About Howard Hanna Real Estate Services

Shawn Adams has worked in the real estate industry since 2001. He served as both chief financial officer and president of HER Realtors, previously the largest real estate firm in central Ohio. In 2022, Howard Hanna Real Estate Services merged with HER Realtors, adding more than 1,200 agents and 90 offices to Howard Hanna's portfolio. Adams has served as Howard Hanna's president, Central and Southern Ohio regions, since the merger. 

Adams resides in Gahanna, Ohio.

In 1991, Robert "Mac" Biggar Jr. co-founded Chartwell Group LLC, which is now Hanna Commercial. Biggar previously worked at Colliers International for six years and B.P. America’s Management Training Program for three years. Under Biggar’s leadership and direction, Hanna Commercial has grown from a three person office to a team of more than 90 people. Today, the company is northeastern Ohio’s largest, locally-owned commercial real estate brokerage and consulting firm, and is a multiple winner of the Weatherhead 100 award.

Throughout his career, Biggar’s production has consistently been in the top tier of commercial brokers within the Greater Cleveland Market. Recently, Biggar was the procuring cause of the largest lease completed, having a value in excess of $15 million. He has also successfully completed numerous transactions for major companies such as AT&T, TRW, General Electric, Nestle, Ferro Corporation, Keithley Instruments, Step 2, Glencairn, Banker Trust of New York, and the corporate headquarters for BFGoodrich.

Kevin Blum has served as president of Erie Barristers Title Group since 1998. He volunteers as treasurer of Park Synagogue and is a board member of the American Jewish Committee. 

Blum attended Emory University and Cleveland Marshall College of Law. He resides in Gates Mills, Ohio, with his wife of 24 years, Leslie, and their two sons, Matthew and Daniel. He is an avid fisherman and outdoorsman. 

Gwen Bradley oversees recruiting and education, focusing on developing strategies to grow and retain the team of more than 15,000 real estate professionals associated with the Hanna Family of Companies. She also prioritizes strategies to help agents achieve higher productivity and advance their career goals. 

Bradley knows the business of real estate. She worked as an agent before being promoted to the role of manager of the Cleveland Heights, Ohio, office. She grew the office to 70 agents, before moving to the Chagrin Falls, Ohio, office in 2020. In 2023, Bradley was promoted to her current role as vice president of career development.

Known for her experience and knowledge of various markets, Bradley is able to strategize the best use of tools and processes to maximize agent growth.

Living in Cleveland, Ohio, Bradley is surrounded by arts and culture, and is an avid foodie. She proudly supports the Cleveland Food Bank, Cleveland Museum of Art, WomenSafe and the Playhouse Square Foundation.

With Howard Hanna since 2004, Kristine "Kris" Burdick has been in the residential real estate business for more than 25 years with a proven track record of success. In her current role as president of brokerage operations, Burdick is responsible for overseeing business and operational efforts for Howard Hanna Real Estate Services. 

Shortly after joining Howard Hanna in 2004, Burdick was promoted to manager of the Akron, Ohio, office. In that role, she supervised more than 85 sales associates. For five years, she grew the office while winning Howard Hanna awards that included “Top Ohio Office” and “Top Regional Office.”

In 2010, Burdick joined the Ohio South Regional management team as regional sales manager and vice president. Her focus was on strategic market growth, development, profitability of sales offices and identification of new office locations. She facilitated the expansion and growth of the region, which included more than 300 sales associates and 12 office locations. After her success in the Ohio South Region, she moved to the Ohio East Region, where she managed more than 500 sales associates and 12 offices. Through her leadership development, market development and commitment to excellence, both regions grew exponentially. In 2023, she was promoted to her current role. 

Locally, Burdick is a former member of the board of directors for the Akron Cleveland Association of Realtors, served as a commissioner for the Ohio Department of Real Estate and Professional Licensing, is on the Board of Governors for MLS-NOW, and serves as a director of the Ohio Realtors Association and the National Association of Realtors. She has previously been president of the Akron Women’s Council of Realtors, district vice president of the Ohio Association of Realtors and president of the Akron Area Board of Realtors.

Kris has also served on the boards of multiple national and local charitable organizations, including the Akron Symphony Guild, Greater Akron Symphony Association, Rockynol Retirement Community, and Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. 

 

Helen Hanna Casey has been a Real Estate industry leader for more than four decades, being named the Most Powerful Woman in Real Estate by the Swanepoel Power 200 report for the past five years. She has also been named 100 Most Influential People in Real Estate list by Inman News and was honored with the 2019 Women of Influence Career Achievement Award from The Pittsburgh Business Times. In addition, she has received two honorary doctorates and is often a requested keynote and featured speaker for women’s groups and business leaders throughout the country.  

 

Casey was named the national Dress for Success Woman of the Year in 2022, in celebration of Women’s History Month. She was also recognized with a 2023 Community Caritas Award by Catholic Charities. Casey recently served on the executive committee of the National Association of Realtors. Just as dedicated to the local community, she serves on the boards of the Strategic Investment Fund and the Allegheny Conference on Community Development. She is also a member of the International Women’s Forum, TriState Capital Bank, past chair of the Carlow University Board of Trustees, past chair of the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce and is chair emeritus of the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera. 

 

Named Inman News 2022 Person of the Year, three generations of the Hanna family are involved in the daily operations of Howard Hanna Real Estate Services. The full-service real estate company has more than 500 real estate, mortgage, insurance, title and escrow service offices across 13 states (#1 in PA, OH, NY, IN, NC), including Allen Tate Realtors® in the Carolinas and The F.C. Tucker Company in Indiana, with more than 15,000 sales associates and staff, including many of the industry’s top-producing real estate agents. In 2021, HHRES closed sales volume surpassed $39.5 billion with 140,414 closed transaction sides. The Howard Hanna portfolio of real estate services includes residential and commercial brokerage, mortgage, title, insurance, relocation, appraisal and property management services. For more information, visit HowardHanna.com. 

 

Casey resides in Pittsburgh with her husband, Steve, who is an architect. They have one daughter, Annie, who serves as chief legal officer of Hanna Holdings, Inc., and president of Howard Hanna Insurance Services. They also have three grandchildren. The Casey’s love of theater has led to their longtime involvement with Broadway, having produced many Tony Award-winning shows.

 

Contact information: 412-967-9000 or helenc@howardhanna.com

Annie Hanna Cestra is the executive vice president and chief operating officer (COO) of Howard Hanna Real Estate Services, the nation’s largest family-owned and-operated real estate firm. She was named as COO in 1986, after 12 years of serving as treasurer and guiding the fiscal policies of the company from the beginning of its remarkable expansion. 

Cestra's current responsibilities include directing the administrative operations of Hanna Holdings, Inc., and its affiliates, including Howard Hanna Real Estate. This involves developing and implementing policies and procedures that serve the needs of the corporation, the employees and licensees to ensure professional standards of consistency and integrity.

She is a former member of the Pennsylvania State Real Estate Commission, where she began her term in 2003 and served for 15 years. In December 2007, then Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell appointed Cestra as chair of the Real Estate Commission. She also has served as a director of the Realtors Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh’s Executive Committee and a delegate to the National Association of Realtors.

An active and involved member of the community, Cestra is currently serving as chair of the board of the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh. In the past, she has served as president and vice president respectively of St. Lucy’s Auxiliary to the Blind and of Pittsburgh Hearing, Speech and Deaf Services. She also has served on the board of the Winchester Thurston School and as treasurer of Fox Chapel Country Day School’s Board of Trustees.

The National Relocation and Real Estate Magazine honored Cestra as “One of the Most Powerful Women in Real Estate,” and she was recognized by Carlow College as a “Woman of Spirit.” She was also honored in Washington, D.C., at the second annual Working Woman 500 Congress. In 2008, the Howard Hanna family was recognized by LaRoche College as the recipient of the Ad Lucem Award in honor of the Hanna Family’s vision, leadership and determination. In 2021, the National Association of Women Business Owners honored Cestra as "Enterprising Woman of the Year." In 2022, she was recognized on the Pittsburgh Business Times Power 100 list, which is a compendium of the Pittsburgh region’s great leaders who are making an impact on the region. In 2024, Cestra was recognized by The Pittsburgh Business Times as a Woman of Influence, as well as being named to the list of Largest Women-Owned Businesses.

Cestra earned her B.A. from Georgian Court University and M.Ed. from the University of Pittsburgh. She currently holds a Real Estate Broker and an Insurance license in Pennsylvania, Ohio and New York.

She and her husband, Dennis, have three children and reside in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Dennis A. Cestra Sr. began his career in real estate sales and management in 1972 alongside the founder of Howard Hanna Real Estate Services, Howard W. Hanna Jr., and Howard W. “Hoddy” Hanna III. By 1975, he had earned his Associate Broker’s license and began his career in the appraisal of real estate.

During the 1980s, Cestra assumed the management of appraisal services and started to further grow the business.

He has earned numerous appraisal designations, including SRA, IFA and CRP. He is the past president of the Metropolitan Pittsburgh Chapter of the Appraisal Institute, the Pittsburgh Chapter of the National Association of Independent Fee Appraisers and the Pennsylvania Council of Real Estate Appraisers.

As senior vice president, appraisal, Cestra oversees a staff of state-certified appraisers completing commercial, residential and industrial assignments. He specializes in eminent domain and aviation-related appraisal services.

He has served on numerous organizational boards, including as past chairman of Mercy Health System, director emeritus of Point Park University, and vice chairman of the Board of Directors for Pittsburgh Central Catholic High School.

As a third generation member of the Hanna real estate family, Dennis Cestra Jr. has held multiple leadership roles throughout the Hanna Family of Companies. Most recently, Cestra assumed the role of president, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Maryland Regions, where he oversees the daily operations, strategy, business development and growth across the tri-state area. 

Prior to his current role, Cestra was president of Howard Hanna’s Southeast Region in Virginia Beach, Va. During his time in the Southeast, he worked to grow the footprint in the region. Since 2018, the number of offices in the region grew from 14 to 21 and he led the expansion into the Charlottesville market. On the sales front, Howard Hanna’s business in Virginia has grown by 70% since 2018, with closed volume growing from $1.25 billion to $2 billion in 2021.

Since joining Howard Hanna in 2010, Cestra has held numerous sales and management positions throughout the organization’s suite of companies, including Mortgage, Title, Insurance and Residential Brokerage, where he spent most of his time.

He earned a bachelor's degree from Allegheny College and a master's degree in real estate from Georgetown University. Actively involved in the communities Howard Hanna serves, Cestra sits on the Future Generations Board for Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters, Real Estate Information Network Board of Directors, is a member of Young Presidents Organization, and was previously chosen as the United States delegate for One Young World.

Cestra is also a member of Hampton Roads Realtors Association, West Penn Multi-List Inc., Virginia Association of Realtors, Pennsylvania Association of Realtors and National Association of Realtors, serving on various leadership boards and advisory groups.

Cestra and his wife, Olivia, reside in Pittsburgh, Pa. 

Wesley Davis Jr. has 24 years of experience in information technology, and he has been a part of the Howard Hanna IT team since 2016. Before moving into his current role as chief information officer, he’s held a variety of key leadership positions at Howard Hanna, including director of IT operations, director of infrastructure and network manager. 

Prior to Howard Hanna, Davis worked as a network systems technician for the U.S. Army National Guard. Davis attended Point Park University, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in business, and Robert Morris University, where he obtained a master’s degree in information systems management and a second master’s degree in IT project management.

As general corporate counsel for Howard Hanna Real Estate Services, Jon F. Deegan is responsible for overseeing the legal, transactional and risk management issues across the company. In his role, Deegan brings his past real estate law experience together with his past sales office management experience to minimize errors, mistakes, and to design a process and knowledge base within Howard Hanna’s sales organization to manage risks and lower liability exposure. In this manner, Deegan ensures Howard Hanna in delivers a phenomenal customer experience through professionally trained and counseled sales agents.

Tracy Rossetti Delvaux joined Howard Hanna 20 years ago from Ernst & Young as a certified public accountant and manager to become controller of Howard Hanna Financial Services. For 14 years, she has served as senior controller of the corporation. In 2010, Delvaux became senior vice president and chief financial officer of Hanna Holdings Inc., and Howard Hanna Real Estate Services.

 

Annie Hanna Engel is the president and COO of Howard Hanna Insurance Services Inc., the largest real estate company-owned insurance provider in the country, and chief legal officer of Hanna Holdings, Inc. She is also a licensed real estate broker in Pennsylvania and Florida. 

Engel is a leader in advising the company as it seeks to minimize its legal risks in the ever-changing transactional and regulatory landscape of residential real estate services. She engages in industry-topic discussions within Howard Hanna, but also on a national level. 

In her role with Howard Hanna Insurance Services, she engages and directs insurance and warranty strategies that benefit the real estate consumer and real estate agent, within the real estate transaction, and also beyond. 

These dual roles complement each other, not only in the in the evaluation of risk, but, because of Engel’s unique position, they further the understanding and implementation of the goals and missions of the various divisions and regions within the Howard Hanna family. 

Engel has served real estate industry groups on both a state and national level. She is a member of the National Association of Realtors Insurance Policy Committee and its subcommittee on flood insurance. She is a member of the NAR General Counsel Group, as well, and also serves on a policy group addressing regulations and policy for the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors. She has served on and organized Realty Alliance Insurance Group advisory meetings and the Realty Alliance Counsel Group, and has been a featured speaker at the RIS Media CEO exchange. 

Engel holds a B.A. from Dickinson College and received her J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. She began the practice of law in Pittsburgh with Pietragallo, Bosick, Gordon and Alfani. Several years into her practice, she received an LL.M. in Insurance Law from the University of Connecticut School of Law, where she later served as the deputy director of the Insurance Law Center and manager of graduate studies. Engel also taught classes in the principles of insurance and governmental regulation of insurance. She published a thesis on the Business Development Impact of the Gramm Leach Bliley Act on Financial Services. 

Engel is active in the Pittsburgh regional community. She is a board advisor to St. Lucy’s Auxiliary to the Blind, member of the Cultural Trust Corporate Circles Board, member of the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, and secretary of the Howard Hanna Children’s Free Care Fund. She is also active in the International Women’s Forum, Carnegie Museum Women’s Committee and YPO Pittsburgh. She serves on the Board of Trustees of Shady Side Academy, and is a trustee of Kenyon College. She formerly served as a trustee to Dickinson College.

Engel and her husband, Gus, reside in Pittsburgh, Pa. Together, they have three children: Will, Rory and Jack.

 

As vice president of Howard Hanna | Coach Realtors, LP Finn brings a wealth of real estate experience, marketing expertise and widespread industry recognition to his position. Responsible for the firm's daily operations, including relocation services, information systems, facilities and marketing, he is dedicated to providing the finest services to each member of the Howard Hanna | Coach Realtors organization.

Finn has been recognized for his expertise in both technology and luxury real estate. He has been a featured speaker at dozens of real estate industry events, both in the United States and United Kingdom. He is a recipient of the President's Award from Leading Real Estate Companies for the World.

Finn is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island and a former professional ski instructor. He resides on Long Island, N.Y., with his wife and three children. 

Clayton Gialloreto has worked at Howard Hanna since 2015 as the corporate controller. Prior to working at Howard Hanna, Gialloreto worked in public accounting for six years. He earned his bachelor's degree in accounting from The Pennsylvania State University. He resides in Murrysville, Pa., with his wife, Jennie, and two children, Ashley and Jordan.

 

Leah S. Gibbons is a graduate of the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law at Cleveland State University and Baldwin-Wallace University. Her real estate career began in 1993 and since then she has worked in many different capacities within Howard Hanna. In 2022, Gibbons was promoted to her current role as senior vice president and chief marketing officer. 

As a former corporate director of advertising and sales office manager, she developed a robust skill set that encompasses all sides of the real estate business. This includes transactional management expertise, client-centric relationship building, and a strategic and targeted marketing approach to home sales through leveraging multigenerational marketing vehicles. 

She is also an active school and athletic volunteer, and was former vice president of Bay Village Schools PTA.

Gibbons resides in Bay Village, Ohio, with her husband, and two children. 

Neal Hanks began his career with Allen Tate/Beverly-Hanks Realtors in 1987 and served in numerous roles within the firm. He was named president in 1999 and. has driven the company to its present day success as the #1 real estate company in Western North Carolina. The partnership with Allen Tate and Howard Hanna Real Estate Services makes Beverly-Hanks a part of the #1 independently-owned and -operated real estate brokerage in the U.S. 

In the real estate industry, Hanks has served as president of the Asheville Board of Realtors. He regularly participates in industry forums and CEO groups, and has been a frequent speaker at real estate conferences. As a prominent leader within the Western North Carolina region, Hanks currently serves as an executive committee member of Eblen Charities and the Daniel Boone Council of Boy Scouts of America. In the past, he has served as campaign chair of the United Way, Asheville/Buncombe County, and a board member of First Citizens Bank, A-B Tech Foundation and Mission Health Foundation, among others. 

Hanks is a graduate of Appalachian State University with a degree in real estate brokerage and finance. He and his wife, Amy, have four children and reside in Asheville, N.C. 

F. Duffy Hanna is president of Howard Hanna Financial Services, overseeing Howard Hanna's wholly-owned mortgage and title insurance operations.

Hanna received his undergraduate degree from the Catholic University of America and earned 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. Additionally, Hanna has achieved the distinction of Accredited Mortgage Professional from the Mortgage Bankers Association and is a graduate of the School of Mortgage Banking. In addition, he is a candidate for the prestigious Certified Mortgage Banker from the Mortgage Bankers Association, a distinction that represents exemplary dedication and expertise in the real estate finance industry.

After graduating from law school, Hanna began his career at Doepken, Keevican & Weiss law firm as a member of their corporate and real estate division. He handled and structured complex mergers, acquisitions, management buyouts and large commercial real estate transactions during this time. In 2003, Hanna joined his family business, becoming general counsel of Barristers Land Abstract and Howard Hanna Real Estate Services.
Combined, the Howard Hanna Mortgage family of companies closes more than $1.5 billion in residential real estate financing each year. Barristers completes more than 10,000 transactions annually, placing those groups among the most prominent real estate-affiliated companies. Additionally, he has played an integral part in the company's growth through mergers and acquisitions, including more than $100 million in assets during the last 10 years.

In 2021, Hanna began a new community lending initiative to meet an ever-present need to offer mortgage financing to low and moderate-income borrowers. Inspired by social injustices such as the murder of George Floyd and The Biden administration's equity agenda, he began to work with the National Association of Minority Mortgage Bankers (NAMMBA) to understand what it takes to create a more robust and diverse lending landscape. Through his work, Hanna established a goal to become the hometown lender of choice for underserved populations in its markets, creating United Purpose Mortgage, a company on a mission to coach individuals to know and understand the home buying process and learn about the resources available.

Hanna participates in developing company risk management policies and speaks locally and nationally on risk management for real estate agents and brokers.He also serves the community through his many civic involvements. He currently serves as chair of the Board of Trustees of Girls Hope Pittsburgh, is the former chairman of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) - Pittsburgh Chapter, and is a former chairman of St. Anthony School programs.

He and his wife, Dana, reside in Pittsburgh, Pa., with their have three children, Jimmy, Freddy and Elise.

Howard W. “Hoddy” Hanna III, chairman of the largest private real estate company in the United States, is known as a man of steadfast determination and integrity. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pa., Howard Hanna Real Estate Services is a family-owned company with three generations of the Hanna family involved in day-to-day operations.

The company specializes in residential, commercial, mortgage, title and insurance brokerage services and delivers high-quality services through its more than 500 offices across Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, North Carolina, Virginia, South Carolina, Michigan, New Jersey, West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Maryland, and Connecticut with more than 14,000 agents and employees. The company was founded in 1957 by Howard and Anne Hanna with one office in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh at Bayard and Craig Streets, which is now known as Howard Hanna Way. Howard Hanna Real Estate Service’s 2021 sales volume exceeded $43 billion with 152,607 closed transaction sides.

Getting his real estate license at 18 and following in his father’s footsteps, Hanna began his real estate career as a weekend sales associate for Howard Hanna while attending John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio. The business expanded and diversified under Hanna’s leadership and he became an important influence in the real estate community and an industry leader.

His innovation in the industry is renowned, and 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 and is the only real estate company in the nation to offer a “100% Money Back Guarantee” and the first large company to digitally offer all of its listings on the internet. Howard Hanna has been delivering a fully-integrated home buying experience since 1981 through mortgage, title, relocation and insurance services. Having each of these services available within the Hanna Family of Companies allows Howard Hanna to help customers attain the dream of owning a home in the most efficient, effective manner possible.

The ever-continuing goal of leading in sales, mortgages and closings of real estate with pride, enthusiasm and integrity, has led to numerous honors for Hanna. He is the founder and chair of West Penn Multi-List and former chair of the Real Estate Providers Organization of America. He has been recognized by La Roche University as the recipient of the school’s Ad Lucem Award in honor of the Hanna Family’s vision, leadership and determination. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has recognized Hanna with the National American Heritage Award, given to individuals who serve their community through work and deed, and Junior Achievement of Western PA has named him their “Man of the Year”.

Very active in the community, he currently serves as chair of the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Board of Trustees for the past 12 years and as a member and former chairman of the hospital’s Foundation board. Additionally, he is a member of the board of Citizens Financial Group in Providence, R.I.; John Carroll University; the University of Pittsburgh Katz Graduate School of Business; the Diocese of Pittsburgh Finance Council; and the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh. He is also the chair of the H.J. Heinz Western Pennsylvania History Center and a director of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) for the past 21 years.

Hanna recently completed a term on the board of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland and is a former chair of the Western Pennsylvania Fannie Mae Foundation. He is a founder and former chairman of Family House and a founder of the annual Viking Victory Auction for Central Catholic High School.

Hanna personally chairs the annual Howard Hanna Children’s Free Care Fundraising drive. Since 1988, the campaign has raised and donated more than $19 million to children’s hospitals across the East Coast. 

Throughout the last two decades, Hanna has received the following awards: the Jewish National Fund Humanitarian of the Year Award, the Catholic Charities Company of the Year award for diversity, The H.J Heinz Western Pennsylvania Center History Maker in Business Award, the Anti-Defamation League National American Heritage Award, the National Association of Realtors’ Good Neighbor Award, and the RISMedia/Bank of America National Homeownership Award. He also has an Honorary Doctorate Degree from John Carroll University as well as La Roche University. 

He and his wife, Mary Anne, reside in Pittsburgh, Pa., where they have raised five children and are the proud grandparents of 16 grandchildren.

A third-generation member of the Hanna real estate family, Howard “Hoby” Hanna IV has held many roles with the company since the beginning of his career in 1994. He currently serves as chief executive officer, leading the #1 family-owned and -operated brokerage in the nation, which posted a closed sales volume of $40 billion and 128,767 closed transaction sides in 2022. Managing business and operational efforts throughout the company’s more than 500 offices across Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, Virginia, Connecticut, Michigan, New Jersey, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland, Kentucky and Indiana, Hanna spearheads efforts to devise, procure and implement the market-differentiating technologies and programs that are crucial to the success of Howard Hanna’s agents. As CEO, Hanna oversees the Howard Hanna portfolio of real estate services, including residential and commercial brokerage, mortgage, title, insurance, relocation, appraisal and property management services.

Hanna’s leadership has been instrumental in Howard Hanna’s growth and expansion, as he played a key role in the company’s partnership with the Allen Tate Company in North Carolina and South Carolina, F.C. Tucker in Indianapolis, Ind., Howard Hanna | Rand Realty, serving New York City’s northern suburbs and New Jersey, as well as Howard Hanna | Coach Realtors in Long Island, N.Y.

Crain’s Cleveland Business has named him to their “40 Under 40” list, as well their “150 Most Influential People” list, and the Akron Cleveland Area Board of Realtors gave him their “Good Neighbor Award” in recognition of his charitable and volunteer work. Additionally, he has been featured as one of the nation’s top real estate professionals on the Swanepoel Power 200 report. Hanna is a former director of the National Association of REALTORS® and LeadingRE. He has been a featured speaker at numerous national conferences including Inman, LeadingRE, REALTrends and RISMedia. He serves on the board of directors of MoxiWorks, a technology company specializing in leading-edge real estate productivity tools for brokerages and agents, and ParkOhio Holding Corp., PKOH (NASDAQ), a global, diversified industrial holding company providing integrated supply chain services, as well as LeadingRE and PercyAI. He is also an active board member of The United Way. 

Hanna is a licensed broker in the state of Ohio and a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh. He and his wife, Stacey, reside in Cleveland with their four children.

 

M. Jean Hayes began her career in real estate in 1980 at Howard Hanna Real Estate Services, achieving recognition as a Million Dollar Producer in her first year in the business. In 1987, Hayes worked in the Howard Hanna Marketing Department, and created the printer pieces coding system that is still used today. Currently, she is the vice president and director of purchasing & operations. 

Cathy Hopkins is the vice president and general manager of Barristers Land Abstract. Hopkins began her career at Howard Hanna in 1998 as a legal assistant and settlement coordinator. She was promoted to settlement officer prior to being named general manager in 2010. Six years later, she was once again promoted to the role of vice president of Barristers, where she is responsible for overseeing all of Pennsylvania and Michigan. 

Hopkins has more than 30 years experience in closings and title work, and holds title insurance licenses in Pennsylvania and Michigan. 

Alicia M. Kosec's real estate career began in 1998, and she joined the Poland, Ohio, office of Howard Hanna Poland in 2001. From 2003-2005, Kosec was a successful sales associate and Top Office Producer. Her leadership and talent were recognized, and she was promoted to manager of the Poland office in 2006. Under her leadership, the office quickly grew to become the top office in its region.

Kosec received her broker’s license in 2013. Her expertise lies in helping agents through the listing process and into the sales process, teaching them how to negotiate and close successfully. Previously holding positions as regional manager and vice president, Kosec was promoted to president, Northern Ohio & Michigan regions in 2023.

She was past director of the Youngstown-Columbiana Association of Realtors and set on the grievance committee. She is a former member of the Poland PTA and oversaw Poland School's annual safety village for several years.

Kosec and her husband, Dave, reside in Poland, Ohio. Together, they have four adult children and three grandsons.

Donna Kreps joined the F.C. Tucker Company in 1993, working out of the high-performing East Office and becoming its first female manager after just five years at the company. While at the East Office, she quickly achieved every sales award possible and doubled the number of the sales associate at the office to more than 50, the largest in the office's history. She then joined the executive team in 1998, becoming senior vice president and residential division manager for the East Office, once again the first female to achieve this leadership role within the company. She advanced to director of professional coaching in 2005, general sales manager in 2006, executive president in 2008, president of the residential division in 2016, and in 2021, became part owner when the company joined forces with Howard Hanna Real Estate Services. Her current role involves day-to-day problem solving, coaching and training. She remains active in her local church and runs the women's ministry. 

Jim Litten has served in many capacities at the F.C. Tucker Company over the course of his 50 years of service, including sales associate, manager, and now as CEO and owner.

Litten has served in a variety of industry roles, including past chairman of the Indiana Real Estate Commission, co-chair of Real Estate Business Magazine, chairman of the MIBOR broker appraiser committee, member of the ethics committee, standards of practice committee, finance committee and director of the MIBOR foundation. In his community, Litten is active in the Stanley K. Lacy Executive Leadership Series, The Lawrence Township Foundation, The Arthritis Foundation and the advisory task force for Ivy Tech. In 1997 and 2022, Litten received the Sagamore of the Wabash Award from the Governor of Indiana. 

After receiving his B.S. from Ohio University, he was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army and served a tour of duty in Vietnam. He earned the Army Accommodation Medal with two oak leaf clusters and a Bronze Star. 

Whitney Finn LaCosta is a second generation Realtor, who is currently a principal and broker of record for Coach Real Estate Association, a 20-office residential firm located on Long Island, N.Y. Coach Realtors closed more than $1 billion in sales in 2018. LaCosta has worked in the relocation department, has been a top sales agent, opened new markets for the company and actively participates in agent training. She is currently executive vice president of Howard Hanna | Coach Realtors, after a successful merger of the two companies in 2023. 

LaCosta earned her undergraduate degree from Northeastern University and a graduate degree from Dowling College. She and her husband, Bob, reside in Huntington, N.Y., with their three children, Riley, Brady and Meredith. 

Brendan McManus joined Hanna Langholz Wilson Ellis in October 2017 as vice president and director of operations. He focuses on office agency and tenant representation. He brings an unrivaled skill set to the firm; an entrepreneur, a manager, a marketer and a salesman, McManus possesses a vast experience in various businesses and ventures.

McManus earned a B.S. in business logistic from Penn State University in 1982. He started his commercial real estate career in 1989 as the vice president and general manager of the Howard Hanna Commercial Division, where he managed 12 agents and supervised the director of property management. Over the past few years, McManus has founded and run various businesses, both inside and outside of the real estate and sports marketing fields. He currently holds the position of president, Hanna Langholz Wilson Ellis. 

Pat Purdue has been with F.C. Tucker Company since 1985, working his way from college intern to chief financial officer and president, responsible for day-to-day operations of the company. In addition to overseeing the company's financial health plan, Purdue becomes extremely involved in agent problem solving, as well as agent recruiting and retaining. He is an integral part of the company's experienced agent recruitment strategy. In 2021, he became co-owner in F.C. Tucker Company, when the business partnered with Howard Hanna Real Estate Services. 

Dan Rand currently serves as president, home services at Howard Hanna | Rand Realty. Rand earned his bachelor's degree in entrepreneurship from the University of Miami in 2007, and his master's degree in real estate from New York University in 2013. During his tenure, he successfully rebranded the mortgage and title insurance home services under the Hudson United name within the Rand Family of Companies. Additionally, he played a key role in establishing the property casualty and life insurance company. 

Matt Rand is the CEO of Howard Hanna | Rand Realty, one of the 100 largest real estate brokerages in the U.S., boasting more than 1200 sales associates and 30 offices serving the tri-state area. Rand is also a managing partner of Rand Commercial Services, as well as Hudson United Mortgage, Hudson United Title Services and Hudson United Insurance Services. 

Rand is committed to building better communities and currently serves as chair of the New York State Board of Real Property Tax Services and on the board of directors of the New York State Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council, the Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation, Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress, Rockland Business Association and People to People, Rockland's hunger relief agency. He also serves on boards of the American Red Cross of Greater New York and Leadership Rockland, Inc.

Rand received the Humanitarian Award from the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors, served as the president of the Rockland County Board of Realtors and received the Rockland Economic Development Corporation's "Forty Under Forty" award.

He earned his bachelor's of arts from Boston College and currently resides in West Nyack, N.Y.

Born and raised in Hampton Roads, Va., Brenda K. Reid loves everything about coastal Virginia. Educated locally at Virginia Wesleyan, Reid has worked in the real estate industry for more than 30 years. Having watched the industry evolve with demonstrated leadership skills, she is proud to lead as president of the Southeast Region for Howard Hanna Real Estate Services. Reid is committed to helping agents, buyers and sellers achieve their best results. Specializing in land acquisition and development, as well as sales and marketing of residential resale and new home neighborhoods, she remains passionate about the real estate industry and serving the community.

Reid is an Urban Land Institute fellow and proudly serves the goals of that organization in many places within the company's market area. She also serves on the board of directors for Virginia Musical Theater and the Coastal Virginia Building Industry Association.

As executive vice president of administration, Dan Riley is responsible for facility management including the leasing and/or purchasing of all Howard Hanna office locations. He is also responsible for major contracts and negotiations with vendors. A licensed attorney with an MBA and CPA, Riley's education prepared him well for working across all business disciplines, including his more than 30 years in the real estate industry. 

Riley started his career in real estate as president of a small brokerage in Cleveland. Through a variety of mergers and acquisitions, he has since worked for five different real estate companies, culminating is his current role at Hanna Holdings, Inc. He has experience in a variety of areas, including relocation, legal, technology and title work. 

Riley has served on numerous boards, including Realtor.com's broker board, the broker public portal and national broker portal.

Kelly Hanna Riley is president of Global Relocation & Business Development for Howard Hanna Real Estate Services, and serves as president of Relocation Horizons, Inc. 

Her responsibilities include networking with local and national corporations to market and develop exclusive Howard Hanna relocation and affinity programs for their executives and employees. These programs include Executive Link concierge service, Hanna Gold Advantage, Military on the Move, Senior Platinum Plus and Hanna Asset Management. In addition, Riley manages all corporate, broker, relocation management company and e-commerce referrals that Howard Hanna receives and oversees the relationship between the company’s world-class Relocation Department and the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^® global affiliate network.

As the president of Howard Hanna’s full-service relocation management company, Relocation Horizons, Inc., Riley manages and administers the domestic and international relocation policies for various local and national corporations.

Previously, Riley served as vice president and regional manager of Howard Hanna's Pittsburgh North Region, where her responsibilities included fostering the growth and profitability of company offices in northern Allegheny County and Butler County. She began her real estate career as a sales associate with Howard Hanna and was the top producer in the company’s Adams Township office for five years. During her five-year tenure as manager of that office, it grew to become one of the company’s top offices.

As a member of the third generation of the Hanna family to serve a leadership role in the company, Riley has a deep commitment to the real estate business and to sellers, buyers and agents alike.

She is a graduate of Chatham College and holds a real estate broker’s license. Her charitable endeavors include serving on the board of trustees for Winchester Thurston School, the board of directors for St. Lucy’s Auxiliary to the Blind, and the board of directors for the Howard Hanna Children’s Free Care Fund.

She and her husband, Patrick, have three children.

 

Beginning his career in the real estate business in 1972 and with the Allen Tate Companies since 1992, Pat Riley guides all aspects of the Carolina's industry leader. Allen Tate is the #1 real estate firm in the Carolinas, based on closed transaction sales. In 2018, the company formed a partnership with Howard Hanna Real Estate Services and now ranks at the #1 independently-owned and -operated real estate brokerage in the country. In 2022, Allen Tate closed 20,120 transactions totaling $8.7 billion in the Carolinas. 

Riley is a widely-recognized as a visionary leader in the real estate industry. He is a past board chair of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, a global network of more than 550 independent real estate firms in 70 countries. 

He is an active and engaged community supporter, serving in leadership roles with the following organizations: Charlotte Executive Leadership Council, NC Business for Educational Success and Transformation, Charlotte Center City Partners. Past board of directors affiliations include Charlotte Chamber, Arts & Science Council, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Schools Foundation, Greater Charlotte Cultural Trust, Boy Scouts of America, Cultural Life Task Force, WTVI Advisory Board, UNC Charlotte Center for Real Estate Advisory Board, and many more.

Riley has been the recipient of multiple national, state and local awards, including The Order of the Long Leaf Pine from the Office of the Governor, The Old North State Award, Most Admired CEO Award from the Charlotte Business Journal, MeckEd Education Champion on the Year, Volunteer Fundraising Award, Swaenpoel Top 200 Power Brokers in Residential Real Estate, Charlotte Business Journal Lifetime Achievement Award, amon many others.

In December 2012, Thomas S. Schoeller joined Howard Hanna as senior vice president of Franchising, Mergers & Acquisitions, bringing with him more than 17 years of experience in the real estate business. Prior to joining Howard Hanna, Schoeller spent over a decade in various leadership roles with a major national real estate franchisor. In addition, he founded 7 Consulting Services in 2010, through which he provided consulting and business development services for several regional and national real estate companies.

Since that time, Schoeller has helped Howard Hanna achieve stellar growth of more than 300% through franchising, mergers and acquisitions in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions. Over the course of his real estate career, he has been responsible for more than 160 franchise, merger and acquisition transactions with firms that generated in excess of $25 billion in combined sales volume. 

Schoeller is actively involved in his community as a volunteer with Community Church, a mentor with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of the Bridge, and as a board member with Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation of Eastern Pennsylvania.

Gary Scott is president of Allen Tate Realtors, overseeing all residential operations for the company, which includes more than 2000 realtors in 70 offices throughout the greater Charlotte, Traid, Triangle, High Country, Highlands/Cashiers and Asheville/Mountain regions of North Carolina and upstate region of South Carolina. 

Scott previously served as general sales manager and senior vice president of Allen Tate Realtors from 1998-2010, and returned to the company as president in 2021. He has more than 30 years experience in residential real estate, focused on sales, leadership, and mergers and acquisitions. Prior to his return to Allen Tate, he served as president of general brokerage for Long & Foster Real Estate, where he was responsible for more than 6000 agents in Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia. He has also held positions with B. Gary Scott Realtors, Prudential Preferred Properties and Patterson Schwartz. 

Scott earned a B.A. in economics from Bucknell University and serves on their real estate advisory board. He is a board member of Sports Biz Camps and has previously volunteered with Junior Achievement, Providence Day School, The Fletcher School and The MS Society.

Scott and his wife, Mae, reside in Charlotte, N.C., and have three children and one grandson. 

Danielle Shearer began her insurance career with Howard Hanna Insurance Services in 2005. Shearer has had the advantage of contributing in a variety of roles within the organization during her tenure. She assumed the role of division operations manager in August 2007 and was promoted to vice president and general manager in 2020. 

She is originally from Hanover, Pa., and earned her bachelor's degree from La Roche University. In 2023, Shearer was inducted into the La Roche University Distinguished Alumni Circle. She is an active volunteer on the Red Shoe Ball committee for the Ronald McDonald House charities of Pittsburgh, Pa., and Morgantown, W.Va. Formerly a professional ballet dancer with the Mid-Atlantic Contemporary Ballet Company, she is now married with three children and resides in Pittsburgh. 

Dr. Howard B. Slaughter Jr. is president and chief executive officer of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Pittsburgh. He serves as chair of the Howard Hanna Children's Free Care Foundation. Dr. Slaughter served as a member of the board since 2012 and remains committed to furthering the mission of the Children's Free Care Fund. 

With a long history in the financial and real estate industries, Dr. Slaughter has held various leadership roles including vice president at Dollar Bank and regional director of Fannie Mae's Southwestern Pennsylvania Business Center, where he worked alongside Howard "Hoddy" Hanna III, who served as chair of Fannie Mae's regional advisory board at the time. 

Dr. Slaughter's passion and dedication flourishes in his commitment to service and education. He is a veteran with two honorable discharges, serving in the U.S. Navy, where he was selected to work in the Department of Defense in the Defense Intelligence Agency at the Pentagon. He earned a master's degree in public management from Carnegie Mellon University, master of business administration from Point Park University, and a doctorate of science in information systems and communications from Robert Morris University. 

 

Mark Steele, a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, began his mortgage banking career in 1971 at Second Federal Savings and Loan. In 1974, he assumed the overall responsibility for mortgage operations at West End Federal Savings and Loan.

In 1978, Steele joined Howard Hanna Real Estate Services, and in 1980, was elected vice president of the company’s Western Sales Division. Three years later, as executive vice president, he was responsible for establishing Howard Hanna Mortgage Services, and served as its president and CEO through 2018. Steele also led the Howard Hanna Financial Services Group through 2018. In this capacity, he was responsible for advising and overseeing the activities of Howard Hanna's title insurance agency, insurance services and appraisal services. Today, Steele continues to sit on the Executive Committee for Hanna Holdings, Inc., the parent company of Howard Hanna Real Estate Services and its affiliates, and serves as chairman, Howard Hanna Financial Services. 

Steele is a past president and director of the Mortgage Bankers Association of Southwestern Pennsylvania. He is also a former member of the Advisory Board of the Pennsylvania Mortgage Bankers Association, the group instrumental in establishing the Pennsylvania Mortgage Bankers Association. He is a former chairman and executive board member of RESPRO, the real estate providers and settlement services council, headquartered in Washington, D.C. He is also a previous chairman and director of the Dozen Mortgage Group and former member of the Board of Managers of the Realty Alliance Mortgage Group.

His community activities include his former appointment as director and treasurer for the West Pittsburgh Partnership, a community-based, nonprofit organization in Pittsburgh, whose initiatives include community development, low-income housing and neighborhood employment services. He was previously nominated for President Bill Clinton’s Volunteer Action Award. He is former chairman of Pennsylvania Habitat for Humanity, and he is a former board member and chairman of Pittsburgh’s affiliate chapter of Habitat for Humanity.

Meredith C. Stephenson joined Howard Hanna as director of Human Resources in February 2012, bringing 10 years of progressive human resources experience to the company. She started her career with The Corporate Executive Board, a best practices consulting firm, in Washington, D.C. In 2016, she received her master's degree in human resources management from LaRoche College. She also holds a Senior Professional of Human Resources (SPHR^®) Certification from the Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI), and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHMR-SCP) Certification from the Society of Human Resources Management.

LaMarcus Thurman is vice president of community lending at United Purpose Mortgage (UPM), a subsidiary of Hanna Holdings, Inc. The role focuses on community lending efforts for UPM and its affiliated mortgage companies across Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, North Carolina, Virginia, South Carolina, Indiana and Michigan. Thurman has more than a decade of experience in the banking and mortgage industry. 

Originally from Louisiana, Thurman earned a B.A. in managerial economics from Allegheny College. He has held roles at Fifth Third Bank, The Farmers National Bank of Emlenton, Citizens Bank and, most recently, as assistant vice president in the Southwest Region at Northwest Bank. 

At UPM, Thurman is responsible for building relationships, awareness and education through majority-minority census tracks. Under his leadership, UPM is constructing new products, programs and policies to serve individuals and families that other companies and lenders have historically ignored. He and his team work alongside community organizations to establish outreach programs to educate homebuyers and borrowers on financial matters.

Thurman and his wife, Robin, have two children. He currently serves as a board member on 10,000 Friends, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Pittsburgh, Crossroads, Pittsburgh Realist Professionals and Hill District Credit Union. The is also a committee member for the East Liberty Development Initiative. 

Ken Wojnowski has been in the mortgage industry since 1989, and owned his own mortgage brokerage in Buffalo, N.Y., for 16 years. In 2007, he began his career at 1st Priority Mortgage. By 2010, Wojnowski served as vice president of statewide sales before being promoted to president in 2023. 

1st Priority Mortgage is a member of NAAMBA and the 2022 recipient of the ASIL Award, earning recognition as an accredited social impact lender.

Wojnowski earned his B.A. in economics from the State University of New York, Fredonia.

Personally, he is the past president of the Western New York Association of Mortgage Brokers. He is also a former USA Hockey official and volunteered as a coach and manager of local youth baseball and hockey. He is also a member of the finance council of this church, Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Williamsville, N.Y. 

He and his wife have two sons and one grandson.