Trade Partner Connection

H. J. Russell & Company

History

Our Story

Since 1952

H. J. Russell & Company began in 1952 when Herman J. Russell turned a small plastering business in Atlanta into a platform for building opportunity. He believed that quality work and strong character open doors. That simple idea guided early neighborhood projects and grew into complex developments that helped shape the city and created lasting value for clients and communities. Mr. Russell saw construction as more than bricks and budgets. It was a way to create jobs, strengthen neighborhoods, and model inclusive growth. With craftsmanship and disciplined execution, the company expanded into real estate, program management, and property services while staying true to perseverance, partnership, and impact.

About Company

We build

Built to Solve Complex Challenges

A Family-Led Legacy


Today, the Russell legacy continues through his children. Michael Russell serves as Chief Executive Officer of H. J. Russell & Company. Jerome Russell leads as President with a focus on growth and community impact. Their sister, Donata Russell Ross, guided Concessions International for decades and remains part of the family’s broader enterprise and civic leadership. Together, they carry forward the founder’s vision of building with purpose for clients and communities.

  • Impact

The Story of

Herman J. Russell

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Russell Timeline

1950s AGAINST ALL ODDS

Shaped by the Great Depression, Herman J. Russell began creating his own jobs at age 8 and never stopped. Inspired by his father’s plastering business, he learned the trade, built a duplex with friends on a lot he purchased, and used the rental income to fund his education at Tuskegee Institute. In 1952, the year he earned his building construction degree, he founded H. J. Russell Plastering Company in Atlanta, which grew into H. J. Russell & Company. His drive, tenacity, and vision still guide the company today. “My daddy is my biggest hero of all… a PhD in the art of saving and common sense.” — Herman J. Russell

1950

OPENING DOORS

The 1960s marked a turning point for the nation and for H. J. Russell & Company. As the Civil Rights movement reshaped the South, Herman launched his first major development: 12 homes on South Avenue in Atlanta. New federal housing programs soon accelerated growth, making Russell one of the largest builders of HUD affordable housing. That commitment continues today as the company builds and manages affordable homes across the Southeast.

1960s

DIVERSIFICATION

As the national business climate shifted with Watergate, oil shocks, and a soft real estate market, H. J. Russell & Company adapted. Prestigious construction remained core, but diversification strengthened stability. The family launched a beverage distributor, took a majority stake in a Macon, Georgia television station, established airport concessionaire Concessions International, LLC, and joined the Omni Group that purchased two major professional sports franchises. Today, Russell family organizations include Concessions International, the Russell Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Russell Family Enterprises, LLC, and Russell New Urban Development, LLC.

1970s

BOOM TOWN, BOOM COMPANY

Policies requiring minority-owned subcontractors helped fuel a new decade of growth and spotlighted Herman J. Russell’s leadership. H. J. Russell & Company earned numerous awards, opened a Project Management office in Birmingham, Alabama, and expanded its Atlanta headquarters to more than 42,000 square feet in Castleberry Hill. Today, that former headquarters is becoming the Russell Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, honoring our founder’s entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to giving back.

1980s

TRANSITION TIME

The decade opened with Atlanta winning the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games, and H. J. Russell & Company helped the city prepare. The Olympic Stadium rose in Summerhill, the neighborhood where Herman J. Russell grew up. Company leadership shifted as his children—H. Jerome, Michael, and Donata—stepped into key roles while Herman prepared to retire, first in 1996 and finally in 2003. Experience from the Olympic project later informed work on Mercedes-Benz Stadium, located between the company’s former and current headquarters.

1990s

REACHING OUT, REACHING HIGHER

Under the leadership of the Russell siblings, the 2000s opened strong. The firm secured key projects as H. J. moved toward “semi-retirement,” after launching an ambitious $300 million mixed-use development in Castleberry Hill. In 2001, he continued investing in the neighborhood with projects including The Castleberry Inn (now Clarion Inn & Suites Atlanta Downtown), Legacy Lofts, Intown Lofts, and Paschal’s Restaurant.

2000

NOW

Herman J. Russell prepared his children, H. Jerome, Donata, and Michael, to carry his vision forward: stay focused, be committed, keep sharpening expertise, and lead with modern technology and top talent to meet changing needs. Today, the Construction, Program Management, Property Management, and Real Estate Development divisions, along with Concessions International, the Russell Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Russell Family Enterprises, and the H. J. Russell Foundation, all build on his legacy and are being advanced by the next generation.

2025

Inclusive Growth Starts With How We Build

The Story of Herman Russell

H. J. Russell & Company