Bill Lisecki retired early, leaving a 17-year career with Grand Union Family Markets in upstate New York to move to the Sunshine State.
Tired of shoveling snow and driving on icy roads, Lisecki moved his family to Jacksonville and enrolled his children in school here. He soon discovered, as many early retirees do, that he wasn’t quite ready for retirement. Before long, he began to look around and eventually decided to take a new career path.
“When I was in high school, I worked summers for a roofing company, and we did some remodeling, too,” Lisecki said. “I developed a passion for construction and building things. So I decided to do just that. I opened a small renovation company and was doing what I loved to do.”
Luck or providence, Adams Homes entered the Jacksonville market about that time. With an eye for local talent, Adams Homes recruited Lisecki. That was 17 years ago. Lisecki is now the general manager of Adams Homes’ Jacksonville Division.
Lisecki said Adams Homes was a perfect fit for him, due largely to the company’s founder, Wayne Adams.
“Wayne was not just a boss – he was a friend,” he said. “He was well-respected and had a sound operating philosophy. He believed in keeping it simple and treating people the way you want to be treated. His business grew, and Adams Homes has survived the economic fluctuations because of Wayne Adams adherence to basic business principles.”
Wayne Adams, who passed away this year, founded the company in 1991 and started serving home buyers in Pensacola. Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, Adams Homes grew its business into markets throughout Florida, Alabama and Mississippi.
Since 2005, Adams Homes has expanded into markets in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee. Its headquarters is now in Gulf Breeze.
Lisecki, in addition to being Adams Homes Jacksonville Division general manager, is a member of the NEFBA board and the association’s newest Pinnacle Builder. Achieving the Pinnacle Builder status was important to Lisecki.
“This is a significant achievement for us,” he said. “Doing business with other NEFBA members not only strengthens the association, it strengthens the industry itself. It’s not hard to persuade your vendors to join when they understand the benefits the association offers.”
NEFBA’s membership drive helped Adams Homes qualify for the award.
“We were motivated by the membership drive,” Lisecki said. “We were close to goal, and the momentum created by the membership drive put us where we needed to be. The NEFBA staff was very helpful and cheered us on. Now it’s a matter of policy when we are bringing on new vendors.”
Lisecki said his choice to move south was a good one, and not just because of the weather. His opportunity to join Adams Homes came about as a result of his move here. His parents have also moved to Jacksonville after touring the country and spending a good bit of time in the Keys. Now they are his neighbors. Lisecki’s three children, two daughters and a son, all live in Jacksonville. He also has five grandchildren ranging in age from 4 months to 7 years. Having family so close is important to Lisecki.
“I’m fortunate to be surrounded by good people all day at work, and we are like family,” he said. “With my folks, my children and my grandchildren nearby, a great job and a special woman in my life, I’m one lucky man.”
When he’s not working, Lisecki enjoys hunting, usually in Georgia, but as far away as Kansas and Alaska when he can. He also enjoys fishing in the waterways around Jacksonville and in Key West.
“Adams Homes Jacksonville Division, led by Bill Lisecki, is our newest Pinnacle Builder, and we acknowledge their commitment to the industry and to NEFBA in this effort,” said Corey Deal, NEFBA Executive Director. “To achieve Pinnacle Builder status a NEFBA builder member must be in good standing, active in the association and at least 90 percent of its subcontractors must be NEFBA members. Bill and Adams Homes have been active and supportive, and this new level of achievement reflects their growing involvement and contribution to the association, the industry and the Northeast Florida community.”