The Masthead

First Down!

joe — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 19:45:46 +0000

It is Super Bowl weekend, and so it is easy to think in terms of football analogies. In this past week, we had a vivid reminder of how important it is to get a “first down” in our lobbying efforts that yield a fresh set of 4 more downs to advance the ball so we can get more points on the board for our Industry. I'm talking about the latest Congressional hearings focused on Manufactured Housing. Thanks to the ongoing ground work by state associations, MHI and MHARR, there is steady progress being made in getting bi-partisan support for efforts to provide regulatory relief for our industry.

It is good to see the enhanced level of cooperation between the two national manufactured housing trade bodies, and while still imperfect, the good efforts on both sides deserves mention and encouragement by all of us.

The testimony and legislative efforts underway can only help our Industry. In these often difficult times, it is important to give that public pat on the back to all those involved who make such advances possible. You can stay informed of such matters with our Daily Business News briefs, but it is equally important to stay in touch via your state's association. They need your time, talent and treasure to do what is needed for your business and others.

When I look at a news article such as this recent effort in CA, that would require manufactured housing communities who want to sell to pay market rates for every home in the community, we have to realize that there is on way to understate the need for associations and their 'protect and promote' efforts.

To me, the 'competition' facing us in our Industry is more those outside of our ranks than between our ranks. Learning to keep our own businesses advancing while working with others through associations to protect and promote our mutual causes is just common sense.

Growing your Business Through Events

I've been given word that more business building seminars are planned for the Great Southwest Home Show coming up soon in Tulsa, OK. The idea is to something similar to what happened in Louisville that attracted and made hundreds of attendees their smile and walk away armed with information that can grow their business and profits.

Events take time and money on the part of everyone who participates. There is no question that 'free' attendance by a retailer, community, installer or developer at a show such as the Great Southwest Home Show (GSWHS) in Tulsa has a cost in time, meals, etc. But that investment of time and a little travel money can be more than recouped from the first additional sale that is made from what you can learn at the event! One man called me to say that the seminars at the Louisville Show made it “…the best show I've attended in my forty years in the business.” Wow! Now that's a powerful testimony. Not everyone has been in the Industry for 40 years, but many made similar calls, emails or sent a text to that similar effect.

The same can happen for you and others who attend the Great Southwest Home Show in Tulsa. We plan to be there, and we will provide you with updates on the specifics for the speakers and business building workshops that will be available. Never forget that the products and services you find at a trade show or event can also make you or save you money. The mixers and networking at such events can also yield an idea or insight that is worth many many times the cost of time and travel.

New Lending/Finance Opportunities

For those seeking new financing options or opportunities, I have advanced word that you will be able to learn about plans, programs and even companies that will be rolled out or that you may not have used or worked with previously that will be available in Tulsa's indoor Quik-Trip Center during the GSWHS.

Staying plugged into news, tips and views you can use here and by supporting associations and events, you can advance your own business and professional cause in 2012. The more you know, the more you can move the ball down the field, ppick up those first downs and score more. We will be in Tulsa for the Show, and we hope to see you there too. Please stop by our booth or come to a free, live business building workshop and say hi. # #

post by

L. A. “Tony” Kovach, MHM

www.MHProNews.com
www.MHMarketingSalesManagement.com or www.MHMSM.com
Innovation – Information – Inspiration for Industry Professionals

Office – 815-270-0500

latonyk@gmail.com or tony@mhmsm.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/latonykovach

Leap Year 2012

joe — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:37:24 +0000

February is here, it is leap year, and that means presidential election primary season. It is also time for our new February issue, and we have brought you another strong line up of topics from experts across the country.

It is always tempting for me to point out columns that may have particular importance to people in this or that segment of the Industry. I'm sorely tempted to do so again this issue!

Then it hits me…when our readers are looking carefully at each category and article, it really should be pretty self evident. Maybe I'll circle back during the month, because some of these seem particularly important, handy or time sensitive.

As always, my personal thanks to our feature writers, staff and to the sponsors and advertisers who make each issue a reality.

Without further ado, let's jump into the line up for the February 2012 issue!# #

Featured Articles and Reports for Vol. 3, No. 5, 2012

Alphabetically by Category

COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT & FAIR HOUSING (LEGAL)

• Fair Housing 2012 – The Two Most Important Words!

by Nadeen Green

I thought about holding a contest to see who might be able to come up with what I believe may be the two most important words for fair housing in 2012. But being generous of heart and spirit, I am simply going to tell you the two words, and then – not so simply, but still understandably, I hope – I will explain my rationale.

• Where to Build

by Eddie Hicks

To build or not to build. That's the question. To "take up arms against a sea of trouble." Perchance to "dream"? Is that the rub? Sorry, Bill. I had to take a little license with the gentle Bard's musings.

• Content Area of Guidelines for Living: Security and Protection through Storage

by Chrissy Jackson

In our last column, we covered Manufactured Home Community “Guidelines for Living” topics ranging from Refuse Removal through Rights of Management. This month, we will explore Security and Protection through Storage, so let's get started, shall we?

• Community Management: The $20,000 Dog

by Kurt Kelly, JD

It’s exciting. You just purchased a manufactured home community. It has fifty (50) sites, forty eight (48) of which are occupied by home owning tenants paying $300/month in rent. You were pleased to purchase it for $960,000, or $20,000 per site. And now that it’s time to begin managing the community, you discover three things.

FINANCING

• Manufactured Housing Financing Alert

by 'L. A.' Tony Kovach

With approaching half a year of increasing shipment levels, we are seeing what could be the start of an industry turn around. This is not the time that anyone wants to the lose momentum. We will take a quick snapshot of a real challenge, but also suggest some common sense steps that pro-active industry professionals should consider taking to mitigate the issue we will review.

• Six Ways to Make your Manufactured Home Loan a Smooth Transaction

by Dave Shanklin

Over the years, I have noted several helpful procedures that make our loan processing smoother. In the past I have written on this topic. Here are some new tips to help our industry.

GENERAL MANUFACTURED HOUSING INDUSTRY TOPICS

• Multiple Listing Service… It is all about the Listings

by Boe Davis

This is our second installment about how a Multiple Listing Service (MLS) functions and how it could help manufactured home sales throughout the country. In this article we will explore the type of listings which can be found on a MLS and their value to MLS participants.

• It's Show Time in Tulsa!

by Deanna Fields

March 1-2 will be here before you know it! Do you want access to more financing? Do you need new sources for inventory, services or just want to network with your peers? You can compare dozens of homes, products and services all indoors, all under one roof!

• When Emails Aren't Where They Should Be, Whitelist

by Joe Geller

Many of us have gone through the frustration of not receiving an email, even after we verify the sender has sent the email, and he or she has not received an email indicating the email was not delivered. Often, if the person who did not receive the email looks in their SPAM or JUNK folder, they will see the email in it, and are at a loss as to how it was diverted there.

• How Long Will an Anchor Last? Anchor Rust

by George Porter

Have you ever heard of anyone replacing anchors because they were worn out or not good anymore? I know I haven't and it worries me. Have you ever seen anchors and/or straps that were so rusty that you could not turn the slotted bolt or step on the strap without something coming apart?

MANAGEMENT

• It Is – What it Is

by Tim Connor, CSP

One of my daughter’s favorite lines is, it is what it is. Every time I hear that from her it makes me stop and think – why is she saying this to me again? What did I say that triggered her need to repeat this common phrase?

MARKETING

• The Tribe is Here

by Jeff Templeton

I try to listen and learn about marketing and business from as many experts as possible. I believe that their insights will make myself and those that I work with and for that much better. One of the best I heard lately, was a marketing professional that said, " what matters now are tribes."

• Model Homes…..or NOT Part 2

by Katy Weldon

Whether the term is model home or staged home, the definition is the same. It is the detailed and creative preparation of a house to be sold. If you missed the first article in this series, click here to read it now, so we can jump into this month's topic!

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS, MOTIVATION and INSPIRATION

• ZigOn Healthy Fear

by Zig Ziglar

In recent years, in manufactured housing and in other industries too, we've seen fear take a toll. There really is "healthy fear." For example, it's very healthy to fear drinking before you drive. However, fear should not be allowed to run rampant through our lives so that it becomes such a devastating factor that it produces failure.

SALES

• Sales Super Stars – Got any?

by Tim Connor, CSP

Creating a team of super-stars is manufactured housing – business to business or business to consumers – is not as difficult as many managers or trainers would have us believe. The reason – everyone wants to be successful and create a lifestyle of affluence, freedom and control over their destiny. So if your staff in general is not producing consistent stellar results, do you know why?

• What are you prepared to do?

by 'L. A. Tony Kovach'

As we have noted before, at the heart of any successful career or business, there are certain basics or fundamentals. Being on the Cutting Edge of marketing or sales begins with those fundamentals! You or I could have the smoothest marketing process, but if we are not prepared to do what it takes handle the marketing properly, we fail to tap the true potential of our investments.

post by

L. A. “Tony” Kovach, MHM

www.MHProNews.com
www.MHMarketingSalesManagement.com or www.MHMSM.com
Innovation – Information – Inspiration for Industry Professionals

Office – 815-270-0500

latonyk@gmail.com or tony@mhmsm.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/latonykovach

Fan Mail and the Ego

joe — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 19:45:53 +0000

It is Thursday, 3:10 AM. I was just looking at a nice message from a client of ours. We get x amount of 'fan' calls, messages and emails. The mail brought a letter from another client, gee, very nice, thank you. While all that is good, we as a team have to remind each other, to keep our egos in check. The ego is a necessary component for drive, but an out of control ego can cripple a person, department, business or organization.

Every politician who has a chance for success needs a certain level of ego. Ditto a business or organizational leader. Yet too much ego is as bad (or worse?) than too little in the long run. Thus the Value Destroying Villains narcissistic leaders theme in a Masthead blog post a few days ago.

Who boosts your ego?
Who helps keeps your ego in check?
What sparks your drive?
What is keeping your organization or department from flourishing?

Some biz coaches ask clients: what keeps you up at night?

Okay, in my case tonight, it is a case of 'tummy wumpus!' Maybe a passing bug, or something I ate 2 nights ago that tasted great but didn't seem to land well. But the truth is, I happen to have an odd sleep/work cycle at times. Biology. Some of the best ideas come in the middle of the night, and it has to go on digital paper lest it be forgotten.

But for some, it isn't a stomach bug or good ideas, it is the gnawing grief that all is not well. Some tell me they feel they lack control over their once thriving business. They cite economic, political or other factors. They worry about tomorrow.

Worry keeps them awake or causes their sleep to be less than refreshing.

FDR said, '”We have nothing to fear but fear itself…”

Our best days as an Industry or a nation are not behind us! Darkness causes even a tiny light to seem much brighter. What may seem obscure or un-important in 'good times' may be clearly of vital necessity in tough times.

In this great land we are so glad to call home, we have forces that tend to balance out the ill with good.

That ego we need for drive needs tempering. Sometimes we need reminders of the good, sometimes we need a dose of humility. A friend, spouse or child can often bring us down to earth from our lofty aims or over-inflated thoughts; that same colleague or loved one may be needed to get our mojo going in a good direction.

At the end of the day, success is about team work; individual efforts brought together in a great collective.

When someone thanks me, I hope always to thank others who make what we do possible. If someone commends the self-made 'rich and famous,' say Warren Buffett, I would think the Sage of Omaha would turn to team and associates and say, thanks, but we all did this together.

Even with happy clients, the secret is this: truly working together. Team work. I learn daily, just as successful clients do. It is the chemistry of working together to achieve the common goal. It is navigating the inevitable road bumps and those sharp, unexpected curves.

To mix metaphors for a moment, success is also a process, not unlike cooking. The kitchen can look like a mess during the preparation of a great meal. Until it is all is finished, it can look (and taste) badly if you sampled something before it was ready. But once all the elements of the meal (the process) are in place, once the kitchen is cleaned up, the table is set and the feast is ready, only then can one appreciate and enjoy the effort.

Team work. Good Individual Efforts that harnessed together, can result in record outcomes. So with each of the happy clients noted above, or others past and present, it is always important to say, you made this possible. We did this together! I'm betting the same could be true for your career or organization too.

Team work require egos, harnessed for their good, but egos that are held in check. The "I in team" is there, but not when you spell it out. The word of advice, the caution to a colleague, these when heeded can keep our egos in balance. These are as important as the fan calls and emails.

Look in the mirror. See all that you and your organization already are. Picture all that you and your associates can be. If you need help with that, have the wisdom to ask for it and get it. Make the ego a tool to work for that common good, not a land mine that works against those mutual victories we all should seek. ##

post by

L. A. “Tony” Kovach, MHM

www.MHProNews.com
www.MHMarketingSalesManagement.com or www.MHMSM.com
Innovation – Information – Inspiration for Industry Professionals

Office – 815-270-0500

latonyk@gmail.com or tony@mhmsm.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/latonykovach

The Great Depression and Manufactured Housing

joe — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:57:11 +0000

We have heard (and perhaps said ourselves) that we are in one of the toughest financial times since the Great Depression. There is no doubt that American businesses and the public at large is hurting, notably when compared to more robust economic times. But as my family and I go to the restaurant, grocery stores or malls, I see people shopping, lined up at check out and spending money. The check out line is a far cry from the bread and soup lines of the Depression. Times may be more difficult than 5 or 10 years ago, but the point is that hard times today are not the same as hard times of the Depression 80 years ago.

In fact, some have learned to thrive during these hard times.

McDonald's Corporation announced on 1.24.2012 strong results for the fourth quarter and year ended Dec. 31, 2011, fueled by growth across all of its global markets. The fourth quarter results included an 11 percent profit increase.

Regular readers have seen me reference McDonald's in columns and posts before. Both they and manufactured housing are in the affordability business. We offer homes for less, they offer the meal out and fast food for less.

I was telling a client of ours about the importance of proven processes in terms of gaining success and profits. What makes McDonald's work? What makes it profitable? Books could be written on that, but let's drill it down to some sample bullet points:

Marketing – advertising – and branding (perhaps the most recognized logo ever) that keeps them top of mind. They never stop advertising! So they are often top of mind when it comes to making a fast food selection.
Ronald McDonald House. Their fine charity gives them a level of respect they may not otherwise get. It is also a stealth form of marketing and a way to build brand loyalty. What makes it interesting, is that they get a lot of funding from others, so they get the philantropic and name recognition benefits without having to put up all the cash.
Processes and procedures that work. They can teach the basics to people and their processes yield reasonable service and their routine level of quality and speed.
Service. Now if you hate McDonald's, please don't laugh, but the fact is that they have their own systems that make getting food rapid and reasonably accurate. Most McD's today have two drive in windows. The first takes your cash or credit card. The second gives you your order. Brilliant in its simplicity.

Having worked with McDonald's in high school and my early college years, I guarantee you that you don't do a lot of ad libbing or flying by the seat of your pants. You are taught how to do something. You do it. You repeat those processes and procedures daily. If a new product or service is added, you get trained for that, you do it, you repeat it daily.

That is not to say that personality, drive or other factors don't matter, of course they do. I recall being made the store's 'motivational leader' while still a blue hat (do you remember those days, with white hats for trainees, blue for crew and red hats for managers?). It wasn't much longer when I earned my red hat, still as a teen. Looking back, it was a little crazy, making not much more than the minimum wage other earned, while having the responsibility for the store when all the other managers were gone! But at the time, it was just a great experience.

Sorry for the diversion down memory lane…

…the point is that they have systems. They are taught, they are followed. They can integrate people readily and rapidly as a result.

Why do so few independents in our Industry do the same? Why do so few focus on creating a process or procedure for marketing and selling, the same as you would have for a legal installation or doing an application for residency a land lease community?

You can bet the vertically integrated operations do, and those like Centennial Homes on the northern Great Plains states have their processes for success – and profits to match – too. Is it any wonder that those in our industry who have processes and training do better than those who don't have proven systems or wing it day by day?

Every month, we offer free Feature Articles by top writers in areas such as communities, management, sales, general industry, inspiration and more. In the past few months, we have been doing weekly columns on marketing, advertising and sales in the Cutting Edge blog. We also do seminars and workshops for associations and meetings, such as the Dominate Your Local Market or Attracting more Customers with Cash or Good Credit. Such opportunities exist here for one good reason: to support associations and to support professionals and businesses like you!

Speaking of opportunities to learn, network and grow your business, we hope to see you at the 2012 Great Southwest Home Show in Tulsa.

The Great Depression was a far cry worse than what we are experiencing today. There are businesses in and outside of our Industry who are profitable. Some are making record profits. We know that the future of manufactured housing is bright, because the 'stars' of demographics and economics have lined up in our favor (learn more at this link).

We can become the dominant form of housing in the years to come. You can be a part of that brighter future,

but only if and when professionals 'do what it takes' to adapt, plan and execute to advance past the malaise towards the opportunities that exist now and in the years ahead. # #

post by

L. A. “Tony” Kovach, MHM

www.MHProNews.com
www.MHMarketingSalesManagement.com or www.MHMSM.com
Innovation – Information – Inspiration for Industry Professionals

Office – 815-270-0500

latonyk@gmail.com or tony@mhmsm.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/latonykovach

Value Destroying Villains = Narcissistic Leaders

joe — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 20:41:59 +0000

An headline in the Motley Fool entitled Value-Destroying Villains: Narcissistic CEOs caught my eye. Motley Fool's (MF) article first cited the case laid out by Donald C. Hambrick and Arijit Chatterje from Penn State University. Hambrick and Chatterje's paper will be published for Administrative Science Quarterly is entitled: It’s All About Me: Narcissistic CEOs and Their Effects on Company Strategy and Performance. MF then went to cite specific examples in the markets today.

MF noted that narcissists may do well for a time, driven by their egos and will to shine, but tend later to come crashing down.

This topic finds its echo in two books we've previously reviewed, From Good To Great and How the Mighty Fall, both by Jim Collins and his team of some 20+ university level researchers. Level 5 leadership (which some may call servant leadership, humble leadership, self-less organizationally focused leadership) was analyzed in Good to Great as one of the keys that marked long term, highly successful performing companies. In How the Mighty Fall, hubris, vanity, over-confidence and the like were among the factors cited for the tumble from greatness into a corporate downslide – or even extinction.

As the link above hints, this topic has been on my mind for some time, as it is my view that team work is what routinely accomplishes winning performance and a lack of team work (me-itis, private agendas, etc.) that disrupts or causes a good operation or plan to fail.

We all have to make a living. We all have a certain level of 'self promotion' that can be useful or necessary. As any leader of a company, organization, team or project can tell you, there is a delicate balance for a leader between the needed ego drive to get something good done, but also the humility to listen to others and to include others. So the long term successful leader is neither a door mat nor a narcissistic personality.

Dictionary.com defines a narcissist this way:

Inordinate fascination with oneself; excessive self-love; vanity.

The definition above itself suggests there is a healthy self-love, a healthy ego drive, but that the narcissist goes beyond the pale and is self-absorbed to a level that is destructive.

Humility – the 'opposite' of narcissism – is often mis-understood. Humility is not a false modesty or self-effacement. Humility is an acknowledgment of reality. We all have strengths and weaknesses, it is wise to acknowledge both. Humility is defined as “the absence of pride or arrogance; meekness.” It is interesting to note that meakness comes from a Greek root that means “restrained power!” So the meek can be powerful, the humble can be strong, without tumbling into arrogance, excessive pride or narcissism.

What Jim Collins and his researchers described as Level 5 leadership, that ability to create and lead a healthy team effort, therein lies the path from 'Good to Great.'

What myself and others in our Industry believe is that we need to use the tools and resources to positively bring people together. We need to tap the talents, time and treasure of those committed in a fashion that propels each ahead at a pace they would not achieve individually. Just a a flock of geese goes farther and faster when traveling together than one goose flying alone, so too is the potential power of team work in a company, or between various firms and operations.

Experts say that by flying in formation, the flock experiences less wind resistance,
thus allowing the flock to fly farther together than they would be able to do individually.
The lead goose periodically changes.

Associations are one vehicle for accomplishing such a mechanism. So too effective communications and actions between Industry professionals.

An example of successful team work was the 2012 Louisville MH Show. Members of the team were not all in the same company, or working for the same organization. They may not even have thought “I'm the member of the Louisville Show team.” But because each was doing his or her part, a collective accomplishment was achieved that benefited all involved.

The more the power of team work can be tapped, the better the outcome could be for future shows, symposiums or events in Louisville or elsewhere.

The self-absorbed personality often has no room for accepting new faces or new ideas. Vanity often is manifest as a type of elitism. The narcissist may reject good efforts primarily for the (typically unstated) reason that the idea or effort is not their own. If the narcissist is not center stage, there is something missing (in their own mind).

MF cited the example of the late Steve Jobs at Apple as someone that may appear to be self-absorbed, but in fact exhibited qualities that were not narcissistic at all, quoting:

“But that's not so — at least as far as narcissism was measured here. (Steve) Jobs was rarely in conference calls, didn't insist on being in press releases, had a succession plan in mind (even though we weren't aware of it), and most important, he surrounded himself with smart people. "Most narcissists feel threatened by having people around them that are smarter than them," Forbes' Jackson notes.”

Let me recommend anew the Jim Collins books 'Good to Great' and “How the Mighty Fall.” There is much to learn that could help us move our career, company and the factory built housing Industry ahead. # #

post by

L. A. “Tony” Kovach, MHM

www.MHProNews.com
www.MHMarketingSalesManagement.com or www.MHMSM.com
Innovation – Information – Inspiration for Industry Professionals

Office – 815-270-0500

latonyk@gmail.com or tony@mhmsm.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/latonykovach

Advancing Manufactured Housing through Education

joe — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 23:00:42 +0000

Business and profit building education has always been one of the many benefits of membership in state and national associations. When we say that an association exists to protect and promote the industry, that's true. One of the ways those goals are accomplished is precisely through educational workshops, seminars, symposiums and events tailored for manufactured housing owners, managers and professionals.

This year, at the 2012 Louisville Manufactured Housing Show, thanks to the support and vision of the Midwest Manufactured Housing Federation executives, Chairman Ron Thomas, Sr and with support from Dennis Hill at Show Ways Unlimited, we arranged a series of 'business building' seminars. Top professionals from coast to coast were presenting facts as part of our business-building forums.

The feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive.

In addition, the MMHF extended invitations to MHI Chairman and Cavco/Fleetwood CEO Joe Stegmayer and MHARR Chairman and Sunshine Homes CEO John Bostick. While Mr. Bostick was unable to attend due to a conflict, Mr. Stegmayer attended and spoke in positive terms about both national organizations. Joe further emphasized the importance of state associations, as being the place where 'all politics is local' intersects between Industry members and their Congressional and U.S. Senate representatives.

Dick Ernst, who moderated a finance forum on manufactured housing lending, insightfully commented on the wide array of financing options that are available today. This is an important message, as so many are under the mistaken notion that there is a 'lack' of third party lending options for fee simple or personal property (home only/chattel) lending.

My team and I routinely heard from manufacturers, exhibitors and attendees that the overall tone from those at the event was positive. Not many think we are 'out of the woods' yet. But clearly well over a thousand industry professionals (actually, over 1500 pros came this year to the Show!) who came to Louisville believe that we can help guide our destiny and can shape our future.

Having the timely, useful and positive information is part of that mix!

Part of our mission at MHProNews.com from the beginning has been to support associations and to support Industry professionals through articles, news and more recently through live business building workshops, seminars and discussions. Having now topped 90,000 visitors in December 2011, averaging some 700,000 page views monthly and with over 2 million 'hits' monthly, you and thousands of others are finding daily value right here.

Those numbers continue to grow. Our growth can be your growth too.

The combination of online information and live information and events is powerful. An industry leader told me and others at the end of the Show that we can't wait for printed material any more. Events move too quickly. We need the speed of the Internet to get news and information out fast to Industry members.

Just as we learned the ABCs or 1-2-3s in school not by listening or reciting it once, but going over and over the same material many times, new information typically must be heard more than once to be effective. That's why advertisers don’t just run an ad once! They repeat the ad until enough customers 'get it.'

Bob Thieman, CAE and executive director for the Illinois Manufactured Housing Association is the most recent person to share a kind word in recommending via LinkedIn our work in manufactured housing:

Details of the Recommendation: "Tony and his company are leading the way for manufactured housing to enter the 21st century. He and his staff have put together remarkable educational programs and marketing that are ahead of the time and benefit the industry greatly."

I thank Bob and dozens of others who have been so kind to recommend our work, and want to particularly note that 'our work' is much more than Tony. MHProNews has 5 others besides myself involved in the day-by-day work, plus the many who graciously volunteer their skills at submitting helpful articles in their areas of expertise every month.

The vision from day one was to have a platform that brought good people together so that the Industry could grow as a result. As another state executive director has said:

"Tony really is pulling the MH industry together with thoughtful comments; suggestions; ideas on key topics that need addressing at the local, state, regional and national level. I applaud the work that you are doing…as the network grows, & grows & grows. You are an inspiration, with timely ideas and follow-through. Keep up the great work!" ~ Mary McBrady, Executive Director, MMHA Mass Manufactured Housing Assn.

All industry's and professions have and need trade media. We are pleased to be your choice – the Industry's run away first choice – in trade publishing for factory built housing. But it is vital to remember that we are ALL part of this effort! When you read, when you write a column that shares your knowledge or insight, then we all benefit.

We can all win.

In 2011, I was very pleased to be a part of seminars, trade show events and symposiums in various parts of the U.S.. MHI, 3 state associations and 3 trade shows (8 presentations in all) invited me to be a part of their 'moving ahead' business growth mix. Certainly, there are a number of others who are well qualified to bring their expertise to bear for the benefit of the Industry's members. This is what happened at Louisville!

That is a formula for Industry success! Your skills and experiences, that of others who share their time and talent here, blended together at live events or through online trade media. Everyone involved wins.

Needless to say, we tip our hats and thank all of those advertisers and sponsors who make this business building platform possible.

Working together with forward looking Industry professionals, let's make 2012 the year of the great Industry turn-around. Knowledge and information freely shared – Education – within our ranks as professionals is part of the key. # #

post by

L. A. “Tony” Kovach, MHM

www.MHProNews.com
www.MHMarketingSalesManagement.com or www.MHMSM.com
Innovation – Information – Inspiration for Industry Professionals

Office – 815-270-0500

latonyk@gmail.com or tony@mhmsm.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/latonykovach

Post Show Post

joe — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 23:02:53 +0000

The Louisville Manufactured Housing Show for 2012 is now in the history books. Hats off to Dennis Hill and the Show Ways team, Show Chairman Ron Thomas Sr., the Midwest Manufactured Housing Federation (MMHF) executive directors, our speakers, panelists and each company that helped make this show a success. An exhibitor I spoke with summed up the achievements by saying: "Wednesday was every bit as strong or better for business as the Tunica Show has been." That says a lot. An attendee summarized the value they obtained, "We've attended every one of the seminars and speakers, and it has all been great."

MHI Chairman and Cavco/Fleetwood CEO Joe Stegmayer addresses
an SRO (standing room only) crowd of industry professionals at the
2012 Lousville Manufactured Housing Show.

Ron Thomas Sr. and Tim DeWitt introduced Joe Stegmayer's standing room attended address. Ron Thomas used a phrase that resonated with MMHF execs and myself. Paraphrasing slightly: "We have to stop looking back. We've been through an economic upheaval. We have established a new base line, and we have to measure our success against this new base line, not using a base line from the past."

Dozens of manufactured home land lease community professionals
pouring into the seminar room to hear Andrew Peters CEO of
First Guarantee Mortgage Corporation and Tony Kovach
introduce a pilot project for financing that will mimic
land/home rates and terms in MHCs.

When we think in terms of the current realities – the new current base line – we can see that we are now on the path back up.

Andrew Peters, CEO of First Guarantee Mortgage Corporation (FGMC)
at the yellow draped table watches as Tony Kovach addresses
land lease community owners and executives about the
non-recourse MH financing pilot project that will mimic
land home rates and terms in select MHCs.

Attendance was up in terms of attendees and total attendance. 1018 MH retailers, community owner/operators, builder/developers, installers and suppliers came though the doors. 1506 total were at the Show, when you include exhibitors and their teams. 27 homes were on display (35% more than 2011), along with some 80 exhibitors. I spoke with a number of leaders from a manufacturer that has not come in recent years. They indicated the show was strong for them, that they were very pleased with it. Others told me similarly. Ron Thomas told me a number of companies have already said they will be back in 2013 and at least one manufacturer that did not attend this year is planning to come next year.

Chad Carr addresses another SRO crowd of industry professionals

at the 2012 Louisville Manufactured Housing Show's

profit and business building seminar series.

"Louisville is back."

To be sure, it isn't the same show as the go-go 90s. But this is where Ron Thomas' wise statement comes into play. We have a new base line. We build from where we are, so that we can move in the direction we want to go. Which is up!

The youngest exhibitor at the Show was Tamas

(pronounced tah-mash) Kovach, right front.

Soheyla Kovach, Jeff Templeton and Matthew Silver

(L-R) all with MHProNews.com (MHMSM.com).

The above isn't to say that all was perfect at Louisville.

Another SRO crowd of MH Community and Retail professionals listen

to the lenders finance forum, moderated by Dick Ernst.

7 lenders described their finance products and services,

including new programs unveiled at Louisville.

Of course there were pluses and minuses too. After great weather on Monday and Tuesday, with highs in the 50s, we had rain all day Wednesday. The rain didn't keep almost as many people coming through the doors the first day as arrived for all of last year! That said, Thursday around 1 PM, weather reports and light snow fall sent many packing and. I doubt kept many from coming. That dampened total attendance for the day.

Tony Kovach pointing to the behind the scenes stars of the Show,

Michelle Middleton and Dennis Hill from Show Ways.

This photo taken 1.10.2012, the day before the Show opened.

Living west of Chicagoland, I was not quite sure why light snow would keep some from coming or send other people packing. Snowfall in Louisville may have hit 1" total through Friday around 1 PM, and the streets were just fine. The road home had maybe half a dozen vehicles in the ditches, but the roads were great with one very brief patchy exception. When I look out the window here on Saturday morning , there might be 3" on the ground. The point is day two attendance was not what day one was. Still, the overall result was very good.

James Cook, Creighton Weber, Eddie Hicks and Gerry DiMarco address

MH Community owner/operators in a well attended finance forum

focused on RE commercial lending for MHCs. Snowfall slowed

attendance at the last 2 seminars that followed this session,

which all drew positive praise from attendees.

On a personal/professional note, our book sales were brisk! When I was in the booth we had industry pros that bought books and asked to have their books signed. My sincere thanks to all who came by the booth, had kind words about MHProNews.com, our presentations and who purchased a copy of the Manufactured Housing Revolution.

I want to thank my team for all their hard word, and recognize the speakers and moderators and all who pulled together to work so hard to make the show a success. You can see videos of the show and some stills linked here too.

We expect to share more post show reports and feedback in the days ahead. Again, hats off to all who attended and made this show a reality!

Tulsa and the 2012 Great Southwest Home Show is next up! My team and I hope to see you there too. ##

post by

L. A. “Tony” Kovach, MHM

www.MHProNews.com
www.MHMarketingSalesManagement.com or www.MHMSM.com
Innovation – Information – Inspiration for Industry Professionals

Office – 815-270-0500

latonyk@gmail.com or tony@mhmsm.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/latonykovach

Live from Louisville: the 2012 Manufactured Housing Show.

joe — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 23:12:10 +0000

We are starting a pre-show and at show series of videos here on the Masthead blog, entitled "Live from Louisville: the 2012 Manufactured Housing Show." The pre-show registrations reveal that 20% more community, retailers, builder/developers, installers and suppliers are signed up for 2012 than through the same period in 2011. Hundreds more typically show up at the door to sign up on site. As the one video shows, make sure you bring your business card and ID to gain entry, to this industry trade show.

Behind the Scenes videos, before the Start of the Louisville Manufactured Housing Show followed by live video coverage of the show starting 1/11/2012.


1/09/2012	1/09/2012	1/09/2012

1/09/2012	1/10/2012	1/10/2012

1/10/2012	1/11/2012	1/11/2012

1/11/2012	1/11/2012	1/11/2012

1/11/2012	1/11/2012	1/11/2012

1/11/2012	1/12/2012	1/12/2012

1/12/2012	1/12/2012	1/12/2012

1/12/2012	1/12/2012	1/12/2012

1/12/2012	1/13/2012	1/13/2012 These are the Executive Directors of their respective states from the Midwest Manufactured Housing Federation (MMHF). Tim DeWitt from MI had to leave, do to the death of a member.

1/13/2012 We hope you have enjoyed the live video coverage and photo gallery of the Louisville Manufactured Housing Show 2012, brought to you by MHProNews.com. Be sure to visit this web site often for announcements of next year's show, and others like it.

Louisville Manufactured Housing Show 2012 Photo Gallery.

Jim Morris Louisville Show celebrity!

Lindsay Horton – Registrations for the Show!

Don Westphal

Mark Speranza Ray Best (L-R)

Mark Tackett Rhett Simpson (L-R)

Sponsors – Bill Macke Chris Hollars Jim Cauzillo ( L-R)

Wendell Harrold

FHA – VA – USDA – 1 close lenders.

Dennis Rooney – Rob McMains – Matt Martin – Bill

Jerry Bretton - Tanja Garrow (L-R)

Thomas McNulty

post by

L. A. “Tony” Kovach, MHM

www.MHProNews.com
www.MHMarketingSalesManagement.com or www.MHMSM.com
Innovation – Information – Inspiration for Industry Professionals

Office – 815-270-0500

latonyk@gmail.com or tony@mhmsm.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/latonykovach

Lovin’ La Vida Grande! Plus Iowa upset?

joe — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 20:14:48 +0000

The BUZZ is on because it will be 'show time' in Louisville this week!

The extended weather forecast for next week indicates high temperatures in the 40s and 50s. The show is all indoors at the South Wing of the fine Kentucky Exhibition Center, so no matter what is happening outside, it will be comfortable indoors. Pre-registrations ran hot this year, about 20% more than the same period a year ago. Total pre-registrations for all sides of the industry total 1016. Normally hundreds more arrive at the doors and sign up on site. For those who do, bring your business cards with you to speed the registration process. What all this means is that Louisville 2012 could set a recent attendance record!

Why all the excitement? Why all the buzz?

Many factors.

CEO and consumer confidence seems to be rising, according to recent reports. Demand for housing is also showing 'signs of life.'

For those in the Manufactured Housing Industry who felt that financing was a need, Louisville will feature all sorts of financing options, some of them will be new or at least new to many of your peers and/or you.

As an example, one lender – First Guarantee Mortgage Corporation – will be part of the Wednesday morning finance forum panel on manufactured home lending, and will talk about their MH Home Loan program that features, among other factors, 'no minimum credit score.' The same firm offers manufactured and modular home retailers two different loan programs that offer legitimate “no down payment” financing, including low rate loans to those with low incomes.

If a person can write up more new business with that type of financing, ouch, something must be wrong!

The full line up of seminars is linked on this page:

Be Sure! Make More Home Sales in 2012.

Are you in the MHC business? Do you have vacancies you want to fill through home sales? Make a special note to attend Seminar #4 on Wednesday. A financing plan will be unveiled there that can be a powerful magnet for Manufactured Home Land Lease Community Owners and Operators. For those ready to do what it takes, this will be a game changer.

Iowa Upset?

Channel 8 in Des Moines Iowa reports that a caucus poll worker Edward True, 28, of Moulton, asserts that the published result from the 53-person caucus at the Garrett Memorial Library, Mitt Romney received two votes. But according to the Iowa Republican Party's website, True's precinct cast 22 votes for Romney. "This is huge," True said. "It essentially changes who won." While no official word on this will likely take place until the vote is certified, True said: "Numbers that I personally witnessed being counted and assisted in counting and am certain are right," he said. As a side note True is a self-proclaimed Ron Paul supporter.

With rumors that President Obama may dump Biden, sending him over to be Secretary of State and making Hillary Clinton his running mate in 2012, and with Rick Santorum surging in New Hampshire and South Carolina, with Newt making a come back fight against Mitt Romney's lead, the 2012 election cycle will be interesting indeed. If you missed it,catch the opportunity this election cycle could have for manufactured housing event planners here.

Love the Grand Life by going to Louisville. You will get out of it everything that you put into it, and more. Come to learn, come to do business, come to network. Come!

My team and I would be pleased to see you and your associates in Louisville. Bring your business cards, if you didn't pre-register, you can sign up at the door. If I can bring my wife and our little guy, you can be there with your loved ones too! When we aren't busy elsewhere, you can find our team members in booth #119, right near the front doors. # #

post by

L. A. “Tony” Kovach, MHM

www.MHProNews.com
www.MHMarketingSalesManagement.com or www.MHMSM.com
Innovation – Information – Inspiration for Industry Professionals

Office – 815-270-0500

latonyk@gmail.com or tony@mhmsm.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/latonykovach

Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and The 2012 Louisville Manufactured Housing Show

joe — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 01:30:40 +0000

The 2012 Iowa caucuses are now history. FoxNews reports that Mitt Romney, Rick Sandorum and Ron Paul have emerged as the winners in the top tier among Republican candidates, in that order. As of this writing, only 8 votes – 8 votes! – separated Governor Romney from Senator Santorum. Santorum's late surge was surprising to many, but clearly the result of months of meeting Iowan's face to face in their trade mark 'retail' political venue. Others among the GOP hopefuls may drop out soon, unless they catch favorable winds of voter support in the Granite State or South Carolina primaries. While Congressman Dr. Paul has done well, pundits predict his old newsletters (with racist comments, that he disavows), unique foreign policy stands and other perceptual issues will lead to his being "carpet bombed" by attack ads from PACs or other candidates, in a fashion that similarly made Newt Gingrich politically vulnerable. With Gingrich having dropped from the top spot in polls just a few weeks ago, to finish in fourth place in Iowa.

Graphic Credit: FoxNews

What the strongest Republican candidates could represent is an opportunity for manufactured housing to catch positive national publicity. How?

Candidates were covered by the mainstream media and by C-SPAN at locations such as the Pizza Ranch restaurant chain in Iowa and an advertising firm among many other stops and businesses, doing their campaign pitches. Why not invite the candidates to a manufactured housing event in 2012? Why not give three or four of them 12 – 15 minutes to make their stump speech, and let them be filmed walking through manufactured homes? Why not let a possible future president get caught forever on video and by the media, praising America's factory built homes as they walk through decorated models at a trade show or a congress?!

Event and meeting planners, our Industry should not miss out on making such an opportunity happen! Event planners could invite the president too, for balance.

Speaking of trade shows, the 2012 Louisville Manufactured Home Show is now in its final pre-show stretch. Barring a paralyzing blizzard, the show now looks set for an attendance record that will shatter last years totals! Pre-registration is trending up 20% over last years at the same time frame, when 970 attendees and 444 exhibitors – a total of 1414 manufactured housing pros in all – braved the snow and ice last year and came to shop the latest model homes, network, talk to suppliers and service providers, attend seminars and do business!

This is the year that "business gets done" at Louisville!

There is an energy and aura at trade shows you don't find at a regular meeting.

There are advantages to a trade show you can't duplicate any other way.

The time invested at a trade show is richly rewarded by those who come with a sound plan to learn more to earn more, who come to compare products and services and who will wheel and deal there way to success.

The Seminars and Finance Forums will give manufactured home retailers, communities and builder/developers the tools needed to sell more homes in 2012.

Besides the Midwest, I've personally received messages from out West, down South and from New England and Atlantic states that tell me community, retailers and other MH attendees plan to come! They are coming to seminars and finance forums that will shine the light for more business getting done in 2012.

ALL of these opportunities represent steps that will require effort. Here is where the 80-20 rule will come into play. 20% of the leaders and visionaries get 80% of the work done, it's said, and those willing to do what it takes to make the new financing opportunities a reality will reap the rewards. Those unwilling to do what it takes won't.

There is wisdom in having association members attend the Louisville Show from beyond the upper Midwestern states that is the typical draw. From the Dakotas and the Plain states, to states North, South, East and West, the grand-daddy of all trade shows is back!

We will be there. New lending opportunities for you will be there. New business building opportunities for you will be there. Movers and shakers like Cavco/Fleetwood CEO and MHI Chairman Joe Stegmayer will be there.

Will you be there too? I hope so! Please stop by our booth – #119 in the front row near the entry doors – or at one of the seminars or forums I will be at, and say hi. Our reporter will be there. Even my better half and son will be there!

Make the effort to make 2012 your year of the turn-around. Please be a 20%er and be there too. Bring your "can do" attitude, bring your trusted associates and come to do business. There will be energy at the 2012 Louisville Manufactured Housing Show. Get plugged in, and get turned on to do more in 2012.

Pre-registration online has now closed. But you can still register with your business card upon arrival at the Show. The event will be in the South Wing of the KEC.

The Show brochure and show layout, get business and profit building seminar information at this link, and click on this link to learn more about the 2012 Louisville MH Show.

If you need to talk, I'll be on my cell all next week – 832-689-1729, and checking messages morning and night; email is tony@mhmsm.com – see you in at the KEC, home of the Louisville Slugger.

Pulling together in 2012, "Let's knock one out of the park." ##

post by

L. A. “Tony” Kovach, MHM

www.MHProNews.com
www.MHMarketingSalesManagement.com or www.MHMSM.com
Innovation – Information – Inspiration for Industry Professionals

Office – 815-270-0500

latonyk@gmail.com or tony@mhmsm.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/latonykovach