As Talent Acquisition Manager at The Gerken Companies, Hanna Myers frequently meets with high school seniors to discuss their career aspirations. A distinct expression comes across the faces of those with no idea what avenue they wish to pursue. Hanna recognizes that look as the one she had at their age.

Hanna graduated from Liberty Center High School, uncertain about a college major. It wasn’t a lack of possibilities, mind you, but rather the difficulty in deciding.

“At school career fairs, students often report feeling pressured by grownups asking them what they want to do,” says Hanna. “I can relate to having trouble deciding, so I ask them what they like to do.”

People might be surprised to learn that someone whose job involves recruiting workers once struggled to determine a career path for herself. But Hanna has clearly discovered her niche.

A Good Influence

Raised in Liberty Center within a tightly knit family, Hanna tends to follow in the footsteps of her late grandfather, Gary. A hardworking software salesperson who peddled his wares across 48 states, he loved traveling, socializing, and following sports.

“My Nanna says that I am just like him,” says Hanna proudly. She has already visited 28 states and plans to see them all. And like her grandpa, she is comfortable talking with everyone.

Following high school graduation, Hanna enrolled at Northwest State Community College after settling on an Early Childhood Development major. Three-quarters of the way through the program, she switched directions and graduated with a degree in business management.

During a seven-month internship at Sauder Manufacturing, Hanna assisted with company events, including career and job fairs. It would be her first involvement with workforce recruiting. Jobs as a business assistant at Heartland Dental and a corporate recruiter at Erie Homes followed. It was at Erie that she developed her passion for recruiting.

“I heard about the opening at Gerken from my husband, Alec, but I wasn’t looking to change jobs,” recalls Hanna. Like his father, Rob, and grandfather Jon before them, Alec works at The Gerken Companies. ”Three generations of our family working here was a convincing testimony, so I decided to explore the opportunity.”

Back to the Fair

Hanna says her role at Gerken is to “share the company’s story” and “get top talent in the door.” She acts as the initial point of contact for job candidates, develops job postings, and assists hiring managers with interviews and needs planning.

Another part of Hanna’s job is working at trade shows and career fairs, where she enjoys engaging with students and persuading them to consider careers in construction. She shares information about competitive wages and job security, but she also takes the time to help them identify the specific benefits of construction work that align with their needs.

“A student might mention dreading the idea of sitting at a desk all day,” explains Hanna, “which provides a chance to mention enjoying various tasks and working outdoors.”

Young recruits like hearing about training options and the promotion opportunities becoming available as a generation of experienced workers reach retirement age.

“People want to have a purpose. I tell young recruits considering construction about the satisfaction of completing a job and seeing what they built.”

Whichever path they choose, Hanna stresses being passionate about—and proud of—their work.

Personal Life

Hanna and Alec live in Napoleon with their French bulldogs, Macie and Archie. The couple met in Mrs. Hill’s kindergarten class. They and their older sisters were all friends and grew up together. Hanna and Alec began dating in high school.

Exploring new places is a favorite adventure, and they want to travel the world (upcoming plans include vacations in Newport, Rhode Island, and Italy). When not traveling, they enjoy planning new trips, spending time with friends, and trying new restaurants.

A popular interview question among HR recruiters is, ”Where do you see yourself in five years?” Having the tables turned, Hanna responds that she envisions herself as established at Gerken and more assured and developed at communicating the company’s story.

Her journey from an uncertain high school senior to a confident Talent Acquisition Manager should inspire those she recruits.