Cheri Hanson

As Vice President of Team Relations, Cheri Hanson facilitates communication among players, coaches, business staff, agents, player families, and the NBA to help all parties achieve business and community objectives. Hanson collaborates with athletes and their agents to further brand management initiatives, including communications strategy, scheduling of meetings, public appearances and player programs. This is Hanson’s 11th season in her current role.

She joined the Trail Blazers in June 2007 as Vice President of Communications. It was a professional homecoming for the Portland native, whose 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 herself became the first woman to win the prestigious NBA award, honoring her performance and service during her NBA career.

After a decade under her father’s tutelage, Hanson directed public relations 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, Hanson and her colleagues have been recognized for media relations leadership. Cheri and her husband, David, have two boys, Nicholas (16) and Kyle (15).