stints as a clerk for a federal judge, an entertainment lawyer, a principal of Silver Screen Management which financed 75 films with Walt Disney Company including *Beauty and the Beast* and *The Little Mermaid*, and a principal owner of the Texas Rangers Baseball Club.

Reflecting on the history behind Chelsea Piers, Bernstein described a number of challenges he confronted with the project along the way. Despite some of the early challenges, the sports and entertainment complex is thriving today and recently opened a new complex in Stamford, CT. According to Bernstein, Chelsea Piers is also considering further expansions into Long Island and Washington DC.

Bernstein shared several pieces of advice with students:- Be sure to surround yourself with smart, interesting people
- Identify a big problem and solve a piece of that problem
- As an entrepreneur, be prepared for setbacks and failure
- There’s no substitute for persistence

Stressing the importance of giving back, Bernstein described his work with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in DC, for which he was appointed chairman by President Obama, as well as Human Rights First and the Center for Civil and Human Rights.

Over the course of the semester, students will have an opportunity to hear candid perspectives from thought leaders in varied industries. Upcoming speakers for Spring 2014 include [Christopher Howard](http://www.stern.nyu.edu/experience-stern/news-events/block-lunch-christopher-howard), president of Hampden-Sydney College, and [Susan Jurevics](http://www.stern.nyu.edu/experience-stern/news-events/block-lunch-susan-jurevics), CEO of Pottermore.

Business and Policy Leader Events

— 3/10/2014

![](/sites/default/files/styles/480w/public/assets/images/con_046844.jpg?itok=gpO6TpKR)As an entrepreneur, be prepared for setbacks and failure.

###  Past Block Lunch Events

- [Susan Jurevics, CEO of Pottermore](/node/7982)
- [Christopher Howard, President of Hampden-Sydney College](/node/7939)
- [Tom Bernstein, President and Co-Founder of Chelsea Piers](/node/7839)
- [Danny Meyer, CEO of Union Square Hospitality Group](/node/7354)
- [Mo Koyfman, General Partner at Spark Capital, and Jeremy Philips, Managing Partner of Occam Partners](/node/7348)
- [Dina Powell, President of the Goldman Sachs Foundation](/node/6560)
- [Helene Gayle, President and CEO of CARE USA](/node/6481)
- [Michael Warren, Principal of Albright Stonebridge Group](/node/6482)
- [Hugo Lindgren, Editor of *The New York Times Magazine*](/node/6007)
- [Ken Mehlman, Former Chairman of the Republican National Committee](/node/6006)
- [Gordon Brown, Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom](/node/46977)

## Upcoming Spring Block Lunches

- [Christopher Howard, President of Hampden-Sydney College](/node/7939)
- [Susan Jurevics, Chief Executive Officer of Pottermore](/node/48758)