Lee Wetherington Homes celebrates 45-year anniversary with video production honoring team members

SARASOTA, Fla. — Lee Wetherington Homes, a top rated, privately owned custom luxury home builder in Sarasota, recently celebrated its 45-year anniversary with a special video production honoring its team members and the company’s legacy.

Lee Wetherington began his career in construction in the mid-1970s, operating a drywall business before relocating to Sarasota after recognizing the region’s long-term growth potential. In 1976, he built his first home in the Gulf Gate area, marking the beginning of what would become a distinguished, custom homebuilding career.

After earning his Florida general contractor’s license, he formally established Lee Wetherington Homes in 1981. Initially operating from a small home office, under his leadership, the company grew steadily into one of Florida’s most respected luxury custom homebuilders.

“I remember meeting with customers at Horse Feathers, a restaurant and bar in downtown Sarasota,” said Wetherington. “I’d draw their vision for a floorplan on a bar napkin before bringing it to life as an architectural design. Our technology has come a long way since then, but the key value that we began with still exists, which is our goal of understanding the client’s vision for a home and then executing that vision with excellence.”

Since its inception, Lee Wetherington Homes has designed and built more than 4,000 homes, earning hundreds of local, state and national awards. Despite its growth, the company’s foundation remains rooted in personalized service, enduring quality and a belief that building a home is ultimately about creating a space where families build their lives and memories.

To celebrate the company’s 45-year anniversary and to honor its team members and legacy, Lee Wetherington Homes had a special video produced that highlighted its mission to provide the best possible homebuilding experience through consistency, integrity, teamwork and excellence, while also bringing the customer’s imagination to life.

The video, directed by Camila Schaefer and produced by Tess Lawyer-Smith of AGM, a modern creative agency built to drive real business impact, follows local professional dancer Amber Slay as she performs a magical dance to a licensed version of the song Pure Imagination through several Lee Wetherington homes.

The production features a number of the company’s employees, including Cecelia Davie, chief financial officer and with the company for 45 years; Alyson Byrne, sales consultant and with the company for nine years; Ashley Berg, director of finance and with the company for two years; David Hunihan, chief executive officer and with the company for 10 years, Tracy Eisnaugle, design and creative director and with the company for 11 years; Jack Williams, vice president of construction and with the company for 20 years; Tom Latka, production manager and with the company for two months; Debra Thomas, sales consultant and with the company for two years; Jae Cho, vice president of purchasing and estimating and with the company for 20 years; Steve Nelson, director of architecture and with the company for 26 years; and Lee Wetherington, founder and president and with the company for 45 years.

“As we celebrate 45 years of building homes and relationships, we wanted to create something that honors not only the homes we’ve built, but also the people who have made it all possible,” said David Hunihan, CEO of Lee Wetherington Homes. “The video beautifully brings our story to life, taking viewers on a journey through our homes, while highlighting the passion, craftsmanship and dedication that happens behind the scenes every day. Slay’s blue dress serves as a powerful symbol of continuity, representing the thread that has connected our company throughout its history and the unwavering commitment to quality, customer care and creating exceptional experiences for every homeowner.”

The video can now be viewed on the company’s website. To learn more, visit LWHomes.com.

About Lee Wetherington Homes

Lee Wetherington Homes is a locally owned custom luxury homebuilder dedicated to creating exceptional homes and unforgettable customer experiences along Florida’s Suncoast. Guided by our mission to provide the best possible home building experience, building life by building better homes — and inspired by a greater purpose — we bring consistency, integrity, teamwork, and excellence to every step of the homebuilding journey. For more than 40 years, we’ve earned the trust of homeowners in Sarasota and Manatee counties through innovative design, enduring craftsmanship, and a commitment to serving our community with heart.

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[Photo 1 attached: Lee Wetherington Homes team photo]