Great People: Nora Hannah, Experience Matters

Nora Hannah is a story teller. She is the Owner/CEO of Landiscor Aerial Information and Chief Consortium Officer at Experience Matters. Through the years, she has shared some extraordinary, some touching, and some compelling stories with me. Nora was one of the first people that Jim Myers put me in contact with 10 years ago. She mentored me early on and we worked together on various projects through the years. The most important story Nora told me, she told me by her actions: service is everyone's responsibility.

Nora is a leader in business, a mother, and a pillar of the community. She is a past Athena award winner, which pretty much equates her with Wonder Woman in my book. In fact, I was a guest at Nora's table for my first Athena Awards luncheon. Each nominee introduced was more amazing than the last: full-time, high-level jobs, healthy families, AND extraordinary service records. How did these women find time to brush their teeth? One of the last women was introduced with an incredible list of accomplishments. The final comment about her was that in her spare time, she liked to run marathons. Nora keeps good company.

Now that Nora's children are in college, she has expanded her already-impressive service resume to help run Experience Matters in Phoenix. (Check it out at experiencematteraz.org) I appreciate that Nora prioritizes service as just another facet of life--not reserved for Christmas, when your kids reach a certain age, church, or when you can afford to create a foundation--but every day in every aspect of our being. We all have something more to give and receive in connection with our greater community.

One of Nora's comments to me early on was that no matter how much you offer people, the first thing to remember is that they cannot be hungry. (Makes sense--I am not a reasonable person when my belly rumbles.) The first act of service my company took was to write a check to St. Mary's Food Bank. Any day when I feel lack, I try to write a check to St. Mary's to remember my blessings and share with others. My service has grown into other areas now and I have to credit Nora for that. Nora takes a long view of life and business. She sees the whole picture of how an individual fits with a company and how that company fits with a community. That vision is inspiring to me and a gift to the Valley.

Thank you Nora.