Meet the Man Behind It All: Lee Hanson

Founder & CEO, Lee Hanson

Lee Hanson, Founder and CEO of The Hanson Group

Lee Hanson is a man of many ways.

He’s a chemical genius, a sports fanatic, a forward-thinker, an entrepreneur, a family man and, of course, a Waffle House connoisseur.

A native of Rome, Georgia, Lee graduated from Darlington School and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Georgia Tech in 1984, where he was a member of the ATO fraternity. He began his career in technical sales with companies such as Unocal, Rogers Corporation, and Ciba-Geigy Corporation.

In 1996, Lee founded The Hanson Group, LLC, a materials science company specializing in advanced raw materials for the coatings, adhesives, and plastics industries.

Over the past three decades, The Hanson Group has evolved to provide fully formulated systems – tailored chemical solutions designed to meet the needs of a broad range of industries.

Today, the company manufactures products for sectors including sporting goods, aerospace, military, optics, automotive, DIY, boating, mining, oil & gas and general industrial applications. Known for its rapid innovation and expertise in problem-solving, The Hanson Group has become a trusted partner for material science and safety solutions.

Lee has also contributed to numerous technical and trade organizations, including serving as past president of the Polyurethane Development Association (PDA) and participating in PMA, CPI, ASTM, and ERF.

In 2010, Lee and his wife, Erin, co-founded Guardian Innovations, LLC after being approached to redesign the traditional football helmet. Their flagship product, the Guardian Cap – a soft-shell helmet cover designed to reduce repetitive impact – has become widely adopted at all levels of football and is now mandated by the NFL for all teams during contact practices.

Building on that success, Guardian’s product line has expanded to include PEARL lacrosse balls — the only lacrosse balls manufactured in the U.S. — as well as the LOOP headband for non-helmet sports like flag football and the Guardian Chinstrap, which has been shown to reduce up to 35% of impact during facemask-to-facemask collisions.

In the turf industry, Guardian has introduced Guardian Infill, a USDA Certified bio-based TPE used as a sustainable alternative to crumb rubber, and Guardian Pad, a high-impact, recycled polyurethane underlayment for turf fields. Through these innovations, Guardian has become a recognized leader in athlete safety and sustainable sports technology.

Most recently, Lee launched Catalyst Technologies, a company set to revolutionize the disposable glove industry. Leveraging his deep expertise in polyurethane chemistry, Catalyst has developed the first commercially viable polyurethane disposable glove, offering superior tear resistance, tensile strength, and flexibility compared to latex and nitrile gloves — without causing skin irritation. These gloves are poised to become a preferred option in the medical, cleanroom and food processing industries.

Outside of his professional pursuits, Lee enjoys tennis, golf, movie nights and spending quality time with his wife, their five grown children and ten grandchildren.

LinkedIn: Lee Hanson