BUSINESS OBSERVER

+ Certified Collectibles Group adds coins to portfolio
The Certified Collectibles Group, one of the leading rare coin-grading firms in the country, is expanding its presence into the comic book industry.

The firm, which operates Certified Guaranty Corp., an independent and impartial third-party comic-books grading service, acquired Classics Incorporated, a Dallas-based comic book restoration removal and pressing company, according to a release.

Terms of the deal weren’t released.

Classics Incorporated President Matt Nelson and the majority of his staff will relocate to Sarasota by early next year, the release states.

The firm introduced pressing-and-restoration removal for comics in 2001.

“We are pleased to bring Matt and his employees into the CCG family,” Certified Collectibles CEO Steven Eichenbaum said in a release.

“Matt brings another level of expertise to our already stellar team. From an organizational standpoint, this is a great fit, offering our customers additional services and an easy submission process all under one roof.”

In addition to Certified Guaranty Corp., Certified Collectibles Group is the umbrella organization over Numismatic Guaranty Corp. of America, a grading service in rare coins; Numismatic Conservation Service, a coin conservation service; and Paper Money Guaranty, a currency certification service.

+ Lee Wetherington Homes re-launches custom-lot division
Lee Wetherington Homes, a homebuilder affected by the recession, has re-launched a custom-lot division.
The firm, with $10.5 million in 2011 sales, recently sold four custom lots to homebuyers, according to a release. Three of those lots were in Panther Ridge, in east Manatee County, and a fourth lot was on Siesta Key.

The homes are planned at more than 3,000 square feet and will be completed sometime next year, the company says.

Peter Mason, vice president of sales and marketing, says the custom home interest is in lockstep with the local real-estate market recovery.

“In the downturn we stopped marketing to this segment,” Mason said in the release, “but with the market heating up, we’ve been inundated with requests for custom homes on buyers’ lots.”

The 14-employee company, in addition to the division re-launch, also rehired former executive Steve Nelson.

As the director of architecture, Nelson will help lead the custom homes unit. He worked for the company from 2000-2008, and was a key executive behind Wetherington Signature homes.

Lee Wetherington Homes builds in Lakewood Ranch, Sarasota and Venice.

+ Nutter Custom Construction breaks ground in the Lake Club
Nutter Custom Construction recently broke ground on its first new home model in The Lake Club, a private gated community off of University Parkway, in Lakewood Ranch. 

In a press release, the builder said the 3,586-square-foot model home, called the Winward, will have three bedrooms and four bathrooms and a British West Indies theme.  

Construction is expected to be completed by late February 2013. 

“We are excited to enter the Lakewood Ranch market with this spectacular home,” said T.J. Nutter, president and CEO of Nutter Custom Construction. 

“The Lake Club model will be a great opportunity for our quickly growing company to showcase what we do best — create stunning homes at a great value with stellar client service.”

Nutter Custom Construction is also currently building in Harbor Acres, Venice and Bradenton.

+ Medallion Home announces Realtor Rewards winner
Out of more than 100 Realtors who registered, Medallion Home announced the winner of its latest Realtor Reward campaign. Pam Edgington of Prudential Florida Realty, in Bradenton, earned the Exclusive Package at the Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota. Edgington received the award at Medallion’s recent Realtor event, “A Night in Venice.”

The campaign was designed to give incentive for Realtors to visit Medallion Home model centers.

“We are delighted to have Realtors come out to show clients all that Medallion has to offer, and in return we want to find unique ways to give back to them,” said Gregg Glasser, Medallion Home’s director of sales.