Our Team
We love our people! J|D gathers elite professionals from varied disciplines and cultures to enrich our insights in the global aviation industry. Experience the wealth of knowledge and innovation that only diverse perspectives can offer.
Hannah Smith
Associate Managing Consultant
Construction & Program Management
Ms. Smith supports a collection of services including Owner’s Representative, Design Management, Construction Management, and Airline/Airport Technical Services to our airline and non-airline clients. She started her career in 2015 with a residential roofing and building company as a coordinator and rocketed to a position as Office Manager, supporting roles such as scheduling coordinator, financial coordinator, project scheduler, and employee management. She later moved on to a much larger residential company managing the Warranty and Quality Controls Department for several years, supporting roles such as scheduling coordinator, project scheduler, and employee management, as well as on-site management and on-site quality control inspector for the company. Since starting her career with Jacobsen|Daniels in June 2022, she has played a major role in multiple projects across the nation with a variety of clients, including the first American Chase Sapphire Lounge in Boston, Delta Sky Clubs in Boston, Atlanta, and Chicago, breakroom renovations in Minneapolis, and a handful of other notable
aviation projects.
Ms. Smith has developed a broad range of aviation properties and capital projects experience including program/planning management and airline tenant representation services. Her support in these services helps to align the needs of airports and airport tenants to ensure all parties’ interests are coordinated. She is proficient in project tracking logs, status reports, email/meeting coordination effort, as well as an assortment of support services, providing an exclusive perspective to successfully coordinate a variety of aviation-focused needs.
Q & A with Hannah
What Do You Love About This Industry?
I just love the industry; it’s ingrained in me. I grew up in it. My dad is a carpenter and mechanic, he’s always building and doing things and I was his right hand. From the love of carpentry growing up with my Dad I grew to love the construction building industry.
What industry changes or trends do you think will have the biggest impact?
I’m seeing a lot more women in the industry lately. Last week I was on site and the client, engineer, and designer were all women. It’s making an impact on the industry for sure, it’s encouraging.
What is the best part of your job?
Not sitting still. Getting to put my boots on and go out to the job site, and be able to touch, feel and see what’s on paper come to life, keeps me going.
What advice would you give someone starting out in this industry?
Stick to it, don’t get discouraged. There will be times when you feel extremely overwhelmed, but you have people behind you. The team we have is the “A team” so if you need any help, reach out, just learn and soak it in, take your time and soak it in. There’s so much to learn here.
What professional project are you most proud of?
A toss-up between the DTW Inflight Services Lounge, since it was my first managing role. And the first lounge we opened in Boston was a pretty proud moment especially since I was so green.
What is your favorite snack or food?
I’m a country girl and I love home cookin’. As long as its good old home style cooking. The way to my heart is through my stomach.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
Being outside. In the spring/summer I’m on the water fishing and competing in bass tournaments. In the fall I’m hunting, white tail deer.
What would your perfect weekend look like?
Taking my boat out to the lake, fishing, relaxing, and listening to music. Pretty perfect to me.
Where is the best place you’ve traveled to and why?
My favorite outside the states is Cambodia; it is a beautiful country. Inside of the country the Seattle area is one of my favorite places so far. Hiking Mt. Ranier is just gorgeous.
What’s the weirdest job you’ve ever had?
I worked at a Christmas tree farm. I’d get great tips because I was the only girl carrying the trees and tying them onto the car.
What’s a cause that you are passionate about?
ATL is one of the top 5 cities in the world for trafficking and it’s a passion of mine to help disrupt that in anyway that I can.
What’s something that you’ve always wanted to try or learn?
Flyfish. I can do all the regular casting, but I’ve always wanted to learn flyfishing.
If you could pick any superpower, what would it be and why?
Become invisible. I’m super Introverted becoming invisible would help me get away a bit. Fly on the wall type thing.
If you could travel anywhere, where would you go and why?
I’d take time off, rent an RV and drive across the country and visit all the National Parks, especially Yellowstone, Niagara Falls, and the Grand Canyon.
Do you follow any sports teams?
The Atlanta Braves, Georgia bulldogs and football. College football.
