Charleston Realtor Suzie Smith’s motto is, “Whatever makes you happy, we’ll make it happen!” Positivity and optimism are the cornerstones of Smith’s approach to real estate sales. Her company, Suzie Smith & Associates, is there to facilitate on your behalf—from helping find the right property to shoring up the financial resources needed to negotiating the best price.

Raised in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Smith has a love for the ocean and beach living. She also has a passion for business, having majored in business, management and marketing at the University of South Carolina. These studies prepared her well for the work to follow, which was primarily in customer-focused fields. Smith did everything from hospitality to working in sales for American Airlines to becoming vice president of customer service for Computer Associates, Inc. Providing superior customer service has been a motif throughout her career, which carried through to what would be her calling in real estate.

Influential to Smith and an important role model, was her aunt, Charlotte Dixon, a tenacious Realtor who would go on to become a builder. This connection sparked Smith’s interest in real estate and led to an enthusiasm for houses. In 2005, after working in Washington, D.C., for a number of years, Smith decided to return to her home state (Charleston, in particular), and at the age of 45, she dove headfirst into a new career in real estate. Smith was fortunate to find a mentor in Betty Gales, who acted as her coach for months, during which time, she introduced Smith to the Mike Ferry Organization. Through coaching, Smith was able to further hone her skills and expand her knowledge in this new field.

Eighteen years later, Smith is at the top of her game, leading and mentoring her own team of real estate professionals, namely Mackie Krawcheck Moore, Tyler Fitts and her indispensable office assistant, Melissa Stuckey. Smith currently lives in Mount Pleasant and specializes in properties in that region, with special interest in properties on the islands and beach areas. Smith is adept at buying and selling properties anywhere, always bringing herself up to speed with statistics and research on any given property and region. Customers can feel confident in her fact-based selling and buying skills, regardless of the regions they are exploring or from where they are moving. Smith is adept at helping people in a wide range of scenarios, whether upsizing, downsizing or looking to flip a property for investment purposes. Her clientele is primarily referral-based and a mix of locals and those moving to Charleston from outside the region.

Team member and sales associate Moore and Smith have been fast friends since their 20s, having met while working at a popular restaurant in Downtown Charleston. This long friendship and Moore’s deep Charleston roots make them the perfect team.

Moore’s family has been in the Charleston area for generations, and her parents’ businesses are cornerstones of the community. Moore’s mother owned one of the region’s most popular bridal shops, while her father owned Krawcheck’s Clothing Store on King Street, an institution in Charleston that was started by Moore’s grandfather at the tender age of 13. Moore’s family of entrepreneurs, artists and historians have influenced all she does. Also of note, Moore grew up in Downtown Charleston in a home built in 1720.

Throughout her childhood, Moore watched her father restore their home, returning it to its former glory. Moore knows Charleston proper as well as anyone and is knowledgeable about its history and architecture, and the nature of buying and restoring historic homes. Moore specializes in the region’s popular beach communities, Sullivan’s Island, in particular. In addition to real estate pursuits, she is deeply involved in Thrive Charleston, a charity that provides guidance and support for victims of domestic abuse.

New to the team and offering a fresh, local perspective is Fitts, a native of Mount Pleasant. He is one of the region’s most popular bartenders, having tended bar at the Red Drum Gastropub for nearly a decade. Fitts perfected the “gift of gab” while rubbing elbows with every manner of person that entered the establishment—from dishwashers to CEO’s of Fortune 500 companies. Everyone knows Fitts and Fitts knows everyone, a good trait for someone in real estate. In fact, Fitts became good friends with Smith through his work at the Red Drum, which was one of her favorite spots for entertaining clients. His many connections to the region make him especially knowledgeable about the area. Besides all the other surrounding Charleston areas that the team works in, Fitts feels there is considerable potential in Hanahan, West Ashley, Johns Island, Park Circle and Awendaw. As Fitts embarks on his new career in real estate, he hopes to help younger families with children.

Office administrator Stuckey is also a graduate of the University of South Carolina. With a degree in marketing, she brings her education, business savvy and over a decade of real estate experience to the team. Though Stuckey has a real estate license, she prefers providing behind-the-scenes support for this winning sales team.

Whether you are a first-time homebuyer looking to relocate to the Charleston area, moving from within the region or searching for the perfect investment property, Suzie Smith & Associates is well equipped to see you through from start to finish. *

Christina Andrews is a freelance writer from the Napa Valley who specializes in personal and business bios, food and wine, visual arts, music, hospitality, the event industry, community interest stories, obituaries and political satire.