Monica Hardee is vice president of Hardee Investment Holdings, a family office created by the CEO of its “sister company”, A.O. Hardee & Son Inc., a regionally prominent heavy-highway construction company based in Little River. She is the third generation to be involved in the construction company that segregated its assets to create HIH, a privately held real estate holding and investment company.

“I spearhead development, which includes supporting day-to-day administration and management of business functions related to various types of asset classes, including land banking and commercial real estate development services to regional and national homebuilders. We currently have under production approximately 6,000 acres in North and South Carolina,” she explains.The University of South Carolina graduate holds certificates in Construction Estimating, and Civil Engineer Blueprint Reading and is a licensed real estate broker.

Additionally, for over 16 years, Monica has owned her own brokerage company, Land Point Properties. Her experience as Broker in Charge as well as a lifelong apprenticeship alongside her father, and grandfather in the construction industry has fostered a broad and deep understanding of real estate, development, construction, finance, and “the art of the deal.”

Monica hopes to see more women pursue leadership roles in the construction and real estate industries.

“Women are pushing to establish more senior roles for themselves in commercial real estate, an area where we are severely underrepresented. Despite progress in other professions, my industry still largely remains a male-dominated field. My dream is to not only carry on the legacy of the family business, but to hold the gate of opportunity open for other young women.”