Glenn Layton has worked to build his community since graduating from UNF in
1984. He not only has built some of the finest homes in Jacksonville but also
gives back to the community in ways great and small.
As the division president of Woodside Homes in Jacksonville and incoming
president of the Northeast Florida Builders Association, Layton has embraced
opportunities to help others while encouraging his children to do likewise.
Layton grew up in Sarasota where his father was a residential land developer.
He learned the industry doing everything from sweeping houses to basic labor.
Layton attended the University of Florida for two years but admits he was often
distracted from his studies by campus life. He dropped out after his sophomore
year and took a job arranged by his father doing framing in South Florida during
the summer. "I knew after three weeks I had made a mistake and needed to finish
college."
Despite not knowing a soul in Jacksonville, he visited UNF and said he was
immediately attracted to the program because of the hands-on training provided.
"UNF prepared me well by giving me the management skills I needed. We received
first-hand experience about what really goes on in the business because we were
actually out in the field." Layton excelled at UNF, doing better academically
than ever before, and graduated magma cum laude.
The degree propelled Layton to a building career starting as an estimator for
a track home builder and led to becoming president of North Florida Builders
Inc. in 2000. With the sale of the company to Woodside Homes, he became division
president in 2004. He has earned a reputation for contributing in some of the
area's finest communities such as Marsh Landing, Deercreek and Palencia.
With his professional success, Layton has never lost sight of helping others
less fortunate. He is active in Builders Care, the charitable arm of the
Northeast Florida Builders Association. He has helped with everything from
providing Thanksgiving turkeys to donating major home renovations for families
in need. He has also been involved in Habijax, the Jacksonville affiliate of
Habitat for Humanity, the Otis Smith Foundation and sponsoring renovation work
at juvenile detention facilities in St. Johns, Duval and Nassau counties. He is
also a committee member for Young Life of North St. Johns County.
That spirit of giving back to the community has been instilled in Layton's
children. Mallory and Clark are involved in church youth activities and Young
Life where they mentor younger students.
When not working, Layton and his wife Lynn love the outdoors, especially
inshore fishing. They also enjoy traveling including to Chicago where he enjoys
the Cubs playing at Wrigley Field.
To give other aspiring builders similar kinds of opportunities, Layton
maintains contact with UNF by acting as a liaison between students and the
builders association. For Layton it is merely another chapter in a continuing
book of giving back to the community.
