Obviously businesses tend to start little and when successful, they grow. Regrettably, some little things can become big things, as when the proverbial mole hill is made into a mountain.
I was listening to comments from someone Danny Ghorbani, President of the Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform or MHARR, talks with. According to this source, Danny is convinced that Lois Starkey at MHI deliberately torpedoed the non-career administrator appointment effort that MHARR and MHI agreed to work together on. Was this one of the “reasons” for the broadside on HUD and MHI in Danny's latest MHARR missive?
What do you think?
What was a bit funny, was that as this person was about to tell me why Danny was mad, I (sorry, but true) interrupted the called, and told him what I thought Danny said. “Hey, you're right. How did you know that, Tony?” Answer. Your Masthead commentator asks questions, then reads or listens. We've heard this same complaint – allegedly made by Danny – time and again since last summer, so it was no surprise to hear it again.
I happen to think that Danny is a very intelligent fellow, knows tons about the HUD Code and has expertise in many areas; although word has it (from multiple sources) that the MHARR CEO doesn't think so much about moi. No worries, we're still a pretty free country!
But let's think, can we all learn to get past some harms – real or perceived – encountered in our life? In fact, isn't letting go of some past whatever absolutely necessary for a civil society, for families and for any organization that wants to succeed?
“If we practice an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth,
soon the whole world will be blind and toothless.”
Mahatma Gandhi
Now perhaps to some, there is a big difference between a career or non-career administrator to be in the manufactured housing program role at HUD. Let's say for the moment, for discussions sake that this really is a bigger deal than first meets the eye. Even if so, is that sufficient reason to later blind side MHI, the organization you are “working with?”
Mahatma Ghandi would answer that with a “no.” Ghandi succeed in getting the Brits out as the de facto rulers of India, peacefully. I'm not saying that we all go sing kumbaya, we also believe in accountability! But an eye for an eye, let's get even? Nope.
Let me whisper the open secret that, IMHO, ought to be a wake up call for a certain someone on MHARR's staff. Your members need the companies that are in MHI. Can't survive without them. Your members need HR 1779 and S 1828 to pass. Undercutting the good efforts of MHI in public, is like shooting your own members in the foot.
That said, there are some equally powerful reverse truths. The suppliers in MHI need MHARR's business too. The Louisville Show would never have come back without MHARR members. The Tunica Show Chairman is a MHARR member.
MHARR official positions are often right from a broad industry perspective, even if someone makes that periodic mistake on public tactics.
The point is, we are too small an industry to publicly spit ball one another. Frankly, I'm glad MHI 'turned the other cheek' and didn't respond officially to Danny's questionable public and written outburst.
Jumping to Conclusions
The other thing I've seen happen – all to often – in our industry is people who jump to conclusions. What happened to asking questions? Let's say, you suspect something. Why not ask questions, before making an accusation?
Speaking for myself, by doing so – asking questions vs. making accusations – there are times when what was suspected was simply not the case at all.
FYI, there are plenty of examples well beyond Danny, he just happens to have made himself via his release a recent topic of conversation. We routinely work well with good folks inside MHARR, those in MHI and those aligned with no groups or associations at all.
Florida's respected state executive, Jim Ayotte, made a solid case last summer for being united in our efforts.
Let's try to get along, because we will all get further, faster working together than working at odds with one another. That's the a big lesson learned from Louisville! We hope it will be the lesson this year in Tunica too, and well beyond.
Cautious Optimism
We are pumped about the possibilities for our industry's future. Clearly, there are challenges. A number of top flight pros (whose names you'd know) told me privately that this year could see a swing of 20% DOWN or 20% UP in new manufactured home sales. The wild card? Among them, four letters. CFPB.
Given the CFPB regs, there are those who think we will LOSE lower end sales – thanks so much Richard Cordray – and home owners with low priced homes will suffer as a result. Cordray's regs makes low balance loans too risky and costly to make. Its simple math.
In spite of that, the reason some are 'cautiously optimistic' is because we have an opportunity due to the economic malaise, rising rents and other factors to GROW our upper end sales.
Please come to the Tunica Show Seminars and see why we are among those who believe that we can grow more than 20% this year. And yes, we very much agree that we still need to get the CFPB regs changed. We would grow much more if the CFPB modifies the regs as needed, or if Congress passes HR 1779 and S 1828.
Enough said, on to the next topic.
Fabulous February!
We can't tell you how utterly motivated we are about this February issue of MHProNews.com!
First, we have the STRONGEST line up of Featured Writers in our industry, period, end of story. Just compare! That's one of many reasons we are the most read, largest and still rapidly growing trade media platform in our industry's history. We are bring you an amazingly insightful, cogent and useful line up of featured articles by a range of industry experts, pros and guest writers!
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Next, we have the first and only “A Cup of Coffee with…Nathan Smith” exclusive interview, and this is a DOUBLE first, because this interview is mostly by video!
Then, we have lots of post Louisville Show, pre-Tunica Manufactured Home Show and pre-MHI Congress and Expo commentary. Don't miss a word of it. Also, don't miss those upcoming events! We will do both, just as we did Louisville.
Here is our stellar line up of Featured Articles, from and for the rank and file on up to the C-Suite! Thanks as always for being here, and your feedback is welcome and encouraged.
Featured Articles and Reports for Vol. 5, No. 5, 2014
Alphabetically by Category
COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT & FAIR HOUSING (LEGAL)
• Things Your Lawyer Should Do For Free
by Robert Coldren, JD
Manufactured home community owners face many legal challenges. In all states, regulations can take quite a toll on typical community owners operations.
• Aimee and Belle
by Nadeen Green, JD
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You may have been following the story of Aimee Copeland, an amazing young woman who first garnered national attention in May of 2012 when she fell from a zip line into a North Georgia river.
•Promoting Your Community: Design a Calendar
by Chrissy Jackson, ACM
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Calendars can be used for a wide variety of purposes, and the topic this month may be different than you think!
• The Story of Colonial Heights
by Terri Lynn Prokorym
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Colonial Heights is beautiful, newly renovated manufactured home community located in Wintersville, Ohio. The community is set in a quiet and peaceful environment yet just minutes from schools, shopping plazas and major attractions.
• ROCs: The Resident Point of View on Buying their Manufactured Home Community or Park
by Deane Sargent
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Tony asked me to write another article on resident park ownership. What he suggested, however, was the viewpoint from the residents – why they want to do it, what they expect, and what model they might choose – a Limited Equity Cooperative (LEC) (the ROCUSA model) or a Mutual Benefit Corporation (MBC).
• Manufactured Home Community Project Focus Series, Andover at Grass Lakes
by Don Westphal
For nearly fifty years, our firm has been preparing plans for land development projects of all types, but primarily in the field of residential community design.
GENERAL MANUFACTURED HOUSING INDUSTRY TOPICS
• The 2014 Tunica Manufactured Housing Show March 26 – 28, 2014
by Keith Bennett
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Some things improve with age, and one of those is The Tunica Show. Now well into its 2nd decade, it has prospered during good times and difficult times. It becomes extremely important for all of us in the industry to stick together and lend support.
• Louisville 2014 From the Eyes of an Industry “Newbie”
by James Cook
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After seeing three Louisville shows pass by without attending one since entering the Manufactured Home Industry, I thought it might be interesting to finally go.
• Pulling It All Together For Manufactured Housing and Pros Like You – See more at:
by L. A. 'Tony' Kovach
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Since the first time I heard Ron Thomas, Sr. talk about the Manufactured Housing being a “Phenomenon,” it was a powerful insight for me which I've repeatedly shared with others.
• Shopping with Soheyla! America's Kids Have Talent, plus More!
by Soheyla Kovach
Are you a parent? Love your child or children? Of course you do! So you know first hand that our children have talent! Have you ever dressed your child 'to the 9s' and showcased their talent at work? Don't just think about it – do it!
• 2014 National Congress & Expo for Manufactured and Modular Housing April 29 – May 1, 2014: Creating Opportunities – Building Success
by MHI Staff
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You won’t want to miss the 2014 National Congress & Expo for Manufactured and Modular Housing to be held on April 29 – May 1, 2014 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada.
• The 2014 Louisville Manufactured Housing Show recap, a Community Owner's Perspective
by Rick Rand
For the 2,260+ professionals who braved the winter weather conditions in the Midwest and made it to Louisville, the trip was certainly worth the effort! I do not think that this year’s Show left anyone disappointed.
• A Cup of Coffee with…Nathan Smith
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1) Who, What and Where: (Your name, formal title with SSK Communities and at the MHI and where you are based).
Nathan Smith, Partner, SSK Communities, Erlanger KY.
2) Background: (Educational/Professional snapshot before entering the factory-built housing arena.).
MANAGEMENT
• What Kind of Manager Are You? Employee mistakes, errors and failures.
by Tim Connor
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What are your attitudes and/or responses when an employee makes a mistake or fails at some activity or project? Here are some of the choices. You can:
MARKETING
• Why You Still Need A Website – Back To Basics
by Joe Karns
In today's social-media-rich world we all live in, you may be asking, "Why do I even need a company website anymore since I'm doing everything to drive traffic to my social media pages to try and build a community there?
• Louisville, Tunica and the Future of Manufactured Housing Marketing and Sales
by Jason Brady
If you are one of the thousands of individuals who didn't let the worst winter in 20 years keep you from going to the 2014 Louisville Show, then you were in for a huge treat!
PERSONAL REFLECTIONS, MOTIVATION and INSPIRATION
• ZigOn Vision
by Zig Ziglar
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In a major university a professor of economics gave a test to his class. The test had several sections of questions, each of which contained three categories. He instructed the students to choose one question from each section.
SALES
• Are honesty and integrity your mantra?
by Tim Connor, CSP
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Too many salespeople today will say or promise anything just to close another deal. Not only do these people cause them to eventually to lose the trust and respect of their clients, they also contribute to the overall general perception that prospects, customer and consumers have of the sales profession in general.
L. A. 'Tony' Kovach
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