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John Bitely named a Top 200 Most Powerful Business Leader in West Michigan for four straight years by Grand Rapids Business Journal

By Sable Homes Posted in Sable in the News On

For the fourth 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 2022. He was also recognized in GRBJ’s list in 2019, 2020, and 2021.

“I’m humbled to be once again be named a Top 200 business leader in West Michigan by the Grand Rapids Business Journal,” Bitely said. “Behind me is our Sable Homes team whose mission is to bring awareness about the importance of attainable housing for those who live and work in our local communities. I come from working class America, and value the need to create new housing opportunities for our local residents.”

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. He is sought after guest speaker on the topic, participating in various panel discussions at Grand Rapids Business Journal and United Way Montcalm-Ionia Counties events.

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, opened the second phase of Newaygo’s River Hills Estates neighborhood in fall 2021, celebrating a major milestone to help alleviate the region’s housing crisis while increasing Michigan’s housing stock.

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

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.