Richard A. "Dick" Jennison is having his first anniversary as MHI's (Manufactured Housing Institute) President and CEO (Chief Executive Officer). It was just before the 2012 Legislative session that Dick Jennison came on board and was introduced to members at that session.
The year has gone by quickly! Happy anniversary, Dick. Glad our industry hasn't scared you off. ;-)
It will be interesting to see the agenda for 2013, and see how Jennison's finger prints may have shaped it. MHEC members (Manufactured Housing Executive Committee, made up of state associations, some regional community associations and joined from time to time by M. Mark Weiss from MHARR) were encouraged last October in San Antonio to be an active part of the process of forming the MHI agenda for 2013.
Anyone in a leadership role such as Dick Jennison's will have an array of supporters, detractors and those in the flexible middle. We've noted:
-
strong words of praise for Dick, including from the rank and file and board/leaders,
-
some who while supportive, think he isn't going far enough fast enough,
-
a few who have taken shots (sometimes motivated by their own personal agendas), but mostly
-
the large 'wait and see' group that is prepared to support Jennison from that middle ground.
Dick Jennison and his associates have accomplished meetings with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) – including hard to get private discussions with the CFPB's top man, Richard Cordray – which have yielded some good results.
But there is clearly much more to do. Those following the often tortuous efforts and progress know that a big challenge for regulatory relief is the current dynamics of the nation's capital itself.
DC Gridlock
The challenge, or course, for any trade association that doesn't have immensely deep pockets is the gridlock in Washington, the District of Columbia (DC).
The fact that legal challenges are in play questioning the validity of Richard Cordray's appointment, some states challenging the constitutionality of the CFPB itself and the wide partisan political divide are just some of the factors hampering progress on issues of importance to manufactured housing.
That said, there still has to be a plan to make good things happen that are so needed for our Industry. Some potential positives:
-
There is a modest level of increased hope that MHARR and MHI will be working more positively together in 2013. Time will tell, but negative published missives from MHARR aimed at MHI have gone silent of late. This is part of the cause for hope in the two groups working more closely and positively together.
-
That more 'united public' front is important, because regulators have told me privately that the public rancor harms our Industry in the halls of DC.
-
Another set of rock throwers have gone mostly silent in the last two weeks as well.
-
The bullets above may be encouraging internal industry signs, certainly worth tracking. We should consider closely the comments from those who will be addressing the attendees of the MHI Legislative Session which will begin this Sunday afternoon through Tuesday evening to see what the signals are from members of Congress.
Beyond Dood-Frank/SAFE/CFPB, GSE reform, the all but forgotten (in DC…) Duty to Serve (DTS, part of HERA 2008) or other regulatory issues (HUD, DOE, etc.) my personal (professional) view is that our Industry must play better at both offense (expand our market and our impact) and defense.
Some examples beyond the norm discussed.
-
Find ways to further enhance the potential strengths given us by the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000 (MHIA 2000).
-
Have MHI work with MHARR on topics such as the removable chassis, and other technical advances possible. For example, factory builders tell me that the AC letter (Alternative Construction) process with HUD is too cumbersome and slow at present. It ought to be stream lined so HUD Code builders can take advantage of all the ways factory building could save consumers money while delivering a safe, strong and appealing option for the public.
-
The fire sprinkler issue. I'm working with a community being forced to install them, to the tune of thousands of dollars each, by a local jurisdiction. What happened to federal pre-emption and our great fire safety record? (See the HUD letter downloadable at this link.)
-
Craft a position paper to map out a path allowing factory home builders, retailers, developers and MH Communities to tap into over 30 billion dollars in federal programs that we are virtually left out of today. Doing so could increase our industry's sales while decreasing over time the federal budget, creating more American jobs and freeing people from poverty in the process. This concept was inspired by some industry members and the potential is outlined in our exclusive Industry in Focus report linked here. What we see are a number of potential 'mutual wins' we need to champion in DC and/or with local officials! This should become an integral part of the agenda for MHI, MHEC members and MHARR. A handful of association executives have already told us privately that they see merit to this concept, and that it should be pursued.
-
We as industry professionals must align ourselves more with our community residents and home owners. This isn't just 'pie in the sky,' because we have seen this done (for example, I've done this with some clients I've worked with) by some MHC owner operators and more ought to be developing and executing that plan. We can't view our customer base as an enemy or something to be feared. With some 20,000,000 owners and residents, we could establish a voting block that would provide us with an impact far greater than our PAC dollars alone can muster. More on this in the days ahead.
-
Our Industry must develop and encourage a culture of best practices professionalism! We must develop our owners, managers, leaders, plus rank and file members for the next generation! Reading helps, which is why we provide so much content from a variety of industry pros and sources here. But live training and personal development must be a part of it too. Please see this article here on the topic of Corporate Culture.
Learning to Grow Sales at the Big Event!
Yes, the Tunica Show is one of our sponsors, but let's be clear that this was a super event that I personally attended even before it became of client of ours here at MHProNews. What makes the Tunica Show in 2013 even more special than in years gone by are specific business and profit building opportunities you won't find anywhere else in the U.S. in March! We had over 2,000 MH Industry pros go to Tunica in 2012. Will we see the same kind of bounce in Tunica that we saw in Louisville this past January?
Come and see!
Tunica is the largest trade show display of factory built homes anywhere in the world to date this year. Certainly Southern and Midwestern retailers, communities and builder/developers ought to be there. I would not be surprised to see pros from coast to coast come. In fact, our international readers who are thinking about investing in factory built housing ought to contact Dennis Hill's office to get credentials to come too.
Better Together
Until my experience in WI about 8 years ago with their very fine state association, I recall my overall skepticism about associations in general. I'd been at association meetings in a couple of other states. They struck me as 'ok.'
Then, the Wisconsin Housing Alliance wowed me.
About those other associations. Maybe it was me…because the first time I read Dale Carnegie's classic, How to Win Friends and Influence People, I confess being unable to finish but the first chapter or two. I hated it. But later, I picked Carnegie's book back up again and devoured it. What changed?
Me and my attitude.
To borrow ROC USA's fine tag line, we are "Better Together." Those pros who have been deeply engaged for years in associations understand the value. Some MH Pros invested their personal time, talent and treasure so that others can advance in this great industry too.
But there are far too many professionals who are not involved in associations.
We need solid industry trade journalism, which we strive to provide every business day here at MHProNews. But we also need those fine state, regional and national associations, and those associations need you to be part of the solution that advances your cause and that of the Industry at large.
We truly are better together.
Learn one example of that reality at the Tunica Show in March, which is made possible by the South Central Manufactured Housing (SCMHI), a multi-state association event. These events provide amazing networking, business building opportunities where you can compare products and services side by side all in the same place. Amazing!
I'll be there, I hope you will be there too. Our booth is number 9 in the Hallway, right by the room where the Business Building Seminars will be taking place. See the updated Show line up at the link above!
I hope to see you in DC and in Tunica. ##
PS: Check our many Exclusive and Red Hot Featured Articles for February and see the
other new stories at MHLivingNews.com too.
L. A. "Tony" Kovach
MHLivingNews.com=Re-Discovering and Spotlighting the MHLifeStyle
MHProNews.com = MHMSM.com = Industry News, Tips and Views Pros can Use
Services:B2BandB2CAds, Proven MH Marketing & Sales Systems, Websites other Industry Solutions.
Office –815-270-0500
latonyk@gmail.com or tony@mhmsm.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/latonykovach= connect with me on Linkedin.
http://pinterest.com/latonyk/manufactured-home-lifestyle/
+++
Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't, you're right. – Henry Ford
