Forty Under 40: Charles Hanna

Charles Hanna grew up on a farm near Goshen where his family raised show-quality Quarter Horses. While he doesn’t dabble in equestrian pursuits today, he has helped groom AAA Business Machines into blue ribbon material.

Hanna, 36, has been in ownership of AAA for 16 years, but actually has been involved with the company for much longer. His father was also a past owner of AAA. He has taken the ever-changing business to new heights. Today, AAA is the largest Sharp copier and fax machine dealer in Arkansas. And Hanna hopes to see the Fayetteville-based company branch out into Missouri and Oklahoma.

Hanna, a University of Arkansas graduate with a degree in CISQA, has helped AAA add a computer division.

“When I first started in this field we had copiers that we were cranking by hand,” he said. “The technology has gotten to a point where we have computer chips and hard drives inside our new Sharp digital copiers.

“This business is highly competitive. If you don’t like competition, this isn’t the business to be in.”

Hanna credits a team-concept at AAA for the business’ success.

A past president of Fayetteville Country Club, Hanna’s favorite hobby is golf.