One of Us: Mark Refosco

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Mark Refosco is a franchise owner of Arthur Rutenberg Homes, which is one of the preferred homebuilders for EvenTide in Ponte Vedra Beach.

Can you please briefly tell us about your background?

I went to a small college in West Virginia and studied civil engineering and architecture. I worked for three years for an architect while in school and for a year afterwards. I decided to move to a sunnier spot, which brought me to beautiful Northeast Florida. I got in the homebuilding business early on with a great company, Summer Homes by Charlie Brown. I enjoyed five years with that company and then the next 10 years as an executive with another large company in Northeast Florida, building beautiful homes. I ultimately decided to go out on my own, and I joined the Arthur Rutenberg Homes franchise network in January 2001 and have never looked back.

What’s your involvement with EvenTide? What can you tell us about the new neighborhood?

Arthur Rutenberg Homes is a preferred builder in EvenTide, which is a beautiful enclave of only 23 homesites near the Guana Preserve and right across the street from a private beach. Residents in the community will have deeded beach access. What’s not to love about EvenTide and its positioning in the heart of Ponte Vedra.

What are the latest trends in home building?

We used to do a lot of Mediterranean-style architecture, and the market has shifted to more coastal, West Indies-style architecture. The West Indies style consists of different versions, including Spanish Indies, French Indies, British Indies, Dutch Indies and more. What we’re focusing on in EvenTide is the British West Indies style of architecture, which features larger overhangs, combination sloped roofs, lots of windows, shutters, etc.

What do you enjoy most about working in your industry?

Our industry has a new challenge every single day, and that’s what keeps me sharp. I really like working with the team that we have in our company. We have about 28 employees. We handle everything from architecture to interior design to homebuilding itself. It’s so exciting for me to work with all of those different disciplines, having gone to school for architecture and engineering.

What are your favorite parts about Ponte Vedra?

It’s a great spot. We have excellent restaurants and excellent shopping. It’s a low traffic area. It’s a beautiful place to live. I also enjoy being surrounded by the water.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I like to go look at houses and architecture, but I also enjoy boating and spending time with my family. My wife and I have four children and four grandsons. We’re looking forward to more grandchildren.