Board of Directors

CEO and co-founder of the BEAM Collective

Joel Burstein is CEO and co-founder of the BEAM Collaborative, a strategic planning advisory firm that works to accelerate and scale black businesses in southwestern Pennsylvania.

BEAM was created to improve both the regional business environment and to create better outcomes for black Americans in western Pennsylvania where the black unemployment rate remains persistently high. Using a combination of management consulting, coaching and rigorous data analysis, BEAM fills in the gaps between the region’s large anchor institutions and its smaller black-led businesses, effectively identifying and solving for issues that block greater adoption and use of local businesses in the anchor’s supply chain. BEAM’s model works on both sides of the problem. BEAM cultivates best-in-class black-led portfolio companies and helps the anchors assess their spending practices, keeping opportunities and money in-market.

A successful entrepreneur and business executive, Joel’s first startup was Keep it Simple Training and Development. Prior to that he led a team of 70 for a Fortune 500 corporation, resulting in exponential market growth. After graduating early from The University of Miami, Joel continued to further his education by earning his Certificate of Financial Planning from New York University. Joel’s customer-focused approach led him to the prestigious Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Joel serves on the Board of Directors for the Team PA Foundation and the Pittsburgh Walk of Fame.