Verandah Club announces new general manager, J.R. Congdon
COMMUNITY UPDATE
11/09/09
Verandah Club announces new general manager, J.R. Congdon
Rick Collins, chairman of the board of Verandah Golf and Tennis Club, Inc., and Joey Garon, president of New Leaf Management, announced today that J.R. Congdon has joined Verandah Club as its new general manager.
Verandah Club is the private membership club at Verandah, the 1,456-acre community along a 1.75-mile stretch of the Orange River in Fort Myers.
Congdon, a PGA professional and member of the Club Managers Association, oversees all management and operations for the 36-hole golf club, fitness and tennis center, River House restaurant and bar, and Blossom's community grill.
Congdon has more than 20 years of experience in managing club operations, most recently serving as general manager and director of club operations at The Tesoro Club in Port St. Lucie, a private club with 36 holes of golf and a 115,000-sq.-ft. clubhouse. His career also includes positions with the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club & Spa in Jupiter, Woodfield Country Club in Boca Raton, and Frenchman's Creek Country Club in Palm Beach Gardens.
"J.R. is an exceptional choice to lead Verandah Club," said Collins. "He has successfully managed every aspect of club development and operations, from designing facilities and programs to managing membership sales and providing high-end service delivery. Our members are fortunate to have a professional like J.R. on our team and we look forward to a bright future at our Verandah Club and community."
Verandah was created as an environmentally friendly and sustainable community and has earned environmental accolades for its emphasis on green building and preservation, its respect for the land and its comprehensive approach to sustainability. Since being named Florida's first green land development by the Florida Green Building Coalition in April 2003 – two months after sales began – Verandah has received the Council for Sustainable Florida's 2007 Best Practices Award for green building, the Florida Urban Forestry Council's Trees Florida 2007 Award, Project EverGreen's Because Green Matters Award, and the Florida Association of Realtors' 2006 Environmental (ENVY) Award.
Verandah has also been named by Where to Retire magazine as one of "America's 100 Best Master-Planned Communities" in 2007 and was named Community of the Year by the Lee Building Industry Association in 2005 and 2008. Whispering Oak, Verandah's second 18-hole championship golf course, was named by Golf Inc. magazine as one of the top five new private courses in the country in 2007.
Each single-family model home at Verandah has been constructed to meet the Florida Green Building Coalition's requirements for green home certification, and residents have the ability to choose construction and feature options that conserve natural resources, improve indoor air quality and reduce energy consumption.
Verandah's single-family homebuilders are offering increased energy efficiency through Florida Power & Light Company's BuildSmart® program. Structured wiring is being built into each home to facilitate always-on, high-speed Internet access, as well as a wide range of options for home automation.
Nearly 70 percent of Verandah's 1,456 acres will be open space, including natural preserve areas, parks, wetlands, lakes, golf courses and a conservation buffer to help maintain the unique character of the community's riverfront. Verandah offers more than nine miles of walkways, paths and fitness trails.
Verandah's amenities are located in River Village, the community's social hub with individual buildings nestled into an expansive oak hammock. The amenities include the Golf House pro shop; Oak Park with the community treehouse and playground; the Boat House, featuring Blossom's community grill, a canoe and kayak livery and multi-level decks overlooking the river; tennis and fitness center; and the River House, featuring Jesse Fish lounge, the 120-seat Alligator Pear restaurant and the open-air River Terrace overlooking the river.
Old Orange, Verandah's first 18-hole championship golf course designed by award-winning golf course architect Bob Cupp, was inspired by the spectacular oak trees throughout the site. Whispering Oak, designed by Jack Nicklaus and Jack Nicklaus II, opened in early 2007.
Verandah offers estate, custom and traditional single-family homes, villas and coach homes with home and home site packages priced from the low $200,000s to more than $1 million. Homesite pricing is now from the $90,000s.
For additional information, contact the Verandah Information Center at 866-694-7199. The Verandah Information Center is located two miles east of I-75 on State Road 80, or visit www.Verandah.com.
Rick Collins, chairman of the board of Verandah Golf and Tennis Club, Inc., and Joey Garon, president of New Leaf Management, announced today that J.R. Congdon has joined Verandah Club as its new general manager. 
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