Local Realtor Chris Hanson named LBCC Distinguished Alumnus
Linn-Benton Community College has named local real estate developer Chris Hanson as
this year’s Distinguished Alumnus.
Hanson will be recognized at LBCC’s Commencement held Thursday, June 13 at 7 p.m.
at the Willamette Events Center in Albany.
Hanson is a fifth-generation Oregonian and graduate of West Albany High School. He
earned his associate of science degree from LBCC in 1988, and went on to study business
management at the University of Phoenix.
Hanson has more than 20 years of experience in commercial real estate ranging from
corporate real estate management to regional and national portfolio accountability,
engineering, capital planning, and overall strategy development and implementation,
and has owned and developed properties throughout the valley.
“Receiving this award is really an honor,” said Chris Hanson. “I remember my time
at LBCC as the jumpstart to my future, and I am grateful for the opportunity to encourage
other community college students with the message that college does matter, and that
you can achieve your goals if you invest in your education.”
Hanson previously owned a mid-sized manufacturing company in Albany. He also spent
nearly 34 years working for Hewlett Packard in Corvallis in technical and engineering
roles before becoming a real estate manager for the company.
In 1988, at the age of 28, Hanson began a non-profit after seven people were killed
in a fiery crash on I-5 that was caused by local field burning, once a common practice
in the state. Hanson spent the next four years lobbying state legislators to ban field
burning, and introduced a Bill and initiative petitions which resulted in the ban
of field burning across the state.
“Chris exemplifies the commitment to community that is at the core of the Linn-Benton
Community College mission,” said Jennifer Boehmer, Executive Director of Institutional
Advancement at LBCC. “Over the years, he has paved the way for so many key companies
to establish a foothold in the Mid-Willamette Valley. We are proud to lift up Chris
as an example of how education for a single individual can benefit everyone.
Hanson serves on the boards of the Albany General Hospital Foundation and the Business
Enterprise Center, and previously served on the Albany-Millersburg Economic Development
Corporation board.
LBCC’s Distinguished Alumni Award was established in 2005 to recognize former students
who have demonstrated outstanding accomplishments in their professions or through
service to their communities.
Hanson joins 37 others who have been recognized by the college, including: retired
Linn County Judge Carol Bispham; local attorney’s Robert McCann, Jr. and Denise Soto,
state employment economist William Summers, local dentist Dr. Todd Gifford, radio
show host Scott Schuler, Knights Baseball owner Dan Segal, Linn County Judge Rachel
Kittson-MaQatish and many others whose contributions to our communities are greatly
appreciated.
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About Linn-Benton Community College: More than 18,000 students rely on Linn-Benton Community College each year for higher education including career technical education, transfer degree programs, professional development, corporate training, small business development, community education classes and more. Serving the mid-Willamette Valley with six locations including its main campus in Albany, LBCC partners with multiple business and industries to enrich the community and support economic growth. LBCC students choose from more than 80 programs and go on to be tomorrow’s innovators, leaders, skilled workers and community builders.