For more than 50 years, Bruce Bendell has been at the forefront of the automotive business, with ownership in dealerships spanning New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, and co-founding City World and Major World, two renowned automotive franchised dealerships. Bruce’s bold vision and incredible success in the automotive industry has led him toward EV transformation, co-founding, chairing, and investing in QCharge123, an electric vehicle charging station developing group. As demand for electric vehicles grows, Bruce has positioned QCharge123 to be a leader in efficient and reliable charging technologies, with the best support and service for customers. Bruce also held a pivotal role in taking the struggling Revel Casino in Atlantic City from the bankruptcy purchaser and is an original member of the entity that purchased and created Ocean Casino, now a thriving business and one of the largest casinos outside of Las Vegas.

As a leader within his community in addition to business, Bruce demonstrates commitment to his values through his many philanthropic efforts. Bruce served on the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City for 12 years under Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and has contributed to organizations such as the Bronx, Queens, and Sunnyside Chambers of Commerce, the Queens District Attorney’s Business Advisory Council, and the Flushing Willets Point LDC. In addition to his service, Bruce founded his own philanthropic entity, Big Block Capital Group, a family office that helps startups, entrepreneurs, and underserved communities find stability and growth. He also founded Big Block Capital Impact Partners to support companies making a positive impact on society and the environment. Bruce has spent his life giving back to his community. He is a lifetime international gold member of YPO, and a charter member of the new prestigious mosaic YPO Chapter, now representing 250 members from more than 26 countries. Bruce served as a trustee for Columbia Presbyterian NY Hospital Queens from 1999 to 2019, and as Capital Campaign and Chairman to build the YMCA in Queens, taking facilities from serving 1,500 children in garages to a multimillion-dollar facility serving 10,000.

Awards

His philanthropy has been recognized by many organizations and foundations, earning him numerous awards, such as:

• Humanitarian Award from the Good Samaritan Foundation

• Paul Harris Fellow Award from the Queensborough Rotary Club

• YMCA Greater New York Volunteer of the Year award

• Guardian Angels Business Angel award

• Good Scout award from the NY Boy Scouts

• Queens Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame

• Sunnyside Community Services & the LIC Lions Club Businessman of the Year award

• Little Neck Douglaston Memorial Day parade, King of Queens

• Astoria Civic Association & the Flushing Town Hall Cultural Center recipients

• Ellis Island Medal of Honor

• Shaare Zedek Man of the Year award

• Chabad of Roslyn