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Home Front

By Randy Noles

1. Local housing experts spoke to a crowd of more than 200 builders and other industry insiders at the recent Northeast Florida Builders Association Housing Market Outlook and Forecast.? Overall, experts were positive about the current state of the industry as well as its prospects for continued growth. The speakers included (left to right): Mark Vitner of Wachovia, Maxine McBride of Clockwork Marketing Services, Linda Sherrer of Prudential Network Realty and Charlie Clark of Charles R. Clark Corp.

2. Michael and Patrick Murphy of Cordele Builders (right) partnered with Fred and Sharon Funk (left) and the PGA Tour to build a new, wheelchair-accessible home for Jerry “JT” Townsend (front). Townsend is the former student-athlete at Jacksonville’s Episcopal High School who sustained a paralyzing spinal chord injury during a football game. Everyone involved in the project gathered to preview the new home, dubbed “Freedom House” in honor of Townsend’s fighting spirit. The home will provide a comfortable healing environment and is outfitted with medical equipment.

3. The Northeast Florida Builders Association’s Sales and Marketing Council recently hosted its First Annual Live Auction. Locally donated items, from vacation packages to electronics, as well as an eight-week-old Jack Russell terrier, were auctioned off. The event raised more than $11,000, which will benefit the Arnold Tritt Scholarship Fund and NEFBA’s Builders Care. The auction committee included (left to right, back row): Portland Stuart of SMC, Hunter Valmont of Hunter Valmont Public Relations, Suzanne Massey of D.R. Horton, Elizabeth Hill of Mercedes Homes, Lisa Barton of Standard Pacific Homes, Josie Myers of Standard Pacific Homes; (front row) Amber Williams of Standard Pacific Homes and auctioneer Bill Elrod.

4. Sixteen Mercedes Homes employees participated in the one-mile Buddy Walk, an event held by the Down Syndrome Association of Jacksonville. Developed by the National Down Syndrome Association, the event promotes awareness and inclusion for people with Down syndrome. In addition, Mercedes donated $1,000 to the fundraiser. Walkers included (left to right) are Keri Gaber, Theresa McKinney and Rick Stevens, all of Mercedes Homes.

Linda H. Sherrer has been inducted into the Florida Council of Economic Education’s First Coast Business Hall of Fame. This honor is presented annually to business leaders in Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties. Sherrer is the founder, president and CEO of Prudential Network Realty.

Toll Brothers has appointed
Katrina Watkins as sales manager for Coastal Oaks at Nocatee, the builder’s newest community in St. Johns County.? She has received several awards, including the Million Dollar Circle Laurel Award in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

Katie Armstrong has been promoted to vice president of acquisitions and marketing for Lifestyles Realtors. She was previouslythe company’s vice president of marketing.? In addition to overseeing advertising and marketing, Armstrong’s new responsibilities include developing the company’s portfolio of new business and training sales associates.

Arthur Rutenberg Homes has appointed Gino Morici as construction manager.? Morici, a graduate of the University of North Florida Building Construction Management program, will supervise the company’s construction team and manage project schedules.