Her Story
About Chloe
Chloe Bernardi, LCSW-C, LICSW, is an experienced nonprofit and social services executive with a career spanning nearly three decades. She currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of Rebuilding Together Montgomery County, where she applies her extensive background in nonprofit administration, social services, program development, fundraising, grant writing, and community engagement. Prior to joining Rebuilding Together Montgomery County, she served as CEO and President of Hearts & Homes for Youth, overseeing a $6.5 million annual budget and more than 125 employees while leading programs supporting children and youth who had experienced abuse, neglect, homelessness, or other difficult circumstances.
Bernardi's professional foundation is rooted in social work and behavioral health. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of San Francisco and a Master of Social Work from Howard University. Her earlier career included leadership positions in residential treatment, behavioral health, therapeutic services, and community-based programs, where she supervised clinical professionals, developed programs, managed budgets, supported regulatory compliance, and collaborated with multidisciplinary teams. She is licensed as a clinical social worker in Maryland and holds the LCSW-C and LICSW credentials.
Throughout her career, Bernardi has remained committed to strengthening communities and supporting vulnerable populations. She attributes her success to embracing challenges, thinking creatively, building meaningful relationships, maintaining a healthy work-life balance, and focusing on measurable community impact. Her leadership philosophy emphasizes caring for others while recognizing the importance of self-care, and she remains actively engaged in child welfare advocacy, nonprofit board service, and community organizations.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Chloe
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to being willing to embrace challenges, think outside the box, and remain open to new possibilities. I value connecting with people and seeing the positive impact those relationships can create within the community. Maintaining a healthy work-life balance has also been essential to sustaining my career and allowing me to continue doing meaningful work. Most importantly, I find motivation in knowing that each day I am contributing to making my community a better place.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have received is that maintaining a healthy work-life balance is essential, particularly in a field that can be emotionally demanding. When I have downtime, I make a point of taking it and creating space to process the experiences that come with the work. Self-care is critical because you cannot pour from an empty cup. It is important to know when work ends and make time for friends, outside activities, and personal interests so that you can sustain yourself and remain effective in this field over the long term.
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