J. Thomas Bernard is an active participant in a wide variety of business, government, professional, political, civic, charitable, cultural and educational organizations in the Puget Sound region. He has and does serve as an officer, chairman, president, member of boards of directors, and committee chairman. His philosophy of active community involvement provides a continuing and ongoing valuable contribution to the community, while maintaining a personally rewarding and beneficial experience for himself and his company affiliation.

Individual and company membership in professional affiliations includes positions as a past or present officer or board of directors member of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP), the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR), Lambda Alpha International (an international honorary land economics fraternity), the Alki Foundation, and the Boy Scouts of America (Chief Seattle Counsel). Other business and civic organizations in which Bernard is a member include Rotary International, several Chambers of Commerce (including past Chairman of the 1,700 member Bellevue Chamber of Commerce, 1988/89), and the Bellevue Downtown Association.

His cultural participation includes the performing arts, museums, and visual arts. Bernard is an avid collector of Northwest Native American and Inuit art, and is also an active photographer and videographer.

Charitable organizations supported by Bernard Development Company (BDC) or its principals include United Way, the Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center, the Children's Home Society of Washington, the Preston Arboretum and Botanical Garden Society, and Children's Services of Snoqualmie Valley. Other youth organizations supported by BDC principals include the YMCA, school and sports activities in Seattle and the Fall City area.

Educational institutions actively supported by principals of BDC include the University of Washington, Bellevue Community College, Seattle Academy of Arts & Sciences, and other schools - private and public. BDC principals have taught courses and have been university guest lecturers in finance, land use, real estate development, environmental law, and public policy related to land use.