A career based on curiosity and hard work
Some careers are linear. Claude “Bobby” Sanks’ journey took a few twists and turns along the way.
Today, he serves as financial controller for LuAnn Capital, LLC, a company that owns several international freight forwarding companies. Over the last six years, he has helped lead the company to great growth. Sales increased from just over $3 million to over $100 million during this time.
But Sanks didn’t start his career in accounting.
His story begins with a childhood that was characterized by movement, sport, music and curiosity about how things work.
“I’ve always been the type of person who wanted to learn by doing,” says Sanks. “This attitude has accompanied me through every phase of my career.”
Grew up in Alabama and Georgia
Claude “Bobby” Sanks
was born in Atmore, Alabama and spent his early childhood in nearby Bay Minette. He grew up in a large family with three sisters and a brother.
His father worked in the U.S. Air Force civil service in avionics, and that job required the family to move several times.
“We moved when I was ten,” Sanks remembers. “First to Atlanta for a short time, then to Savannah, Georgia. Savannah became my home for the next fifty years of my life.”
As a child, Sanks was busy.
He played baseball, football and soccer from age six through high school. He also spent years in the school band, playing trumpet, baritone and sousaphone.
Sport played a large role in shaping his discipline.
“In team sports you learn a lot about commitment and responsibility,” he says. “These lessons carry over into business.”
During his senior year at Bible Baptist High School, he was named the football team’s Most Valuable Player and received a college football scholarship to Pillsbury Bible College.
But he chose a different direction.
A career that didn’t start in accounting
After high school, Sanks attended Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah. His original plan was to become a doctor.
“I started medical school as a chemistry major,” he says. “After a few years, I realized my path might be different.”
Before moving into accounting, he worked at Strachan Shipping Company in Savannah from 1979 to 1985. His duties included Gear Shop Superintendent and later Stevedore, where he managed equipment and worked directly with Port Operations.
It was an experience that introduced him to logistics and global shipping long before it became the focus of his career.
“Working at the port gave me a real understanding of how global trade actually moves,” says Sanks. “You see the physical side of it.”
Building expertise in accounting
In the mid-1980s, Sanks joined his family’s accounting firm. Over time, he took over and eventually ran the business.
In 1993, he became registered as an agent with the IRS and later earned his CPA certification.
To qualify for the exam, he completed an Accounting Equivalency program at the University of Alabama and earned the academic qualifications necessary to sit for the CPA exam.
He passed the exam in 1999.
“That was a milestone,” says Sanks. “It represents years of work and learning.”
Becoming a CPA opened up new opportunities and expanded his role in financial leadership.
The Amazon River Fishing Adventure
One of the most unusual chapters in Sanks’ career occurred in the 1990s.
For twelve years he owned and operated Amazon Anglers, an adventure travel company that took small groups into the jungles of Venezuela to fish for peacock bass.
The experience was much more than a fishing trip.
The guests lived for eight to ten days in a Piaroa Indian village deep in the Amazon rainforest.
“It was really an early form of ecotourism,” Sanks explains. “People experienced the jungle, culture and fishing together.”
The deal ended when political conditions in Venezuela changed during Hugo Chávez’s presidency.
“It was an incredible experience while it lasted,” he says. “We built relationships and memories that people will remember.”
Leading financial growth at LuAnn Capital
In 2019, Sanks accepted a new challenge as financial controller for LuAnn Capital in Asheville, North Carolina.
The company owns several international freight forwarding companies.
His role focuses on financial oversight, systems and scaling operations as the company grows.
The results were dramatic.
“In six years we went from about three million dollars in sales to over a hundred million,” says Sanks.
Growth at this level requires strong systems and clear financial transparency.
“You have to understand the numbers and what they tell you,” he says. “Good financial governance helps companies understand where they are and where they are going.”
Music, Ministry and Life Beyond Business
Sanks’ life also included creative pursuits.
In 1982, he helped form a contemporary Christian rock band called Zero Hour. The group toured the southeastern United States, opening concerts for well-known artists such as Petra, Steven Curtis Chapman, and DeGarmo and Key.
Sanks played bass guitar and took care of the band’s bookings.
“It started as youth work,” he says. “Music gave us the opportunity to connect with people.”
Today he still maintains an active lifestyle.
He learned to water ski at the age of four and still enjoys outdoor activities. He also plays competitive softball in the Senior League in Hendersonville, North Carolina.
“I’m still playing at seventy,” he says with a laugh. “Staying active keeps you fit.”
Family and legacy
Family remains an important part of Sanks’ life. He is the father of three children and grandfather of ten grandchildren.
Looking back, his career reflects a simple philosophy.
“Work hard, stay curious and be open to opportunities,” says Sanks. “You never know where the next chapter might lead.”
For Sanks, these chapters included ship docks, jungle rivers, rock stages, and boardroom spreadsheets.
And the journey continues.
