Monica Hagewood, CRE grew up with family in the construction business. The business has long been in her blood.

DESIGN

An early education as a land planner & landscape architect at the University of Florida set a ground work of seeing the physical world as a canvas of possibilities.  Inside the College of Design, Construction & Planning, the program is steeped in collaboration and inter-disciplinary approaches.  This groundwork set Ms. Hagewood’s perspective & priority understanding the impact design has on our built environment.  It is a unique perspective for an advisor who always has her eye on the real market viability of an asset.

Following early practice in the field, Ms. Hagewood landed an opportunity which leveraged the subject of her senior thesis at Florida - Historic Preservation and adaptive reuse.

HISTORIC PRESERVATION & ADAPTIVE REUSE

Working with a development firm that specialized in the adaptive reuse of historic commercial properties - transforming them into Class A quality office buildings - across the Midwest, mid-Atlantic and the South.  These exceptional buildings were catalysts for redevelopment in areas overlooked during the years of suburban expansion.  Ms. Hagewood saw first-hand how these buildings could be re-used, re-positioned and remain a solid link in the most walkable areas of these moderate sized urban area.

ASSET MANAGEMENT & STRATEGIC PLANNING

There is nothing like the holistic view of an asset manager, defined here as one responsible for maximizing the return and positioning of real estate assets in adherence with the stated investment goals and risk tolerance of a client, to come to understand the difference between a "deal" and a "deal that meets strategic goals" and delivers long term returns. As an asset manager for an institutional owner and, separately a REIT, Ms. Hagewood oversaw a portfolio of assets, including Class A office, retail, industrial-business park, multi-family and undeveloped land with total values exceeding $600 million.  She developed strategic plans which detailed the positioning of assets for sale or refinance, expansion or development - and then sought to successfully execute these plans by building and managing the teams that had the talent to see them achieved.  

Partners do not always have the same objectives or timing goals therefore the opportunity to oversee major joint ventures in both new developments, performing assets and projects being unwound or refinanced - honed her skills as a collaborator and negotiator.  Sometimes you can design your team - other times you must seek to maximize your success with the team in place and discern common goals.  Both are important skills.

UNDERWRITING, FINANCIAL & MARKET ANALYSIS

Working with clients seeking to identify investments that were positioned to perform to projected pro-formas, took Ms. Hagewood and her team to markets across the country.  A fast-paced industry benefited from her ability to identify critical success factors quickly, review current market trends and assess market competition. Exposure to a multitude of product types expanded her understanding of the inter-connectedness of markets & opportunities.  

Financial analysis, completed in the context of true market dynamics, results in reliable recommendations for clients on Wall Street or those seeking local opportunities. Whether a new development, a value added opportunity, or an asset struggling to perform, clients received market & financial analysis that went a little deeper.  Receiving news that a project is not performing is difficult, but Ms. Hagewood learned it is always easier when delivered with accompanying advice to mitigate losses or provide alternate approaches.  Being a part of the solution is one of the things that has set her apart.

Market analysis can be done for a specific client or as part of a larger team, such as Livable Cities Initiatives here in Georgia.  As part of such teams, Ms. Hagewood has provided market expertise to cities such as Covington and Holly Springs. 

RISK MANAGEMENT

Expanding on asset management and underwriting, risk management of real estate assets and portfolios is an important component of portfolio management.  As an objective expert, Ms. Hagewood led a team that provided reviews & analysis of existing debt and equity positions of a dominant Wall Street firm. Reviewing assets that may not be performing as expected or that find themselves in a tumultuous industry takes experience and current market knowledge - and a head for how deals are structured.  Is it a market issue, a pricing issue or is the problem with the development team? Knowing which one is essential to identifying the correct strategy forward.

DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES

Working with investors & developers, Ms. Hagewood applies market analysis to determine development opportunities, define the competitive environment and define a path to an executable project.  Finding that niche, emerging trend or untapped market is what we do.

PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS

Ms. Hagewood leveraged her expertise on behalf of her own hometown, Roswell, Georgia as a director and five-year Chairman of the Downtown Development Authority. The opportunity provided the ability to take a deep dive in understanding and executing the amazing opportunities that lie in Public Private Partnerships (P3 Partnerships) for cities, municipalities and the private sector.  Projects that are best for the community in their long term strategy often cannot "pencil" in the private sector alone.  While these are complicated relationships, they can be used creatively to serve all parties and achieve far superior & enduring outcomes.