Howard W. “Hoddy” Hanna III is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Howard Hanna Real Estate Services Inc., the 4th largest full-service real estate company in the United States. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the company specializes in residential, commercial, mortgage, title and insurance brokerage services. Howard Hanna delivers services through its 131 offices in 55 counties across Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia and New York and more than 4,700 sales associates and staff. Howard Hanna Mortgage Services provides mortgage loans in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia.
Hoddy Hanna 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 which brought a new dimension to home buying and selling - the weekly TV show, “The Sunday Showcase of Homes” now airs in five metro markets. 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”. He 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 as the company entered the mortgage banking, title and home insurance businesses in 1981. 2009 was record setting as the mortgage company’s volume surpassed $1 billion for the first time.
Hoddy has advanced his family-owned, multi-generational business to be the largest in a four state area. In 2003, he believed in the future of northeastern Ohio and led his company in the acquisition of the Cleveland-based Smythe, Cramer Co., creating a win-win situation for both companies, real estate consumers and the employment picture in the region as well. The company’s ability to grow each year is a testament to the management skills of the leadership and ownership of the company. In 2008, Hoddy once again led his company in the acquisition of Realty One and its 34 offices and 1,400 sales associates, Ohio’s second largest real estate company. With this purchase, Howard Hanna increased its market share in northeastern Ohio to 35% and became the 4th largest full-service real estate company in the nation. Most recently, Howard Hanna moved its Ohio headquarters to downtown Cleveland and the Howard Hanna Building. The move solidifies the company’s commitment to the region and Cleveland by bringing more than 200 jobs into the city of Cleveland.
The Howard Hanna Company celebrated their 50th anniversary in real estate in 2007 and then went on to record its most closed transactions in the history of Howard Hanna in 2008 with 35,742. In 2009, during a year of economic turmoil and uncertainty, the company still sold 35,004 homes.
Hoddy’s ever continuing goal of leading in sales, mortgages and closings of real estate with pride, enthusiasm and integrity, has led to numerous honors. In April of 2008, the Howard Hanna family was recognized by LaRoche College as the recipient of their school’s Ad Lucem Award in honor of the Hanna Family’s vision, leadership and determination. In 2006, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) recognized Hoddy with the National American Heritage Award which is given to individuals who serve their community through work and deed – embodying what is best in America: justice, freedom, equality and fellowship.
For continuously demonstrating extraordinary contributions toward increasing homeownership and building better communities, Hoddy was honored with the 2009 RISMedia National Home Ownership Award. Sponsored by Bank of American, Hoddy was presented with the award at RISMedia’s annual Power Broker Dinner, November 13, 2009, during the National Association of REALTORS Conference & Expo in San Diego.
Hoddy was elected Chair of the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation Board of Trustees in July of 2009. He has been a member of the Foundation Board since its inception nine years ago and also has been a member of the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC Board of Trustees since 1993 and serves on the hospital board’s Executive Committee and Finance and Investment Committee.
In August of 2009, Hoddy was elected to the Citizen’s Financial Group Board of Directors. Headquartered in Providence, R.I., Citizen’s Financial Group is one of the 10 largest commercial banking companies in the United States ranked by assets.
Hoddy also serves the community through many other civic involvements as well. He is a member of the board of directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, John Carroll University, LaRoche College, the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority, the Katz Graduate School of Business Board of Visitors-University of Pittsburgh, and the Diocese of Pittsburgh Finance Council. Additionally, he previously served as Chairman of the Real Estate Service Provider’s Council (RESPRO) and The Realty Alliance and was formerly on the boards of National City Bank, Integra Bank, Equibank, the co-chair of the Allegheny 2000 Committee for Political Reform and the Pittsburgh Film Office.
He personally chairs the company’s annual fundraising drive for the Children’s Free Care Fund at Children’s Hospitals in the company’s market areas. Now in its 21st year, all Howard Hanna offices band together and hold their own “Choo Choo Chow Chow” luncheons or events during the holidays. In 2009, Howard Hanna raised $568,763 for Free Care and more than $6.1 million over the past twenty-one years.
Hoddy and his wife Mary Anne reside in Fox Chapel, Pennsylvania where they have raised five children and are the proud grandparents of ten grandchildren.
