Education

• MA, Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Auburn University, 1992

• BA, Mechanical Engineering, Auburn University, 1985

Professional Activities

Hanning returned to The Plains in 2013 to develop and teach a special topics course, Marketing and New Product Development, as he was winding down a lengthy career in the durable goods market. Business to Business Marketing, with a heavy emphasis on B2B professional sales, was developed and initially taught by Hanning in 2015.  Both Marketing and New Product Development and Business to Business Marketing courses were accepted as directed electives for the marketing department, MKTG 4340 and MKTG 4430, respectively.  Hanning has also successfully taught Principles of Marketing and Sales Management in support of department instructional needs. He has focused his efforts on presenting best-in-class marketing concepts while also passing along new product development and general marketing management knowledge to the next generation of business leaders from Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business.

Hanning’s career spans more than three decades in three key business functions:  manufacturing engineering (four years), research and development (seven years), and marketing management (21 years). The move from engineering to marketing in 1994 led to middle and senior management roles in product management, market management, and business management. Hanning wrapped up his career with his most significant role as director of North American New Product Development for Rheem Manufacturing Company’s Water Heating Division. Functional management responsibility included product marketing, marketing management, marketing communications, research and development, engineering services, and all laboratories. Hanning’s team delivered ~$150 million in new and improved products in a 4-1/2 year period contributing to increased top line revenues, earnings and market share as well as improving  Rheem’s competitive position in all markets served.