Melissa Strickland
By Joshua Burd
Melissa Strickland, a well-known design professional in New Jersey, has joined JLL as a senior vice president and head of its workplace strategy team in the region.
The real estate services firm said Strickland, who previously led HLW’s New Jersey office, assumes the role with more than 20 years of design experience across the technology, life sciences, pharmaceutical, legal and financial sectors. She’ll continue to draw on that expertise as she advises JLL clients on workplace strategy, change management, space programming and planning and design for large, complex projects throughout the state.
Strickland will also draw on data and employee insights as she helps organizations evaluate how people work, collaborate and engage within the office, the firm said. In the process, she will partner with clients to develop workplace solutions that enhance the worker experience, support recruitment and retention efforts, optimize real estate investments and create flexible environments that can adapt to evolving business needs.
“Melissa’s passion for workplace strategy, combined with her deep technical expertise and longstanding client relationships, makes her an exceptional addition to our New Jersey team,” said Tim Greiner, an executive managing director with JLL. “As companies continue to evaluate how their workplaces can support talent, culture and performance, Melissa will help our clients think beyond traditional tenant representation transactions and identify opportunities where workplace strategy can create meaningful value.”
Strickland is a former principal and managing director of HLW’s New Jersey office, where she led the firm’s workplace sector. Earlier in her career, she was a senior designer and associate at Gensler and an interior designer with SOM.
She’s now based in JLL’s Parsippany office as part of a move that reflects its continued investment in its workplace strategy capabilities, as corporate real estate leaders increasingly seek to optimize portfolios, improve employee experience and align workplace investments with broader business objectives, the firm said. According to JLL’s 2025 Occupancy Planning Benchmark Report, organizations are moving beyond cost reduction alone and are strategically reimagining their workspace footprints while advancing sustainability goals through initiatives such as waste reduction, rightsizing and furniture reuse.
“Throughout my career, I’ve been passionate about understanding how people work and translating those insights into workplace strategies that support both employees and business goals,” Strickland said. “Joining JLL provides an incredible opportunity to help organizations optimize their portfolios, embrace new workplace models and create environments that foster collaboration, innovation and culture.”
