Mark Ellis Tipton founded the Whistler Corporation in 1981 and was its sole-owner. A second-generation homebuilder, Tipton started his building career at a very early age, working in the family business where he started in the field as a laborer and finally was responsible for all marketing and sales decisions, as well as land development activities. Embracing a family tradition of active involvement with the Home Builders Association, Tipton followed in his father’s footsteps and became engaged in the political realm of the homebuilding and land development industry and soon became the President of the local Home Builders Association. He then became the youngest State Home Builders President in the Nation, as the President of the North Carolina Home Builders Association (NCHBA) in 1979-1980.
Following his service as NCHBA President, Tipton left his family business in Greenville, NC, moved to Raleigh, and started the Whistler Corporation in 1981 to pursue his ambitions of owning a homebuilding and land development company. True to his nature, Tipton thought big and began a Title X HUD Land Development Project in Raleigh, NC. This 251-unit townhouse development (Hunters Creek) sparked his career and set his company in motion. Whistler bought the raw tract of land, guided the parcel through entitlement process, developed it, and constructed the finished homes. During 1981 the interest rates rose to 21% and while almost all such projects were at a standstill, Hunters Creek Townhomes continued to sell.
Several lending institutions engaged Tipton and Whistler to do workout programs for projects that were failing and Whistler became very proficient in working out projects for lending institutions. Building upon his early success and continuing in his role as a homebuilder and land developer, Tipton did one of the first small lot subdivisions in North Raleigh, NC known as Durant Trails. This was one of the earliest projects in the country to be environmentally sensitive by protecting trees and the natural amenities, while providing a quality and affordable product for consumers. Since its development, numerous articles and awards came from the development of Durant Trails including being featured in “Builder Magazine”, a national publication. Whistler then became engaged in all types of developments that included mixed-use projects, multi-family projects, large single-family communities and small-scale affordable subdivisions.
In 1987, Tipton sold the company to a development group from Florida but maintained the rights to the name “Whistler”. The company name and logo came from the famous painting of James McNeil Whistler, better known to most people as the “Arrangement in Grey and Black” or “Whistler’s mother”. Many people are unaware of the fact that Anna McNeil Whistler was from Bladen County, South Carolina, which later became Bladen County, North Carolina.Tipton served as National Vice President for the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) in Washington, DC from 1986 and 1987. In 1987 he threw his hat into the ring to run for the NAHB Vice-President and Secretary. Tipton was elected to this position in January of 1988 and went on to serve as the NAHB president in 1991. To this date, he is the youngest person to ever hold this position.
During this five (5)-year tenure on the Association’s “Senior Officer Ladder”, Tipton was educated on many national housing related issues including wetlands and the finite details of the “Credit Crunch”. As the spokes person for Housing, Tipton became a regular testifying before Congress and appearing on such national talk shows as “Larry King Live”, “Good Morning America, “Today Show”” and local and national news programs, while at the same time conferring with the President and his administration at the White House on housing issues. Tipton carried the torch for the Housing Industry during one of the most difficult times in its history, earning him a spot in the National Housing Hall of Fame. He also holds the honor of having been inducted into the North Carolina Housing Hall of Fame, and has been recognized as Builder of the Year on several occasions in the Raleigh and Greenville communities, as well as throughout the state of North Carolina.
In 1992, Tipton bought the company back from the Florida group and continued to work in the housing industry. Before returning to full time development, he became the CEO of SMART HOUSE, Inc., a company that pioneered Home Automation and was heavily funded by the NAHB. During his tenure as CEO of SMART HOUSE, Inc., he was able to build a team that turned the company around and established it as the most recognized name in home automation. The company was part of a corporate take-over by Tyco International in 1999.
After taking a break, Tipton changed the name of Whistler Corporation to Whistler Investment Group, LLC and began working on distressed properties and other types of land deals. Once again, he surrounded himself with a team of experts in the industry to help further his vision of responsible building and land development. Whistler Investment Group and its affiliated companies (“Whistler”) locate and acquire land, guide it through the entitlement process, develop the land and build or sell the lots or homes. Whistler holds an Unlimited General Contractor’s License in the State of North Carolina and a North Carolina Real Estate Firm License.
A sampling of projects that Whistler has recently been involved with include the following:
1. The Galleria at Crabtree Valley, a vertical mixed use project in Raleigh, NC, wherein Whistler found the land, took it through the entitlement process in record time, and began development of 225,000 square feet of retail, 150,000 square feet of office space and up to 600 multifamily units. On the verge of development, Whistler and its partners chose to accept an Offer to Purchase from Weingarten Realty and sold the tract in January of 2007.
2. The Grande Villas at The Preserve, a 90-unit high-end condominium project located in Indian Beach, North Carolina, on the Atlantic Ocean. The Grande Villas have set a new standard for quality for ocean front projects along the Crystal Coast. This eight (8) story mid-rise is under construction and will be completed in June of 2008.
3. Brick Landing Plantation Yacht & Golf Club, a golf course community in Brunswick County, North Carolina, which entails a complete make-over of the golf course, magnificent clubhouse and new development of clubhouse attached waterfront condominiums and single-family golf course lots. The project also features waterfront docks, walkways on the ICW and one of the areas premier, exclusive golf courses.
4. Cypress Creek Plantation is a 588-acre tract of land located on the prestigious highway 211 corridor in Brunswick County, NC, just minutes from the historic and charming town of Southport, NC. Cypress Creek derives its name from the many majestic cypress trees that encompass the property. The Cypress Creek development will offer over 1,000 residential home-sites along with several retail shops. Amenities will include swimming pools, a clubhouse, extensive boardwalks, walking trails and a canoe/kayak launch. In proximity to the Project are over 20 golf courses, the Atlantic Ocean, fishing, boating, and other water related recreational activities. Cypress Creek also has a natural, navigable creek with rolling topography, creating one of the most beautiful, scenic development sites in the region.
5. Juniper Bay is a 995-acre tract of land located on highway 17 in central Brunswick County near the town of Bolivia, NC. Juniper Bay is in close proximity to the new state of the art Shipping and Port facility in Southport, and will offer approximately 1,500 residential home-sites along with several retail shops. Amenities will include swimming pools, a clubhouse, and walking trails. Juniper Bay has large natural areas that provide a serene, park-like setting and allow for miles of nature walks and many wildlife viewing locations among the multiple lakes and ponds. The project will be developed to appeal to multiple generations of home buyers preferring to live in harmony with beautiful natural surroundings while pursuing professional careers in Wilmington, Southport or Myrtle Beach, all less than thirty minutes away.
8.North Quarter Office Park is a 75,000 square foot all-brick, Williamsburg style, upscale office complex located just south of the Raleigh outer loop (I-540) on bustling Falls of Neuse Rd. Whistler has just completed construction of their fifth building which houses a full service Gateway Bank branch.