George E. Norcross, III is the Executive Chairman of Conner Strong & Buckelew, one of the nation’s premier insurance, risk management and employee benefits brokerage and consulting firms. Norcross has been the head of Conner Strong & Buckelew and predecessor companies since 1979.
Norcross also serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Cooper Health System and Cooper University Hospital in Camden, where he has served as a Trustee since 1990. During this time, Cooper has been transformed into a top-tier tertiary academic medical center; launched the Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, the first new medical school in New Jersey in 30 years; and opened the MD Anderson Cooper Cancer Center. In 2015, Norcross was appointed to the MD Anderson Cancer Center Board of Visitors whose goal is to end cancer both locally and globally. Norcross has won wide praise for his leadership of Cooper, including the prestigious Seven Seals Award given by the U.S. Department of Defense’s Employer Support for National Guard and Reserve in recognition of Cooper’s Veterans VIP Priority Program. Norcross was also recognized as one of New Jersey’ s 2013 Top Influencers in New Jersey Biotech by BioNJ, Trustee of the Year by the New Jersey Hospital Association in 201 1, and Trustee of the Year by the New Jersey Council of Teaching Hospitals in 2006. In 2009, Norcross accepted the Susan G. Komen Beacon of Hope Award on behalf of Cooper University Hospital /Cooper Cancer Institute.
In addition to his role in making Cooper a regional healthcare leader, Norcross has been recognized for his personal philanthropy and support of the larger South Jersey community, especially the City of Camden. Norcross and his wife Sandy serve as co-chairs of The Cooper Gala, which is the largest fundraising event in South Jersey each year and has raised over $6 million to benefit Cooper University Health Care. In addition to supporting The Cooper Foundation, in 2011, Sandy and George Norcross announced a $5 million pledge to Cooper.
The Norcross Family Foundation focuses its charitable efforts on improving education for youth, funding research to help cure diseases, supporting the arts and culture, improving the community’s safety, and helping people with disabilities. Through the Norcross Foundation, in conjunction with The Cooper Foundation and in partnership with the non-profit TEAM Schools of New Jersey, New Jersey’s first “renaissance school,” the Kipp-Cooper Norcross Academy in Camden opened in September 2015.
Norcross has served as the long-term Chairman of the annual charity event called Cooper Norcross Run the Bridge, which benefits the Lare School in New Jersey, a special education school for children with disabilities.
Norcross has received numerous awards to honor his contributions to the community by various organizations such as the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey (Hass Regional Champion Medal ,2015), the New Jersey March of Dimes (2013), the Jewish National Fund for his philanthropic and community leadership (Tree of Life award,2013).
Mr. Norcross is a shareholder and member of the Board of Directors for Delta Risk, a firm that provides high impact cybersecurity and risk management services to government and private sector clients worldwide. Formerly, he served on the Board of Directors of Commerce Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE:CBH) and led the $7.8 billion sale of the bank to TD Bank Financial Group. Norcross also served as Chairman and majority shareholder of U.S. Vision, a large national retailer of optical product s and services until its sale to a third party and as the co-chairman of the board of Interstate General Media (IGM), the parent company of The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Daily News and Philly.com (2012-2014).