Manufactured Home Community (MHC) owner, Hall of Famer and MMHF Chairman Ron Thomas Sr. says there is a hunger in the ranks of MHPros for knowledge. Over two thousand attendees of the Louisville Manufactured Housing Show in 2014 must agree. The pre-registrations for the 2015 Show are running ahead of last year’s post 2010 record numbers, so cold weather is not slowing the pace.
While retailers, builder/developers or installers have plenty to see and do, those in the MHC world who are within a day’s drive or flight of Louisville, KY, will have their own special presentation on how to get the job in MHCs profitably done.
Last year it was Standing Room Only (SRO) at most of the Business Building Seminars at the 2014 Louisville Show. The Lessons Learned in Manufactured Home Communities was one of those packed-room sessions.
Award-winning Ross Kinzler will once again be the moderator for a panel that features the following MHC veterans, who span the gamut from “mom and pop” to a big publicly traded company, ROCs, fee management and more.
Bob Van Schuyver – UMH Properties. Bob’s experiences in MH include years of successful MH street retailing as well more recent years in management at UMH, which is one of the fastest growing companies in the MHC sector.
Maria Horton – Newport Pacific Family of Companies. Newport Pacific owns and fee manages manufactured home communities, has a stand alone company, Cirus Development and does unique near-net-zero super-energy saving factory built homes and more.
Mary O’Hara – ROC USA. ROC USA is a clear leader in the resident owned community space, and had a record year in 2014. A recent ROC conversion story, is linked here.
Tammy Fonk – now with CBRE, but who began her MH career at the family MH retail center 
and well run MHCommunity.
Expect a brief opening statement from each member of this all-star panel, with questions from Ross or audience attendees and discussion by the pros you see here. The audience interaction last year was tremendous, so expect that again next week! See date/time, linked here.
Program Change
Ever want to ask questions or meet with some MH Industry Leaders? The first program on Wednesday has morphed into a series of leader comments to Louisville Show attendees. See the revised first session line up, linked here.
Finance Panels – Communities and Home Lending, including the new 2015 appraisal rule discussion link here!
Growing your Marketing and Sales Results
L. A. “Tony” Kovach will be doing presentations on proven ways to improve marketing and sales at street retail or land lease communities. Dwayne Somerville will be speaking on his experience using these systems, see that story, linked here. The presentations and profitable business building topics, are linked here. For insights about what others say about Tony’s work in these arenas and his live business building presentations, plesae click here.
The 2015 video season will soon begin…
The Kovach family, including young Tamas who at age 8 is billed as the MH Industry’s youngest exhibitor, and the MHProNews videographer will be at the seminars, booth #115 or on the show floor.
In the videos from the 2014 Louisville Show, it is worth noting the common comments from attendess that you boost your chances for success by beginning your year at this, the best attended manufactured housing trade show. The latest long range forecast is for highs in the 40s or upper 30s, with no snow. But as show veterans know, it is a good idea to plan to spend Tuesday and Wednesday nights at Louisville, so you can catch all of the seminars, exhibits and homes on display.
Most MH professionals can attend the trade show – which is not open to the public – free with a business card and photo ID, click here for those details. The Louisville Manufactured Home Show website is linked here. ##
(Photo credits: MHProNews)
