Meet Paul Hannan, Senior Construction Manager and new HLC team member!
Paul joined Holt Lunsford Commercial in 2024 and serves as Senior Construction Manager. He is responsible for managing tenant improvement projects. Paul focuses on managing all aspects of the project from pre-construction, design, construction, and closeout.
Prior to joining HLC, Paul served as a construction manager for Cawley Partners in Dallas and surrounding areas where he managed tenant and capital improvements. During this time, he gained valuable experience working on class A office and capital improvement projects while providing excellent service to his clients.
Paul grew up in Northeast Dallas around White Rock Lake area. At a young age he started a tour guide business with his uncle where they would lead guided motorcycle tours in the Sierra Madres deep in Mexico into Copper Canyon. He then ran his dad’s millwork shop for many years. This led to his introduction into the world of general contracting where he made professional relationships that eventually led to working as a general contractor himself. This journey brought him to construction management and ultimately landing at HLC today.
What brought you to HLC?
I feel like it was divine intervention. I was working as an independent contractor. Received a call from a contractor who needed some help and asked if I would manage a $10 million eatery project in Frisco for a high-rise apartment. Got started on this project, but after a couple of months the developer ran out of money and put the project on hiatus. Around the time of this happening, there was talks of creating a new position here at HLC. Everything just fell into place and God handled the rest.
How do you hope to grow at HLC?
I hope there is room to move up the ladder. However, I am very comfortable with where I’m currently at. I hope to grow into a go-to type of person. It seems that Ken is currently that go-to person, but he has expressed his desire to retire in the next couple of years. So hopefully in that amount of time that I can learn the personnel here and possibly help in that way.
What about your role at HLC most excites or interests you?
Working with new people and getting to do new projects. I haven’t done industrial in the past and there are nuances to every facet of construction. I’m sure there’s a lot to be learned on the industrial side. As it relates to our office clients, I feel like I’m well versed in that area. For our industrial clients, maybe there’s a crossover there that I can bring some of the Class A office nuances to an industrial space. The industrial office is changing nowadays to where you don’t have your warehouse in a certain part of town and your office in different spot. Now they are all in one. If you’re used to a Class A space, there is no reason you can’t have a Class A space in industrial.
Which HLC value resonates the most with you and why?
We work hard, produce results and improve. This exemplifies my work ethic for my entire career. The hard work is what got me where I’m at.
What two words would you use to describe the HLC culture?
Energetic and dedicated
If you could tell one person “thank you” for helping you become the person you are today, who would it be and why?
My grandfather for teaching me patience.
Who or what inspires you?
My children and providing for them.
What are three interesting things about you we wouldn’t learn from your resume?
I have a sailboat and a motorboat. I am a sailor – I lived full time on my sailboat for 5 years on Lake Ray Hubbard.
I work on everything myself. I remodeled my house; I work on all my cars including rebuilding the motor of my car using Subaru parts. Self-taught mechanic.
We have a hunting lease in Oklahoma. We hunt turkey, pigs, deer. Love the outdoors.
How do you define success?
Raising successful, happy children.
Where is the furthest you have traveled?
Yucatan peninsula – Cancun, Cozumel
What can you teach me in 5 minutes?
How to tie knots – you can tie anything with a bowline knot.
Favorite ice cream flavor?
Rocky Road, but I like them all. Blue Bell is the best ice cream in the world.
What character would you be in a book, movie or TV show?
Chuck Yeager in The Right Stuff. He’s a cool guy and the first person to have broken the sound barrier. He did a lot of stuff for the U.S. Air Force as a test pilot.
If you were stranded on a deserted island, what three things would you want to have with you?
Fire starter, cooking pot, and a knife.
What’s a secret talent that no one at work knows about?
I can cook – I’ve won cooking contests. Before I got back into shops, I waited tables and cooked (while running a lawn service). Both of my grandmothers were excellent cooks and taught me southern homestyle cooking. I can cook anything.
What’s the last thing you watched on TV?
I don’t watch a lot of TV, but I’ve started binge watching Below Deck about high-end yacht charters. With my motorboat, I have a quasi-charter service where I take people out a couple of times a month (covers boat ownership expenses).
What is the last gift you gave someone?
I gave my sister some diamond earrings for her 50th birthday.
Which animal would make the best type of president?
Dolphins because they are lovable, smart, a little conniving and think very quickly.
What would your autobiography be called?
Lessons Learned. I’ve learned more from failures than from successes.
What would your pet say about you if you asked for a reference?
He would say he doesn’t appreciate excessive meowing in the morning. My cat’s name is Scooby and he’s enormous – everyone who sees him is in awe of how big he is.
If you could be any animal, what animal would you be and why?
I’d be a blue whale or any of the great big whales (not a killer whale – too aggressive). Abundance of food, unlimited travel opportunities, and very few predators.
If you had to choose, what would your last meal be? No limits.
Grilled road fish, dirty rice, roasted Brussel sprouts, beet salad, crème brulee.
Welcome to HLC, Paul, we are glad you are here!
