Reitmann joins Marvin Development

If you've ever built a home in Lee County in the last two decades, then you'll know Michael Reitmann, the tireless advocate for the industry.

Reitmann recently retired as executive in charge of the Lee Building Industry Association, steering the organization through the real estate boom and bust. Reitmann successfully led the organization's sparring with anti-growth advocates and spearheaded charitable efforts to help underprivileged people renovate dilapidated homes.

Now, Reitmann has joined longtime Lee County builder Richard Durling as the director of international marketing for Durling's homebuilding company, Marvin Development.

Recently, Durling and Reitmann have seen eye-to-eye on tax issues, for example. Both successfully led the charge to have impact fees lowered. Impact fees are taxes on new-home construction that hamper growth and housing affordability.

Reitmann, who began his career teaching German, has been involved in the building industry for nearly four decades. Before joining the Lee Building Industry Association he was the training director for the National Association of Home Builders for 10 years. Reitmann's family emigrated to the U.S. through Ellis Island from Austria when he was 10 years old and settled in Ohio.