When Charlotte-based entrepreneur Gilberto Bergman describes asbestos removal, he makes it sound like a mix of science, construction and public health. His company, Bergman Brothers Staffing, provides trained, certified workers for jobs that require the safe handling of hazardous materials like asbestos, lead and mold. These jobs, he explains, aren’t just dirty or technical — they’re lifesaving.

“You know you’re doing something that is going to protect the well-being of the people in that building,” Bergman said.

Bergman’s journey into the field wasn’t planned. Originally from Nicaragua, he moved to the U.S. as a teenager, eventually landing in Charlotte, where he and his brother started a staffing business. When his brother left, Bergman kept the company going and gradually steered it into a highly specialized niche.

Nearly 25 years later, Bergman Brothers is bidding on projects from Texas to Hawaii and working on federal sites across the country. For Bergman, it’s both a business and a calling.

On this episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, in an interview with host Steve Dunn, Bergman shares the joys of entrepreneurship and finding his purpose, how toxic materials like asbestos are removed in an environmentally safe way, his journey from Nicaragua to the U.S., and his plans for the future.

This episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is sponsored by Child Care Search, a service of Child Care Resources Inc. Looking for child care? Our team provides guidance every step of the way! Search online at www.FindChildCareNC.org or call 1-888-600-1685 for live assistance and free, customized referrals.

Bergman received The Ledger’s 40 Over 40 Award in 2025. Find out more about the 40 Over 40 awards by going to Ledger40over40.com.

For more information on The Charlotte Ledger, visit TheCharlotteLedger.com. The Charlotte Ledger Podcast is produced by Lindsey Banks.

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