In Good Company: Hannah Shumate

By Mark Spain Real Estate

Hannah Shumate is the marketing assistant at Mark Spain Real Estate. She has been with Mark Spain Real Estate since June of 2019. Hannah started as a marketing intern when she was a junior at the University of Georgia. She graduated this past May and was promoted to full-time Marketing Assistant. We are so excited to spotlight her as our second September In Good Company member!

Tell us about you! Where were you born, what do you enjoy in your free time?

I was born in Orange County, California! When I was in 2nd grade, I moved to Cumming. I’ve spent most of my life growing up here! I recently graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in Marketing and Digital Marketing Emphasis. In my free time, I like to spend time with friends and family, and I also love to read!

When and how did you become a part of Mark Spain Real Estate?

When I was a junior at UGA, I went to the campus career fair to network with companies in hopes of finding an internship for the summer. I saw the Mark Spain Real Estate booth, and I was interested in learning more about the company. I talked to a few of the Athens team members and gave them my resume. Within a few days I had a call back for an interview and the rest is history! I joined the Mark Spain Real Estate team in June 2019 as a Marketing Intern and it’s been an amazing experience ever since.

How long have you been involved in real estate and where?

Before my internship, I had no real estate experience. I have now been with Mark Spain Real Estate for over a year. I have learned so much about the real estate industry and have gained so many wonderful experiences! After interning with Mark Spain Real Estate during summer 2019, I had the wonderful opportunity to continue a remote Marketing internship with them during my senior year at the University of Georgia. After graduating from UGA in May 2020, I was offered a Marketing position full time!

Why Mark Spain Real Estate? 

I chose Mark Spain Real Estate for many reasons. Seeing Mark Spain’s billboards everywhere and great marketing tactics, I knew this was the place to be as a Marketing major and to reach my goals to gain real-world marketing experience. I also really enjoyed my interview process at Mark Spain Real Estate. They really want to learn more about each candidate by diving deep into your goals and conducting a behavioral assessment test. During one of my final interviews, I sat down with the team to discuss my assessment results. I had never experienced this in an interview, so it was really admirable to see how much time goes into finding the right candidates. It shows that Mark Spain Real Estate is really serious about finding the right talent who aligns with the company’s mission, vision, and values! Also, the company culture is unlike any other I have experienced. Everyone is so supportive and encouraging!

What is your favorite part about the people you work with?

I love how collaborative and supportive the work environment is. Being new to the team, I had a lot of questions – everyone is willing to jump in and help. I also want to shout out the amazing Marketing team – Alisha Burdette, Kaitlin Ridge, and Lexi Spain. It has been an absolute joy to work with them. I am thankful for Alisha and Kaitlin being so supportive and uplifting from the start of my time at Mark Spain Real Estate. They are always there for me personally and professionally! I also love how everyone is constantly challenged to grow and improve. I have enjoyed reading the recommended books from Mark Spain and the leadership team on personal and professional development.

What have you learned the most from working at Mark Spain Real Estate? 

I have learned how important time blocking and goal setting is to be successful at work. These two concepts were honestly foreign to me, but after joining Mark Spain Real Estate and reading the company recommended book “The One Thing” by Gary Keller, I have learned how important it is to time block to reach your goals and get the most out of each day. Mark Spain and the leadership team are constantly teaching and coaching us on these concepts through monthly meetings!

What are your passions in life outside of work?

I have recently been into cooking! Especially with the pandemic going on, I have found myself cooking more at home. I have spent hours on recipes and I love following food blogs to find new and interesting recipes! I enjoy spending time with my friends and family, and cooking delicious meals for them!

Who inspires you in life?

My parents are my greatest inspiration and role models. They have worked hard to support me and my younger sister. They are always there for me and give me the best advice! My best friends also inspire me every day. When I moved to Georgia, I was new and didn’t know a soul. I soon became friends with Caroline and Kennedy in my 2nd-grade class, and to this day they are still my best friends and have never left my side for over 15 years. These girls (and many more that would take too long to count) will be there with me every step of my life!

Tell me about the friendships you’ve made at Mark Spain Real Estate.

I have made so many new connections with Mark Spain Real Estate! Alisha, Kaitlin, and Lexi are just a few of the relationships I cherish at Mark Spain Real Estate – they are amazing people! Being in the Marketing department, I am in constant connection with all of the agents, and it’s great to meet and work with them to achieve their goals. I also look forward to seeing and meeting more of the team in person when it’s safe to work back in the office!

What are you looking forward to this year?

Since I didn’t get normal graduation in May (it was virtual), I am looking forward to the UGA commencement ceremony and celebrating my UGA graduation (safely and socially distanced) in October! I am also excited for football season to start – GO DAWGS!

From the team 

“We are so thrilled to have Hannah join our team full time! Hannah is a smart and talented addition to our marketing department, and we know her future is bright! We can wait to see all she accomplishes!” – Kaitlin Ridge, Digital Marketing Manager

“Hannah’s positive attitude, energy and drive to serve our agent teams and all of the departments serving our clients is next level. She is a tremendous asset to Mark Spain Real Estate! Congratulations, Hannah, on earning this well-deserved promotion and here’s to a bright future ahead!” – Alisha Burdette, Vice President of Marketing

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