GENEVA, IL –April 15, 2026– Since 1961 Shodeen Homes has been synonymous with distinct architectural design, quality craftsmanship and exceptional customer service. Family-owned-and-operated, the company’s founder and CEO, Kent Shodeen, established his homebuilding business at the age of 23, when he moved from Chicago to Batavia with his young family. He was in the process of building them a home when a passerby offered to buy it from Kent’s plans. He started on another home and that one, too, was sold. He eventually purchased a piece of land in Batavia and started building homes one by one, gradually progressing from building a few homes annually to developing communities in Illinois’ Fox Valley as well as Lake Geneva and Delavan, Wisconsin.
“As we move into the future, we are building on the Shodeen reputation of excellence,” said new Shodeen Homes’ President, Don Long. “We’re going to implement systems, software and processes that increase efficiencies across purchasing, accounting, scheduling and sales equating to a red-carpet customer service experience for our buyers.”
Long comes to Shodeen with an impressive homebuilding background having worked for builders in Dallas, Austin, Wichita and Denver delivering 300 to over 1,200 homes a year. He brings expertise in construction management, purchasing, land acquisition and development, software implementation and architectural design to the company.
“We have some exciting new things on the horizon,” Long said. “We are currently looking at new development projects in both Illinois and Wisconsin, and we will be introducing a new collection of ranch and two-story plans that will include first-floor owner suite designs.”
Shodeen Homes’ President, Don Long, looks to the future as Shodeen Homes’ celebrates 65 Years.
Having built over 6,600 single-family residences in Illinois and Wisconsin, Shodeen is perhaps best-known for Mill Creek, a master-planned community covering over 2,100 acres of land just west of Geneva. Mill Creek is a hallmark of the company philosophy. Named the “Best Overall Community in the Midwest” by the National Association of Home Builders and Professional Builder Magazine, this carefully planned community of distinctive homes boasts more than 900 acres of open space, 36 holes of golf on two golf courses, walking trails, parks, preserved wetlands, two elementary schools, two churches, and a Village Center with retail, office space and rental apartments. Shodeen’s quality and attention to detail can be seen in the vision, planning and construction of every element of each Shodeen community.
Now in its 65th year, the vibrant family business has diversified into a group of companies, expanding from residential into commercial real estate and hospitality. Shodeen has built and managed major retail, office and commercial developments as well as landmark restoration projects, apartment communities, hotels and restaurants.
Shodeen has constructed over 700,000 square feet of commercial and office space, planned, zoned and built over 1,000 units. The company offers single-family rental homes at Elburn Station in Elburn as well as apartment communities such as The Reserve of Hudson Crossing in Oswego and The Reserve at Prairie Centre in St. Charles.
Shodeen’s influence on the unique character of Geneva is another important aspect of the company’s legacy. Dodson Place, Fox Island Square, Geneva on the Dam, the Geneva Train Station, Riverside Receptions, the Herrington Inn and Spa and Atwater’s, the Herrington’s fine dining establishment overlooking the river, are just a few of the projects that have combined the historic heritage of the community with classic new construction and renovation.
Kent Shodeen and the company have received countless local and national awards for excellence in architecture, land planning, landscaping, interior features and environmental sensitivity. Shodeen also has received awards for historic preservation, community support and partnership, Builder of the Year designations and the Geneva Chamber of Commerce esteemed Wood Community Service Award.
The company continues to further the founding principles of responsible community development, distinctive home designs, respect for the environment and quality craftsmanship that ensures that every buyer receive the best value.
A strong believer in giving back to the community, Kent Shodeen and his wife Joan formed the Shodeen Family Foundation in 1999 to support programs that enrich and strengthen the quality of life in Geneva and other communities served by the company.
In this 65th anniversary year, Shodeen offers ranch and two-story homes at Elburn Station in Elburn, Richland Trails in Cortland and at Edgewood Vistas and Stone Ridge in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin as well as The Shores of Delavan Lake in Delavan, Wisconsin.
To learn more about Shodeen Homes, visit www.shodeenhomes.com.
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