From his time at military school to his 10-year career as a touring musician, it is safe to say Trent Hancock’s ability to wear many hats prepared him to be the VP of marketing at Scottsdale-based Camelot Homes. Learn about Trent Hancock…
Hometown: Scottsdale, AZ
First job: I got a job at Pacific Sunwear at Scottsdale Fashion Square. You had to be 16 and I was 15, so I forged my birthday and had to have my parents drop me off for my shifts.
Favorite AZ restaurant and why: Restaurant Progress in mid-town Phoenix. It’s a hole in the wall with only a few tables and a bar. The ambiance is very intimate, and the menu is amazing. It’s one of those places you can order anything from the menu and be assured that it is going to be delicious.
Person who has impacted your life the most and why: My younger brother. Being a year apart meant lots of fighting when we were younger, but also meant we would always look out for each other. In high school, he went to a military school in Indiana and I followed him out there. It was a life-changing decision at the age of 16 to leave Arizona, but it was one of the best experiences of my life. I also made the decision to switch careers and move back to Arizona when he moved back here. A lot of my major life decisions were positively impacted by him.
Your biggest accomplishment in your eyes and why: Being a professional touring musician for 10 years and recording four albums as an indie artist. The music industry is very cutthroat, but it also teaches you a lot of business and life skills. I’m proud I was able to pursue my passion and make it a career for so long.
The biggest obstacle you have overcome: The transition from being a full-time musician to working full-time at Camelot Homes because of the total lifestyle change. I went from having no schedule and nobody to answer to but myself, to having a regimented job with family and employees that depend on me. It was amazing how many of my skills transferred over from music to business though. Being your own boss means you wear many hats. I had to do my own accounting, marketing, PR, booking, contracts…You name it! The best part was being able to translate all of those skills into my family’s business.
Someone who inspires you and why: My parents inspire me because owning and running a successful family homebuilding business is an unbelievable amount of work. They do a great job of leveraging the family’s strengths to the company’s advantage, and they have done an amazing job shepherding the company from its inception into the third generation.
Favorite quote: “There’s nowhere you can be that isn’t where you’re meant to be. It’s easy!” –The Beatles
Advice to someone pursuing a career path in what you do: Don’t ever be afraid to fail because you most likely will many times before you succeed.
What you think makes someone fabulous: Giving back to and investing in the community. I’m on the membership committee of Scottsdale Active 20-30 Club. And COVID anti-bodies.