Each year, Midwest Real Estate News inducts a new class into its Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame. Today, we look at the busy career of 2020 inductee Laura Hansen, director of property management with Omaha, Nebraska-based Investors Realty, Inc.
Laura Hansen serves as director of property management at Investors Realty, Inc. in Omaha. She has been a property manager with Investors Realty since 2012, and has managed some of the firm’s larger office assignments including the Durham Building, the Ford Motor Credit Building, Nebraska Crossing and other notable properties.
“Problem-solving has always been fun for me,” said Hansen. “In this business, I enjoy that on different levels with a great team and great clients.”
That problem-solving mindset has come in handy when facing the myriad hurdles that repeatedly jump up before property managers.
“Challenges allow us to dissect processes and improve how we do things. The cars driving through buildings, gas explosions and water main breaks of my past pale in comparison to what our world has been dealing with recently,” Hansen said. “The challenge that 2020 became caused all of us to pivot in ways we weren’t prepared for. Kindness, positivity and empathy were important for new reasons. The 2020 pandemic has become the most emotionally draining challenge of my career, which is a sentiment familiar now to many.”
In her role at Investors Realty, Hansen fosters strategic business development, manages client relationships and leads the firm’s continuous improvement efforts in property management. The secret to her success, Hansen said, has been surrounding herself with those willing and able to surge forward.
“I am grateful for always being surrounded by people who have believed in me,” Hansen said. “The relationships I have built with those I work with and the clients we work for have been crucial in my success. Hard work has never scared me. Our core values at Investors Realty align with my own: accountable, grateful, ethical, educated, and service with integrity are why we are here and have helped propel our success.”
Prior to joining Investors Realty, Hansen worked in Washington D.C., gaining significant experience in all aspects of property management. She grew up on an Indiana farm and holds a degree in property management from Ball State University.
“Armed with a degree in residential property management from Ball State University, I headed to Washington, D.C. 15 years ago,” Hansen said. “While there, I handled residential and commercial sites at a regional level for seven years before heading to Omaha. I have been with Investors Realty, Inc. for the past eight years, solely focused on the commercial side.”
Hansen relies on morning workouts to stay sane and family time with her husband and two sons to stay grounded. They enjoy traveling, dining out, theater and spending time outdoors.
