Nuvision Heroes: Beth Bernal Helping People Grow—At Work, in Life, and in the Community

What does it really mean to help someone? For Beth Bernal, it’s not just a professional role—it’s a mindset. “I’m in the business of being a people helper,” she says. “That’s just who I am.”

Beth joined Nuvision through the SafeAmerica merger, bringing years of experience and a mindset that’s always been about helping people grow. Today, she manages EmpowerU, the internal knowledge system that employees rely on for procedures and guidance. Working on the back end, she makes sure the system delivers clear, reliable answers for the team.

But her work extends far beyond technical systems. With a background in recruiting and learning development, Beth is deeply involved in hands-on leadership training and career development initiatives. “I’ve always been in the business of helping people grow,” she says. “I want to see them grow in their position and see how far they can go. I get so excited when they’ve been promoted into the next role because I know I had a hand in that.”

Seeing Community in a Different Light

While Beth’s professional life is dedicated to growth, her passion for community service is deeply rooted in a more personal story. Years ago, while living in downtown Oakland, she noticed a bodega owner who showed up for his community every day.

“He would always have a pot of coffee and donuts available for anyone who needed it—completely free,” Beth recalls. On Thanksgiving, the owner and his family would serve dinner to a long line of people stretching down the block. “It always touched me that some one  was always out there helping those outside of himself.”

That bodega owner’s consistency left a mark on Beth. It reminded her of her own experiences as a young mother when things weren't always easy. “It reminded me that we have to step outside of ourselves sometimes and see the people in our community in a different light,” she says. “It was from that point on that I really wanted to do more.”

Starting Small, Showing Up

Even when she was stretched thin as a single parent working and going to school full-time, Beth found ways to give back. She started with small steps, like participating in can drives or donating her hair to Wigs for Kids. “That’s something I could do that doesn’t cost money, but it goes to a good cause,” she notes.

Now, Beth is one of the first to jump in when a volunteer opportunity arises at Nuvision. Whether it’s 4 hours on a Saturday or a weekday event, she makes the time. For her, it’s not just about getting the work done—it’s about the people she meets along the way. She recalls an Empty Bowls event at the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano where a speaker’s story of childhood struggle deeply resonated with her. “It was a reinforcement that I’m doing the right thing,” she says.

Passing It On

One of the greatest rewards for Beth is involving her 11-year-old son in these events. Though he might maintain a "deadpan" expression while they are working, the impact is clearly there. “He doesn’t show any expression while he’s there,” she laughs, “but then we leave and he says, ‘That was really fun.’ It gives me a lot of excitement and inspiration to watch him feel a sense of involvement.”

For Beth, this is bigger than one volunteer day. It's about passing on the same empathy she felt watching that bodega owner help people without fanfare. Bringing her son along lets him see it firsthand, feel the involvement, and hopefully carry that forward into his own life. Those small, shared moments—watching him get involved and eventually admit it was fun—fill her with pride and reinforce why she keeps showing up.

Advice for the Hesitant

As a self-described introvert, Beth understands why some people might be on the fence about volunteering. “I get quite nervous about meeting new people,” she admits. “I think that’s one of the reasons why people don’t do those things—it requires them to get out of their own safety zone.”

But she encourages others to simply take the first step. “Just start small. Start with what you can do. You don't have to go big.”

For Beth, the goal is to eventually see everyone "connect the dots" between their work and their community. She believes that those who have experienced life’s challenges often carry a unique empathy into the world. “It helps me grow as an individual,” she says. “It helps me view life in different perspectives—and that helps me grow professionally as well.”

Whether she’s helping someone figure something out at work or showing up for the community, Beth Bernal stays focused on one thing: being a helper. It’s that straightforward commitment to people that defines what it means to be a Nuvision Hero.