COVER STORY
CIANJ ’ s New Chairman of the Board : Introducing William C . Hanson
A veteran of the commercial real estate industry , Hanson is president of NAI James E . Hanson .
By Diane C . Walsh Contributing Editor
Bill Hanson always likes to sit in the back ,
watching everyone and taking it all in .
But he will have to get used to being up front at the Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey ( CIANJ ) since he is the new chairman of the 900-member-strong business advocacy group .
In his new role , Hanson is culminating a relationship with CIANJ that dates back at least three decades . Colleagues introduced him to the organization and encouraged him to go to CIANJ events , especially its annual luncheon . “ It was a who ’ s who of business leaders — these were the important people to be around ,” he says recalling his initial impressions of the organization .
He was also struck by the resources CIANJ made available — news and information on legal affairs , political issues , healthcare and many other topics critical for the business community .
William C . Hanson , SIOR , president of NAI James E . Hanson , received POWERBROKER awards ( 2018 ) for “ Leasing Transactions ” and “ Sales Transactions ” from Barry Cohen of CoStar .
One of his first experiences was participating in a CEO roundtable organized by an executive from Ingersoll Rand , a manufacturing giant then-headquartered in Woodcliff Lake . The roundtable delivered on its promise of peer-topeer conversations that provided practical business lessons . Over the years , he rose through the organization ’ s structure , joining the board of directors , becoming an executive committee member and most recently vice-chairman .
In 2015 , he received CIANJ ’ s prestigious Outstanding Leadership Award .
Hanson is undoubtedly one of CIANJ ’ s best cheerleaders . “ It ’ s not just rah , rah . It ’ s fact ,” he explains . Businesses leaders will be hearing a lot about CIANJ ’ s attributes since Hanson intends to focus on increasing membership .
He is in a unique position to expand the base since he is president of NAI James E . Hanson , one
“ How we evolve running events is going to be a challenge we have to figure out ,” says Hanson . “ It has to make economic sense and it has to be of value to the membership .”
of the most well-regarded , full-service brokerage and property management firms in the state . Hanson is the third generation to lead the company founded by his grandfather , James E . Hanson .
The younger Hanson took over the business in 1993 , succeeding his father , Peter O ., who remains very active as chairman of the firm . ( Peter taught his son the wisdom of sitting in the back .)
Under Bill Hanson ’ s leadership , the firm has grown to more than 70 employees in two offices . Last year NAI James E . Hanson completed more than $ 557 million in transactions and managed 7 million square feet of commercial real estate space . Outside the office , Hanson — who lives in Mahwah with his wife , Stephanie and their twin daughters , Abigail and Emily — is immersed in the community as a member of the Hackensack University Medical Center Foundation Board , the Foundation Board of
A recipient of CIANJ ’ s prestigious Outstanding Leadership Award ( 2015 ), Hanson has a long record of service to the Association and the business community .
the ARC and the Foundation Board of West Bergen Mental Health .
CIANJ President Anthony Russo is looking forward to working with his new chairman who will serve as the Association ’ s leader for the next two years . Elected at the annual luncheon held virtually in late October , Hanson ’ s primary mission is to use CIANJ to help New Jersey businesses grow and succeed , and to support free market principles .
“ Bill ’ s commitment to CIANJ is apparent to anyone who knows him ,” says Russo . “ He ’ s been a longtime board member . He ’ s always willing to help with real property programs and he ’ s been on the executive board for the past several years . We could not ask for a better leader .”
Hanson takes over from Richard W . Abramson , a partner at the Hackensack-based law firm Cole Schotz P . C . The new vice chair will be Audrey Murphy , executive president and chief legal officer at Hackensack Meridian Health .
Abramson and Russo , like so many executives , saw their business mode totally upended by the COVID‐19 pandemic . The restrictions imposed to fight the virus curtailed most of
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