SARASOTA, Fla. (September 22, 2026) — Neal Land & Neighborhoods, an award-winning Southwest Florida land developer, earned three awards at the Suncoast Builders Association’s 2026 Celebration of Excellence Awards, including the Shining Star Award presented to the company’s marketing specialist, Kristen Oriente.
The annual Celebration of Excellence Awards recognize outstanding individuals, companies and projects within the region’s building industry. In addition to Oriente’s individual honor, Neal Land & Neighborhoods received Best Collateral for its flagship master-planned community, North River Ranch, and Best Email Campaign for Vistera of Venice.
The Shining Star Award recognizes an outstanding up-and-coming professional who has demonstrated exceptional performance, initiative, and potential early in their career. In just two years with Neal Land & Neighborhoods, Oriente has taken greater ownership of digital engagement, content, and lead conversion strategies, in addition to leading the revamp of the company’s Realtor Circle Program. Through this program, she has strengthened relationships with realtor partners and increased engagement and participation.
“Kristen has distinguished herself through her initiative, determination, and genuine desire to keep learning,” said Janice Snow, vice president of marketing, Neal Land & Neighborhoods. “She is always looking for opportunities to make our programs stronger and improve results. We’re proud of how much she has grown as a professional and the impact she has made in a short period of time. This recognition is so well deserved.”
North River Ranch was recognized with the Best Collateral Awardforits integrated suite of print and digital materials. Built around the community’s “It’s All Here” campaign, the materials showcase its homes, builders, amenities, and lifestyle while creating a consistent brand experience for prospective homebuyers.
Vistera of Venice earned the Best Email Campaign Award for its lead nurture program, which reached more than 145,700 contacts over the past year. Targeted communications engage prospective buyers, Realtors, and homeowners with community news, lifestyle content, builder information, and events.
“These awards reflect the strategy and creativity our team puts into connecting people with our communities,” said John A. Neal, president of Neal Land & Neighborhoods. “Whether we’re building relationships with realtors, introducing prospective buyers to a community, or keeping residents engaged, our goal is to create meaningful experiences at every touchpoint.”
About Vistera of Venice
Vistera of Venice is agated, master-planned community of 300 acres and 582 single-family homes and villas in Venice, Florida. The community brings together thoughtfully designed homes by David Weekley Homes, Neal Communities and M/I Homes with resort-inspired amenities, scenic natural spaces and an active Gulf Coast lifestyle. Centrally located near top-rated schools, healthcare, shopping, dining, outdoor recreation, beaches and major employment centers, Vistera offers a connected lifestyle for a wide range of homebuyers. The development is a joint venture involving developer Frank Cassata, a valued partner to Neal Land & Neighborhoods since 2003. Cassata’s land acquisition, development and homebuilding experience includes over 10,000 homes built and represents a critical role in the success of several completed projects with the developer. For more information, visit www.visteravenice.com.
About North River Ranch
North River Ranch is the flagship master-planned community of Neal Land & Neighborhoods, located in Parrish, Florida. Planned for up to 6,000 residences across multiple neighborhoods, the award-winning community is designed to offer a connected lifestyle with extensive recreation and amenities, thoughtfully planned neighborhoods, commercial development, schools, and a hospital. Homebuilders at North River Ranch include Pulte Homes, David Weekley Homes, Neal Communities, Homes by WestBay, and Cardel Homes Florida. The community is also home to Explore by Del Webb, the first Florida-based community of its kind. North River Ranch has earned national recognition through Best of American Living (BALA), Aurora, and The Nationals awards and has been named Bradenton’s Best Gold Master Planned Community from 2022 through 2026. For more information, visit www.NorthRiverRanch.com.
About Neal Land & Neighborhoods
Neal Land & Neighborhoods, a Florida-based master land planning and community development organization led by John A. Neal, develops communities throughout Manatee, Sarasota, and Hillsborough counties. The award-winning company incorporates thoughtful master planning and public infrastructure solutions to create the next level of elite community planning and living in Southwest Florida. By working with carefully selected new home builders, Neal Land & Neighborhoods aims to establish thriving, sustainable, livable, and ecologically sensitive communities throughout Manatee, Sarasota, and Hillsborough counties. Neal Land & Neighborhoods currently owns or controls several thousand acres of land entitled for more than 9,000 future residential homes and the supporting mixed-use commercial and retail. The developer’s current projects include the award-winning, master-planned communities of North River Ranch and Vistera of Venice.