Welcome to Uphoff Ventures, a pioneering force in real estate development.

About Steven Uphoff / Uphoff Ventures:

Born and raised in the Wisconsin Dells, Steven Uphoff has established himself as a prominent leader across multiple sectors of real estate and operations in an illustrious career spanning nearly three decades. He has successfully been involved in the development of petroleum, convenience stores, entertainment venues, hospitality and other real estate ventures.

Uphoff serves as the CEO and President of Uphoff Ventures, LLC, which is based in Richmond, Virginia. In this role, and over the past 28 years, he has acquired, developed, and built and sold in excess of $1 billion worth of real estate assets across Arizona, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia and Wisconsin. His keen eye for seeking out, and assembling investment property, with cost-efficient development working with what Steve says is “the best developer team anywhere” has been instrumental in driving the growth, profit, and success of these diverse Uphoff owned portfolio ventures. Steve also likes to tell folks he’s really in the beverage business, “I convert lemons into sweet lemonade” through exceptional real estate, by creating value and delivering an extraordinary customer experience.

With a proven track record of creating substantial value over and above cost, Uphoff Ventures specializes in maximizing returns through strategic property acquisitions, development projects, and investment opportunities.

Uphoff's career began with Amoco Oil Company as a Senior Jobber Sales Manager. He managed Amoco's wholesale fuel business in Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland, and West Virginia, significantly increasing gasoline sales and earning recognition on the National Amoco Advisory Board. Uphoff's educational background includes a BS in Agricultural Engineering & Business Administration from the University of Florida, where he also served as an automotive mechanics instructor and earned national certification as a Master Mechanic through ASE. His extensive experience and visionary leadership has made him a key figure in the industries he has touched.

Uphoff’s real estate career began in 1996 with the development of a project in Emporia, Virginia. Over the next 15 years the Uphoff portfolio grew from $1.8 million to in excess of $43 million.

From June 2010 to 2014, Uphoff was the founder, and largest single stockholder, CEO, and a board member of MACS / Southside Oil, LLC. During this time, he played the pivotal role in negotiating, financing (through a national $450M bank syndication group), and managing 329 ExxonMobil, and BP branded gas stations that his company owned in conjunction with his private equity company. Southside Oil sold 450 million gallons per year of fuel, making his company the largest ExxonMobil fuel distributor in the world at the time. MACS, the retail operating segment of his company, operated, and managed, a 71-store convenience chain in Maryland and Virginia with over 2,500 team members strong. Steve’s leadership in this capacity helped solidify the company's leading market share position in the region and earned him positions on the National Advisory Boards of both BP Oil Company and ExxonMobil Oil.

In 2010 Uphoff purchased $600 million of assets from Exxon Mobil and in 2014 the MACS assets were sold for $750 million.

From February 2016 to April 2023, Uphoff served as the CEO and President of Dion Convenience Stores, Dion Transport, Dion Fuel, and Dion Real Estate Companies located in Key West, and Homestead, FL and spearheaded the purchase of 18 convenience stores and a fuel oil distributorship. Under his leadership, these acquired sites were successfully converted from the Citgo brand to Exxon and Mobil brands, resulting in a significant 30% increase in both inside merchandise, and fuel gallon sales volume. Steve’s strategic initiatives included rebuilding, and modernizing multiple retail assets and facilities, which maximized sales and profitability throughout the chain.

The Dion chain was acquired for $24 million in 2016, and in 2023 was sold for $100 million.

In 2014 Uphoff developed a 60-room luxury lake front resort in the Wisconsin Dells at a cost of $8 million. This was later sold in 2021 for $18 million.

In addition to his accomplishments in the petroleum and convenience store industries, Uphoff has also invested in the entertainment and hospitality industries. He developed, financed, and operated four world-class entertainment and bowling facilities in Richmond, VA, Phoenix, AZ, Manassas, VA, and Changzhou, China. These 60,000-square-foot, 40-lane facilities have set new standards in the industry, while Brunswick Bowling Company has consistently ranked Uptown Alley’s as the world’s best built and run FEC’s in the industry.

With a commitment to creating value, Uphoff continues to drive innovation and excellence on his existing and future projects in Arizona, Florida, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Director of Operations and Information Technology, Uphoff Ventures
I hold a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management from Longwood University. With over 20 years of experience in the business and home services sector, I have acquired a diverse skill set through certifications in various trades, including Mechanics, Low-Voltage Audio & Video, Security & Surveillance, IT Infrastructure, Cyber Security, and Project Management.
I have been with Uphoff Ventures for one year, where I oversee operations and manage information technology to ensure the seamless execution of our projects. My extensive background and hands-on expertise in multiple domains have allowed me to contribute significantly to our organization's growth and efficiency.

With over 12 years of extensive experience in Human Resources, Ashley Swenson has developed a robust and versatile skill set that spans multiple verticals, including retail, hospitality, medical, and technology. Ashley Swenson is currently the Director of Human Resources at Uphoff Ventures, where they have been contributing their expertise for the past two years. Throughout their career, Ashley has demonstrated a strong commitment to fostering positive workplace environments, implementing effective HR strategies, and enhancing organizational efficiency. Their ability to navigate the complexities of various industries and adapt to evolving HR landscapes has made them a trusted advisor and leader within their field.

Joe Kellum serves as a Financial Consultant and Board Member for Uphoff Ventures. With a distinguished career in finance and real estate, Mr. Kellum brings extensive expertise and strategic insight to the company.

Mr. Kellum is the Managing Director and principal owner of BT Capital, a firm he founded in 1992 to provide asset management, financial consulting, development, and operational management services to a diverse clientele. One of the primary objectives of BT Capital was to raise a pool of equity capital for real estate acquisitions. Under his leadership, BT Capital successfully acquired a real estate portfolio valued in excess of $50,000,000.

In his role at Uphoff Ventures, Mr. Kellum serves as a senior advisor on the Board of Directors. He collaborates closely with senior leadership, leveraging his vast experience to guide various real estate transactions and contribute to the company's strategic growth. His contributions are invaluable in navigating complex financial landscapes and driving the success of Uphoff Ventures.