Howie Berman is a results-driven association executive with over two decades of experience leading and inspiring diverse teams in the nonprofit sector. He brings extensive experience in education and advocacy to his role as National PTA's executive director, having spent over a dozen years with education-focused organizations. Prior to National PTA, Berman spent five years as executive director of ACTFL (formerly the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages), where he championed the mission and strategic direction of the organization.

During his tenure at ACTFL, Berman led a diverse 10-member executive leadership team and oversaw the organization's daily operations while collaborating with the Board of Directors to fulfill the organization's mission. He exceeded budget projections from FY21 through FY23, despite conditions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, and grew the membership base by 19% in FY23. He initiated and oversaw the rollout of a refreshed vision and organizational values, launched the first-of-its-kind Language Connects Foundation in November 2022, and implemented policies and practices that demonstrate commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility.

Berman also served as chief operating officer at ACTFL, where he directed the $3M operations budget for key initiatives to expand programs and offerings, streamline daily operations and grow the organization overall. He previously served as director of information technology and membership services at the American Society for Cell Biology and held the position of director of membership and administration at ACTFL earlier in his career.

A Certified Association Executive (CAE), Berman earned a bachelor's degree in political science and Spanish from the University of Richmond and a master's degree in Middle Eastern studies from the University of Chicago. He is a passionate advocate for public education, intercultural competence and social justice. He approaches leadership with empathy and humility, focusing on creating spaces where people feel genuinely included and can contribute in meaningful ways.

Berman comes from a PTA family—his mother was deeply involved in their local PTA growing up, and his wife is the PTA president at his son’s school, a state-designated community school. His family lives in Howard County, Maryland. He has a teenage son and daughter. This personal connection to PTA, combined with his family's direct experience in public education, shapes his understanding of the association's mission and the challenges facing families and schools today.