Meet Brett Weil

Sitting down with Brett Weil and hearing his story, words like passionate, committed and endlessly curious come to mind. For Brett is someone who throws himself fully into whatever he takes on; in fact, one could say he commits well over 100% to all that he does.

This drive shows up everywhere in his life. Over the years he poured his energy into a wide range of pursuits, from playing football and baseball in high school to joining UCLA’s Ultimate Frisbee Team. When he decided to become bilingual, he became fluent in Spanish, spending a year abroad in Granada, Spain during college, fully immersing himself in the language and culture.

Now, Brett is bringing the same energy and dedication to his volunteer work with The Associated. He sees it as another meaningful endeavor worthy of his passion and involvement.

Here are eight things to know about this father of six.

A native of San Francisco, Brett’s family arrived from Germany in 1849 during the Gold Rush.

“They were refugees from Germany. My great, great, great, great grandparents met on the boat coming over. They were true 49ers,” he says. “They operated a hotel in San Francisco during the Gold Rush.”

In fact, if you happen to be in Berkeley, stop by the Magnes Western History Museum. You can see a photo of these ancestors, John and Adelaide Steinman the first known Jewish photograph taken in San Francisco.

A young Brett Weil in his football uniform

How he met his wife

Brett first came to Baltimore, having been hired as a counselor at a NCSY Camp Sports, held on the campus of Ner Israel. Through a matchmaker he met Blumi, who had attended seminary in Israel for two years after graduating from Bais Yaakov. They married, moved to Israel and returned to Baltimore with their third child on the way. Now with six children, Blumi is on the committee for The Associated’s Jewish Professional Women affinity group.

His Associated journey

In the early days of establishing his career, Brett saw an article in the Baltimore Business Journal about The Associated’s work with sutainability. He reached out to The Associated to learn more, ultimately attending a sustainability symposium at Pearlstone. “There was a committee. They got me to join. That was the beginning of my journey.”

Since then, Brett participated in the Young Leadership Council, where he was selected to be an observer on the JCC Board, leading to seven years of serving on the JCC Board. He became involved with the Real Estate Industry Group (REIG) and CHAI. Today he sits on The Associated’s board. His favorite memory was being JCC Jr. Maccabi Baseball Commissioner in 2023 where he added a social component to the competition in getting the different delegation players to meet each other through a structured Jewish values activity, for which the JCC honored him with the Sonny Plant Award.

Banking with the right values

While working at his previous lending institution, feeling he wanted to grow professionally, he remembers, “I looked to see if other institutions were doing two things I’m passionate about: supporting large commercial real estate lending and a strong commitment to the community. I took a look at The Associated’s sponsors knowing that they supported this organization, then they were interested in putting money behind their values. I found that Old Line Bank has been a sponsor, and the rest is history! WesBanco has since acquired Old Line Bank and continues to be a place where I can grow and contribute.

Why The Associated?

“Getting involved with The Associated has been one of the most rewarding parts of my connection to the Baltimore Jewish community. What surprised me most is how accessible it is. Whether it’s volunteering, serving on a committee, meeting other professionals or stepping into real leadership roles, there’s a place for everyone. You don’t have to wait years to get involved. You can jump in and immediately feel like you’re contributing to something meaningful.

There’s also a strong sense of belonging. From Young Leadership to committee work to board service, you find yourself surrounded by people who care deeply about the community and are excited to build things together. It’s not just networking — though the connections are incredible — it’s working alongside thoughtful, accomplished people who are invested in the future of Baltimore Jewish life.

For young professionals, it’s actually pretty cool to realize that you can be part of real decisions and initiatives that shape the community. Whether your interest is community service, building relationships or eventually stepping into executive-level leadership, The Associated creates a pathway to get there while feeling part of something bigger than yourself.”

The Associated is also good for business

“Another dimension of involvement that people sometimes overlook is the value it creates for the broader business community. The Associated brings together an extraordinary network of leaders across industries — finance, real estate, law, healthcare, technology and philanthropy. Through committees, events and initiatives, those relationships naturally deepen over time. For many professionals, including myself, it creates opportunities to connect people, support community initiatives and introduce our companies to a network that values trust and long-term relationships.

Corporate sponsorship is a great example of how that works. Companies that partner with The Associated are not just putting their logo on an event. They are aligning with an institution that is deeply woven into the civic and philanthropic life of Baltimore. When businesses sponsor programs, events or initiatives, they gain visibility among engaged community leaders while also supporting causes that make the city stronger.

There’s a famous advertising line from the 1960s for Levy’s Rye Bread: “You don’t have to be Jewish to love Levy’s Real Jewish Rye.” The same idea applies here. You don’t have to be Jewish to connect with The Associated or to see the value of being part of its network. The organization welcomes partners who care about community, leadership and impact, and that makes it a meaningful platform for businesses of all kinds to engage, contribute, and build relationships.”

What’s on his bookshelf

“I just finished reading Real Power by Dr. David Lieberman. Also, I really enjoyed Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, the Roman emperor. The book is about stoicism. They say that a lot of stoicism is really Judaism.

My other recommendation is Pyramid of Success by legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden. He was the winningest college coach in the history of the game who won 10 NCAA Men’s Basketball National Championships. His pyramid is comprised of building blocks with the cornerstones being Industriousness and Enthusiasm. Everything is built upon the idea of what’s your purpose and what’s your passion. I like teaching this to others.”

Brett Weil, coach of a flag football team.

When he’s not working

He’s with his family. At shul. Or coaching baseball or flag football. Or playing Ultimate Frisbee at Pikesville High on Sundays.

Sometimes, though you’ll find him volunteering, coordinating neighborhood cleanups with the Baltimore Chesed League. “CHAI provides the gloves, bags, grabbers and safety vests. I bring six teams of middle school boys over six Sundays who clean up our streets.

Meet Brett Weil

Meet Brett Weil