RJ never set out to be a conventional builder. With a background in architecture and a career that began in the high-end retail spaces of New York City, his entry into construction wasn’t planned — it was felt. "I fell in love with the process,” he recalls. “I wasn’t swinging the hammer. I was organizing, coordinating, building relationships.” After 9/11 changed the construction landscape in New York, RJ pivoted — spending 14 years with another firm before relocating to Sarasota, Florida in 2016 in search of balance. “I wanted to be around for my kids, for their sports, for dinner. I loved the work, but I didn’t want to miss life.” The Birth of Modus By 2018, RJ had become a licensed general contractor in Florida. That same year, Modus Builders was born — a reflection of RJ’s values, craftsmanship, and belief that quality stems from intention. “I started with what I knew — interiors and remodels. But my vision was always bigger: full homes, design-build projects, a complete process rooted in purpose.” Within 18 months, Modus had its first ground-up home — far ahead of the three- year timeline he had originally mapped out. The company scaled quietly, building not through ads, but through reputation. “It’s all been word of mouth. People refer us because of how we make them feel throughout the process — not just the results.” 30 S P E C I A L E D I T I O N
MODEL: OSPREY COASTAL HAVEN DWELLINGS
“Don’t pick me because I’m the best price. Pick me because you believe we can work together.” Innovation with Intention: Enter Steel Frame Homes In 2024, RJ’s trajectory shifted again — this time with a proposition from a young realtor named Connor. “He brought me this idea — steel frame homes, built with precision in a factory, hurricane-rated, and energy-efficient. I was skeptical at first. It felt too much like production building. But the more I looked, the more the pros outweighed my ego.” That partnership birthed Coastal Haven Dwellings, a new division under Modus Builders, focused on steel frame homes that can be delivered in —
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