Cedar Rapids II: 24 Hours Well Spent

While thankfully not as wild and dramatic as the movie Cedar Rapids, Iowa MHA Executive Director Joe Kelly and President Troy Hames, III, put on an educational and entertaining meeting this past week.

Mr. Chad Carr of Rainmaker Software gave an excellent presentation on business management and practices. Employee management, finance, and marketing were all covered in this concise presentation targeted to the small business manager audience.

In addition, the classic radio-voiced Mr. Kelly persuaded www.MHProNews.com & MHC-MD.com executive L. A. “Tony” Kovach to present on marketing as well as sales, and also use to Tony's extensive industry network of friends and bring in Mr. Quentin Fogan from Merrill Lynch/ Bank of America and Mr. Mike Polencheck from Towles Financial to give all an excellent update on financing options for community owners/buyers. They discussed typical loan terms and qualifying for different types of communities, as well as options available based on loan sizes. How park owned homes affect financing options was one of many areas addressed in detail.

Iowa’s own Joanne Stevens, one of the industry’s most well-known community specialist real estate brokers, educated all with the best presentation on the community price premium associated with public vs. private utility systems that I’ve ever heard.

The entire membership was hospitable enough to laugh at the series of “entertaining” pictures associated with crazy events that have happened in communities over the years that I’ve collected.

These active and hospitable Iowans were a pleasure to be around. The 24 hours spent at the Iowa Manufactured Housing Association's 65^th Annual Event were a great investment of time. I sincerely thank Joe, Troy and the entire membership for the invitation to participate. ##

Post by
Kurt Kelly
Mobile Agency