CLASSIC TEAM

Classic Group,  LLC

Rick Sullivan and Steve Eckert, Principals, have over 45 years of experience in the residential building and development business. Together, they have been responsible for producing over 7,500 home sales and 12,000 lot sales in the Washington Metropolitan market. After owning and managing Porten Sullivan Corporation for many years (one of the largest builders in the area), the Company was sold in 1986. In 1989, Eckert and Sullivan left Porten Sullivan to start a smaller, more flexible building and development entity, Classic Community Corporation (also known as Classic Group, LLC).

Classic Group Management includes: 

Rick Sullivan 

Principal

Steve Eckert 
President
William P. Gerald 
Vice President of Acquisitions and Development
Stephen J. Nardella 
Vice President of Operations
Ronnie Lethbridge
Vice President of Construction
Dover T. Hankins II
Senior Land Development Manager
Tracey Eckenrode, CPA 
Vice President of Finance/ CFO
Classic Team | Classic Group, LLC | Bethasda MD 20814
​Classic Group’s goal is to maintain 2-4 large development projects and 3-5 building projects on a continuing basis. Among Classic’s award winning communities are:
Projects Lots/Units Projects Lots/Units
Lakelands 1,650 Units Villages of Dorchester 784 Units
Chapman Farm 496 Units Milestone 547 Unites
Watkins Mill 450 Units Two Rivers 1,545 Units
Manor Oaks 397 Units Oatland Farm 300 Units
Dearbought 550 Units Sheffield 250 Units
Cedar Grove 290 Townhouse Units Cedar Grove Apts 440 Apts sold to Bozzuto

RICHARD SULLIVAN | PRINCIPAL

Rick is a native Washingtonian who has been involved in the homebuilding and development business for 35 years.  After starting with a Big Eight accounting firm, Rick began his real estate career as a controller at Page Corporation, advancing to Executive Vice President.  Following the sale of Page to US Home Corporation, Rick was elevated to President of the DC Division of US Home.  In 1981, Rick co-founded, was a named principal and served as executive Co-Chairman of Porten Sullivan Corporation.  Porten Sullivan grew to become one of the largest regional homebuilders in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.  The principals sold Porten Sullivan to a public company in 1986 and remained as managers of its business operations.  In late 1989, Rick left to found Classic Community Corporation (aka Classic) along with his partner Steve Eckert, where he serves as executive Chairman.

 

In addition to his business activity, Rick has been involved in trade/civic and charitable organizations in the D.C. metropolitan area.  He has served on the Board of Directors of the Maryland National Capital Building Association and served on the Board as the President (two terms) of Congressional Country Club.  Rick is Chairman Emeritus and Co-Founder of the Shepherd Foundation, an organization that provides tuition assistance for families that need help paying for parochial education.

STEPHEN ECKERT | PRESIDENT & CEO

Steve began his career in homebuilding/development in 1978 as the Director of Government Relations for the Maryland National Capital Building Industry Association.  From there he joined Herman Porten in 1980 to help assemble the property that served as the foundation for a new company, Porten Sullivan Corporation.  Steve was responsible for many areas within Porten Sullivan, eventually becoming President in 1987.   Under his direction, Porten Sullivan’s annual revenue grew from $50,000,000 to $110,000,000.  Steve left Porten Sullivan in late 1989 and founded Classic Community Corporation (aka Classic) with his partner Rick Sullivan.  Steve is President and CEO of Classic.  Classic is a privately held developer and homebuilder with projects in Montgomery, Anne Arundel, and Calvert Counties in Maryland. 

 

Steve is an active member of his community.  He has served on special committees for the Montgomery County Council analyzing tax and budget issues.  He has also served on committees studying the impact of regulations on the housing industry generally, and affordable housing, in particular.  He has been a panelist at the annual Montgomery County Symposium on Affordable Housing.  Steve has also been a member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the Maryland National Capital Building Industry Association.  He served as the organization’s President in 1995.  Steve is the recipient of the Milton Kettler Award for lifetime contributions to the community at large and to the homebuilding industry. 

WILLIAM P. GERALD | VICE PRESIDENT OF ACQUISITION & DEVELOPMENT

Bill is a veteran of over 45 years in the real estate industry.  His experience includes finance, marketing and development of large mixed use communities in the Washington D.C. market area.  Over the past 20 years, Bill has been focused on the growth in the age-restricted segment of the real estate market. His focus is understanding the elements that create a successful community within the needs of the market.  In 1995, he headed up the acquisition and development of Heritage Hunt in Gainesville, Virginia. This community, a full lifestyle community, contains 2,100 units and was awarded the retirement community of the year in 2001 by the NAHB National Council on Senior Housing. Bill joined Classic in 2002.  He is responsible for the design and engineering of Two Rivers, and The Harbours at Solomon’s Island, a 252 unit community in Calvert County, Maryland.

 

Bill has been involved in numerous building and development associations as well as numerous committees for various civic groups.

STEPHEN J. NARDELLA | VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS

Steve is a seasoned real estate executive with more than 37 years of professional experience in many aspects of the residential real estate and development business including urban and regional planning in government and private sector consulting, and over 28 years in land acquisition, planning and development, and home building operations.

 

Steve joined Classic Group in 2015 and is primarily responsible for operations, PR and marketing. Prior to joining Classic Group, Steve served as Senior Vice President of Operations for Winchester Homes Inc., a large regional builder/developer and at the time a subsidiary of the Weyerhaeuser Real Estate Co. During his 13-year tenure, he led the company’s land acquisitions, planning and development, corporate marketing and PR, architectural design, and Winchester’s upscale and innovative Camberley Homes brand.

 

Steve holds a bachelor’s degree in geo-environmental studies from Shippensburg University, completed an executive program in accounting and finance at the University of Washington Business School, and attended an intensive leadership program at the Weyerhaeuser Leadership Institute.  He has been an active member of the Maryland National Capital Building Industry Association having served as its 2012 President following several years on the Board of Directors.  He served as a member of the board of the Maryland State Builders Association in 2013 and served as a member of the Board of the Montgomery County Students Construction Trades Foundation. 

RONNIE LETHBRIDGE | VICE PRESIDENT OF CONSTRUCTION

Ronnie began in 1974 with Senate Construction Company, a residential home builder. He worked as a laborer for his father who was the Superintendent, and then became a punch-out man and Customer Service/Warranty representative. Working as a finish end Superintendent in 1976 and a Superintendent in 1977, Ronnie became an expert in everything from foundation work to high-end finish work.


Ronnie went on to serve as Superintendent for Pulte Home Corporation in Northern Virginia in 1978, and Project Manager for multiple Pulte projects in 1980. He joined Classic Community Corporation as a Project Manager in 1982, working for Rick Sullivan and eventually, Steve Eckert. He was Vice President of Warranty Service for Classic Group in 1985 and became Vice President of Construction in 1990. Ronnie has engaged in planning and executing some of Maryland's most significant new home development projects and ensures that workmanship conforms to Classic Group's high-level standards and construction guidelines. He oversees and assesses project managers daily, evaluates procedures, assures quality control and first-in-class project execution on over 13 projects.

DOVER T. HANKINS II | SENIOR LAND DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Dover has spent 31 years in the construction and land development industry, completing numerous projects. His experience extends across the public highway, water- sewer infrastructure, commercial and residential development industry. Dover joined Classic in 2002 where he is responsible for managing and executing the land development activities for Classic Group’s residential real estate holdings.  Some of these responsibilities include overall development management, developing budgets, projecting cash flows, engineering coordination, contract purchasing and project oversight. Prior to joining Classic 15 years ago, Dover was the Vice President of a local Baltimore construction company that specialized in infrastructure construction in the public and private sector.

 

Throughout his career, Dover has been involved in many associations including, Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC Baltimore), Associated Utility Contractors of Maryland (AUC), Maryland Highway Contractors Association and the Home Builders Association of Maryland (HBAM).

TRACEY ECKENRODE, CPA | VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE/CFO

Tracey started her career in residential building and land development in the accounting and finance department at Porten Sullivan in 1987 as an area controller managing the company’s numerous partnerships.  In 1992, she accepted a controller job from Steve and Rick at their newly formed company, Classic Community Corporation and shortly, thereafter, became a part of the management team, being named Vice President of Finance/CFO.  Tracey’s primary focus at Classic Group, LLC is finance, accounting, and sales & settlement administration. 

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