Real Estate 2023: MICHAEL A. CULPEPPER

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

Culpepper earned his bachelor’s degree from William & Mary and a law degree from the University of Richmond School of Law, where he received a T.C. Williams Scholarship.

Commercial Real Estate Services and Ellis-Gibson Development Group joined to form Venture in 2016. The group has since developed 6 million square feet of projects worth more than $600 million in Hampton Roads. It provides development, leasing, brokerage, property management, asset management, consulting and tenant representation services.

Venture Realty Group is partnering with music superstar Pharrell Williams on Atlantic Park, a $335 million Oceanfront surf park and entertainment venue, which broke ground in March, with plans to open in summer 2025. Venture Realty is also partnering with Williams and California-based Oak View Group on a proposal to redevelop the former Military Circle Mall site in Norfolk into Wellness Circle, an arena-anchored mixed-use development.