Category: Neal Team

An Investment in the Future: Scholarship, Internship Leading to Dream Career in Construction Management for Student Graham Jones

FORT MYERS, Fla. (June 26, 2025) –Entering into his junior year at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU), Graham Jones has big dreams. As a construction management major, Jones has his sights set on owning his own construction firm and everything he has learned in his first weeks as an intern at Neal Communities has only reinforced his vision, but also perhaps made him a little more realistic.

“Since starting with Neal, I have realized that my lifetime goal of owning my own construction firm is going to be a big hill to climb” Jones says. “I’ve slowly started to learn how it takes a team of people to collectively work together to achieve something big. Whether it’s building a home or starting my own firm, I’ve realized how important it is to have knowledge of everything going on in your company and understand how your team works together. This gives you a better scope of what to expect from your company and the things you can do differently to help make it the best.”

Jones’ internship is just part of Neal’s commitment to supporting students entering non-traditional fields, particularly those bridging the gap between high school and careers that combine technical expertise with leadership. He was also the recipient of the Neal Communities Scholarship, established in 2022, a $25,000 pledge over five years to support FGCU’s construction management program.

“My day-to-day with Neal is primarily spent working in a community under development named SkySail,” Jones says. “The team at SkySail treats me like family and has given me extraordinary learning opportunities.”

Jones spends his days shadowing most of the Neal Communities’ team by learning how they all work on specific tasks to achieve the vision of Neal.

“I’ve helped construction managers’ stencil measurements and letters around their homes, reviewed production reports of homes with the project manager, put out fires with the director of construction, surveyed undeveloped sites with the land engineer, calculated takeoffs with purchasing, and assisted customers’ needs with warranty. I’ve been exposed to so many different jobs and grasped a real understanding of the Neal team vision.”

Jones says his two favorite fields to work in are land development and building.

“I love working in land development not just for the big excavators and dump trucks but taking a plain old quarry and transforming it into a beautiful piece of land with windy roads and massive lakes,” he says. “I was surprised to learn that the biggest tool used in land development is gravity. Whether it’s moving water from lake to lake or sewer water from one corner of the property to another, using gravity to transfer the water saves a lot of space and money.”

While land development has captured his imagination, building has Jones’ heart.

“The adrenaline and satisfaction I get is unexplainable,” he adds. “Every day I learn something new about a material or trade. From breaking ground to flying trusses, to installing sod, I love the process that goes into building houses. Working with the trades, learning how they operate is fun too. My goal is to learn how a house gets built from start to finish. I want to learn the process of achieving permits, scheduling trades, problem solving, passing inspections and what comes after the home is complete.”

By investing in students like Graham, Neal Communities isn’t just contributing to education—they’re building futures, one brick at a time. Their partnership with FGCU underscores the importance of encouraging diverse career paths and giving students the tools to succeed.

July 9, 2025
Neal Communities Supports Take Stock in Children Through Scholarships, Mentorship

LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. (June 23, 2025) – Two local students will benefit from scholarships provided by Neal Communities through Take Stock in Children of Manatee County, but that’s not the only benefit gained for Tuline and Joel. Neal Communities donated $13,121 to Take Stock in Children of Manatee County to provide a tuition-based college/technical college scholarship to students in the Manatee County program.

Over the past several years, these students have been mentored by members of the Neal Communities team.

Pamela Curran, vice president of finance, and Steve Abraham, president of Neal Communities Funding, served as mentors to Tuline and Joel.

“I had the privilege of mentoring Tuline for two years and she is incredibly bright—definitely smarter than I was at 18,” says Curran. “Her ambition, focus, and maturity are remarkable. I have no doubt she’s going to make a meaningful impact in whatever path she chooses. She even inspired me to push myself further, both personally and professionally.”

For her part, Tuline says her experience has been overwhelmingly positive and crucial to providing the support necessary for a higher-level education. She is planning to use her scholarship to attend the University of South Florida.

“My aspiring career interests are in the field of Mechanical Engineering, with a concentration on prosthetics and mechatronics. Hopefully, I plan on working to innovate and create medical devices and prosthetics,” she says. “This scholarship is presented to me as a sign of resilience and motivation for future goals and aspirations. With this in mind, I would like to be a trailblazer, creating opportunities and inspiration for many others worldwide.”

Curran says that she has mentored three other Take Stock students over the years.

“I can honestly say that I’ve gained just as much from the program as the students have,” she adds. “These students have become like family to me. I’m forever grateful for their patience, wisdom, humility, humor, dedication, and inspiration. Each one has left a lasting impression on my life.”

The second student, Joel, is planning to use the scholarship for college to study accounting and believes that with other financial aid, he can be debt free after earning his degree.

“I took advantage of the mentoring program. My mentor, Mr. Abraham, and I often talked about a lot of things going on in my life, whether it be school or personal issues,” he says. “This scholarship helps me reach my goals of enjoying everything college offers. The financial support will also help me explore what I want to do for my future and the career path that I will take.”

Abraham has served as Joel’s mentor for three years, using a variety of communications vehicles to connect, including chat, video and in-person meetings.

“If someone can understand that learning is fun and rewarding, that you can develop skills to learn on your own, then the time you spend in school is probably more fruitful,” Abraham says. “If you leave school with a habit or desire to continue learning on your own, life will be infinitely better for you and the people around you. Having an adult to talk to without the emotional baggage that goes with a parent-child interaction is a chance for a young person to find out what it’s like to be their own person.”

Take Stock in Children’s mission is to break the cycle of poverty for low-income, academically qualified students by providing opportunities for a postsecondary education. The students, from middle to high school age, are matched with a volunteer mentor, provided college readiness services and a dedicated college success coach. Each student is awarded a college scholarship and provided with postsecondary support through degree or certification attainment.

In addition to Curran and Abraham, there are 13 additional Neal Communities employees volunteering as mentors with Take Stock in Children of Manatee County. Also, Ivory Matthews, vice president of community and governmental affairs at Neal Communities who has served as a mentor and former board member of Take Stock in Children of Manatee, is now a member of the Florida State Board of Take Stock in Children.

“Neal Communities is committed to giving back to the communities where we live and work and we’re proud and grateful to our mentors,” says Matthews. “We wish these mentees and all the students involved with Take Stock in Children of Manatee County success in whatever fields they pursue.”

Neal Communities has a philanthropic culture and a core belief that “Where You Live Matters.” The latest giving is part of more than $8 million Neal Communities has donated to local charities and causes throughout Southwest Florida.

June 25, 2025
Neal Communities Accounting Manager Helps Company Make a Difference for PACE Center for Girls

LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. (May 13, 2025) – Back in the early 2000s, Neal Communities Accounting Manager Jennifer Villarreal became involved with the PACE Center for Girls thanks to two young women in her world who were attending PACE.

“Those women completed high school, and one went on to join the US Army serving in Iraq, while the other had a long career in childcare and is now happily pursuing her other career interests,” Villarreal says.

Today, Villarreal has stayed involved because of the organization’s commitment to helping girls and young women navigate tough decisions in their lives. She also coordinates all of Neal Communities’ support of the PACE Center for Girls Lucky Duck Race, which took place last month.

“I was able to witness first-hand the care and attention PACE provided to girls at a crucial time in their lives, when a handful of choices makes the difference between graduating high school and having opportunities or the alternative,” she says. “When these young women achieve their goals and become empowered, productive members of our community, their success has the power to resonate across generations.”

Pace Center for Girls of Manatee County integrates social services and education in an individualized manner, and it is recognized nationally as one of the most effective programs in the country for keeping adolescent girls out of the juvenile justice system. The organization uses a strengths-based approach that harnesses the unique potential of each girl with a focus on future outcomes. Pace Manatee has worked with more than 1,500 girls over the years and is one of Pace Center’s almost two dozen Florida locations.

“We are so grateful for our partnership with Neal Communities, says PACE Center for Girls Executive Director Amy Wick Mavis. “Their investment in the future of our PACE girls demonstrates their true commitment to Manatee County. And when Neal Communities is sharing about the Lucky Duck Race for Pace, they are not only advocating for the needs of our PACE girls, but they are also highlighting this valuable resource for our community.”

Neal Communities served as the Community Sponsor for the Lucky Duck Race, donating $10,000 to the effort. Villarreal says she encourages “anyone willing to listen” to support PACE each year through the adoption of ducks as the money spent on adoptions supports PACE Manatee and allows the community to enjoy a rubber duck race down the Manatee River.

“Aside from the financial support from Neal Communities, providing for PACE to host events like the PACE Duck Race; I like to think when girls attending PACE Manatee see support from companies with a large local presence, like Neal Communities, they know they are seen and supported in an incredible way beyond the halls of PACE Center for Girls,” Villarreal adds. “It’s great that I get to share the mission of PACE with people that had no idea they even existed – if they become aware of a girl struggling in school, I hope they remember there is a wonderful resource right here in Manatee County.”

May 13, 2025
Neal Communities Volunteer Week Celebrates Company’s Commitment to Philanthropy
LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. (April 2, 2025) – At least 79 employees of Neal Communities (new home builder in Southwest Florida) will participate in the company’s second annual Volunteer Week, celebrated during National Volunteer Week (April 21-25). The employees will volunteer with 10 different non-profit organizations throughout Southwest Florida.

The company has long supported philanthropy and employee volunteerism through corporate gifts and individual volunteering opportunities. The week-long coordinated event was an evolution of Neal Communities core belief that “Where You Live Matters” and commitment to giving back.

Among the volunteer organizations that will welcome Neal employees are:
- SMART (Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy), which provides equine-assisted therapeutic services to serve individuals in the Sarasota/Manatee community. Services are designed to benefit participants physically, socially, cognitively, and emotionally through work with equines and trained volunteers. Neal volunteers will help prep horse stalls on April 21 from 8:30 – 11 a.m.
- Sarasota County Parks on April 22 from 10 a.m. – noon, where volunteers will assist in a litter cleanup at Ackerman Park, a dog-friendly park with an unpaved trail, playground and picnic pavilions located near I-75.
- Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue, an animal shelter and adoption center, on April 25 from 9:30 – 11:30 a.m., where volunteers will make interactive dog treats and assist with animal activities, such as walking or yard play.
- Palma Sola Botanical Park on April 25 from 2 – 4:30 p.m., where volunteers will celebrate National Arbor Day by helping Palma Sola hand out free trees to members of the community.
Throughout the week, employees will also volunteer at: PACE Center for Girls, which partners with community agencies in Manatee County to provide girls with a multitude of resources to best meet their development and social service needs; the Haven, which provides support and programs for adults and children with disabilities to enhance quality of life; Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee County, Habitat for Humanity Pinellas, United Way Suncoast and Lee Weatherington Boys and Girls Club.

“Through partnerships with impactful local organizations, we’re creating meaningful opportunities for our employees to give back and create positive change,” says Tashara Carmichael, vice president of Human Resources for Neal Communities. “The level of engagement from our team demonstrates the compassion and character of our workforce; I couldn’t be prouder of their dedication to community service.”

Established in 1974, National Volunteer Week promotes and shows appreciation for volunteerism and volunteering. Many organizations host special events to celebrate volunteers, engage community members, and spread awareness about volunteer opportunities. A National Volunteer Week proclamation has been issued by the President of the Unites States each year since the holiday’s inception. In the U.S., National Volunteer week is organized by the Points of Light foundation.
April 25, 2025
Neal Communities Zeroes in on a Big Annual Revenue Figure: $1 Billion

This article was originally published in the Business Observer by Mark Gordon and can be viewed here.

Prolific area homebuilder Pat Neal was about to check out and pay for his groceries at an Albertsons in west Bradenton in 1991 when he spotted a Neal Communities customer in line. The customer had bought a home recently and was experiencing air conditioning issues.

Neal initially backed away. He worried he might get an earful. His first thought: hide behind the Corn Flakes.

But Neal, then 42 and running a company nearly exclusively building homes in Manatee County, quickly came to his senses. He walked up and introduced himself to the customer. Turns out, Neal says, the customer was “as happy as mud” because the company fixed the problem.

“I realized I don’t want to live this way,” Neal adds about that day.

It’s also how Neal, now 75, created a motto for the company that holds today: never do anything in regard to customers, employees, vendors and anything or anyone else with the company where someday you will seek to avoid the person by hiding behind the Corn Flakes in the grocery store.

That motto — combined with an astute land-acquisition model, a willingness to alter strategies in the face of complicated market forces and an aversion to taking on debt — has put Neal Communities on the cusp of two major accomplishments. One, turning 55 years old, will happen in 2025.

A second milestone, surpassing $1 billion in annual revenue, could happen next year as well, if not then by 2026 or 2027. Neal Communities, with 311 employees, posted $905 million in revenue in 2023, up 47.6% from $613 million in 2022. And that’s up from $276.6 million in 2014 — a 10-year growth rate of 227.18%. The company has built 23,000 homes since Neal and his father founded it in 1970.

Hitting $1 billion in annual revenue puts the Lakewood Ranch-based business in rare space: there are few companies in the Sarasota-Bradenton region both that large in revenue and homegrown. Even less are privately-owned. And none are homebuilders.

In addition, 2023 was a record year for the business: it closed 1,355 new homes, at an average price of around $670,000. It has 18 communities where it sells homes, with four under construction and eight in entitlements. It builds homes in Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee, and Collier counties.

Bradenton area homebuilder Marshall Gobuty, who has worked with Neal on some projects and considers him a friend and mentor, says the most impressive thing about Neal is his relentless energy on anything relating to the company and building homes. “Everything that goes on at Neal Communities at some point goes back to Pat,” says Gobuty, founder and president of Pearl Homes. “He looks at everything thinking how he could do it better. He’s never satisfied with the status quo.”

In a recent interview as Neal drove a visitor around for a tour of Grand Park, a 1,700 home-community built on a former sod farm in south Sarasota off Clark Road, east of Interstate 75, he talked about the state of the company, the homebuilding market and more. Edited excerpts:

Details Matter
Neal says the company spends more per home than the large publicly-traded homebuilders it competes with. “Our brand promise is to float above the public builders and build a home with greater attention to detail, a more beautiful front elevation, set in a more natural environment,” he says. “Our homes are prettier and more focused on visual beauty and are more environmentally sensitive than our competitors.”

That strategy, Neal adds, includes being more focused on the front elevation of the homes; putting in substantially more landscaping; and having lower density and more space between homes. Almost on cue, Neal, on the tour, points out bushes that had grown too high and other seemingly minute landscaping issues he says would involve a forthcoming memo to some landscape personnel. “When you come into one of our communities, you should know within 30 seconds you’re in a Neal community,” he says.

After COVID
Even four years on, the impact of the pandemic is felt within the company and its strategy and model. For the first few years, it was constantly playing catch-up on the surge in demand, Neal says, recalling how it couldn’t get refrigerators and it even bought a truss company to eliminate, or curtail, a supply chain hiccup. Another big change: the amount of people it takes to build a house today has nearly doubled, from 40 or so to around 75.

On the move
The flip side to those challenges is Neal Communities’ buyer pool has expanded significantly, Neal says. “There is much greater pressure to move away from Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania or California, to name a few, to relocate here,” he says.

The past year is a textbook example. Neal says “we never used to sell homes to people from California.” Then, last year, it sold 36 homes to people with a Golden State address at the time of the purchase.

Family matters
About 30% of the company’s home sales are to families, which is higher than its ever been, Neal says. The other two demographics it sells to are what Neal calls OPALs (older person with active lifestyles) or empty nesters. The average age of a Neal Communities homebuyer is in the low 60s. About 57% of the company’s customers have an out of state address at the time of first purchase.

Family matters II
Another family that drives the business is Neal’s own family. Other Neals who work in the company include Pat’s wife of 46 years, Charlene; the couple’s two sons, John and Michael; and one niece and one nephew. Charlene has been with the company for 43 years, while Neal proudly says he’s worked with John since 2004 and Michael since 2013.

Charlene is senior vice president of design and the company’s PureStyle arm, with a team of nine people. John, meanwhile, oversees Neal Land & Neighborhoods, a master-planned community developer that partners with Neal Communities on some projects. And Michael’s company works on land development in Grand Park, in addition to working with other builders in Parrish, Bradenton and Punta Gorda, Pat Neal says. John Neal will build about 800 homes sites on his own this year, while Michael will handle about 600 home sites.

The family lives close to one another in west Bradenton. “My greatest personal pleasure is coming to the office every day to see my family, ” says Neal.

Places everyone
Neal projects the Sarasota-Bradenton market, including Lakewood Ranch, will remain a hotspot for home sales for several years. The communities and towns in Florida’s east coast, from Daytona Beach to Broward, he says, are filling or already filled up and are “just not as nice.”

“The weather is not as nice, the beaches are not as nice, it is not as warm in the winter, and the Atlantic is certainly not as beautiful as the Gulf,” he adds in a memo after the interview.

Dwell on it
Neal Communities sells homes in other price points besides what Neal calls the “marvelous middle.” One one end, the company’s Signature unit sold 63 homes last year at an average of $1.5 million each. On the other end its SimplyDwell unit, launched at the end of 2022, sells homes in Sarasota and Manatee counties priced from $295,000 to about $370,000. That market, he says, isn’t low-income but “middle income people starting their progression to home ownership.”

The internal challenge, Neal says, is to build homes for SimpyDwell at half the price of its base homes but maintain an acceptable profit margin. One way to ease that challenge is in volume, as Neal says “we have a commitment to build 500 homes per year by our fourth year” with SimplyDwell.

Future plans
In this interview, like in previous interviews, Neal stresses he’s not a hobbies person. And retirement is as foreign a concept to him as a one-car garage. His jam is blueprints and pouring over land packages. And going to tour sites. “I don’t play golf, I don’t play pickleball,” he says. “I love coming to work everyday to help figure out how to move our strategic plan forward.”

April 19, 2024
Neal Communities Donates $10,000 to Sponsor the 2024 Parrish Heritage Day Parade and Chili Cookoff

Neal Communities, Southwest Florida’s premier, private homebuilder, was a $10,000 sponsor of the 2024 Parrish Heritage Day Parade & Chili Cook Off Festival, which was held Saturday, March 9, at the Florida Railroad Museum.

The family friendly parade and festival are held annually by the Parrish Civic Association and The Parrish Foundation. The celebration and fundraiser support the Foundation’s efforts in the community for beautification and events, as well as a fund to build a community center. For a $10 ticket, attendees were able to taste chili from 24 competing teams, while enjoying live music, arts and crafts displays and activities for all ages.

The chili-cooking teams bring in all of their own supplies, cook everything from scratch on site, and serve their chili creation to the judges and attendees. The Neal Communities team, the “Neal Hot Chili Peppers,” came in Second Runner-up this year.

“I’m really competitive,” said Jennifer Joslin, a design gallery manager for both Neal Communities and Neal signature Homes. Her husband, Karl, serves as the head chef, and six other Neal employees rounded out the team. The first year the Neal team participated, they won First Runner-up. Last year, they won the People’s Choice award, which Joslin considers “the real winner.”

“This is my third year being involved, and we wanted to be the grand champions this year,” Joslin said. Although they didn’t take first place as hoped, the team still had fun. “This is a great event and a way to give back to the community. I think there were more than 5,000 people there, and they were all lined up at our booth. The people of Parrish just love it, and it’s for a good cause.”

Neal Communities has supported this event and The Parrish Foundation for many years, with past donations totaling more than $52,000. With a core belief that “Where You Live Matters,” Neal Communities has given more than $8 million to local charities throughout Southwest Florida and is committed to the communities where they live, work and build.

In Parrish, Neal Communities is currently building and selling homes in Canoe Creek and Wildleaf at North River Ranch. Silverleaf, also located in Parrish, has recently sold out.

April 1, 2024
Neal Communities and Neal Signature Homes Win Multiple Awards at the Parade of Homes Awards Gala

Neal Communities, southwest Florida’s premier, private homebuilder; Neal Signature Homes, the company’s luxury division; and Waterscapes Pools & Spas, part of the Neal Communities family of companies; earned a total of eight awards at the Parade of Homes Awards Gala held on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at the Hyatt Regency Sarasota. The formal event had an “Under the Sea” theme and honored builders and subcontractors for the best of the 2024 Parade of Homes.

Neal Communities was recognized in the Communities category for Grand Park, a new neighborhood in south Sarasota that features homes with British West Indies design, lush landscaping and resort-style amenities, starting from $442,900. Neal Communities also won two awards in the Single Family Homes category for the Sea Mist model in Wildleaf at North River Ranch in Parrish and the Sanibel at the Boca Royale Golf & Country Club in Englewood. In addition, Neal Communities won an award for the Tidewater at Vicenza in Venice for the Multi-Family category offering four or fewer residences.

Neal Signature Homes received awards for two model homes in the Single Family Homes category, the Carlotta 2 at The Alcove at Waterside in Lakewood Ranch and the Cortina at Aria in Venice. Both are three-bedroom, two-bath homes with large walk-in closets in the master bathroom, oversized walk-showers, two separate sink vanities and private water closets. Customizable options are available, such as an expanded lanai from the master bedroom, outdoor kitchens and pool baths.

Both the Carlotta 2 and the Cortina also won awards for pool design. The pools were designed and built by Waterscapes Pools & Spas, which is part of the Neal Communities family of companies.

“We were among excellent company in all of the categories, and we are honored to accept these awards on behalf of the entire Neal Communities and Neal Signatures Homes team,” said Carlos Puente, vice president of sales and marketing for Neal Communities and president of Neal Signature Homes. “We are proud of the work we do and the homes we offer to the community, and grateful for this recognition.”

Neal Communities has been building homes in Southwest Florida for more than 50 years and has received numerous awards. Their customer service, commitment to quality and elegant floor plans make them one of the most sought-after home builders in the area.

A program of the Suncoast Builders Association, the Parade of Homes Manatee & Sarasota Counties offers the public an opportunity to visit six communities and tour 100 model homes spanning Sarasota and Manatee counties. The homes showcase the latest innovations in design, energy conservation and sustainability. The homes will be open through March 28, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. The Parade of Homes is self-guided, and there is no charge to tour the homes.

March 26, 2024
Neal Communities Sponsors Speakeasy Costume Mystery Gala Dinner Benefitting Take Stock in Children of Manatee County

Neal Communities, southwest Florida’s premier, private homebuilder, donated $1,500 to sponsor Pineapple Kitchen’s Speakeasy Costume Mystery Gala, held March 1 at the IMG Academy Gold Club in Bradenton. Proceeds from the night of glamour, mystery and comedy benefited Take Stock in Children of Manatee County’s programs, which include mentoring and college scholarships. Students spoke during the event, sharing their experiences in the Take Stock in Children of Manatee County programs.

“The evening was a great success, raising $95,000.00 for TSIC Manatee,” said Anne LeBaron, CEO of Take Stock in Children of Manatee County. “We are so proud of our students, and with a graduation rate of 98%, we are mentoring our students for success in life. We are so grateful for the support of Neal Communities and the amazing mentors from the Neal team! Together we are making a better community and world.”

Take Stock in Children of Manatee County’s mission is to break the cycle of poverty for low-income, academically qualified students by providing opportunities for a postsecondary education. The students, from middle to high school age, are matched with a volunteer mentor, provided college readiness services and a dedicated college success coach. Each student is awarded a college scholarship and provided with postsecondary support through degree or certification attainment.

Christine McKelvey, director of marketing for Neal Communities, attended the event and also serves as a mentor for Take Stock in Children of Manatee County. “This was such a fun evening,” said McKelvey, “and hearing directly from students about the significant impact of Take Stock in Children Manatee on their lives was especially heartwarming.”

Neal Communities has been a community partner and supporter of Take Stock in Children of Manatee County since 2011. In total, Neal Communities has donated more than $30,000 to the organization. Last year, Neal Communities donated $10,600 to provide a tuition-based college/technical college scholarship. That scholarship was awarded to a student who had been mentored by a Neal Communities’ employee. Currently, eight Neal Communities employees serve as mentors for the program.

With a core belief that “Where You Live Matters,” Neal Communities has given more than $8 million to local charities throughout Southwest Florida and is committed to the communities where they live, work and build.

March 14, 2024
Neal Communities Donates $10,000 to Sisters Sowing Seeds, Inc., Benefitting Teen Girls

Neal Communities, southwest Florida’s premier, private homebuilder, has donated $10,000 to support Sisters Sowing Seeds, Inc., a nonprofit organization that mentors and empowers teen girls and women in Sarasota and Manatee counties.

Neal Communities has supported the nonprofit organization since 2019, with donations now totaling $28,500. This is the largest donation made to date.

Sisters Sowing Seeds was founded in 2015 by Monica Donley, when she was a senior accountant with Neal Communities. Sisters Sowing Seeds hosts tutoring and mentoring programs designed to strengthen the self-esteem of teen girls and young women and help them succeed in school and life. The organization offers community and in-school programs, including a mentoring program and six-week classes on various topics.

Programs are currently being held in Braden River Middle School, Booker Middle School and Lee Middle School. The girls meet with Sisters Sowing Seeds volunteers on Monday, Thursday and Friday afternoons. Activities include tutoring, speakers, team building – such as escape rooms – and cooking competitions.

The Sisters Sowing Seeds cook-off competition provided a fun way for participants to learn cooking skills.

Sisters Sowing Seeds quarterly outings and events encourage and reward the program’s participants for achieving goals, taking on new challenges and being consistent.

“We thank Pat Neal and Neal Communities for continuing to contribute funds and constant support to make sure that Sisters Sowing Seeds, Inc., is able to make a major impact in our community,” said Donley. “We are so grateful for this donation, as it will allow us to increase our participants.”

The $10,000 donation from Neal Communities will be used to purchase curriculum and fund Sisters Sowing Seeds’ community meetings and quarterly outings.
“Sisters Sowing Seeds is empowering young women and launching them toward success,” said Pat Neal, founder and chairman of Neal Communities. “We are proud that Monica is continuing her impactful work, and we’re happy to support her and this wonderful organization.”

Neal Communities has a philanthropic culture and a core belief that “Where You Live Matters.” The latest giving is part of more than $8 million that Neal Communities has donated to local charities and causes throughout Southwest Florida.

January 30, 2024
Mary Quaid: Guiding Dreams in New Home Sales

Working in the dynamic world of new home sales for Neal Communities, the area’s premier private homebuilder, demands a unique blend of energy and competitiveness. For those who thrive in this high-energy environment, it offers a gateway to boundless opportunities. Mary Quaid, a sales associate at Neal Communities, personifies the ideal candidate for this challenging domain.

MaryAnn Koops, her sales manager, lauds Mary’s unwavering dedication, relentless work ethic, and pursuit of excellence. “Mary consistently demonstrates exceptional dedication, strong work ethic, and a commitment to excellence. Mary’s ability to collaborate effectively, adapt to changing circumstances, and take initiative sets a remarkable standard within our team,” Koops attests.

Leveraging her aptitude for connecting with people and creative problem-solving, Mary pursued her real estate license after earning a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Central Florida. “I’ve always enjoyed meeting new people,” Mary shares. “Working in real estate allows me to do that and to become part of a special moment in their lives when they find their new dream home.”

After graduating in 2018, she began her career in Orlando, working in leasing for her apartment complex. However, her aspirations were grander. With her grandmother’s legacy as a successful sales representative at Neal Communities, she was well-acquainted with the company’s reputation. Furthermore, her heart longed to return to Lakewood Ranch, a place she considered home despite brief stints in Ireland during her formative years.

In August 2019, Mary joined Neal Communities as a new home sales trainee, quickly ascending through the ranks. By March 2020, she was promoted to a new home sales associate, where she has consistently excelled and established herself as an invaluable asset. Koops remarks, “Her contributions have consistently yielded positive results, making her a valuable asset to Neal Communities.”

Mary describes her role as showcasing what makes Neal homes extraordinary. “The essence of what I do is to show how a Neal Communities home can improve someone’s day to day. How can it solve the little problems that add up in someone’s day and make life a little easier,” she explains. “We see so many different lifestyles and wants and needs. I think it’s the best part of the job: finding the right floor plan and home site for as many people as possible. I love finding the perfect match for someone and sharing their excitement.”

Currently, Mary is selling homes in Grand Palm, a serene, nature-focused community in Venice, with a rich array of amenities. She also cherishes her time at Cielo, the first Neal Community she worked in. “It was a genuine gift to work in Cielo as the only sales rep. It’s in a beautiful area of Venice, and I worked with so many gracious and kind new homeowners,” Mary fondly recalls.

Elayne McKinney, the sales manager overseeing Cielo, describes Mary as where passion meets dedication. “Mary Quaid: Where passion meets dedication, and she treats her buyers as friends. Her commitment to excellence shines through every referral she receives. Neal Communities is truly fortunate to have Mary on our team.”

In September 2023, Mary earned a Bronze Award from the Manatee-Sarasota Building Industry Association’s Sales and Marketing Council, acknowledging her outstanding sales performance. Her total sales for the year reached an impressive $6,576,000, yet Mary has her sights set higher, aiming to become one of Neal Communities’ top five sales associates.

“I’m definitely competitive,” she chuckles, “but mostly I’m trying to beat my own best and stay open to learning and feedback. This is a wonderful environment for a salesperson to thrive. I’m encouraged to think on my feet and do the right thing for the homeowner.”

Beyond her professional aspirations, Mary also believes in doing the right thing outside of work and appreciates the support she receives from her employer to volunteer in the community. “My mother started Manatee BUDS after my younger sister Eleanor was born with Downs Syndrome. BUDS stands for Bringing Up Downs Syndrome, and the local organization provides programs and services for new parents, kids and young adults with Downs Syndrome.”

Quaid’s volunteer work with Manatee BUDS includes helping with social media marketing for programs like yoga classes, outreach to young adults and the Buddy Walk, the area’s largest Downs Syndrome awareness and celebration event of the year. The 21^st Annual Buddy Walk will take place on October 28 this year at Bayside Community Church’s Lakewood Ranch campus. Donations and walkers are welcome, and Quaid encourages anyone interested to get involved.

“It’s an important organization that gives a more positive and, in my opinion, a truly realistic look into living with an intellectual disability in today’s world. It’s giving new parents and experienced parents, as well as young adults with Down syndrome, resources to navigate and excel in a way that they may not have been given the chance to even twenty years ago,” says Quaid.

Mary’s ambitious nature and her genuine, caring approach to homebuyers are poised to propel her to even greater heights in her promising future with Neal Communities. Her sales managers and colleagues eagerly anticipate celebrating her achievement as one of the top five sales leaders. And then, who knows what new horizons Mary will set her sights on next!

October 13, 2023