Recipient | Biographies | Photo Gallery | News Release | History of Ad Lucem Award
Howard W. Hanna, Jr.
Founder, Howard Hanna Real Estate Services
Howard W. Hanna, Jr. founded Howard Hanna Real Estate Services in 1957. After serving as an American Liaison Officer with the British Army in India in World War II, Mr. Hanna and his wife Anne Freyvogel Hanna, began the company with a modest dividend check and a tiny office at the intersection of Bayard and Craig Streets in the Shadyside area of Pittsburgh. He and his wife wanted to carve out a business close to their Pittsburgh home. Mr. Hanna had experience working for the homebuilder's association in Cleveland; his wife had strong roots in Pittsburgh and didn't want to leave home. With his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in business from the University of Pittsburgh, he began with his single office, the real estate company that is 122 offices today.
Howard Hanna Real Estate Services now has offices in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia and New York and employs more than 3,600 sales associates and staff. As the 5th largest full-service and the 3rd largest privately held real estate company in the United States, the company specializes in residential and commercial brokerage service, mortgages, closing and title insurance, land development, appraisal services, insurance services and corporate relocation.
A former Director of the REALTORS Association, Mr. Hanna was a founding member and past President of the East End Multi List and the West Penn Multi List, Inc., as well as past President of the Pittsburgh Chapter of the Independent Fee Appraisers. In 1991, he was appointed by (then) Governor Casey to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's State Real Estate Commission.
Mr. Hanna is a licensed Real Estate Broker in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Florida, also a state-certified General Appraiser and a Florida-licensed Mortgage Broker. He has over 60 years of experience in all areas of real estate.
In 1997, the Florida Association of Realtors recognized Mr. Hanna as a "Living Legend of Real Estate," and in 2001, the Realtors Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh presented him with the "Lifetime Achievement Award."
Howard and Anne Freyvogel Hanna had three children; Howard W. "Hoddy" Hanna, III, now Chairman and CEO; Helen Hanna Casey, President; and Annie Hanna Cestra , Executive VP and COO of the Company. Mr. Hanna has 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Howard W. "Hoddy" Hanna, III
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Howard W. "Hoddy" Hanna, III is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Howard Hanna Real Estate Services Inc.
Hoddy is known as a man of steadfast determination, integrity and verve. Getting his real estate license at 18 and following in his father's footsteps, Hoddy began his real estate career as a weekend Sales Associate for Howard Hanna while attending John Carroll University. The business expanded and diversified under Hoddy's leadership and he became an important influence in the real estate community and an industry leader. He was the youngest Certified Residential Broker (CRB) in the country and was an inaugural member of the Andron Epiphanon Fraternity of the Realtors Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh. Hoddy was also a founder and former president of the West Penn Multiple Listing Service.
Hoddy's innovation in the industry is well known. He has always been known as the idea man, brimming with energy and charisma. Howard Hanna Real Estate Services was among the first in the country to launch a weekly television program showcasing homes listed for sale with Howard Hanna. This brought a new dimension to home buying and selling. The "Showcase of Homes" now airs in five metro markets and will add a new show in the Harrisburg area in March 2008. Developing innovative programs is one of Howard Hanna's core strengths. Hoddy is always looking to grow the company's quality and scope of services to ensure that the customer gets the best price for their home in the quickest amount of time. No other real estate company in the nation offers a "100% Money Back Guarantee" as Howard Hanna does. He has introduced "One Stop Shopping" for home purchases simplifying the entire process by offering competitive mortgage programs, insurance, title and escrow services all from one location.
Hoddy has advanced his family-owned, multi-generational business to be the largest in a four state area as the company celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2007. The company recorded its best year ever in the 49 year history of Howard Hanna Real Estate Services in 2006. Hoddy's goal is to be the leader in sales, mortgages and closings of real estate, but especially to do so with pride, enthusiasm and integrity.
Hoddy's outstanding character and spirit of giving has led to numerous accomplishments for the community. One of his favorite causes is the Free Care Fund at Children's Hospitals. The Howard Hanna Company has donated more than $4.4 million over the last 18 years to Children's hospitals in their market areas. The free care fund, which provides medical care to children who cannot afford it, is the recipient of the money raised by all 122 Howard Hanna offices.
Hoddy is a founding member and former Board Chairman of Family House, a network of homes for transplant patients and their families. In 1990, Hoddy and his wife, Mary Anne, were the founders and first chairs of the Pittsburgh Central Catholic High School Auction which over the years has raised more than $2.5 million for scholarships. Giving back to the community is a Howard Hanna family value that is reflected in the company's contributions to local causes, schools, foundations and associations.
Hoddy serves the community through his many civic involvements. Most recently, on January 1, 2007, Hoddy was appointed to the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland 's Pittsburgh office board of directors. He serves as Vice Chair, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh board and also sits on the boards of Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania, Charter One Bank, N.A., the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Health System, John Carroll University, The Duquesne Club, La Roche College, the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority, the Katz Graduate School of Business Board of Visitors-University of Pittsburgh, the Diocese of Pittsburgh Finance Council and is Chairman of Fannie Mae's Pittsburgh Partnership-Office Advisory Council. Additionally, he is a former Chairman of the Real Estate Service Provider's Council (RESPRO) and has previously served on the boards of National City Bank, Integra Bank, Equibank, the Allegheny 2000 Committee and the Pittsburgh Film Office. In 2002, he testified before the United States Senate Finance and Banking Committee in Washington , DC.
Hoddy and his wife Mary Anne reside in Fox Chapel, Pennsylvania, where they have raised five children and are the proud grandparents of eight grandchildren.
Helen Hanna Casey
President
Dynamic, committed, successful and mentor are all words that aptly describe Helen Hanna Casey but these words are only part of the story. As President of the 5 th largest full- service real estate brokerage firm and the 3 rd largest independent real estate company in the United States, Helen is the energetic dynamo who leads residential sales. With her endless energy and enthusiasm, Helen has grown from an entry position of sales associate in 1975 to branch manager, regional Vice President and to her current role of leading over 3,600 sales associates and employees in 122 sales offices located across Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia and New York. Helen's passion for the real estate business, and improving the real estate process for the client, is legendary in the industry.
Helen has successfully pursued a career in real estate for the past thirty years and holds the professional designations of GRI (Graduate Realtors Institute) and CRB (Certified Residential Broker), and is currently on the Executive Committee for the National Association of Realtors. Helen is the first woman to be elected President of the Board of Directors of the West Penn Multi-List, as well as having the honor of being the only woman to serve on its board. In 2007, Helen also served as Chairman of The Realty Alliance, a consortium of the largest, professional residential real estate companies in the United States and Canada. Just last month, The National Association of REALTORS® appointed Helen to its 2008 Executive Committee.
Helen has been instrumental in the growth of Howard Hanna Real Estate Services where a spectrum of innovative services - real estate, mortgage, title and insurance services are offered.
National Relocation and Real Estate magazine recognized Ms. Casey as a Top Company President; Carlow College recognized her as a "Woman of Spirit" and the University of Pittsburgh's Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business deemed the company as the "Family Business of the Year". Working Woman Magazine named Helen and her company among the "Top 500 Woman-Owned Businesses" in the United States for which she was honored at the White House. Ms. Casey has been recognized as one of Pennsylvania 's Best 50 Women in Business as well as Entrepreneur of the Year.
Helen is committed to improving the Pittsburgh region and is involved in a variety of organizations to achieve this goal. She is currently the chair of trustees of Carlow University , on the board of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, on the board of TriState Capital, serves as vice chair of productions for the Civic Light Opera and is vice president of the International Women's Forum (IWF).
A much sought-after speaker, Helen has spoken to real estate professionals throughout the United States and in England on such topics as sales, marketing and the role of professional women as volunteers and philanthropists. She has been a featured speaker at the Working Woman 500 Congress national Association of Realtors, Real Estate and Relocation Conference and the Council of Multi-List Services, among others.
Ms. Casey, and her husband Stephen, reside in the Shadyside area of Pittsburgh and are the proud parents of two children and grandparents of three.
ANNIE HANNA CESTRA
Executive Vice President
Chief Operating Officer
Annie was named Chief Operating Officer of Howard Hanna Real Estate Services in 1986, after 12 years of serving as Treasurer and guiding the fiscal policies of the company from the beginning of its remarkable expansion. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Georgian Court College and a Master of Education degree from the University of Pittsburgh. Annie currently holds a Real Estate Broker's and an Insurance license in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Her current responsibility is to direct the administrative operations of Howard Hanna Real Estate and its ancillaries. This involves developing and implementing policies and procedures that serve the needs of the Corporation, the licensees and management to ensure professional standards of consistency and integrity.
In December 2007, Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell appointed Annie chair of the Pennsylvania State Real Estate Commission. She was serving as vice-chair and has been a member of the PA State Real Estate Commission since 2003. She also has been a Director of the Realtors Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh's Executive Committee and a delegate to the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors.
An active and involved member of her community, Annie has served as President and Vice President respectively for St. Lucy's Auxiliary to the Blind and for Pittsburgh Hearing, Speech and Deaf Services. Currently, she serves on the boards of the Urban League of Pittsburgh and the Winchester Thurston School and has served as Treasurer of Fox Chapel Country Day School's Board of Trustees.
The National Relocation and Real Estate Magazine honored Annie as "One of the Most Powerful Women in Real Estate" in 1999. Carlow College recognized Annie in 1994 as a "Woman of Spirit." She was also honored in Washington DC at the Second Annual Working Woman 500 Congress.
Annie and her husband Dennis reside in the Fox Chapel area of Pittsburgh with their three children.
Annie Hanna Engel
Chief Legal Counsel
Annie Engel's practice at Howard Hanna Real Estate Services focuses on real estate transaction litigation, licensee ethics compliance, municipal compliance and various corporate matters. She also teaches real estate licensing continuing education courses in both ethics and the liability of the real estate transaction. She has recently published several articles on sales agreement negotiations, an article on seller's disclosures and the role of the licensee, and is the co-editor of the Barrister's Bugle - a legal real estate publication.
A graduate of Dickinson College, The University of Pittsburgh School of Law (J.D.), and the University of Connecticut School of Law (LL.M., Insurance Law), Annie was formerly the Manager of Graduate Studies at the University of Connecticut School of Law and Deputy Director of the Insurance Law Center. She also taught courses in insurance law while at the law school.
She is a member of the Bar in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Connecticut. Annie also holds her real estate broker's licenses in Pennsylvania and in Florida and is a graduate of Leadership Pittsburgh XXIII.
Serving as a board member of St. Lucy's Auxiliary, a member of the CLO Corporate Circles Board and on the executive board of the Fox Chapel Area Newcomers Club, keeps Annie actively involved in the Pittsburgh community. She also volunteers her time for the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, Carnegie Science Center, the Winchester Thurston School and the Fox Chapel Country Day School.
Duffy Hanna
Executive Vice President, Barristers Land Abstract Company
F. Duffy Hanna is the Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Barristers Land Abstract Company, which is Howard Hanna Real Estate Services' wholly owned the title and escrow company.
Duffy received his undergraduate degree from The Catholic University of America and received his law degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. He is admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association.
After graduating from law school, Duffy spent four years at the law firm of Doepken, Keevican & Weiss as a member of their Corporate and Real Estate Group, handling and structuring complex mergers and acquisitions, management buyouts and large commercial real estate transactions. Duffy then joined his family business becoming Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Barristers Land Abstract and Howard Hanna Real Estate Services.
Howard W. "Hoby" Hanna, IV
President, Howard Hanna Ohio
As President of Howard Hanna Ohio, Hoby Hanna directs the business and operational efforts of Howard Hanna throughout the state of Ohio and works with the firm's clients, branch mangers and REALTORS® to insure the company's on-going reputation for excellence. He also is in charge of land development, works with Howard Hanna Mortgage, and Barristers of Ohio Title & Escrow Services and Howard Hanna Insurance. Hoby is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and the Leadership Development program and Yale University . He is a licensed Broker and is active in numerous professional, civic and community organizations locally and nationally.
