Category: News

Neal Communities recently took top honors in the large organizations category of a survey designed to recognize Top Workplaces in Sarasota and Manatee and Counties.

Conducted by the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and Energage, The Top Workplaces program surveys employees to collect feedback on the employee experience, culture, and other critical areas of employee satisfaction. Out of 504 participating organizations, 22 employers made the winners list, with Neal Communities being number one of the four large organizations recognized.

In a Sarasota Herald-Tribune article that ran on September 16, Pat Neal, founder of Neal Communities, said, “All employees at Neal Communities have a voice that is listened to, appreciated and respected. Every year we celebrate our team members’ commitment and success through initiatives like our Years of Service recognition or our annual Guiding Principles Award, which honors an employee who illuminates the principles that guide us at Neal Communities.”

Company benefits were highlighted, including compensation growth, bonuses, career advancement, comprehensive health care plans, employer-paid life insurance, supplemental insurance, long- and short-term disability insurance, employer-paid ID theft protection, a generous company-matching 401(K), paid time off, a wellness program, tuition reimbursement, employee assistance program (EAP) and employee service awards. In addition, employees have the opportunity to purchase a Neal home at a savings or have work done on their existing home through Neal’s trusted vendors.

In addition to the employer rankings, Pat Neal was recognized as a Special Award honoree for Leadership. The award was based on receiving the highest rating from employees to the survey criteria, “I have confidence in the leader of this company” for large companies.

For more information about Neal Communities, visit NealCommunities.com.

To our friends:

Tragedies often make us see things from a new perspective. From our family to yours, we extend our
sincerest hope that you and yours are safe. We are grateful to hear that so many of our homeowners
fared relatively well through this destructive storm, though we realize that thousands of our
friends and neighbors are still without power, water, resources, and are struggling in the aftermath.

I am humbled by and proud of how our team came together, unified in preparing our neighborhoods
for Hurricane Ian, steadfast in the face of such disaster. We are also thankful to our homeowners,
who put their faith in our team to build safe homes and provide caring customer service.

The people of Florida are strong and resilient, and I am in awe. This does not diminish the struggles
our friends have faced, and the strength that is needed in the weeks ahead. I pray that we all are
able to return to normalcy quickly. Let’s continue to help each other wherever needed, in the spirit of
fortitude and compassion.

Sincerely,
Pat Neal, CEO

Travelers visit Florida for a myriad of reasons. Whether it’s the warm weather, white-sand beaches or a vibrant arts scene, the coastal charm draws many to the Sunshine State. This often leads visitors down the path of homeownership in Southwest Florida, an environment that makes every day feel like a vacation.

Where You Live Matters, and this is why people come to Lakewood Ranch, a master-planned community located in Southwest Florida’s Manatee and Sarasota Counties. The year-round outdoor living, countless venues and accessibility to the rest of Southwest Florida reflect Neal Communities’ core tenet – neighborhoods providing growth, connection and the dream of the Florida lifestyle.

As a proud partner, we were overjoyed to see Lakewood Ranch celebrate its fifth consecutive year as the top-selling community in the country! This community already amassed 1,026 sales this year, and there are two key factors contributing to its success.

Quality & Connection

One driving reason for Lakewood Ranch’s popularity is its location and major attractions. Lakewood Ranch is near Sarasota, which ranked #9 in the U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Places to Live” list this year. The area includes top-rated schools, a lively downtown area, invaluable health care offerings and excellent beaches. As a multigenerational community, this accessibility provides a major boon to families – the ability to thrive and enjoy every aspect of life.

“Southwest Florida is one of the most desirable relocation markets in the country,” says Laura Cole, Senior Vice President of Lakewood Ranch. “Lakewood Ranch offers newcomers an incredible lifestyle and strong sense of community in it.”

A metropolis with an intimate atmosphere, Lakewood Ranch’s services provide residents with countless opportunities to turn neighbors into close friends. This principle is the bedrock for a strong community, and we are honored to build in an area emphasizing connection and adventure.

Continuous Growth

One of the many joys in homebuilding and ownership is seeing communities flourish over the years. Established in 1994, Lakewood Ranch began with one neighborhood in its vast acres. This natural beauty and boundless potential enticed Neal to be part of what would become a major hub. By 1998, we began building in the area, starting with our master-planned Lakewood Ranch Country Club community and many more to follow.

With 33,000+ acres of land at its disposal, Lakewood Ranch is able to showcase the best of Southwest Florida living. Over the past 25 years, 1,400 businesses laid roots in the area, allowing residents to experience the uniqueness of this cultural coast. We are also happy to continue serving the area, opening our beautiful Indigo and Windward communities in 2018 and 2020.

Since its creation, Lakewood Ranch provided new offerings such as community parks and winding nature trails. This also includes two major shopping centers – Main Street, featuring boutique shops and restaurants, and The Green, a shopping center ideal for purchasing groceries and daily necessities.

The town shows no signs of slowing down. Recently, Lakewood Ranch opened Waterside Place, a new town center presenting a blend of local and name-brand stores with a picturesque view of Kingfisher Lake. This explosive growth affords Lakewood Ranch with the chance to add to its current 57,000+ residents and expand its own rich culture.

We enjoy contributing to the success of this beautiful town. To learn more about the communities matching your needs, contact us here.

Neal Communities, Southwest Florida’s largest private homebuilder, donated $50,000 toward Riverview High School’s new Construction Academy, designed to prepare high school students for a career in the building industry.

Riverview High School’s new construction technology program will be the first of its kind in Sarasota County. The program will incorporate a curriculum from the National Center of Construction Education and Research along with providing hands-on experiences for students.

Currently, 60 students are enrolled in the program, which also has a waiting list. Those that complete the curriculum are eligible to earn industry-recognized credentials and have access to local internships, apprenticeships and jobs.

Charlene Neal, president of Charlene Neal PureStyle, a partner company of Neal Communities, organized the $50,000 donation on behalf of Neal Communities because of her desire to support a program that would have lasting positive effects on the students at Riverview High School, her alma mater.

“We are very happy to support Riverview High School’s new Construction Academy, which was designed to provide long-term career solutions and opportunities to its students,” Neal said. “Our hope is that students acquire both the skills and enthusiasm for success in the building industry.”

In addition to its financial contribution, Neal Communities intends to provide staff resources to assist with the program, from guest speakers and field trip opportunities to internships and apprenticeships. The program also creates a pipeline of potential employees who already call Sarasota County home.

Neal Communities joins a variety of local supporters through the Gulf Coast Building Exchange that are working to make the new construction lab at Riverview High School possible. The donations garnered to date have helped renovate an art lab into a functioning shop for students. The community celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony on August 9.

“We are grateful for the community support,” said Riverview Principal Erin del Castillo. “I’m also grateful for the support of parents and the students, themselves. Everyone is truly excited about the opportunities that this new academy will bring to our students.”

The new program is designed similarly to a Manufacturing Academy at South Fort Myers High School, which launched about five years ago. The school’s Manufacturing Academy is allowing students to take elective credits in specific areas of focus, like electrical, painting, plumbing and masonry. del Castillo said she toured the South Fort Myers High School campus and was impressed with the enthusiasm and excitement she heard from students enrolled in the classes. “The passion they had for the career path they were on was evident,” she said. “As an educator, you want that for every student.”

The program launches at a time when the nation faces a shortage of construction workers. According to an Associated Builders and Contractors’ independent study, the construction industry will need to attract an estimated 650,000 additional workers on top of the normal hiring pace in the coming year to meet the demand for labor. The report also indicated the industry’s average age of retirement is 61, and more than 1 in 5 workers are currently older than 55.

“In today’s world, students have many opportunities to be successful. The Construction Academy allows students to either continue their construction studies at the university level or have an immediate local pathway to start a fulfilling career,” del Castillo said.

Neal Communities, Southwest Florida’s premier homebuilder based in Lakewood Ranch, has promoted 14 employees over the last several months. With 295 employees, Neal Communities is a prominent employer in the local area. The promotions show a commitment to developing talent from within the company.

“We try hard to create a family atmosphere,” said Pat Neal, founder and chairman of Neal Communities. “Many employees stay with us for a long time, and we work with them to ensure they are growing in their careers.”

The promotions include two vice presidents: Ivory Matthews promoted from director of community and governmental affairs to vice president of community and governmental affairs, and Carlos Puente promoted from vice president of sales to vice president of sales and marketing.

In addition, the following employees were promoted: Pam Curran from bank financing manager to director of finance, Rob Kozlowski from senior financial analyst to business insights and analytics manager, Janet Ladwig from director of design to director of community design and product development, Mathew Lavish from project manager to director of construction, Heidi Lustig from staff accountant III to senior accountant, Jodi McConnell from assistant controller to controller, Marjory McGloin from job coordinator to purchasing supervisor, Kristin Mullins from senior accountant to accounting manager, Ben Renner from area construction manager to director of construction, Kameren Saffold from assistant construction manager to construction manager, Michael Thomas from purchasing agent to estimator and Rob Woods from project manager to area construction manager.

The employees’ tenure with the company ranges from just over two years to nearly 14 years.

At Neal Communities, we strive to build homes in great cities throughout Southwest Florida. Our neighborhoods reflect their cities – beautiful locations where residents can enjoy natural beauty, make lasting connections and thrive in all aspects of life. Why? Because Where You Live Matters.

The Bradenton Herald recently released its annual “Bradenton’s Best” edition. This magazine honors local businesses in a variety of categories for being “the best of” the city. These awards are particularly meaningful as the winners are decided by votes of current Manatee County residents.

As a proud builder in Bradenton, we are incredibly honored that we took the top spot in the “Best Home Builder” category! Bradenton is a city with a rich culture and history, and we are happy to build in a location where residents can always find something new every day.

As one of Southwest Florida’s most celebrated homebuilders, we pride ourselves in creating high-quality communities and homes that allow homeowners to find a place matching their personal idea of the Florida lifestyle. That is why we overjoyed to see that Bradenton residents also voted Canoe Creek into the top spot for the “Best New Home Community” category.

Opened in 2018, Canoe Creek is a warm and inviting community, offering comfortable living with an urban farmhouse feel. It provides easy access to a host of venues such as the Ellenton Outlet Mall and Fort Hamer Park and is perfect for families as it is close to a variety of schools. Emphasizing community connection, the casual elegance of Canoe Creek also offers spacious homes and a suite of amenities allowing owners to meet and enjoy time with their friends and neighbors.

We are honored to receive these distinctions from Bradenton’s public and to continue building more homes in this area and the rest of Southwest Florida. To learn more about the communities fulfilling your needs, contact us here.

Southwest Florida’s premier private homebuilder, Neal Communities, has broken ground on a new community in eastern Manatee County.

Marisol, located on 39 acres near Lakewood Ranch’s northeastern sector, will include 172 paired villa homes. The community will feature a British West Indies and Coastal architectural theme. All of the villas are maintenance-assisted for worry-free upkeep. Two villa home styles ranging from 1,434 square feet and 1,524-square feet will be offered inside the new neighborhood.

The community will be conveniently located just outside of Lakewood Ranch’s borders on State Road 64. The homes will encircle a small lake, and some will have waterfront views from their lanais. The community also will have a private pool with bathroom facilities.

Marisol residents will enjoy the close proximity to Lakewood Ranch, a 50-square-mile community filled with shopping, dining, arts, entertainment, nature and recreation. State Road 64 also offers easy access to Bradenton, Holmes Beach, Anna Maria Island and I-75.

“We are happy to announce the start of construction of a new neighborhood in growing eastern Manatee County,” said Pat Neal, founder and CEO of Neal Communities. “These homes are perfect for those looking to right-size their living space in a maintenance-assisted community while still being close to all the area has to offer.”

Neal Communities, based in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, is Southwest Florida’s largest and most established locally owned and operated private builder. During the company’s 50-year history, it has built over 19,000 new homes in more than 90 acclaimed communities from Tampa to Naples. The company consistently ranks among the nation’s top 100 home builders and has earned numerous awards including the prestigious Builder of the Year from Professional Builder in 2015 and America’s Best Builder in 2012 from BUILDER Magazine.

For more information about Neal Communities and Marisol Villas, call (941) 229-0630 or visit NealCommunities.com.