JC Griffin, Sr.

JC’s Professional Experience

JC Griffin, Sr. is the founder, managing principal and chief executive officer of Griffin Venture Group, LLC, where he leads the firm’s strategic planning, operations and investment initiatives. A notable commercial real estate executive, Mr. Griffin is recognized for his expertise in high-stakes negotiations, leading sophisticated teams and developing innovative, market-driven business strategies. He is routinely sought after to assist in the management of strategic partnerships, implementation of economic development plans, regulatory affairs and commercial agency representation matters. Mr. Griffin brings a unique perspective to real estate and investment management, combining broad private-sector experience and over a decade of intergovernmental service at the local, state, and federal levels — including direct involvement in U.S. military operations and international geopolitical affairs.

Prior to embarking on his career in real estate , Mr. Griffin managed freight transportation and training operations for the Norfolk Southern Railway Corporation’s Midwest region. He subsequently was recruited to lead personnel, communications and infrastructure development initiatives within the public sector — serving institutions such as the Cook County Bureau of Asset Management, the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Illinois Division of Aeronautics, the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In 2015, he was selected for a congressional fellowship supporting the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) and the House Committees on the Judiciary and Oversight & Government Reform. His policy focus centered on national security, veterans’ affairs, and government accountability, with targeted efforts to streamline access to federal resources. In 2018, Mr. Griffin served as a liaison to the White House Opportunity & Revitalization Council, helping coordinate federal economic development efforts in direct support of Opportunity Zones designated by the Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017.

Mr. Griffin is a licensed real estate broker in Illinois and Florida. He is a graduate of the Urban Land Institute’s (ULI) Commercial Real Estate Academy and the Real Estate Associate Program (REAP) — two nationally recognized platforms for advancing diverse talent and education in the commercial real estate industry. He is an alumnus of the John Marshall Law School in Chicago and holds a Bachelor's degree in Business and Organizational Management from North Park University. An Iraq War veteran and 5th consecutive generation U.S. military service member of his family, Mr. Griffin served honorably as a aeronautically rated enlisted aviator in the U.S. Air Force, completing eight years of distinguished uniformed armed service in the U.S. Department of Defense. He is a committed advocate for veterans and remains actively engaged in mentorship and diversity initiatives across commercial real estate, public institutions and the aeronautical industry.