About Us

Meet Your Dedicated Team

Bringing your dream to reality requires a homebuilder that possesses extraordinary levels of skill, imagination, experience, and service. These are the qualities that set Nelson Homes, Inc. apart from other homebuilders. Let Nelson Homes, Inc. build your dream home.

Ashley Miller

Franchise Owner

Ashley Miller graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Building Construction. She joined AR Homes® Sarasota (Nelson Homes, Inc.) in 2013 and throughout her tenure has held the roles of Customer Care Representative, Construction Manager, Purchasing Manager, Vice President of Purchasing, and Building Company Vice President while obtaining her contractors license and learning all facets of construction.

Today, Ashley operates as Franchise Owner and is dedicated to honoring Derek Nelson’s legacy through exquisite craftsmanship and personalized service.


Derek Nelson

Vice President

As a young boy, Derek Nelson would rise at dawn to join his stepfather on job sites. Those early days of sweeping out unfinished houses turned into a lifelong love of homebuilding. Derek joined AR Homes® by Arthur Rutenberg in 1989 as a building supervisor, working his way up to building company president in 1997.

Under his leadership, Nelson Homes, Inc. has won the prestigious Builder of the Year award five times, and the Gold Cup award, presented annually to the AR Homes® franchise with the highest customer satisfaction rating, twice.


Jim Grittner

Building Company President

Jim Grittner brings more than 20 years’ experience to Nelson Homes, Inc. His unmatched energy, perspective and focus on customer satisfaction contribute greatly to the company’s reputation for excellence in quality and service.