Manufactured housing is bigger than any one of us who are in it, but relatively small compared to so many other industries. Outreaches and Inreaches are thus essential for our industry to accomplish its political, media, regulatory, public, marketing, sales and other goals. Let's look at (1) Outreaches, (2) Inreaches and peace talks.
Outreach
At both of the congressional 'field hearings' held on manufactured housing issues see link and link, opponents of manufactured housing industry interests appeared. These were aligned and/or directly connected with the National Manufactured Home Owners Association (MHOAA), led by their hard working executive director, Ishbel Dickens.
Having failed mind reading, it is not my purpose to question Ms. Dickens' sincerity or desire to somehow benefit manufactured home owners. But there is a practical question that we can ask. Does some of Dickens' and her followers attempts at leadership in fact harm the very constituency she seeks to represent?
There are efforts at play among various industry leaders to work with groups like Dickens' led MHOAA. The efforts are worthy ones, as the industry and groups like these indeed need to work together.
That said, as pro-industry trade publishers, we see another path that we can uniquely take, a parallel path to association efforts. Let's call it analysis and accountability.
Whenever Dickens or those aligned with her take positions that are at odds with the interests of manufactured home owners and professionals, MHProNews intends to showcase that just as we do the questionable or bad acts of industry professionals.
Examples of both are linked below.
The Canadians are right. Rent control rapidly harms the interests of those who provide affordable housing and residents who benefit from affordable housing. Is that what Dicken's wants? Does she want to see more manufactured home communities closed and turned into some other use, because it may be the perceived 'only way' for owners to generate the reasonable returns they seek on their property?
The Canadian TV news report ought to be required viewing for Dickens, MHOAA, MHPros, the U.S. media and public officials. If you've not seen it, please do and share the link with others.
Inreaches
A pithy, impassioned commentary came in from Fleetwood management veteran and Georgia Manufactured Housing Association (GMHA) executive director Jay Hamilton, excerpts of which follow, calling for a vigorous outreach that begins with inreach.
"We are an industry that for years has desired the best for our industry representatives, our customers and our distribution system but for all these years have been hesitant to:
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invest financially in training our people,
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marketing our product's image,
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updating our technology,
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improving our delivery system, etc…
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"…We are an industry that has the need for all of our profits to be immediate. Future growth and maturation always loses out to the need for immediate results and immediate profits.
"Until we are willing to train our people well, invest in technology, invest in customer service, invest $ in creating a brand image with the understanding that it will cost a percentage of our industry profits and will not necessarily produce immediate results we are doomed to keep repeating our same mistakes over and over."
Ladies and gents, Jay hits nails on their heads. We need more professionalism among our ranks, coupled with image building. See Jay's thoughts above in full context here:
Let me voice one nuanced difference with Jay. We know from experience that properly investing in training and image building can provide rapid, profitable results. But different people learn at different paces, so Jay is correct in saying you can't count on an 'instant' return on the training investment. As with all learning, training routinely takes some time.
Peace. Talks.
There are 'peace talks' needed within and without manufactured housing. We need to:
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connect better with each other, within our industry's ranks. Let associations and pros handle black-eye causing issues behind close doors as much as possible, and let the public view a vibrant, professional, united and motivated industry.
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Dust ourselves and each other off for past mistakes, while learning from and seeking to avoid future errors.
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To invest properly in our people, products and image, as Jay and other savvy pros realize.
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To follow the lead of leaders like UMH's Sam Landy, who understood before Jay wrote it what GMHA's exec said is smart business.
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That we are better off working together, as Jim Ayotte reminded us.
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That image building is what has made RVs 5x the sales volume of MH, as Leigh Abrams' success record reminds us in his linked, exclusive interview.
Peace is not the absence of conflict. Peace is not “keep your friends close and your enemies closer.”
Peace flows from justice, mutual understanding and respect.
Accountability? Yes, respectful accountability for the consequences of one's actions and inactions.
We must learn from the past, and then use our best efforts to create a brighter future.
Manufactured Housing. Peace talks. ##
(Photo credit of Ishbel Dickens, SCMMHA. Photo credit of Sam Landy, REIT.com)
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L. A. 'Tony' Kovach
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