Florida Trend | Florida's Business Authority

Home Rule

CEO Spotlight:
Home RuleCRAIG PERRY

CEO / Centerline Homes

Coral Springs

The business: Land developer and home builder; founded in 1993

Employees: 200

Sales: $300 million

Reach: Miami-Dade to Daytona Beach; plans to expand to Florida's west coast.

Centerline: "We've been on this rocket ship that just hasn't stopped -- from zero to
$300 million in revenue in 11 years."

Strategy: "We are product- and location-diversified by choice. So if one segment of the market has an issue, the other segments won't."

Top worry: "Affordability of housing. That's probably my primary concern. That's a big problem. Also, rising long-term interest rates, which plays in to affordability."

Future shakeout: "Everybody you meet is a developer. I listen to these guys talk. This is a very difficult business. You've got to be master of all your disciplines. We're hoping a slowdown will improve quality. Those who don't know what they're doing will go away."

Florida's future: "We have to have good, consistent growth-management tools that work. There is too much of a lack of consistency."

Beyond building: Fatherhood. "When you have a 7-year-old, a 10-year-old and a 2-year-old, it's busy. You lose your own personal interests and get involved with the kids. I love it."

Getaway: A fly-fishing lodge in the Florida Keys

Community: Advisory board of Kids in Distress