In 1969, when Lloyd Williams started helping families build their dreams, he and his wife Eileen were just starting to build their own. Even then, every Bruce Williams home reflected its concern for the homeowner. More than 30 years and thousands of homes later, the next Williams generation (sons Britt, Marshall, and Reace) is carrying on their father’s mission, sharing his attention to detail and commitment to customer satisfaction. Lloyd’s vision of quality and value has helped Bruce Williams Homes quietly become the largest, locally-based home builder in Manatee County, Fla.

Lloyd Williams, Jr. co-founded Bruce Williams Homes, Inc. in 1969 and was the visionary behind local communities such as Greenfield, Plantation, Lexington, and Crosscreek. Williams died in 2004, but his legacy of integrity, attention to detail, and commitment to customer service, as well as his philanthropic interests, continue through his wife and sons. To this day, Bradenton-based Bruce Williams Homes has developed more than 1,000 lots in 10 Florida communities.

At a steady pace
Bruce Williams has been doing well under the wing of Britt Williams, who joined the company in 1991. Williams has held various positions in the business, from construction to sales and marketing to development, before being named president and COO in the fall of 2000. Three years later, the company’s volume had grown by 40%, and its net profits had grown by 78%.

In June 2004, Williams was named CEO and president of the company. With a strong focus on culture, he works closely with 10 executive-level officers who run the day-to-day operations. Williams is currently on the board of directors and is the president of the Manatee County Homebuilders Association.

A recent poll taken by the Tampa Bay Business Journal ranked Bruce Williams Homes as the region’s 15th fastest-growing private company after being ranked 65th the previous year. Revenues have increased 87% over the last two years, and they are set to surpass that figure this year.

In April, Bruce Williams Homes was one of 50 companies singled out as great places to be employed in the Tampa Bay area by the Tampa Bay Business Journal. Companies were selected in four categories based on surveys employees took, which were administered by an outside research firm, Kansas-based QMR Market Research.

Popular design
Bruce Williams Homes, which ranks as the largest and most active locally-owned home builder in Manatee County, broke ground early this year on what will be its largest community development to date. CrossCreek features 1,050 new homes and a 100,000-square-foot commercial town center developed by Paradise Development Group of Safety Harbor, Fla.

Wes Thompson, director of operations for Williams Communities, said the development approved by Manatee County includes 694 acres. As part of its agreement with the county, Bruce Williams Homes made available a 22-acre site within the community for an elementary school. Construction of model homes should start in July, Thompson added. Town homes, villas, and single-family homes on 55-foot, 65-foot, and 80-foot home sites are planned.

Lakewood Ranch, one of the company’s several development communities, was recently honored with the Grand Aurora Award for best master-planned community in its region at the Southeast Builder’s Conference. The award is the highest level for its theme: Designs of Distinction.

Lakewood is a 5,500-acre master-planned community set on the 28,000-acre Schroeder-Manatee Ranch. The development includes five residential villages, offering a variety of price ranges and lifestyles; a town center with shopping, dining, entertainment, and medical facilities; schools; hotels; and a corporate park.

Lakewood Ranch was awarded the Best in American Living Award (BALA) for best community at a recent National Association
of Home Builders Convention in Dallas. Considered the Academy Awards of the new home building industry, BALA is the nation’s foremost residential design award competition and is presented during the international show. The ranch was chosen from more than 500 candidates, joining a select group of communities around the country receiving one of the highest awards in the industry.

Bruce Williams Homes also partnered with Design Styles, which won an award for best architectural detail and best floor plan for its model of a design featured at Bruce Williams’ Lexington development community. Design Styles specializes in designing residential homes for the builders’ market. Andy Dohmen and Peter Fertig founded Design Styles in 1998, running the business out of their studio. Today, the firm has moved into a 2,600-square-foot office with 16 team members.