Jeff Hauptman is down-to-earth, forward-thinking and deeply rooted in the city he’s called home since the age of three. As CEO of Oxford Companies, he’s had a hand in shaping Ann Arbor for decades, from revitalizing underused properties downtown to improving commercial corridors and helping neighborhoods thrive. His vision is less about putting up buildings and more about doing the right thing — for the city, the community and the people who live and work there.
“I’ve spent my whole life in Ann Arbor,” he shared. “My friendships have deepened here over the decades. My children are growing up here. This is a long-term commitment for me.”
A company with a local core
His real estate firm, founded more than two decades ago, reflects that same enduring mindset. With over 100 employees — all based in Ann Arbor — Oxford takes a distinctly local approach. They don’t flip buildings. They don’t cut corners. And they don’t think short-term.
“A lot of companies think first about the investors, then the customers, and then their employees,” Hauptman said. “To us, that’s backwards.”
Oxford’s philosophy is to build from the inside out: take care of the people who work for you, and everything else follows. “If we have happy, satisfied, successful employees, they’re going to take really good care of our tenants… and if you can keep your customers happy, the investors succeed.”
It’s also a family business. Hauptman and his team think in decades, not quarters. “We’re always thinking long-term… maybe the kids will want to get involved in the family business.”
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From parking lot to community hub
That belief led to one of his boldest ideas yet: transforming ten acres of surface parking into Arbor South, a walkable, mixed-use district envisioned as a true neighborhood hub. The idea began to take shape in 2017, when Hauptman toured the gutted eighth floor of the 777 Building. Standing above it all, he saw what wasn’t obvious at ground level — the immense scale of the surrounding asphalt. What seemed like a standard parking lot from below suddenly revealed itself as a vast, underutilized opportunity.
What followed was a years-long process of city conversations, zoning changes and finding a development partner who shared Oxford’s values. Arbor South, still in its planning and pre-construction stages, is an example of what’s possible when long-term thinking meets local commitment.
Lessons from the dojo
Hauptman’s perspective is shaped as much by martial arts as it is by real estate. A practitioner of Goju-Ryu karate for nearly 40 years, he teaches the Little Dragons class at the Japanese Martial Arts Center.
That patience he’s learned from teaching a brand-new student carries into the workplace. “You have to work with people where they’re at,” he explained. Whether it’s a new employee or a nervous white belt, the goal is the same: build confidence, guide growth, and avoid unnecessary conflict.
In both the dojo and the office, he teaches that leadership is not just about avoiding conflict yourself but helping others “stay out of fights… keep people from crossing swords.” “No one wins a fight.”
Hauptman’s legacy of building community
When asked what he hopes his kids will say one day about the parts of Ann Arbor he’s helped shape, Hauptman’s answer wasn’t about recognition — it was about improving and integrating into neighborhoods. Oxford’s properties contribute positively to the fabric of the area — lifting up the block, not dragging it down — and feel like they’ve always belonged.
“That’s the goal. If we do it right,” he noted, “it’s not even so much about whether we built that [building]. It’s just part of the community. It should feel like it’s always been there.”
