Men on the Scene: Gregg Carlson

As CEO of Lee Wetherington Homes, Gregg Carlson brings years of hands-on experience and a passion for building to the Lakewood Ranch-based homebuilder. Carlson was recruited for the CEO position over a dinner
with Lee Wetherington, who founded the company in 1974. Since taking the helm in 2016, he has spearheaded creation of a land development company and successfully expanded growth by adding more moderately
priced homes in the $300,000 to $600,000 range. Carlson had extensive experience in homebuilding and prior experience with Lee Wetherington Homes before being named CEO. He grew up in Arcadia and started in
construction as a teenager. “I started at the very bottom, and that provides a broad perspective,” Carlson says. “I really, truly enjoy it. It’s not just a living for me.” After serving in the U.S. Navy, he dove back into construction
and eventually joined Lee Wetherington Homes as an estimator, then working his way into positions with more responsibility. In the early 2000s he was the division president for two national builders in Tampa where he
gained executive experience running large divisions. Setting high expectations is an important part of Carlson’s role as CEO. “I want to be sure our customer experience is the finest in the industry, and our homes have fit and finish that is better than the competition,” he says. “Building
a home is a major endeavor for people, and we want to make it as smooth and enjoyable as possible.” Carlson also has continued the company’s legacy of giving back to the community. Company philanthropy has primarily
been focused on Harvest House and Boys and Girls Clubs in Sarasota and Manatee counties with charitable donations over the past decade of almost $1 million.