Joe Rand

Joe Rand has an extensive background as a business professional, public official, and community leader.

As a business professional, Rand is currently the Chief Creative Officer for Howard Hanna | Rand Realty, one of the largest companies in the New York tristate region with over 25 offices and 1,200 agents, closing over 6,000 transactions worth over $3 billion in volume in 2022. An industry thought leader, he has written two leading industry books -- "Disruptors, Discounters, and Doubters" and "How to be a Great Real Estate Agent" – both of which were named by Inman Media as the most significant real estate books of their publication year. He has spoken at numerous industry conferences, including Real Estate Connect, the RIS Media CEO Summit, REALTOR Triple Play, and the Women’s Council of REALTORS national meetings. In his career, Rand has been honored by RIS Media with one of the inaugural industry Newsmaker Awards, recognized by Inman News as one of the Top 100 Real Estate Influencers, and recognized in the Real Estate Almanac from T360 Advisors in the Swanepoel Power 200 as one of the most influential people in real estate. Closer to home, he is also the 2020 recipient of the “REALTOR of the Year” award from the Hudson Gateway Association of REALTORS in New York.

As a public official, Rand was first appointed to a partial term on the Village of Nyack Board in 2021, at the height of the COVID pandemic. He was then elected to a full term in November 2021, and then appointed as Deputy Mayor in January 2023. As a member of the Board, Rand was the first chair of the Nyack Business Council, and raised over $40,000 from private funds to provide COVID-compliant event programming throughout 2021, including the first “Pride Promenade” to celebrate the community’s LGBTQ+ community. He was also part of major public policy initiatives to reinforce the Village infrastructure, enhance energy-efficiency, and raise new sources of non-property-tax revenues. He is currently running unopposed for Mayor of the Village, and will take office in January 2024.

Finally, as a community leader, Rand has been both a leading philanthropist in Rockland County and a major contributor to local nonprofit organizations. His non-profit service includes 10 years on the Board of SUNY Rockland, where he is currently Vice-Chair, and 9 years on the Board of United Hospice, which he finished as Vice-Chair. He has also advised or been involved in committee work for Venture Together, the Edward Hopper Museum and Study Center, the Center for Safety and Change, Rockland Pride, and the Rockland Community Foundation. For his contributions to the community, he has been honored either personally or as a leader of his company by the following organizations: Habitat for Humanity (2023), United Hospice (Community Leadership Award) (2018), Rockland Pride Center (Inaugural LGBTQ Business Champion Award) (2017), Westchester Business Council (Hall of Fame Induction) (2017), Nyack YMCA (Community Service Award) (2017), Rockland Salvation Army (“Doing the Most Good” Award) (2014), Rockland Meals on Wheels (Community Outreach Award) (2014), Rockland Development Council (Corporate Leadership Award) (2013), and the Rockland Economic Development Corporation (Award of Distinction) (2011).

Rand is married to Linie Chang Rand, who is the Chair of the Center for Safety and Change, the leading service provider to survivors of gender-based and domestic violence. Together, they live with two children and three dogs in Nyack.