Ann Hanna’s entrepreneurial mindset began in college when she faced a sudden financial crisis during her sophomore year, making it impossible to cover tuition, room and board. Instead of leaving school, she proposed a plan to the university that resulted in several on-campus jobs, combined with student loans, enabling her to finance her last two years of education.
She started her career at Shell Oil but swiftly moved into public accounting. Although Hanna was offered a partnership at age 27, she chose to leave public accounting to achieve her dream of becoming a private business owner. Over the next 20 years, she held every executive position from chief financial officer to chief executive officer, and her initial major deal involved selling a family-owned business to General Motors. The experience taught her about the anxieties related to such transactions, knowledge she now uses to assist her clients as the managing director of the Taureau Group LLC.
Taureau Group is an independent investment bank providing merger and acquisition services to middle-market companies. Principals of Taureau Group have successfully completed hundreds of M&A transactions for clients in virtually every industry. Transactions typically involve closely held, founder- and family-owned businesses, and private equity firms with transaction values ranging from $15 million to $250 million.
As co-founder and managing director of Taureau Group, Hanna played a pivotal role in the firm’s strategic development. Originally part of a regional CPA firm, she transformed the M&A practice into a dedicated boutique investment banking service.
“Ann is dedicated to supporting her clients through often emotional transactions, treating each deal as if it were her own, ensuring optimal outcomes,” said her staff. “Her ability to listen and gain client’s trust has built her remarkable reputation for managing what may be the most significant financial transactions of their lives.”
Hanna is also deeply involved in her community, serving on various non-profit boards. Last year, she was named a 2023 most notable non-profit board leader by a Milwaukee business magazine for her work with BizStarts. She also serves on the board and executive committee of the Historic Third Ward Association and is a former president and current board member of the Association of Corporate Growth, which focuses on enhancing business growth within the community.
“Maintaining passion in the business world is not just about the work itself, but also about the people you meet and the stories you hear,” said Hanna. “Every interaction, every deal, and every challenge presents a new opportunity to learn and grow.”