In less than two years since entering the commercial real estate industry and graduating from Grand Canyon University with a degree in communications, Hannah Sanders has made a name for herself through active involvement in some of the industry’s most prominent and influential trade associations such as ABA, AZCREW, NAIOP, Valley Partnership and ULI.
At Valley Partnership, she was accepted into its Advocates program for aspiring CRE professionals under 35 years old. She was also accepted into NAIOP’s Developing Leaders program and serves on NAIOP’s Night at the Fights and Rookies & Rockstars committees. Meanwhile at Arizona Builders Alliance, she helps the membership committee, and is eager to get more involved with the Urban Land Institute next.
Her willingness to get active and be engaged with so many industry associations serves as a prime example of the benefits, both personally and professionally, for other up-and-comers to get proactive about involvement.
The Phoenix native and former high school cheerleader describes herself as Arizona’s number one fan and still a cheerleader at heart.
Her charismatic and infectious personality undoubtedly helps Sanders’ business development efforts, which include pursuing new install or renovation projects, initiating and maintaining client relationships as well as organizing and marketing different networking events.
She says, “I’ve been blessed to join a company that celebrates ingenuity, so finding new and meaningful ways to get AME’s name out there has been very fun.”
For instance, as a certified yoga instructor, she incorporated her passion for maintaining a healthy mind, body and spirit into different fundraising and business development opportunities for good causes that are also good for you. For instance, Sanders partnered with JLL to host yoga classes on select Friday mornings at JLL’s Phoenix office on its balcony overlooking Camelback Mountain.
Another initiative of hers was to bring a select group of subcontractors together to co-host ping pong tournaments for general contractors, which will come full circle in November for a championship where the best two teams of two will compete for the Golden Paddle.
Since 2015, AME has tripled its revenue, and Sanders says, “Seeing AME’s construction division grow as much as it has and knowing that I am a part of it is exciting to me. And to be honest, I feel accomplished every time an industry leader agrees to meet with me.”
