MHInsider 2022 Industry Awards

TThe third annual MHInsider Industry Awards honor the innovation, dedication, and perseverance of manufactured housing professionals from coast to coast. The team at Datacomp and MHVillage, through MHInsider magazine, are honored to be able to recognize these amazing colleagues awarded for the highest achievements in the industry.

Our 14-member editorial board assisted in selecting from more than 80 candidates for the MHInsider Industry Awards, carefully paring the list back to 21 of the most deserving nominees in five categories.

We employed the volunteer efforts of more than a dozen state and regional manufactured housing industry association directors to conduct a vote on the safe and secure voting platform eBallot.

So, congratulations to all of the winners, and thank you for all you’ve done!

The Advocacy Award honors efforts toward outreach and education that reach beyond professional position or title.

The Influencer Award honors individuals who by their presence and authentic implementation of ideas have created widely held business practices and wholesale improvement for the industry.

The Leadership Award honors individuals who have earned the highest levels of industry achievement through their corporate or organizational leadership approach. The Legacy Award honors manufactured housing professionals whose overall career contributions are certain to create meaningful and lasting industry improvement and excellence.

The Visionary Award honors those who have brought to market the coolest concept or product, the idea that makes the job easier, the offering better, the customer experience more meaningful.

MHInsider Editorial Board

George Allen Paul Barretto Paul Bradley Barry Cole Kevan Enger Stacey Epperson Suzanne Felber Dawn Highhouse Maria Horton Darren Krolewski John Neet Karl Radde Patrick Revere TC Sheppard Honorary Judges Ken Anderson Amy Bliss Frank Bowman Ron Breymier Deanna Fields Andrea Greene Randy Grumbine Jennifer Lassen Jennifer Hall Logan Hanes Jess Maxcy Marla McAfee DJ Pendleton Leo Poggione

George Porter MHINSIDER VISIONARY AWARD WINNER

George Porter has been in the manufactured housing industry for more than 35 years. In 1990, he formed a training company called Manufactured Housing Resources to teach proper installation practices. Porter’s guidance has been accepted in nearly every U.S. state and is used by nearly every manufacturer of HUD-code homes. Porter penned a pair of books on the subject and has written hundreds of articles for industry trade publications. He has presented to more than 10,000 professional installers in the U.S. and Japan. He is the national authority on manufactured home installation and participates in nearly all government programs concerning installation practices.

What do you view as the biggest accomplishment of your career?

Frost-free foundations were a big advance. Introducing setup crews to OSHA regs probably save a lot of lives and limbs but maybe the biggest advancement for the industry is that the quality of installations nationwide has been raised and there are now rules. This enables conscientious installer companies who want to do a proper job to not have to compete with a shoddy cheaper local bunch that don’t know and don’t care about what is right. It still happens sometimes, but the remedy exists in the standards and most of the governments around the country are using it to the great advantage of the industry as a whole.

What work or life skill do you give the most credit for your achievements?

Somehow I had the good fortune to find my niche. When strangers ask me what I do I sometimes tell them I am an interpreter... I translate engineering language into installer language. I have managed to convey information with demonstrations and videos to both engineers and installers about what each needs to do their job. There seems to be a dialogue between many of them now and that is a very good thing. Teaching and explaining these homes to people has been a real pleasure for me all these years. I hope the students enjoyed it a bit too.

MHINSIDER INFLUENCER AWARD WINNER

Ed Evans is the managing partner of EPM, owning and running manufactured home communities, having started his first property in 1970. He has been a partner or owner of 10 communities and runs a home retail center. Evans was inducted into the RV/MH Hall of Fame in 2014. He has served on the board of WMA, founded the Manufactured Housing Educational Trust, and helped organize the California Manufactured Housing Institute.

What do you view as the biggest accomplishment of your career?

When I started in the business, I had built some apartments and I didn’t like having to deal with lost keys and garbage disposals, so I looked at mobile home parks and thought it was a great idea. I came in with my partner Don McCalla, and decided we should build a mobile home park but we didn’t like the way they were built. If you asked the city, their opinion was that mobile home park should only be on the edge of town next to a landfill or something. We wanted to do it better and crossed the state of California two or three times figuring out how to do it better. I think we accomplished that over a period of years. At Lake Park Santa Ana North, for example, we turned the homes around to face a pedestrian mall we put in, put a berm on the back of the park, and put a fence up on it to hide the rear of the homes, we put in garages, put the homes on a foundation, convinced builders to reverse the floor plans in some cases so the orientation was right. From dropping with a crane to finishing the landscape for the new owner it took us 21 days, beginning to end. We did a lot of unconventional things that are more common today. At the time the mantra was “build an elaborate clubhouse” and we put that same idea across the board rather than in one building. And we were always competitive, we priced everything really well. I mean, we never had anyone thank us for cheap rent, but I think we were successful.

What work or life skill do you give the most credit for your achievements?

The effort put into the organizations like WMA and CMHI. It’s the involvement and encouragement I put into people getting engaged and working at the capital. I did have people ask me at times if I was a lobbyist. They certainly saw a lot of me, there were many, many trips to Sacramento.

Bruce Savage MHINSIDER LEGACY AWARD WINNER

Bruce Savage began his career at MHI seizing on the opportunity to modernize the logo and re-design all print materials. He was dedicated to the goal of improving the perception of modern manufactured homes and recognized that an updated logo and well-designed materials would reflect the industry’s evolution and ability to respond to consumers’ changing preferences in housing. The brand identity Savage developed for MHI lives on today, and continues to have a contemporary feel.

As head of MHI’s public relations and communications department, Savage advanced unique programs to showcase the industry and its homes. The Urban Design Project built the first HUD Code manufactured home in the District of Columbia, demonstrating the viability of manufactured homes in urban settings. The home was visited by staff of local government, regulatory agencies, and by members of Congress. The successful project was duplicated in several cities across the U.S.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Savage led the development of comprehensive resources to promote the use of manufactured and modular homes for MHI’s Gulf Coast Housing Initiative conference that attracted nearly 1,000 attendees.

During his career, Savage supervised the launch of Modern Homes magazine, MHI’s four-color, bi-monthly magazine that promoted modern manufactured and modular homes and spotlighted industry leaders, innovations, and current legislative and regulatory issues. He created media relations and crisis communication training for the industry that was utilized on both the national and state levels. He facilitated focus groups to uncover information on consumer attitudes, experiences, and beliefs about manufactured homes. Savage began MHI’s annual industry awards program that recognizes excellence in all industry sectors including from its manufacturers, retailers, communities, lenders, and suppliers. One of Savage’s goals was to build a library of photo resources which enabled MHI to better represent the industry in print publications and other media. Those images are shared and used throughout the industry today.

Bruce was exceptionally dedicated to serving MHI’s members and meeting their needs for public relations and communications tools. For many years, Bruce worked cooperatively with MHI’s staff, members and state association executives to advance the industry’s goals and in the process developed lasting friendships. Sadly, Bruce passed away in January of 2021. He is greatly missed.

Special thanks to industry colleague Ann Parman for her contributions in memory of Bruce Savage.

MHINSIDER ADVOCACY AWARD WINNER

Dick Ernst has been in manufactured housing finance for 50 years and has owned his own business for the last 39 years, serving as president of Financial Marketing Associates, Inc., a consulting firm specializing in factory-built housing finance — both chattel and mortgage — as well as insurance and warranty products. He created a unique private conduit finance program through the Independent Community Bankers Association of America providing community banks access to competitive rates and terms for all types of manufactured housing loan products.

What do you view as the biggest accomplishment of your career?

In 2016, I developed a topic and was successful in getting a panel together in Las Vegas at MHI’s Congress and Expo, it was all top executives in the industry at the time. I had a series of photos of HUD Code homes of all styles, Cape Cod; Southwestern Stucco, a traditional ranch style ranch home, all homes that you see constructed by site builders. I talked about The Louisville Show, and the amazing interiors of all the homes; recessed lighting, drywall throughout; stainless steel appliances; farmhouse-style sinks, walk-in shower … but when I went outside and turned around, I was still looking at a manufactured home. The industry had really done a wonderful job on the inside of the homes but had done very little on the outside! As you can imagine this opened up a wonderful exchange of thoughts and ideas! That discussion led to MHI appointing a Steering Committee of Manufacturers, the hiring of a housing consultant, and a focus group with studies showing that 47 percent would be favorably inclined to purchase the style of home we were showing — a market share five times of what we have. I was hired by Freddie Mac to work with them on multiple programs, including their CHOICEHome program, providing the same financing site-built homes would have. So, my greatest accomplishment is being involved in the early stages of what is now the “CrossMod” home.

What work or life skill do you give the most credit for your achievements?

I told someone once about the consulting business that you have to reinvent yourself every six months. I have studied the changes in the regulatory environment so I could provide sound advice and guidance. I have a high level of confidence and I am not someone who gives up easily. I think those traits have helped me tremendously!

Darryl Searer MHINSIDER LEADERSHIP AWARD WINNER

A longtime promoter of the RV industry, Searer served more than 20 years on the RVIA Public Relations Committee, as President of the RV Aftermarket Association, member of the Go RVing Coalition and board member of the RV/MH Hall of Fame. He took over leadership of the hall at a time when industry was down and the nonprofit was in deep debt. Through his vision and leadership during the past 10 years the Hall has paid off its debt, expanded operations, including a new 21,000 square-foot MH Museum and is in the final stages of a fund raising campaign for a new 36,000 square foot convention center.

What do you view as the biggest accomplishment of your career?

It started almost 60 years when I married the right person! She has been a friend and supporter throughout our entire marriage. In addition to that, I am most proud of providing the leadership at the Hall of Fame and seeing the MH & RV industries step up and support the vision of the future that we established in 2016. The Hall would not be the “shining star” of both MH & RV without the support of the board of directors, staff, and all segments of both industries. It has been very rewarding to give back, as a volunteer, to the industries that have been good to me and my family over the years.

What work or life skill do you give the most credit for your achievements? I grew up in a family without much money so I had to buy used items, like bicycles, and then fix them and make them like new. I was the first of my family to attend college at IU South Bend and took business courses. I then become involved with a company out of Texas called Success Motivation for another two years. The skills I learned there are the ones I have used the most in my life, in all six important areas of life.

He started in 1967 with one park and now operates Stardust Hills, a manufactured home community with potential for over 1500 lots. For more than fifty years, Don Gedert has owned and operated manufactured home communities in Putnam County, Indiana. In 1985, he bought Stardust Hills out of bankruptcy in a partnership with 27 businessmen. The subdivision had less than 100 homes. Don bought out 25 of his partners in January 1990. His wife, Kay, refused to sell her shares. Prior to his work at Stardust Hills, Mr. Gedert owned and operated Ottawa Park in Greencastle, Indiana. Ottawa Park is a traditional mobile home park with individually owned homes and monthly lot rent. When the Gederts bought the mobile home park in 1967, it had 54 lots and monthly lot rent of $30 - $35. They developed the property to 150 lots with monthly lot rent of $100-$125 when they sold the business in 2003.

In Stardust Hills, homeowners own their deeded lots on recorded plats in the subdivision. Stardust currently has almost 400 occupied homes, among them some neighbors who have lived in the community since the 1980s and 1990s. Most were installed over the last thirty years, utilizing both single and multi-section manufactured homes. “The opportunity for people to put their own home on land they own is what makes Stardust Hills unique,” says Mr. Gedert. That has been the appeal for homeowners and the foundation for the ongoing growth and success of the community. As the neighborhood matured and demand for larger homes increased, Gedert created and sold packages of a modular home, lot, and attached garage, all included for one affordable payment.

With over fifty years in the housing industry, Mr. Gedert has experienced many market highs and lows. From interest rates of 21% to the housing bust of 2008, Gedert has persevered. To maintain the quality and home values of Stardust Hills, Gedert bought many distressed homes and rehabbed the properties. As a result, the homes in the subdivision are selling for record prices today. They compete well with site-built homes.

At 85 years old, Mr. Gedert is starting to consider retirement. Undeveloped sections of the subdivision are available for purchase. The subdivision could be purchased in its entirety when the right buyer comes along. “There’s a horse for every rider,” says Gedert, ever the salesman.

The waste-water collection system within the subdivision is maintained by the town. Capacity of the treatment plants operates at 97% efficiency on a daily basis and has additional capacity available for new development. The water system throughout, tapped into an underground lake, provides an abundance of water capacity that is also maintained by the town and also includes fire hydrants.

After installation, paved areas within fifty feet of the right of way are controlled and maintained by the town. The town receives state of Indiana road tax money that funds roadway maintenance.

An existing HOA provides 51 acres of common ground, maintenance for five lakes, a large clubhouse, pool, and playground area that is currently limited to the subdivision as platted. NEW development will have the discretion of joining with or abstaining from this current homeowners association.

This offers a unique opportunity to pursue the next growing sales program for the manufactured housing industry. By taking our base products, installing them on its unique lot and garnishing it with all kinds of options, this opportunity provides the buyer assurance to all the pieces of the pie for them and the potential lenders. These lenders offer twenty and thirty-year complete landhome financing. Located just thirty minutes west of Indianapolis International Airport, only forty-five minutes to a down-town Indy Colts game, and just south of Interstate 70 off of US 231, this opportunity offers easy access to other areas for work and play. And, Indiana is VERY conservative and one of the few states with cash in the bank.

Will have 233 individual lots with town water and sewer on the proposed road cuts already installed. This number could increase by platting what was to be a par 3 golf course. Converting eight (8) proposed fairways into building lots and a roadway, this parcel has 12 ready-tobuild lots that face Lazy Bones Way.

Drawn to have 190 individual lots with town water and sewer installed and road cuts, this area also features a variety of wooded areas and a limited number of lake-front lots (the largest lakes within Stardust Hills).

Has 176 acres and 535 proposed lots and three lakes to be built. Topography maps are available for this parcel and may be redrawn with large home sites, but fewer of them and is also zoned for single family homes.

Is 16 +/- acres that is drawn for 51 duplex, two-family homes. Could easily be gated and kept separate. Has water and sewer alongside road cuts.

This area could be rezoned commercial. It is on the south side of Stardust Road (County Road 925 South) and has Town of Cloverdale water and sewer available at the road. Included is a three office unit with ample gravel parking and show space. Up and running with water, sewer, and new heat pump unit.

Sam Karozos, Broker t 317.588.1340 c 317.371.0128 skarozos@bradleyco.com

www.bradleyco.com | www.horriganlandgroup.com