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Looking out across the city his father helped build, Michael Russell MBA ‘90 still envisions a sea of opportunity. Named CEO of the family business in 2003, he says that Atlanta, like other cities across the country, is experiencing a revitalization. For Russell, being a part of the city’s burgeoning renaissance is exactly where he sees the future of H.J. Russell & Company.

Over the past 50 years, the company has earned a reputation for excellence. Under the stewardship of Herman J. Russell Sr., the company has become a leader in its field and one of the largest minority-owned businesses of any kind. While it boasts regional offices throughout the country, H.J. Russell & Company is best known for the indelible mark it has made and continues to make on the city it calls home. Its portfolio includes such high-profile projects as Atlanta Centennial Olympic Stadium (now Turner Field), Phillips Arena, the Georgia Dome, and the headquarters for Coca-Cola, Wachovia, and Georgia-Pacific. While these construction projects helped put H.J. Russell on the map, the firm prides itself on its diverse offering of services through three primary business units – construction, real estate development, and property management.

Armed with a degree in civil engineering from the University of Virginia and an MBA from Georgia State’s Robinson College, Michael Russell spent most of his career with the company, serving in a variety of executive positions, most recently as executive vice president responsible for the management and strategic direction of the construction and program management division. Today, CEO Michael Russell is looking toward the company’s future, which includes projects that encompass a part of the company’s mission statement: "to enhance the quality of life within our community." To Russell that translates into, among other things, helping to rebuild some of Atlanta’s "forgotten" neighborhoods.

"Over the past few years, we have focused the strategic direction of the development side of our company on urban redevelopment," he said. "Specifically, we are developing mixed-use projects on the Westside of the city similar to Atlantic Station but on a somewhat smaller scale." According to Russell, this is an area where he believes the company has already made a positive impact and he sees it as a big part of the company’s future for the next five to 10 years.

"It’s all about location," said Russell. "People are looking for ways to enhance their quality of life. In areas like Atlanta that are spread out and where commutes can top an hour or more, being able to work and play within close proximity to where you live is an attractive prospect and one that has gained in popularity." In addition, he says that mixed-use developments are a way to revitalize areas that have long been stagnant.

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