Bluefield College will host guest speaker, Samuel Bridgeman, Monday, April 12, 2021, at 10 a.m. in Harman Chapel. Sam will be presenting, “Pursuing the Mind of Christ” – How we can strengthen and grow our faith as a leader for change.
A native of East Chicago, Sam graduated fifth in his class from East Chicago Washington High School where he was both junior and senior class president, captain of the cross-country, basketball, and track teams, National Honor Society, and president of the band.
Sam is proud to be a part of a sports family. His younger brother, Junior Bridgeman, played in the NBA for 12 years, with the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Clippers. He has two cousins who played professionally, one being Glenn Robinson, Jr. Sam was the first in his family to earn a scholarship to play basketball, at the University of Denver.
Inspired by John Rice, Dean of African American Studies and father of Condoleezza Rice, Sam produced a campus public affairs radio program, “Black Focus” with three programs aired nationally on NPR and over two dozen on the local R&B station winning him the University’s Community Service Award and Student-Athlete Award.
Sam graduated with a BA in Communications from the University of Denver, a Masters of Science in financial services from the American College, and professional designations of Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), and Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow (LUTCF).
Sam began his career as an agent with New York Life Insurance Company in 1985 in Colorado. He achieved New York Life’s Council level three times in his first two years as an agent.
In 1998, Sam transferred to Houston where he was responsible for the training and development of almost 200 people in the Houston area. He has developed several initiatives influencing New York Life Insurance company-wide.
In March 2009, he took on the role of assistant vice president for field training and development working with African American agents around the country for New York Life. In April 2011, Sam was promoted to Corporate Vice President, Zone Training Officer, and was responsible for the training and development of trainers for 30 offices in 15 states for New York Life.
After 33 years of service, Sam retired in 2017. He now mentors a group of trainers for New York Life. He is married to Yvonne and they have four children, ten grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.