Pat is a conscientious developer, master builder and visionary leader of Neal Communities. He is the third generation in his family to be a builder/developer. A graduate of the Wharton School of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania, he was a member of the Florida Legislature for 12 years, serving our community in the House of Representatives and the Senate, where he was appointed Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
During this time, he was honored with every one of Florida’s top environmental awards. Since 1970, Pat has built more than 20,000 homes with integrity and commitment in the finest communities, and the awards he has earned in his builder developer career continue to complement his political accomplishments. He is a respected leader and inspirational philanthropist.
Charlene is a nationally acclaimed designer who uses her talented vision to bring a home to life. She is the leader in establishing the look and ambiance of the model homes and had a major role as the lead designer in the new 6,500-square-foot Design Gallery created solely for Neal customers. Staying up-to-date on the latest design trends worldwide, Charlene makes sure every home is on the cutting edge while staying true to the Neal design philosophy of a traditional style with the Florida flair. She is a graduate from University of Mississippi with a bachelor’s degree in political science. Charlene has been in the building and design business for over 30 years, crafting more than 100 models for Neal Communities, beginning with the enormously successful Players Club in 1978. From there, she has been the leader in ensuring that each home is delivered with the style and panache that each customer deserves.
Tim brings over 30 years of experience in the home building industry to Neal Communities. Before being named President, he served Neal Communities as Vice President of Construction, where he provided field leadership for all construction activities including hiring, training, managing and motivating the construction team. Tim made significant advancements in operational excellence and positive impacts to training, safety and customer service. Prior to joining Neal Communities, Tim served in top level positions for home builders throughout Southwest Florida. He has a general contractor and residential contractor license as well as a Florida Green Building certification. Tim holds a Master’s Degree in business administration from Florida Gulf Coast University and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Florida Southern College.
Mark Sochar joined the Neal staff in 1989 with a reputation in the industry for his vast knowledge of home building and his strong relationship with vendors and contractors. Mr. Sochar has built more than 4,000 homes during his career. His attention to detail helped him establish an impressive list of satisfied Neal homeowners. Mr. Sochar has a Master’s Degree in business from Indiana University.
Nancy brings over 25 years of national homebuilder experience to Neal Communities at the Divisional, Regional, and Corporate level, driving positive business outcomes through strategic management of the accounting and finance functions. The role of CFO at Neal goes beyond managing the company’s finances and operations. Nancy is a seasoned strategist who thinks tactically and holistically and has played a critical role in the company’s growth. Nancy is a graduate of the University of South Florida, Tampa and a CPA.
Carlos brings over 14 years of experience in the real estate and homebuilding industry to Neal Communities. As President of Neal Signature Homes, he oversees all functions of the Neal Signature Homes brand including product development, operations, sales and design. As Vice President of Sales, he leads a team of over 40 sales associates located in communities from Parrish to Englewood. His focus is on strategic planning, enhancing the sales process and assisting our team members in reaching their goals. Carlos previously served as general sales manager for a national home builder, where he developed and executed all sales strategies and was ranked as one of the best in the nation. Carlos holds dual MBA and MS degrees from The Kelley School of Business at Indiana University, as well as a Master of International business and a Bachelor’s Degree in business administration from the University of Florida.
As Vice President of Human Resources, Tashara brings over 15 years of experience in the HR industry. Prior to this position, Tashara excelled as Neal Communities HR Director. Tashara’s duties include the overall development, coordination, administration and evaluation of the HR functions, including managing the department, developing and maintaining systems, implementing interview processes and continually evaluating company guidelines, policies and employee compensation packages.
Tashara began her career in the HR field in Sarasota, Florida, shortly after relocating from Hooksett, New Hampshire. Before joining Neal Communities, Tashara gained invaluable experience while serving as the human resources manager for two expanding organizations with 70 full-time employees, reporting directly to the CEO and president. Tashara holds the PHR and SHRM-CP designations and pursues growth, development and educational opportunities to increase her skills ability to serve Neal Communities employees and clientele whenever the opportunity arises.
Jason is originally from Tampa and has over 15 years of land acquisition experience, including procurement for a national homebuilder and a commercial developer. In his current role, Jason is responsible for acquiring land and home sites to supply Neal’s home building business. Previously, Jason was a consultant in Hong Kong, Chengdu and Shanghai, China, where he lived for 5 years. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Asian Studies from Northwestern University.
With her extensive experience in construction management, Cathy directs all of the daily functions of Neal’s purchasing department including materials procurement, subcontractor negotiations, cost estimating and pricing. Her earlier experience includes working on a Department of Energy nuclear construction project for nearly a decade, and later for a commercial contractor building libraries and supermarkets in New York. Cathy has been a Neal team member for over 22 years.
Ivory brings over a decade of experience in public policy advocacy to Neal Communities as Vice President of Community and Governmental Affairs. She is responsible for managing $150 million in active projects within Sarasota and Manatee Counties through the entitlement process. She connects Neal to Southwest Florida by collaborating with government staff at all levels and presenting at public hearings. She also implements outreach campaigns for new developments, knowing the public’s support brings a Neal community to life. Ivory also oversees Neal’s philanthropic efforts, underscoring the importance of community through the organization’s Plan for Giving. She has also raised over $5 million for a host of local campaigns and public policy issues, earning recognition as Southwest Florida’s top fundraiser.
An active community member, Ivory is a mentor for Take Stock in Children, a non-profit organization providing low-income youth with educational resources, mentors and scholarship opportunities to set them up for success. She is also a current board member for Step Up Suncoast, an organization offering a plethora of resources from early childhood education to tax income preparation for families.
Dan Ciesielski is a graduate of the University of South Carolina with a degree in civil engineering. He has over 25 years of experience including home building, civil engineering, municipal services and land development. He has been personally responsible for over $500 million of land development projects encompassing over 10,000 units. Dan has successfully worked with representatives of municipalities throughout SW Florida including Hendry County, the City of Labelle, the City of Clewiston, the City of Homestead, Lee County, the City of Ft. Myers, Collier County, South Florida Water Management District, Florida Department of Transportation and Army Corps of Engineers. Dan has a proven track record of successful outcomes with clients and has been the face of the companies that he has worked with to represent them as they expanded into new regions.
He is also a member of Urban Land Institute and has volunteered for many organizations including Habitat for Humanity.
