Michael Cooper seized upon the entrepreneurial bent cultivated by his parents to found Blue River Development with his brother, Brad. The brothers’ real estate development journey was inspired by their mother, a residential agent, and father, a business founder. After serving in the Navy at the Top Gun Naval Strike Air Warfare Center, Cooper established a finance company before venturing into real estate. His military background taught him discipline, structure and a system-based approach, along with developing a desire to continuously innovate, test, and refine the best practices of the business. He has utilized this approach in his work for the last 21 years and continues to integrate it into Blue River’s culture and strategy for ongoing success.
Blue River Development is known for its system-driven operations, focusing on land and lot origination for residential developments throughout the Southeast, with current projects in Georgia, Florida, Carolinas, Alabama, Tennessee and Texas. The company handles every step of the process, from land acquisition to vertical construction, serving private, regional and national homebuilders, investors, and build-to-rent operators. Cooper’s leadership style is mission-based, emphasizing consistency, persistence and adaptability. He believes in fostering strong relationships with clients and prides himself on being transparent and easy to work with. Blue River’s proprietary prospecting system ensures no opportunity is overlooked, contributing to the company’s steady growth and expansion.
Cooper is a member of the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association and the Georgia Realtors Association. Under his leadership, the company has expanded into new markets, including its new home-building division — Blue River Communities. He especially enjoys spending time with his wife of 17 years, Kristin, and their four children. He maintains a strong passion for giving, supporting charitable organizations such as Breakthrough T1D, the Mitchell Thorp Foundation, Noble Clay, Promise 686 and the Forsyth County Foster Care Center. Looking forward, he aims to expand Blue River into 23 states while continuing his mission to create sustainable, predictable growth.
