Alumni Professional Achievement Award
Joseph R. Bronson ’70
In 2012, Joseph R. Bronson ’70 founded The Bronson Group, LLC, a business advisory group specializing in operational and financial consulting for high-tech companies. As the principal and CEO, Bronson led his firm to success, establishing it as a trusted and impactful resource for clients worldwide.
Bronson holds a BS in accounting from Fairfield University and an MBA from the University of Connecticut. While an undergraduate at Fairfield, he took a part-time accounting position at Sikorsky in Stratford to gain hands-on experience before graduating. Since then, he has consistently pursued new challenges in his career.
Prior to starting his business, Bronson spent more than two decades in senior leadership positions at several prominent technical companies, including 21 years at Applied Materials, where he rose from group vice president to executive vice president and CFO. Later, he served as president and CEO of Silicon Valley Technology Corporation.
Throughout his career, Bronson has consistently pushed the boundaries of his work and reinvented his approach to embrace new opportunities. He has successfully scaled businesses, including tripling the value of a billion-dollar operation in just three years and leading another company through the IPO process and to a multi-billion-dollar valuation. He expanded his expertise by becoming a Registered Investment Advisor, leveraging his proven track record and ability to adapt and lead with vision, which has made him a sought-after resource for businesses.
Bronson also shares his expertise through active involvement on several boards across diverse industries. He currently serves on the board of directors for PDF Solutions as the lead director and for Zircon Corporation as a director. He is a regent at both Santa Clara University and Loyola Marymount University. Additionally, he served on Fairfield University’s Board of Trustees for eleven years. He was also inducted into the Business School Hall of Fame at the University of Connecticut in 1998 and serves on the Dean’s Cabinet at the UConn business school.
Bronson views his involvement with Fairfield as an exciting opportunity to encourage entrepreneurial interests in young adults. He is passionate about supporting Fairfield students because he strongly believes in the value of a Jesuit education, especially when it comes to shaping the next generation of ethical leaders. “You have to have the ability to communicate and think through problems, whether they are technical or societal," he said. "Educating the whole person is part of that.”
Bronson has worked closely with the Charles F. Dolan School of Business to advance entrepreneurial support for students, especially in his roles as an inaugural investor and a panelist for the StartUp Showcase. He was the first inductee into Fairfield’s StartUp Hall of Fame in 2017.
Through his close involvement with the University over the years, he has witnessed a remarkable evolution. He reflects fondly on his own time as a student, appreciating the well-rounded education and the support of professors like Carmen Donnarumma and John Barone. Looking ahead, he’s proud to see recognition of Fairfield growing. “The feedback from the people who visit or go there is tremendous," he noted. "The school has what we, in technology, call ‘momentum.’”
In addition to his professional accomplishments, Bronson is passionate about golf and has written and published two books, Through the Green and Golf Chronicles. A third book, PARdon Me, is in the publication process and scheduled for release in April 2025. He has combined his love of golf with his dedication to supporting higher education by raising funds for university golf programs, including Fairfield’s, through his website and weekly blog. Bronson and his wife, Linda, split their time between San Jose and Pebble Beach, California.
