Dr. Sandra Wills Hannon has three decades of experience in the communications industry and is recognized as a top researcher, successful business owner and award-winning communicator. She is well known for her expertise in market research and her effortless command of public relations and marketing. She has provided counsel to high-level government and industry leaders, including the Bush and Obama administrations on nationwide outreach efforts. Due to her ability to build and execute strategies that are as creative as they are effective, Dr. Wills Hannon has attracted an impressive and growing client portfolio, including federal agencies, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Founder and Principal of The Hannon Group, LLC, a company that provides outstanding market research and communications solutions in results-driven environments, Dr. Wills Hannon leads a burgeoning team of multi-talented, experienced consultants offering a wide range of quality communications services for responsive solutions to clients.
As leader of The Hannon Group, Dr. Wills Hannon provides clients with seamless integration of public relations and market research. These services are focused on areas that, in some way, support the health and well-being of Americans. Since 2002, The Hannon Group has provided consulting services to support more than a dozen major federally funded, national initiatives. These have ranged from promoting the H1N1 vaccination during a breakout of the virus, to promoting job safety to reduce injuries and deaths from heights on construction sites. Under her guidance, The Hannon Group team has developed public information campaigns and conducted market research for the CDC on topics such as traumatic brain injuries, infant mortality, health disparities, childhood immunization, adolescent immunization, underage drinking and illicit drug usage. The Hannon Group also supports the U.S. Department of Energy in promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy strategies to stakeholders, corporations and citizens across the country.
At the helm of a successful minority and women-owned business, Dr. Wills Hannon’s competence and creativity has, over the years, been celebrated by industry peers. The Hannon Group has been the recipient of 5 PRSA Thoth Awards and a Silver Anvil Award of Excellence. In addition, her firm's social marketing campaign titled "Play Tennis – The Sport for a Lifetime" was listed in the Top 50 US Publicity Campaigns. Her work has also won the Communicators Award and the Magellan Award. Additionally, Dr. Wills Hannon has received citations from the National PRSA Chair and the National Capital Chapter President.
Dr. Wills Hannon has a Doctorate of Philosophy in communications from Howard University. She studied International Marketing at the University of London in London, England as part of her doctoral program. She has a Master of Arts in educational studies from Concordia University and a Bachelor of Arts in public relations from Mount Saint Vincent University. She is accredited in public relations from PRSA and is fluent in French. She has published numerous communications research articles. She lives in Maryland with her husband, Kevin, where they spend time with their three grown daughters, De’Maris, Alicia and Madison.
