Sales Team

David C. Hunihan - Sales Director
David has been with the Neal team since 2009; this follows an 18-year career in real estate and new home sales. He brings a solid track record of success in sales as well as sales management and training. Prior to joining Neal Communities, Hunihan was president of Fidelity Homes, a Venice-based home building company that he co-founded. There, he oversaw all aspects of operations including sales. The company built more than 160 homes with sales of more than $40 Million. Before founding Fidelity, he served as director of sales, senior vice president and president of another local home builder, where he helped increase sales from $12 Million to more than $50 Million in 5 years. He’s an advocate for implementing sales and organizational strategies, and maintaining strong relationships with Realtors, vendors, banks and other trade partners. The Boston College alumnus has won numerous sales and marketing awards and is active in the Local Home Builders Association as Treasurer.

Gail Shane - Realtor Liaison
Gail is a member of both the Manatee and Sarasota Associations of Realtors® and has earned the Master Certified New Home Sales Representative Professional (MCSP) designation from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). As Realtor Liaison, Gail is a resource for Realtors and their customers to help them target the best properties that suit their needs. A Women’s Council of Realtors member, Gail has been named the Women’s Council of Realtors (WCR) Manatee Chapter Humanitarian of the Year in 2008. She was also awarded the WCR Sarasota Chapter Member of the Year designation in 2008 and Humanitarian of the Year designation in 2009 from WCR Sarasota. Gail received her Florida real estate license in 2002 and joined the Neal team in 2004. Gail hosts Gail Shane & Friends, "Community & Real Estate Talk" on WTMY 1280 AM Radio, Saturdays 10-11am.

Laura Gahan - Online Sales Concierge
Laura has been in New Home Sales since 2004, joining Neal Communities in 2010. As our Online Sales Concierge, she specializes in assisting our website guests with information on Neal homes, communities and local area information. Laura brings sixyears experience in online sales and has won several awards for outstanding customer service and exceeding sales goals.

Jonnie Dwyer - Area Sales Manager, Central Park
Jonnie has been in new home sales since 1998, joining Neal Communities in 2007. Jonnie is also sales team member in Central Park. Jonnie has received several awards over the years for Sales Person of the Year and Best Customer Service. She has sold more than 300 new homes in her career.

Karen Hessler - New Home Sales Representative at Country Club East
Karen has been selling new homes is this area for 20 years. She has been with Neal since 2001 and has sold 182 Neal homes totaling more than $90 Million in sales volume. In 2004 she sold more than $19 Million new Neal homes ranking her 7th top new home sales producer in Sarasota and Manatee Counties. She originates from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and relocated to Florida in 1990. Karen is a graduate of Fort Wayne Bible College with a BS in Christian Education.

Nancy L. Rowe - New Home Sales Representative at Central Park
Nancy has held a Florida Realtor license since 1984, with many years with the Manatee Women’s Council of Realtors. She was previously involved in real estate in Indiana and Colorado. She worked in on-site sales at the opening of the master-planned community of Lakewood Ranch. She later had her own sales team in a local residential real estate office. Nancy’s numerous awards include those from the National Association of Realtors, Multi Million Dollar Circle Club and Sales Professional of the Year She continues her sales success with Neal Communities.

Patricia Fitzsimmons - New Home Sales Representative at Belleisle
Patricia, who joined the Neal team in 2009, has eight years of real estate sales experience. Previously she held senior level positions in operations and finance including transitional executive, consultant, chief financial officer and vice president for various businesses. She is a former resident of New Jersey where she was involved in new home construction, land development and sales. She received her Florida Real Estate license in 2001. She earned an Masters in Business Administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Financial Program and an undergraduate degree from Saint Peter’s College. Her background has provided her with a diversity of skills and level of integrity to match various position requirements. Patricia has helped many families find & build their dream homes.

Laura Stavola - Sales Manager at Greystone, Silverwood & Highfield
Laura joined the Neal team in 2009. She brings five years of experience in new home sales in the Tampa Bay area, where she was recognized for top sales achievement and also named Sales Consultant of the Year in 2007. She is dedicated to customer service and providing a great experience to every home buyer. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of South Florida.

Paula Errett - New Home Sales Representative at Forest Creek
Paula has specialized in New Home Sales for the past 25 years. She has worked for large national homebuilders as well as local homebuilders in Colorado, Nevada and Florida. Her expertise covers a wide cross-section of product and buyer groups such as luxury, age restricted and custom Homes. She has worked under some of the industry’s highest profile leaders and trained under pros such as Steven Covey and Brian Tracey.

Vanessa Miranda - New Home Sales Representative at Central Park
Vanessa has specialized in New Home Sales since 2007, joining Neal Communities in 2010. She was awarded Rookie of the Year by the Tampa Bay Builders Association in 2008. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Business from Florida State University, she spent time as a Processor and Loan Officer. Her knowledge of the mortgage industry provides her with a strong foundation to guide her customers and create a pleasant and memorable home buying experience.

Jim Broun - New Home Sales Representative at Forest Creek
Jim has more than 25 years experience in real estate sales, sales management and land acquisition. He is a lifetime member of the prestigious Million Dollar Circle Club and has won many sales and marketing awards over the years. Jim earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from Carson Newman College, where he was an All-American in track & field.

Steve Hayes - New Home Sales Representative at Sawgrass
Steve has enjoyed new home sales locally for 24 years. His appreciation of the Florida lifestyle started while attending the University of Miami earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business. He is a lifetime member of the Million Dollar Circle Club and has attained the Master Certified Sales Professional designation.

Whitney Ellis - New Home Sales Representative at Country Club East
Whitney is a seasoned expert in new home sales. She began selling real estate in 2003 on the East Coast of Florida and relocated to the Sarasota area in 2007 where she accepted a position with Michael Saunders & Company. Whitney has been with Neal Communities since 2010.

Bryan Dwyer - New Home Sales Representative at Woodbrook
Bryan Dwyer worked in the construction field before jumping into sales. Bryan began as a sales assistant, but was quickly promoted to a new home sales representative He is currently pursuing his Business Management degree at State College of Florida.

John Thompson - New Home Sales Representative at Wisteria Park
John brings over 25 years of real estate and new home sales experience to the company. Prior to joining Neal Communities, John was Vice President of Real Estate & Marketing at the Longboat Key Club for Arvida/Disney where he managed a sales team that sold over $80 million per year and developed over $700 million of property. The last 20 years John owned his own company in Seattle, selling and developing award-winning new home properties. He is a graduate of Tulane University where he was President of his senior class and a Rhodes Scholar candidate. He attended Oxford University in England and received his Masters Degree from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh.

Debra Thomas - New Home Sales Representative at Arlington Cove
Debra began her real estate career in 2003 with onsite sales in the master-planned community of Eagle Harbor in Fleming Island, Florida. She quickly earned many honors as a top producer and has closed more than $40 million in residential sales. Debra is a native of Massachusetts where she graduated from Mount Holyoke College. She relocated to Bradenton in 2010 and is excited to join the Neal Communities team and continue selling the Florida lifestyle to new home buyers.

Lisa Van Dillen - New Home Sales Representative at Woodbrook
Lisa has 14 years experience in Retail Sales, including different levels of management. Lisa comes to us from D.R. Horton where she was a New Home Sales Representative. Prior to that, she was a New Home Consultant for Lennar Homes. Lisa attended Manatee Community College where she received her Associate in Arts Degree.

 Barry Varbel - New Home Sales Representative at Miramar
Barry has been in real estate for over 20 years. Originally from Oregon, he has held real estate licenses in both Colorado and Florida, along with a mortgage license in Florida. He has worked in new home sales since 1997 earning many achievement awards, including Sales Person of the Year, along the way. Barry is dedicated to great service to the home buyer and has helped over 500 families find their new homes.

Valerie Fedi Blomquist - New Home Sales Representative at Belleisle
Valerie has over 11 years of experience in Residential Single family as well as Luxury Condominium sales in Los Angeles where she resided for over 18 years. As a former Sales Director and Broker for developers in the Wilshire District and Marina Del Rey California, Valerie was consistently recognized as a top producer. With a Bachelor of Science Degree in Liberal Arts & Interior Design it enables her to tailor the needs of her clients, as well as providing the perfect backdrop needed in helping them feel confident they are making educated decisions. As a resident of Lakewood Ranch Country Club and Neal Communities homeowner, it enables her to  provide a greater understanding to her clients interested in making their dream home a reality.

Michelle Hunt - New Home Sales Representative at The Harborage
Michelle has been in New Home or Online Sales since 2006, joining Neal Communities in 2011.  Michelle came to Neal from Lennar Homes.  Michelle has resided in Southwest Florida for over 14 years.  Michelle has also spent several years in the Medical Field.  This has given her the most amazing Customer Service skills in new home sales.

Teresa Vaal - New Home Sales Representative at Edenmore
Teresa has specialized in New Home Sales since 2003. Beginning her Real Estate career with a National Builder, she earned two consecutive years of Advisory Sales Person of the Year Awards in 2006 and 2007. She also has years of experience in General Real Estate where she specialized in sales of master planned golfing communities in Sarasota and Bradenton. After earning her Associates degree in Hospitality Management in 1986 from Florida State College, she worked in the Hospitality Industry for over 25 years. Her strong knowledge and experience in the “hospitality” industry has helped her built a remarkable career in Real Estate for both customer relations and sales.

Virginia Montgomery - New Home Sales Representative at Edenmore
An experienced real estate agent/broker/manager, Virginia has held licenses in both Pennsylvania and Florida. Prior to moving to Florida, she managed a large Coldwell Banker office in Pittsburgh that consistently ranked in the top 20% of Coldwell Banker offices nationwide. Virginia is a graduate of the College of William & Mary and joined the Neal Communities team in 2011.