The people behind the projects
Every Welling project is delivered by a tight team of specialists, from land to architecture to construction. No bloated org chart, just the right people doing what they do best.
Our founder
Mike Russell, Founder & Principal
Mike was on his first jobsite at eight years old, working alongside his father. That early start became a lifelong passion: more than 40 years in and around the construction industry. He went on to study construction before moving into engineering, pairing the hands-on instincts of a builder with the technical rigor of an engineer.
Welling Developments was founded to carry that passion forward. Today, Mike leads the company's strategic direction and its partner and investor relationships, steering where Welling builds next and who it builds alongside. The company's footprint spans Florida and Charlotte, North Carolina, with international projects underway in Belize.
Welling is known for luxury homes, but Mike's passion extends further, to a genuine commitment to expanding access to affordable housing alongside the company's luxury work.
“When you see a Welling build, you'll know Mike was involved. His style and flair are apparent.”
Leadership
Operations Manager
Tricia brings 20 years of industry experience, much of it as an integral part of a surveying and quantity surveying practice. At Welling she runs the day-to-day of every build, from design coordination and construction scheduling to project financing, sale logistics, and post-sale warranty. She's the glue that keeps the business running.
Construction coordination · Design coordination · Sales & warranty
Operations & intelligence
Behind every Welling project is a dedicated support team, backed by AI-driven systems. Our team manages the relationships with our general contractors, tracks each project's timeline and budget, and handles the permits, financing, and paperwork that move a build from start to finish. Behind the scenes, our AI tools screen markets, evaluate and underwrite potential deals, run initial site and buildability checks, and produce our listing and marketing content. Together they keep our builds on track and make sure our buyers, partners, and investors always have someone ready to help.
GC relationships · Timelines & budgets · Permits & financing · AI-driven deal analysis
Partners
We don't manage trades directly. We partner with Charlotte-based firms that we hold to the same standard we hold ourselves: one builds our homes, the other designs and engineers them. Both are vetted for quality, reliability, and communication.
General contractor
Custom, spec & investor homes · Charlotte, NC
A Charlotte-based general contractor with unlimited licenses in North and South Carolina and more than 30 years in the Charlotte community. Stratx builds with a disciplined focus on cost, quality, and schedule, and is our exclusive partner for bringing our affordable, attainable, and premium homes to market in the Charlotte region.
Architecture & engineering
Architecture · Civil & MEP engineering · Charlotte, NC
A Charlotte-headquartered firm offering architecture, interior design, MEP engineering, and civil engineering and land development under one roof. AB Group takes Welling homes from site planning and design through construction documents and permitting.
Our model
Our team directly manages land acquisition, capital structuring, project design, and the final sale. The developer role is never outsourced.
Our GC, architecture, and civil partners are chosen because they're the best at what they do. We give them clear scope and high standards, then let them work.
Every partnership is built on clear deliverables, milestone reporting, and shared accountability for the result. Everyone on a Welling project pulls their weight.