By Melissa Alonso | Atlanta, GA - August 4, 2025
When Brett Hitt arrived at Georgia Tech in the early 1980s, he couldn’t have imagined the legacy he would continue—not just within his family’s business, but at the very institution that helped shape his future. Now, more than four decades later, the 1984 School of Building Construction graduate and co-chairman of HITT Contracting is giving back in a transformational way: by establishing an endowed scholarship in honor of his father as part of Georgia Tech’s Invest in the Best initiative.
“I’m incredibly appreciative of the education I got at Georgia Tech,” said Hitt. “It expanded my worldview and helped me understand how much bigger the world is than just yourself.”
Hitt recalls the tight-knit, highly engaging classroom environment that defined his student experience. With class sizes often as small as 12 to 15 students, he found deep mentorship and real-time engagement from faculty and peers—an experience that shaped his leadership style and lifelong approach to innovation.
Today, Hitt is semi-retired, serving as co-chairman of the board at HITT Contracting while focusing his time on research and development—specifically a new 270,000-square-foot, net-zero energy headquarters under construction in Fairfax County, Virginia. Set to open in 2026, the building is the result of more than five years of R&D and will serve as a showcase of next-generation construction practices.
“It’s packed with innovation,” Hitt said. “About 15 major R&D projects will culminate in this building. It’s net-zero, runs on solar canopy energy, and features no traditional outlets—only USB-C ports for all devices. We’re pushing boundaries in energy efficiency and labor savings.”
While Hitt values sustainability, his primary motivation is pragmatism: reducing labor costs on-site by streamlining construction methods. “Roughly 67% of what we build is tied to labor,” he explained. “If I can reduce labor and also make something more sustainable, that’s a home run.”
This strategic, forward-thinking approach also shaped HITT’s resilience through challenging economic times. During downturns like the 2008 recession, the company’s diversified business model—anchored in nine core service areas—allowed them to remain agile. “It’s rare that all nine sectors go through a down cycle at once,” Hitt said. “When one slows down, we shift our resources into the others.”
That adaptability stems from generations of experience. HITT Contracting was founded by Brett’s grandparents and guided by his father, Russell Hitt, who remains the inspiration behind Brett’s decision to fund the new scholarship.
“My father attended Georgia Tech, though he didn’t graduate,” said Hitt. “He always spoke highly of his time there, and that influenced me to attend. In his later years, he became deeply focused on education and equal opportunity—long before it was trendy. This scholarship honors his passion and continues his legacy.”
Brett also credits Georgia Tech as the place where he met his wife and formed some of his most cherished memories. Though the original Building Construction program was briefly discontinued—something Hitt admits left him disheartened—its return reignited his commitment to Georgia Tech and the next generation of builders.
As the school welcomes a new chair and prepares for the future, Hitt hopes to deepen his engagement with the program and the students it serves.
“To students looking to start or grow something like we did,” Hitt said, “construction is one of the most rewarding careers you can have. There’s nothing like seeing something tangible at the end of the day and saying, ‘I built that.’ The rewards are staggering.”
When it comes to entrepreneurship, he advises realism and readiness. “It’s not to be taken lightly,” he cautioned. “But if you’ve got the right tools, the right network, and the will to work, take the risk. Just make sure you’ve got someone to talk to along the way.”
Brett Hitt’s story is one of legacy, leadership, and loyalty—to family, to innovation, and to Georgia Tech. Through his generosity, he’s helping to ensure the next generation of builders can not only follow in his footsteps—but build beyond them.