The Valley Industry and Commerce Association in Sherman Oaks on Thursday named former Assembly staff worker Stuart Waldman as its president.

Waldman ran for former Assemblyman Bob Hertzberg’s old Assembly seat this year, but lost in the June 3 primary. Waldman had spent 11 years in Sacramento working for Hertzberg and his successor, Lloyd Levine.

At VICA, Waldman plans to concentrate on employment regulation issues. “Employers have a lot of economic challenges that I look forward to tackling,” he said.

Waldman succeeds Brendan Huffman, the former VICA president who stepped down in July and remains a consultant with the organization.

Waldman starts his new job Sept. 8.