• Wharton Equity Partners invests in a variety of sectors including residential and commercial real estate, biotech, energy, and other commercial enterprises

Wharton Columbia Net Lease Partners has been formed to acquire and manage single tenant commercial properties, subject to net leases (properties were tenants are responsible for the payment of all or most of operating expenses and maintenance).

The principals of the company have acquired over 200 net lease properties during the last 25 years with an aggregate value exceeding $800 million. Tenants have included drug store chains (Walgreens, CVS), big box retailers (Sam Warehouse, Home Depot), grocery stores (Stop N Shop), and State agencies. Total equity deployed has been in excess of $200 million, with a default rate (i.e., loss of equity) of less than 1%.

Headquartered in Hackensack, New Jersey, the company is a joint venture with an affiliate of NAI James E. Hanson, a commercial brokerage and leasing firm founded in 1955. Through its affiliation with the national NAI network, as well as long-standing relationship with owners, the firm has access to extensive proprietary deal flow. Additionally, as a developer of over 50 shopping centers, Hanson has strong relationships with a wide range of retailers.

WHARTON-COLUMBIA NET LEASE PARTNERS

  • Peter Hanson
    Peter Hanson, Vice-Chairman

    Mr. Hanson is the Vice-Chairman of Wharton Columbia Net Lease Partners. Mr. Hanson has over 50 years of experience in the commercial real estate industry both in providing real estate services to third parties and acting on behalf of investor clients in the acquisition, development, and marketing of investment properties. Mr. Hanson currently serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NAI James E. Hanson, an affiliated full service commercial real estate company which was founded in 1955 and in 2010 advised on transactions totaling 3 million square feet valued at $155 million. For 11 years, Mr. Hanson served as a Director of the Meridian Family of REITS variously listed on the NYSE, NASDAQ and AMEX.

    Mr. Hanson currently serves as the Chairman of Net Lease Capital Advisors and on the Boards of Directors of NAI Global, The Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR) and the Hackensack Medical Center. Mr. Hanson served as a Pilot and Captain in the United States Air Force between 1955 and 1959.

  • Donald Hanson
    Donald Hanson, Chief Investment Officer

    Mr. Hanson is the Chief Investment Officer and co-founder of Wharton Columbia Net Lease Partners. Mr. Hanson has been involved in real estate development and acquisitions for over 40 years, with the last 25 years focused on net lease property acquisitions. Mr. Hanson has been directed the acquisition of over $800 million of net lease properties and the disposition of $250 million of such properties. Through his industry relationships, Mr. Hanson specializes in locating and acquiring strong credit retail and office net lease properties with long-term leases in place.

    Mr. Hanson is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers and National Association of Realtors.

  • Joan Hoerauf
    Joan Hoerauf, Chief Financial Officer

    Joan Hoerauf is the Chief Financial Officer of Wharton Columbia Net Lease Partners. Ms. Hoerauf has over 40 years of finance and accounting experience, currently serving as treasurer of an affiliate of Wharton Columbia, NAI James E. Hanson. Ms. Hoerauf oversees all finance and accounting functions for Wharton Columbia.

  • Hal Messer
    Hal Messer, Vice President of Acquisitions

    Mr. Messer is the Vice President of Acquisitions of Wharton Columbia Net Lease Partners. Mr. Messer has been part of the real estate industry since 2001 and has completed numerous property acquisitions and dispositions, and has completed transactions totaling over $225 million and 2 million square feet. Since 2006, Mr. Messer has overseen the acquisition of over $130 million of net lease properties.

    Mr. Messer is a past president of the Industrial and Office Real Estate Brokers Association and currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the Jewish Community Housing Corporation. Mr. Messer received his Masters in Real Estate Finance from New York University and his B.A. in Finance and Real Estate from Babson College, cum laude, in Wellesley, Massachusetts.