Why Work With Hardy Holding Group?

Hardy Holding Group has a rich history in the construction & land development industry in the Midwest

We have been in the construction business for decades, and we take great pride in our ability to evolve our business with industry changes. Hardy Holding Group understands that maintaining strong core values and ties to our family roots create the foundation for success. 

Hardy Holding Group president and founder, Lee Hardy, began his construction career with his family’s general contracting business, Hardy’s Inc. where he was a fourth-generation family member whose family roots laid the foundation for his passion and commitment to this business. Hardy’s family business had its origins in 1950, when his great-grandfather, F. Lee Hardy, formed Lee Hardy and Son with the purchase of their first bulldozer. The company originally performed custom dozing work and soon evolved into farm-to-market road construction. F. Lee would eventually pass the reins to his son, Donald – the second generation of Hardys to lead Lee Hardy and Son. 

In keeping with family tradition, Donald’s two children, Larry Dean Hardy and Don L. Hardy Jr., diversified Lee Hardy and Son into Hardy’s Inc., which focused on highway transportation and local municipality projects. Hardy credits learning the value of hard work from both his dad, Larry, and Uncle Don, with whom he worked at Hardy’s Inc. from an early age. Larry passed as a result of a job site accident during Hardy’s early teen years at which time his mother, Sharon Hardy, continued in Larry’s footsteps alongside Don to nurture this ever-growing business. Following the completion of his education, Hardy joined Don in leading Hardy’s Inc. and served as vice president for thirteen years. In 2002, Hardy’s Inc. underwent a merger acquisition with another local contractor. Hardy remained for a five-year contract to support the estimating and project management divisions as a manager and consultant. 

In 2007, Hardy partnered with Wyatt & Kathy Phillips to evolve their company, Phillips Grading & Construction, into Phillips Hardy Inc. Phillips Grading and Construction, incorporated in 1994, originally began in 1967 as part of a farming operation developed by OJ Phillips, Wyatt’s father. With its roots in drainage ditch construction, grading flood-damaged land, and levee construction, the company grew over time to construct many private projects, including both commercial sites and residential subdivisions as well as many public projects. Over the years, the Phillips company had the opportunity to work with Hardy’s Inc. on a few projects, and by doing so developed a mutual understanding and respect for the core values driving each company, which allowed them to recognize the potential for success when combining their talents to form Phillips Hardy Inc. 

In 2022, after many years of a successful partnership, Hardy acquired the remaining shares of Phillips Hardy Inc. and went on to form Hardy Holding Group – the parent company for Phillips Hardy Inc. and the newly formed Hardy Construction. Hardy and the rest of the talented team are excited to continue applying that passion and commitment that is rooted in the family histories of this company towards the evolution of Hardy Holding Group and its role in building heavy civil projects across the Midwest.