John Bitely named a top West Michigan business leader for second year in a row by the Grand Rapids Business Journal

For the second 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 2020 top business leader in the construction and design category for 2020. He was also recognized in GRBJ’s list in 2019.

At the time Bitely founded Sable Developing, the company’s focus was on residential development. Since then, it has evolved into Sable Homes and Sable Realty as a way to provide land development, home construction and sales.

“I am honored to be part of the Grand Rapids Business Journal’s Top 200 business leaders in West Michigan,” Bitely said. “Our team of dedicated staff creates housing opportunities for those who are the core of the West Michigan community.”

Bitely’s goal has always been to build value into homes, allowing families to buy a high-quality home that is affordable to buy and operate. Sable Homes aims to build larger, high-quality homes with amenities and energy efficiencies at a lower price point than its competitors.

In February 2020, Sable Homes was featured in the National Association of Home Builders’ Production Builder Executive Club’s Largest 250 US Home Builders, based on 2019 housing and builder rankings. This was the second time Sable Homes has received this honor from NAHB. The Rockford-based home builder was also recognized during the 2018 International Builders’ Show.

More recently, Sable Homes and its subsidiary, North River Hills LLC, in cooperation with the city of Newaygo, Newaygo County and the Michigan Land Bank Authority, earned exclusive brownfield incentives allowing construction for a new home development in Newaygo. The River Hills Estates brownfield incentives, approved by the Michigan Land Bank Authority on Nov. 10, can be used to pay for infrastructure and site preparation, and environmental costs. Sable Homes will use the brownfield incentives to build 16 new homes in River Hills Estates, a neighborhood offering housing for those who work and live in Newaygo.

“We are humbled to once again be recognized for our efforts in bringing quality new home construction to the residents in our local West Michigan communities,” Bitely said.

Bitely, a fourth-generation Algoma Township resident who spent many hours working on the family farm, is a former board member of the Home Builders of Greater Grand Rapids Foundation and serves on multiple committees within HBAGGR. In addition, he has also served on the organization’s board of directors, and previously served as board president of Urban Family Ministries in Grand Rapids.

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