Staff Biographies

John and Phillipa Cannon
President and Vice President of John Cannon Homes, Inc.

If you asked John Cannon to define their roles he would respond, "I am the visionary and Phillipa is the heart and soul."

After receiving a degree in building and construction from Michigan State, John began working for a large national builder. He was transferred to Sarasota, Florida where he learned all aspects of the residential construction business. After years of perfecting his skills, he gave into his entrepreneurial spirit and began John Cannon Homes, Inc. with his wife, Phillipa. After 20 years he still plays an integral role in the business he loves. He oversees all customer contracts, design/architectural floor plans and the construction process from the very beginning to the final finishing touches. John's real love is architectural design. "However designing is only half the fun. I could never design something and then have someone else build it."

Twenty years ago as a husband and wife team beginning a business, John and Phillipa each brought their strengths to the organization. John had the expertise in building and Phillipa, with a long time career in banking provided a solid foundation in the financial arena. Today, as the company's vice president she oversees all financial aspects of a client's contract. Phillipa works with every future homeowner's lending institution to ensure each client's experience is a smooth and pleasant one.

TJ Nutter, LEED AP
Chief Operating Officer

Working in Southwest Florida for one of the largest national residential home builders for several years, TJ was exposed to and learned all facets of the residential home construction business. Utilizing that expertise and experience, he joined our team as director of construction. After four years as the head of construction at John Cannon Homes, TJ was one of the busiest individuals within the company.

As Chief Operating Officer, on a daily basis he oversees all team members spread throughout a five county region. He is responsible for facilitating the company's daily operations as well as the overall business expansion in terms of fiscal, legal, personnel, sales, marketing, customer satisfaction, construction and operations.

The key to the success of any company is customer satisfaction and as such, TJ is responsible for creating, implementing and assessing new programs in order to ensure constant improvement in that area. He recently received accreditation as a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) professional by the Green Building Certification Institute. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: Site Planning, Water Management, Energy Management, Material Use, Indoor Air Quality and Innovation and Design Process.

While his work in the community is diverse, he manages to maintain a balance between home, family, faith and work. Currently TJ is the Director for the 2008 Home Builders Association of Sarasota County's Marine Max Fishing Tournament.

In 2006-2007, TJ was President of the Home Builders Association of Sarasota County, where his passion for deep sea fishing has made him successful in raising funds for local charities in his role of chairperson for the HBA's Marine Max Pro/Am Fishing Tournament. He is also on the Advisory Board at Everglades University, a board member of Sarasota County Technical Institutes' Construction Technologies Careers Center and a certifying agent for Florida's Green Building Coalition. TJ and his wife have two children, and enjoy all of the amenities Sarasota has to offer!

In 2005, he was recognized by the Gulf Coast Business Review as one of the area's most accomplished young professionals in the "40 under 40" Awards. TJ was also a finalist for the Young Professional of the Year 2005 award sponsored by the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce.

Michael Finley
Chief Financial Officer

Throughout a career spanning more than twenty five years in real estate development and construction, Mike has enjoyed the synergy and variety inherent in simultaneous involvement in both the financial and operations aspects of various enterprises. As John Cannon Homes' CFO, this Clarkson MBA is responsible for all facets of the company's finances. Those responsibilities include acquisition and management of debt and equity financing, corporate and project-level projections and forecasting, internal and external financial reporting and supervision of internal accounting staff.

Mike also oversees the company's land acquisition and development department, and in this role is responsible for ensuring that the company has an ample supply of homesites in outstanding communities that commensurate with the superior quality of its homes.

Debbie Gonzalez
Director of Sales and Marketing

Debbie Gonzalez has been in the real estate industry for over 13 years and with John Cannon Homes since 1996. Debbie, who is the oldest of 6 children grew up in Iowa, and after attending college in St. Paul, Minnesota moved to Sarasota where the balmy-breezes of the gulf coast suited her warm-hearted personality. Debbie credits her siblings for her talented negotiation skills that have earned her the area's Million Dollar Circle Award every year since 1996.

As a team leader, Debbie brings the important qualities of creativity and organization to the sales team, helping them to be more efficient and effective. Debbie's knowledge of the market and her ties to the community in which she has made her home since 1978, underscore the success that her sales team members have garnered from her support and guidance.

She has served as the Public Relations and Community Service Director for the Sarasota Home Builders Association, and is an active member of the Sarasota HBA's Sales and Marketing Council. Debbie is also a Platinum Member of the Georgia State Panther Club, an organization of past and present proud Georgia State Volleyball parents!

Debbie has been married for 31 years to Rafael, a local restaurateur. For many years, they have opened up their home as foster parents and for now, Debbie enjoys spending time with her beautiful daughter Danielle, stepson Armando, grandson Chase and great niece Noelle.

Timothy Knight, LEED AP
Director of John Cannon Commercial Construction

Tim Knight has been in the construction industry for over 10 years managing a vast array of projects including restaurants, retail, warehouse, office and medical buildings, high-rise condominiums, high end custom homes, and even a Disney theme park. Tim also has a real estate background as well as property management and development.

Since graduating with Honors from the Building Construction (BCN) program at the University of Florida, Tim has achieved many accomplishments; one of which is being named Team Member of the Year by an international developer. As a member of the Gulf Coast Builder's Exchange and head of the Commercial Builder's Council for the Sarasota Home Builder's Association, Tim is involved in the community and out in front of the issues that help keep our industry strong in this region.

As Director of Commercial Construction, Tim oversees the daily operations of all of the commercial design and construction projects, is responsible for new business development, and most importantly making sure that every customer is satisfied with their investment.

Tim recently received accreditation as a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) professional by the Green Building Certification Institute. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: Site Planning, Water Management, Energy Management, Material Use, Indoor Air Quality and Innovation and Design Process.

Tim is also responsible for the management of the Cannon Office Building and the tenants that occupy the building.