By Patricia Sullivan
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, June 18, 2006; C07

William S. Bergman, 66, who managed multiple trade associations for those that needed a presence in the nation's capital, died of complications of an infection June 15 at Washington Hospital Center. He was a District resident.

As founder and chief executive of the city's oldest association management firm, Mr. Bergman represented fields as diverse as mortgage banking, solar heating, state lotteries, professional cooking and the outdoor power equipment aftermarket. William S. Bergman Associates handled more than 65 national or international trade associations and professional societies.

"They get their own phone number; we have their name on the board in the lobby," he told The Washington Post in 1995. "I even put their name on a window in our suite when members come to town."

Some of his recent successes included persuading lawmakers to amend the Internal Revenue Code to allow a 40 percent tax credit for solar energy hot water systems, establishing a congressional mandate to provide $5 million for training state financial examiners and successfully amending the Crime Control Act to prohibit the electronic sale of lottery tickets between states.

He helped start 10 trade organizations and served as executive vice president or executive director for 15 organizations. His 52-employee company represented an additional 50 groups.

He was born in Kansas City, Mo., and graduated from Westminster College in Salt Lake City. He moved to Washington in 1960 to work on Capitol Hill for a Utah congressman, and in 1968 he formed his own company.

He was past president of the 250-member Institute of Association Management Companies, a member of the American Society of Association Executives, a board member of the Foundation for International Meetings, a founder and director of the Business and Professional Council and a member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Committee of 100.

He was named a certified association executive by the American Society of Association Executives.

He enjoyed sailing on the Chesapeake Bay.

His marriages to Pat Bergman and Nancy Meigs ended in divorce.

Survivors include his wife, Deborah Bergman of Washington; a daughter from his first marriage, Valerie Cooper of Arlington; a daughter from his second marriage, Jennifer Ryan of Bethesda; and two granddaughters.