After more than two and a half decades at the helm of the largest trade association in New Jersey, Jarrod Grasso, of Lavallette, announced last week he was stepping down to accept a newly created position at the National Association of Realtors®. Doug Tomson, of Hillsborough, who served as the former Vice President of Government Affairs at New Jersey Realtors®, and most recently was the Chief Executive Officer at the North Central Jersey Association of Realtors® has been named as incoming CEO.
Grasso, who will be undertaking a newly created role—Senior Vice President of Industry Relations at the National Association of Realtors®—had been with the association since 1999, first serving as the head of government affairs before becoming CEO.
“I am honored to join NAR in this pivotal new role and look forward to working alongside my association colleagues, our members, and other industry partners to demonstrate how together we can create meaningful solutions for REALTORS,” Grasso said in an NAR press release announcing his new position. “By fostering strong relationships and addressing critical industry priorities, we can help members remain indispensable to their clients and communities.”
Tomson left New Jersey Realtors to become the Chief Executive Officer at the North Central Jersey Association of Realtors® last year, where he has continued to help empower Realtors® to preserve, protect, and advance private property rights and homeownership while strategically leading the association’s innovation and growth. He is a 2023 recipient of the Realtor® Association Executive Certification—an industry standard for association executives.
“Taking on this new role at New Jersey Realtors®, a place where I have spent a great deal of my career, is a true privilege,” said Tomson. “I am committed to seeing the protection of private property rights, and homeownership, and to continue providing the best tools and services our members need for their success.”
Tomson was in charge of the New Jersey Realtors® government affairs department for more than two decades, where he shaped the advocacy strategy by monitoring, analyzing, and collaborating with lawmakers to shape legislative and regulatory policies impacting homeownership, private property rights, and the real estate profession. Beyond his professional achievements, Tomson has a deep record of civil service, having served for 12 years on the Hillsborough Township Committee and three terms as the township’s mayor.
