RAMON W. BREEDEN JR.

Ramon Breeden Jr. has spent more than 60 years shaping Virginia’s real estate landscape. He founded his Virginia Beach-based real estate development company, The Breeden Co., in 1961 and continued as its CEO and president well into his 80s. He guided the company from its beginnings in single-family home construction to becoming a leader in multifamily and commercial real estate development, landing on the nation’s top 500 builders list within 15 years.

During his career, he developed, owned or managed more than 20,000 apartments, 1,700 single-family homes, and over 2 million square feet of retail and office space across the state. He was also a founding board member of Commerce Bank in

Virginia Beach, which was later acquired by BB&T, and served on numerous advisory boards.

Although Breeden retired as president and CEO in 2022, handing over the reins to Timothy Faulkner, he continues to play an active role in the company as its founder and chairman. In April, the company announced completion of the $43 million construction of a 198-unit multifamily community in Norfolk.

Beyond business, Breeden has been very active in his community, supporting educational foundations, military alliances and animal rescue organizations. He’s often served as a guest speaker for student panels and classroom discussions at the University of Virginia, particularly the McIntire School of Commerce, where he earned his bachelor’s degree.

To celebrate Breeden’s legacy, Virginia Beach Mayor Bobby Dyer proclaimed Aug. 9, 2022, as Ramon W. Breeden Jr. Day.