As Vice President of Player Programs and Team Relations, Cheri Hanson is responsible for cultivating strong relationships with players, their families, agents, business staff and the NBA to help all parties achieve their community and business objectives. She supports the players’ professional development by collaborating with athletes and their agents to further brand management initiatives through communications strategies and public appearances. Additionally, Hanson oversees Player Programs, working closely with the NBA’s Player Development Department on program initiatives.

This is Hanson’s 14th season in her current role. She joined the Trail Blazers in June 2007 as Vice President of Communications, a professional homecoming for the Portland native. Her NBA career began in 1974 as an assistant to her father, John White, the team’s original publicity director and the recipient of the 1998 Splaver/McHugh “Tribute to Excellence” award. In 2015, Hanson followed in her father’s footsteps to become the first woman to win the NBA’s prestigious Splaver/McHugh award for outstanding performance and service in public relations. Following a decade under her father’s tutelage, Hanson directed PR efforts for the Golden State Warriors (1985-90), the Seattle SuperSonics (1992-99) and the Milwaukee Bucks (1999-2007), and also served as the NBA’s assistant director of media relations (1990-92). Twice, in 1987 and 2009, she led departments that were voted the league’s best by national media.  Cheri and her husband, David, have two boys, Nicholas and Kyle.