Erik Hanberg served more than 12 years as an elected commissioner on the board of Parks Tacoma (2010–2022), one of five commissioners overseeing the park district on behalf of the public. During that time, Parks Tacoma operated with an annual budget of more than $50 million, and the voters showed their support for the work by passing a levy lid lift and a capital bond.

Erik was first appointed in 2010 to fill a vacancy on the board. In 2011, he won a competitive citywide election with 19,500 votes, defeating an opponent with eighteen years of previous elected experience on the board. He was re-elected unopposed in 2017 and served as president of the board in 2016 and 2021. His time in elected office gave Erik deep experience in public administration, public process, capital planning, and the intersection of community voice and institutional governance.

Erik is a Senior Fellow of the American Leadership Forum, Tacoma/Pierce County Chapter, and has served on numerous boards and committees in the community. He routinely consults with local nonprofit, business, and elected leaders, formally through programs such as Spaceworks Tacoma and his ForSmallNonprofits.com business, and informally over coffee meetups and phone calls.