GRBJ names John Bitely a Top 200 business leader for 2021

For the third year in a row, Sable Homes President John Bitely has been named one of Grand Rapids Business Journal’s 200 Most Powerful Business Leaders in West Michigan.

Bitely, who founded Sable Developing Inc. in 1996, was named a GRBJ top business leader in the construction and design category for 2021. He was also recognized in GRBJ’s list in 2019 and 2020.

For the past 25 years, Sable Homes has become a trusted leader in the local and national home building industry, earning recognition from the National Association of Home Builders. NAHB honored Sable Homes as a Production Builder Executive Club’s Largest 250 US Home Builders during its International Builders’ Show in 2018 and 2020.

Additionally, Sable Homes was named a 2020 “housing giant” by Pro Builder, a national housing industry publication that serves more than 120,000 home builders, design professionals, and other industry stakeholders.

“It’s an honor to be named a Top 200 business leader in West Michigan by the Grand Rapids Business Journal for the third year in a row,” Bitely said. “We work hard to create new housing opportunities in West Michigan for the working class.”

Bitely has been instrumental in bringing awareness about the housing affordability crisis for West Michigan’s “missing middle” by working with community leaders, state and local government entities, and economic developers to help communities provide housing for their residents.

Under Bitely’s vision, Sable Homes, in cooperation with the City of Newaygo, Newaygo County and its Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, the Michigan Land Bank Authority, The Right Place and Fishbeck, officially marked the opening of the second phase of Newaygo’s River Hills Estates neighborhood on Oct. 18, celebrating a major milestone to help alleviate the region’s housing crisis while increasing Michigan’s housing stock.

Bitely has served on the Home Builders Association of Greater Grand Rapids Board of Directors, Home Builders Association of Greater Grand Rapids Foundation and as board president of Urban Family Ministries.

View Bitely’s Grand Rapids Business Journal’s 200 Most Powerful Business Leaders in West Michigan profile, here.