Over the last 43 years, Lee Wetherington Homes has been building beautiful residences while cultivating deep-rooted relationships with their trade partners. On May 25th, company reps and their trade partners got together to celebrate this relationship, enjoy some barbeque and to discuss the bright future ahead.

Over 60 individual from Lee Wetherington’s vendors attended, most of which have been working with Lee Wetherington for more than 10 years. Two of the vendors in attendance — Yonkers Tractor Service and Sun State Landscaping Management — have worked with Lee Wetherington for over 25 years.

Lee Wetherington CEO Gregg Carlson thanked the trade partners for their hard work and passion for delivering a quality product at a fair price.

“You’re the reason Lee Wetherington Homes has an impeccable reputation for building the finest homes in the Sarasota-Manatee area,” Mr. Carlson said. “Our quality depends on your talents, your skills, and your dedication to deliver an exceptional home, without fail.”

Mr. Carlson highlighted Lee Wetherington’s many projects currently open for sale, including The Concession, Country Club East at Lakewood Ranch, The Lake Club, Harbourside at The Islands on the Manatee River, and The Founders Club. He then discussed the company’s two upcoming communities — Waterside at Lakewood Ranch (opening for pre-sales in July) and River Wilderness Golf and Country Club (opening in 2018).

Looking further into the future, Mr. Carlson said that Lee Wetherington plans to be active in seven communities by 2020 and 10 communities by 2022. He then noted that they are taking these growth steps cautiously, ensuring the company doesn’t overextend when investing in land.

Mr. Carlson also addressed the challenges that face Lee Wetherington, their trade partners and the industry, including unnecessary regulation, overreaching policies or mandates, and code-related issues.

“Our industry has many different entities who all have a say in what we do, how we do it, where we can do it, and how much it is going to cost to do it,” Mr. Carlson said. “One of the ways we face the challenges presented to our industry by these forces is by supporting the Manatee-Sarasota Building Industry Association (MSBIA).”

Before introducing two of the Association’s representatives, CEO Jon Mast and President Bill Smock, he encouraged all interested parties to join the MSBIA.

“Our voice through this group is louder than when we go it alone.”

Visit MS-BIA.org to learn more about the Manatee-Sarasota Building Industry Association.