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The sooner
the better
WITH TRILOGY® SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT JEFF HINKLE For more than two decades, Jeff Hinkle has had a hand on the steering wheel of Trilogy®. After 15-plus years as the company’s Vice President of Community Development, Jeff was elevated to the role of Senior Vice President, with influence over both existing and upcoming communities. A general contractor by trade, Jeff is best known within the group for his incredible construction knowledge and, at times, for his biting wit. Working alongside Trilogy President Jeff McQueen, Jeff Hinkle has never been afraid to tell it like it is. We were pleased to catch up with Jeff on a Saturday morning, just hours before his beloved Oklahoma Sooners were set to take rival Oklahoma State Cowboys. He was kind enough to give us most of his attention. MTL: Jeff, there is a lot about you that people will find interesting, but I’m going to start with one of my favorite qualities you possess – you are qualified to build a home! Can you tell people a bit about yourself and your experience growing up in construction?
MTL: That’s a fun walk down memory lane. It leads to a question many people might have – what does “Community Development” do in a homebuilding company? And how has it changed over the years? JH: When I first started in the residential industry, everyone doing a version of what I wanted to do was called a “Land,” “VP of Land,” or a “Land Superintendent.” Land is one part of the equation, but to really make a community successful, there is so much more involved. Entitlements; community configuration; the marketing trail; amenities like golf courses and clubhouses; managing subcontractors; safety considerations; timing of work; the list goes on and on. “Community Development” is the job of ensuring all these pieces come together in a way that maximizes the experience for the future homebuyer while also meeting the financial returns expected by the landowner.
JH: I grew up mowing lawns. At 12 years old, I had two push mowers and one client. By the time I was in college, the business had grown to well over fifty homes, a farm, three banks, two cemeteries, and two apartment complexes. Mowing put me through school and, maybe more importantly, started me on the road to construction and ultimately homebuilding.
As for how it’s changed, we’ve gotten way better at taking sites from raw space to vibrant communities – and doing so in a way that respects the land and respects the environment.
MTL: That’s some impressive entrepreneurialism as a young person.
JH: We [Jeff Hinkle, division President Jeff McQueen, and Area President Hal Looney] started with Shea in 1999. John Shea – the fourth-generation company leader at the time – shared something that has stayed with us over the years. He said, “I want you guys to remember that my family’s name is on the door of every community we build.”
JH: I was raised to work hard, but I also had a taste for Oklahoma’s version of the finer things. I remember seeing a guy on a construction site wearing starched Wranglers with a starched dress shirt and sportscoat (and a pair of $1,000 boots), and that was all the inspiration I needed. I wanted to be him. White collar but not too far from blue
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collar. So, it was that mystery man – along with a little bit of early success working with my hands – that led me to study Construction Management at the University of Oklahoma.
MTL: A couple years ago, you oversaw the curation of Trilogy’s 20th anniversary celebration. Looking back over all those years, what stood out the most to you?
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