ADISA Executive Director Announces Retirement
John Harrison, the long-time leader of the Alternative & Direct Investment Securities Association, announced last Friday in a letter to ADISA members that he will retire from his position as ADISA executive director in 2023, although an exact departure date was not given.
“I feel it is time for me to sunset out and usher in new staff leadership for the organization,” wrote Harrison.
The executive director has served ADISA for more than a decade, making it the largest portion of his career in association management which spans more than 25 years.
Harrison has served in industry, education and health associations both in the US, Europe and the Middle East. Prior to ADISA, he was vice president of global planning and the foundation executive director at TAPPI, the paper industry’s association, where he worked for 14 years. He was also with the American Cancer Society, the international YMCA, and the American Academy of Religion. Harrison has authored dozens of publications in the association management field and served on a management team nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in the early 1990’s and was commissioned in the US Air Force out of college.
He was a cum laude graduate in biology and psychology from the University of Georgia and earned an MBA and DBA from Georgia State University.
Harrison notes that he will continue to help ADISA when needed as executive director emeritus.
“ADISA has carved a reputation of excellence and friendliness; we’re democratic in our structure and proud of it,” wrote Harrison. “Perhaps this is the thing of which I am most proud: we have built an association that truly belongs and is in touch with its members.”
Harrison’s replacement has not been named. According to Harrison, incoming ADISA president Michael Underhill and the ADISA board of directors will announce the beginning of the selection process for the future executive director in the coming weeks.
The Alternative & Direct Investment Securities Association bills itself as the nation’s largest trade association representing the non‐traded alternative investment space. ADISA’s members are typically involved in non-traded real estate investment trusts, business development companies, master limited partnerships and private and public funds (LPs/LLCs), 1031 exchange programs (DSTs/TICs), energy and oil and gas interests, equipment leasing programs or other alternative and direct investment offerings.
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