Arlington, Va., October 8, 2013 — Four members of the manufactured housing industry were honored for outstanding service during the 2013 MHI Annual Meeting, held on September 29 – October 1, 2013 in Carlsbad, CA.
David Tompos, President and CEO of NTA, Inc. received the Frank Walter Standards Award which is selected by the MHI Technical Activities Committee. Tompos began his career in the testing laboratory of his company after earning a degree in computer and electrical engineering. This is where he gained his thorough understanding of manufactured housing testing procedures and in-plant quality control. One of his major contributions during this time was pioneering the development of the industry’s first electronic plan review software. This advanced software revolutionized the process of third party design review by eliminating the delay in the traditional mail process and by saving manufacturers considerable time and money.
Tompos is also a member of the Manufactured Housing Consensus Committee and chair of the Technical Structure and Design subcommittee. He holds ICC certifications for commercial and residential inspection for all disciplines. As a LEED Accredited Professional of Building Design and Construction, he holds extensive knowledge of green building practices and energy efficient design. He also maintains his status as an SBRA Certified Green Verifier. For his company, he has the responsibility for the overall strategic vision and direction of the company and is heavily engaged in government relations activities, including involvement with HUD and state agencies.
Leonard “Lenny” Kopowski, Director of Government Affairs, LMHA, was honored with the Jim Moore Excellence in Communications Award presented by the Manufactured Housing Executives Council (MHEC) for his three step, aggressive “outside the box” public relations campaign geared towards confronting decision maker’s and public official’s negative views of our industry. Public officials were the target of the campaign because it was believed that land use issues are the industry’s biggest problem in the future.
The first step in the campaign was an endowment to the University of New Orleans Department of Urban and Regional Planning which produces a majority of the students that eventually become City Planning Directors or Land Use Consultants that write the codes that regulate manufactured housing in the state. That effort has made a significant difference in positively influencing students before they become professionals.
The second step was a video project called “Planning for Vibrant Communities.” “Planning for Vibrant Communities” has resonated very well with the intended audience. It has softened some of the sensitive issues surrounding land use regulations for manufactured housing and created needed change. To view the video, search on YouTube for “LMHA Zoning Final.”
The third effort is a Geographic Information System (GIS) Map which will detail the location of all manufactured homeowners in the state. This work will visually demonstrate to local government the impact the industry has in their communities.
D. J. Pendleton, Executive Director of the Texas Manufactured Housing Association was presented with the State Association Executive of the Year Award which is a peer award selected by the state association executive directors. Pendleton was awarded for achieving success for the industry in the regulation of modular homes in his state, limiting the regulatory agency over modular homes ability to inspect a home for any violation to the second anniversary of its initial inspection; drafting legislation that passed through the state legislature to create a system to remove all property tax liens that are four years or older from the title records of used homes; and the association’s newsletter that provides an in depth analysis on complex new federal regulations impacting the industry.
In addition, Pendleton has played an active role in MHI on Dodd-Frank issues by serving on the MHI Dodd-Frank Task Force and has submitted on behalf of his members eight comment letters on various proposed rules issued in the last 12 months by the CFPB.
The MHI Chairman’s Award was presented to Joe Stegmayer, Chairman and CEO of Cavco Industries, Inc. Stegmayer was awarded for giving tirelessly to the association during the past three years and his support to MHI and the states in which he is actively doing business gaining support for H.R. 1779. He has personally reached out to members of Congress, has arranged for meetings with Congressional offices, and has either personally attended those meetings or sent representatives from his company to those meetings.
As a member of the MHI Executive Committee, he has been extremely engaged in the management and direction of MHI in the past year.
Stegmayer is tireless in his promotion of the industry. He has showcased the industry’s homes during interviews with CBS evening news, CNBC, MSNBC and other television programs. His company has been featured in the national press including Forbes, Barron’s, Fortune and Dwell magazines and the television show Extreme Makeover Home Edition. All of this publicity contributes to improving the image and understanding of our industry.
The Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) is the preeminent national trade association for the manufactured and modular housing industries, representing all segments of the industries before Congress and the Federal government. From its Washington, D.C. area headquarters, MHI actively works to promote fair laws and regulation for the manufactured and modular housing industries, as well as all MHI members.
