Real Estate 2024: MIKE CULPEPPER

As Venture Realty Group’s in-house attorney and managing partner, Culpepper coordinates deal formation, land-use entitlement, and predevelopment services. Previously, he was an associate with law firm Williams Mullen’s real estate and land use team and a principal with Fee Simple Legal, focusing on real estate transactions.

At Venture Realty, Culpepper works closely with Virginia Beach native and music and fashion superstar Pharrell Williams, collaborating with him and the City of Virginia Beach on the $350 million Atlantic Park surf park and entertainment venue set to open in spring 2025. In January, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality reported that the 10-foot hole for the surf lagoon was partly filled with contaminated water. In March, Venture began working on removing the contaminants, and the project has remained on schedule.

Culpepper earned his bachelor’s degree from William & Mary and a law degree from the University of Richmond School of Law as a John Marshall Scholar. Since 2016, Venture Realty Group has developed 6 million square feet of projects worth more than $600 million throughout Hampton Roads while providing development, leasing, brokerage, property management, asset management, consulting and tenant representation services.