The New Jersey Hall of Fame on Thursday said it appointed Jim Roberts to serve as the first executive director and lead the nonprofit into its next phase of growth.
A New Jersey native himself, Roberts previously served as the executive director of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s New York City Chapter—one of the nation’s largest. Prior to LLS, he served as executive director of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation for northern New Jersey and Rockland and Orange counties in New York.
Roberts served as the president of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s New Jersey Metro Chapter, and as the executive director of the American Diabetes Association northern New Jersey affiliate – ADA’s fourth-largest market in the country – which encompasses central and northern New Jersey, northeastern Pennsylvania, and Staten Island, N.Y. He began his career at Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey in 1984 and spent nearly 19 years at the state’s leading health insurer.
Jon Hanson
“We wanted a proven leader in the world of nonprofit management, someone who could help us reach our own potential,” says Jon Hanson, chairman of the NJHOF. “Jim has a successful history in nonprofit organization management and he’s highly skilled in event management, media relations, philanthropy, and fundraising.”
Roberts has also served on various boards of directors, including at Fairleigh Dickinson’s Center for Excellence in Leadership, Governance & Philanthropy; ADA’s Community Leadership Board; Special Olympics New Jersey; Atlantic City LPG Benefit Association; The First Tee of Greater Atlantic City; and Integrity House.
He was appointed to the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness & Sports where he was a leadership volunteer under New York Giants linebacker and Council Executive Director Harry Carson.
“In these challenging times, we also wanted someone who shares our deep passion for inspiring our next generation to be their best,” said NJHOF President Steve Edwards. “I’ve known Jim for a long time, and I know he wants to see that everyone is inspired to achieve their own ‘Arete’: the Greek concept of realizing one’s full potential.”
The NJHOF engaged DHR International, a leading provider in executive search solutions, to handle the search.
