Movers and Shakers: Nelson Homes Receives High Accolades

Derek Nelson, President, Nelson Homes, Inc.

LAKEWOOD RANCH – Nelson Homes, Inc. an independently owned and operated Arthur Rutenberg Homes (ARH) franchise based in Lakewood Ranch, Fla., received high accolades last week at the 22nd annual Arthur Rutenberg Pride in Partnership awards dinner in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Barry Rutenberg presented the Chairman’s Award to Derek Nelson, president of Nelson Homes, Inc. The Chairman's Award recognizes special achievement and is not awarded every year. Nelson was specifically honored for his consistent support of the growth of the ARH Franchise System including welcoming franchise candidates to his company and spending generous amounts of personal time explaining the benefits of the ARH Franchise with great success.

“It is a great honor to be recognized by my peers,” said Derek Nelson. “It is so important to me to continue the Arthur Rutenberg legacy of building high quality beautiful homes while maintaining our commitment to the community and to our shared company values. Being recognized for just doing a job that I love is humbling and truly appreciated,” he said.

Nelson Homes also won The Best Model Award for its Marbella home design located in The Lake Club at Lakewood Ranch. This is the second year in a row that Nelson Homes has received this prestigious award, winning in 2012 for its successful Bermuda design in Country Club East at Lakewood Ranch.

The 2013 awards dinner recognizes ARH franchisees and vendor partners who exhibited noteworthy performances during the past year.

Arthur Rutenberg has been a respected name in Florida homebuilding since 1953, when he built his first home upon the four“cornerstones” that would make him legendary: design, craftsmanship, service and responsibility. Today, Arthur Rutenberg Homes, Inc. is one of the largest networks of independently owned and operated homebuilding companies in the nation, withfranchised homebuilders throughout Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina.

Derek Nelson, a former Arthur Rutenberg Homes Building Company President and highly regarded second-generation builder, now operates Nelson Homes, Inc., an independently owned and operated Arthur Rutenberg Homes franchise. Nelson started with Arthur Rutenberg Homes in 1989 as a building supervisor, working his way up to Building Company President in 1997. Under Derek's leadership, the franchise won the prestigious Builder of the Year award four times and twice won The Gold Cup, an award presented annually to the Arthur Rutenberg franchise with the highest customer satisfaction rating based solely on customer surveys.

Nelson Homes, Inc. was presented the Builder of the Year award for 2012 based on quality of company and financial management, marketing strategy, customer satisfaction, the contribution to the strength and quality of the Arthur Rutenberg Homes franchise system and the building of people and organization. Nelson Homes builds at Lakewood Ranch, The Concession, Longboat Key, Siesta Key, Lido Key and on customer-owned home sites. For more information go to:  www.arthurrutenberghomes.com.