Home Building Industry Leaders: Pro Builder's Forty Under 40 Class of 2020
Disruption may be in danger of becoming an overused word in the home building industry, perhaps because it’s often used in the same sentence as digital marketing. Yet this year’s Forty Under 40 class shows that those who adapt to change won’t just survive but will thrive. For example, honorees in the sales and marketing discipline who increased sales volume by double digits, expanded their companies with new divisions, or increased web traffic, have backstories that involve mastering tech tools such as digital analytics, podcasts, and social media video, as well as using data to accurately target homebuyers with personalized outreach or taking on virtual reality consumer research projects.
On the construction side, some of our Class of 2020 members leveraged their college construction management or finance degrees to start their own companies, or learned about home construction because the Great Recession pushed them to pivot from just selling land. One winner was building houses while pursuing an associate’s degree one class at a time for seven years and learned how to operate an impressive list of heavy construction equipment along the way to closing more than 100 homes.
This next generation of leaders is well-traveled, with experience studying abroad, stints working in South Africa, North Africa, and Afghanistan, mission trips to South America, and deployments to Iraq. “Help somebody” also could be a motto for this group, demonstrated by their volunteer work, charity fundraising, mentoring, and other outreach efforts when they’re off the clock.
Pro Builder is proud to present the Forty Under 40 class of 2020
- John Allen, 38, President, Brown Haven Homes
- Chris Bergh, 37, Partner, Director of Construction, Pohlig Homes
- Cassian Bernard, 37, VP, Sales and Marketing, M/I Homes
- Richard Calderon, 36, Realtor, Rose & Womble Realty, New Homes Division, QHOC Homes
- Linnea Chapman, 39, Director of Marketing, DeNova Homes
- Ryan Clarke, 33, Director of Operations, Robuck Homes
- Andrew Comstock, 33, VP, Gilbert C. Martin Co.
- Phil Crone, 37, Executive Officer, Dallas Builders Association
- Rachel Eaton, 38, Chief Marketing Officer, LGI Homes
- Megan English, 38, Director of Strategic Services, ONeil Interactive
- Blaine Flynn, 31, CEO and President, Flynn Building Specialists
- Kyle Gable, 37, Broker, Pioneer Land Group
- Patrick Ginn, 38, Founder and CEO, Ginn Group
- Brek Goin, 27, Co-founder and CEO, Hammr
- Paul Hanson, 39, President, Epcon Communities Franchising
- Justin Henry, 38, Owner, Zander Homes
- Jennifer Hoops, 39, Builder Partnerships Lead, Higharc
- Taylor Humphrey, 36, Division Sales and Marketing Manager, Pacesetter Homes
- Justin Julian, 38, Senior Associate, Senior Architect, Dahlin Group Architecture | Planning
- Chelsey Keenan, 27, Director of Social Media, Group Two Advertising
- Mike Latimer, 34, Design Director, TK Home Design
- Joanie McCann, 38, VP, Sales and Marketing, Maryland/Delaware Division, Lennar Homes
- Andrew Peek, 30, Lead Generation Manager, Do You Convert
- Ryan Perrone, 35, President, Nautilus Custom Homes
- Owen Nerren Pratt, 37, VP, Construction, Pratt Home Builders
- Greg Prieb, 38, President, Prieb Homes
- Amber Richard, 35, Director, Sales and Marketing, Melia Homes
- Sean Ricks, 38, President, Dallas-Fort Worth Division, Trendmaker Homes
- Elizabeth Russell, 31, Director of Marketing, Stylecraft Builders
- Anjela Salyer, 39, VP, Division Manager, Mattamy Homes
- Colin Scattergood, 32, Product Manager, MarkSystems, ECI Software Solutions
- Kate Seabaugh, 32, Senior Manager Research Group, John Burns Real Estate Consulting
- Will Spencer, 37, Director of Operations, Spencer LLC
- Dennis Steigerwalt, 38, CEO and President, Housing Innovation Alliance
- Emily Sweitzer, 39, VP and Associate General Counsel, Ashton Woods
- Andrea Wagner Watts, 35, Commercial Application Technology Leader, DuPont Performance Building Solutions
- Cindy Wasser, 33, Senior Manager, Green Building Programs, Home Innovation Research Labs
- Robert White, 39, Senior Brand Manager, Shopper Marketing (Retail and Builder Channel), Whirlpool
- Nick Wisniewski, 31, VP, Landmark Homes of Tennessee
John Allen, 38
President
Brown Haven Homes
Blairsville, Ga.
Education
• BS, Family and Consumer Economics, University of Georgia
Accomplishments
• Started a land development business before the Great Recession and taught himself to build houses on that land • Survived the downturn while paying 100% of financial obligations to trade partners, suppliers, employees, and the bank while going without a paycheck himself • Grew from a developer stuck with 60 lots in 2008 to a build-on-your-land custom builder with 160 closings in 2019 in Georgia and the Carolinas
Off the Clock
• Travel • Boating • Basketball • Reading anything by John Maxwell
Extracurricular
• Brown Haven Cares allows employees to request donations up to $500 to the cause of their choice. It has donated more than $30,000 to over 50 organizations since 2018 • Coach, SMA Consulting Group • Member, YPO
Secret Life
• Consumes an enormous number of podcasts
Chris Bergh, 37
Partner, Director of Construction
Malvern, Pa.
Education
• BS, Construction Systems Management, Ohio State University
Accomplishments
• Interned as a field laborer while a college sophomore and transitioned to senior project manager in 2009, assisting with $200 million in custom home sales during the next 10 years and personally overseeing more than $85 million in projects • Worked at every level of the company and is comfortable with laborers and super-intendents in the field, leading from the C-suite, and focusing on customer satisfaction when meeting with clients • Promoted to current role in 2017 and named a principal and plan successor
Extracurricular
• NAHB Builder 20 Club • Institute of Classical Architecture & Art • Habitat for Humanity • Chester County Food Bank
Off the Clock
• Austin City Limits Music Festival • Cooking • High-stakes fantasy football • Golf
Cassian Bernard, 37
VP, Sales and Marketing
Dallas
Education
• MBA, University of Dallas • BA, Advertising, minor in Psychology, Southern Methodist University
Accomplishments
• Coached and fostered strong partnerships across sales team to exceed 2019 sales goal by 43%, selling 500 homes compared with 295 homes in 2018, and earned a 93% “definitely would recommend” score • NAHB 2020 Nationals Gold, Sales Manager of the Year • McSam Awards in Dallas/Fort Worth metro, 2019 Sales Manager of the Year • Promoted from area sales manager to director of sales and then to current position in just one year
Extracurricular
• Jeff Shore Sales Leadership Roundtable alumni • Dallas Builders Association Young Professionals • McSam Committee • Boys & Girls Clubs • Pelatonia • GLAAD • Guest lecturer on sales and leadership at University of Dallas
Off the Clock
• Designing high-end custom homes he enjoys living in; currently working on a modern farmhouse
Secret Life
• Breezed through a Nickelodeon game show trivia contest at 11 years old
Richard Calderon, 36
Realtor
Rose & Womble Realty, New Homes Division, QHOC Homes
Virginia Beach, Va.
Credentials
• National Association of Realtors: Short Sales and Foreclosure Resource, Pricing Strategy Advisor, Accredited Buyer’s Representative • National Affordable Housing Management Association: Low Income Housing Tax Credit Certification • National Apartment Association: Certified Apartment Manager
Accomplishments
• Presold 70% of Phase 1 of Windswept Pines before it opened and was responsible for 41% of new-home sales over the next 15 months • Started a monthly workshop about using social media and video marketing, which now has 70 attendees • Qualified in less than a year for the Circle of Excellence Gold award from the Hampton Roads Realtors Association after closing almost $7 million in new-home sales in 2019 • Received Stephen Covey Award for Outstanding Daily Behaviors during first year with Rose & Womble
Extracurricular
• Gift-wrap volunteer for donation drive benefiting Salvation Army, Moyock Fire Department, and Currituck Animal Shelter • Won best dish in Men Who Cook fundraiser for Norfolk Senior Center
Off the Clock
• Drumming • Fishing • Kayaking • Showcases authentic Mexican restaurants and other local venues in videos as the “Taco Realtor”
Secret Life
• Wife, Sharon, is a Hatfield descendant of the infamous Hatfield–McCoy feud
Linnea Chapman, 39
Director of Marketing
Concord, Calif.
Education
• BA, Visual Arts, emphasis in Art History/Art Management, minor in Graphic Design, University of San Francisco
Accomplishments
• Launched, redesigned, and overhauled company website, content management system, CRM, online sales concierge (OSC) programs, and digital ad strategy in just one year • Website traffic increased 75% first month after relaunch, lead generation jumped 130% in 2019, and OSC generated 28% lead-to-appointment keep rate
• Named 2019 Marketing Director of the Year by BIA Northern California • Founded Somersault Press in South Africa, a personalized stationery and photocard provider featured on the O List in O, The Oprah Magazine
Extracurricular
• Swedish American Patriot League • BIA Bay Area: Professional Women in Building Council and Educational Outreach Committee
Off the Clock
• Relaxing at cabin in the Santa Cruz Mountains • Cooking, baking, cake decorating • Reading
Secret Life
• Taught ballet • Lived in Cape Town, South Africa, for six years with husband, daughters, and family’s Rhodesian ridgeback
Ryan Clarke, 33
Director of Operations
Raleigh, N.C.
Education
• BS, Building Science, emphasis in Construction Management, Appalachian State University
Credentials
• Certified Supply Chain Professional
Accomplishments
• Overcame small lots, crowded streets, and parking dilemmas to build Oakdale at Mordecai, an infill neighborhood that won 2017 Best in American Living Awards for Community of the Year, Best of the Mid-Atlantic Region, and Best Infill Community • Led company through Lean building program • Helped Robuck Homes’ annual revenue grow from $17 mil-lion during the Great Recession to more than $60 million • Won 10 Parade of Homes honors
Extracurricular
• Habitat for Humanity Home Builders Blitz • Church elder and small-group leader • Rebuilding Together of the Triangle
Off the Clock
• Listening to bluegrass music and audio books • Working on his Jeep • Bible reading • Playing Lego with his sons
Andrew Comstock, 33
VP
Colonial Heights, Va.
Education
• BA, Economics and Commerce, Hampden-Sydney College • Graduate Certificate, Leadership, University of Virginia
Certification
• Certified Graduate Builder • Graduate Master Builder • Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist
Accomplishments
• Oversaw and implemented the company’s shift from primarily doing spec building and subdivision development to multifamily construction, custom design, and renovation • Rose from superintendent to VP • One of five builders in the state of Virginia and one of only 79 nationwide to hold all three of his certifications • Local Chamber of Commerce 40 under 40 in 2019
Extracurricular
• Selected to serve on the executive board for the Home Builders Association of Virginia • First third-generation president of Home Builders Association of Southside Virginia, following his grandfather and mother
Off the Clock
• Watching University of Virginia football games • Fishing • Boating on Chesapeake Bay • Traveling
Secret Life
• Only volunteer firefighter in over 20 years to be cleared to drive and operate all of the fire department’s apparatuses/vehicles
Phil Crone, 37
Executive Officer
Plano, Texas
Education
• BA, Political Science and History, Purdue University • JD, Southern Methodist University
Certification
• NAHB Certified Green Professional
Accomplishments
• Grew Dallas Builders Association (DBA) by 100 members in one year, the most growth in over a decade • Led Green Built Texas policy • Wrote two pieces of state home building legislation • Launch-ed DallasBuilders.com
• Implemented a quarterly dinner with volume builders and developers to better understand their concerns and increase networking opportunities • Created Parade of Homes, raising $25,000 for the DBA • Built seven mortgage-free homes for combat wounded veterans through a partnership with Operation Finally Home
Extracurricular
• NAHB Executive Officer of the Year 2013 and 2018 • Advisory board member, Operation Finally Home • Committee chair, City of Dallas affordable housing task force • Construction advisory board chairman, Collin College
Off the Clock
• Pace leader for the Dallas Running Club • Hiking • Kayaking • Working on projects in garage • Cycling • Running half-marathons
Secret Life
• Private pilot’s license • Received law degree from SMU while working full time at the DBA
Rachel Eaton, 38
Chief Marketing Officer
The Woodlands, Texas
Education
• BS, Texas A&M University
Accomplishments
• Manages $50 million budget and drove over 385,000 leads in 2018
• Leads strategy and direction for talent acquisition • Company grew from operating in two communities to being the 10th largest builder in the U.S. • Closings grew from 179 to 6,000+ homes a year • Revenue grew from $22.1 million to $1.5 billion • Part of team that led a successful IPO and two home builder acquisitions in five years • One of just three women at public home building companies listed as having a “named executive officers” role in 2017 • Help-ed launch, and continues to support, the LGI Giving Initiative, which has contributed over $1.2 million in corporate nonprofit sponsorships and more than 20,000 service hours
Extracurricular
• Member, Zillow Group New Construction advisory board
Off the Clock
• Dance, cheer, soccer mom • Relaxing with Netflix
Secret Life
• Proud member of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Class of 2003
Megan English, 38
Director of Strategic Services
Hunt Valley, Md.
Education
• BA, Political Science, minor in Sociology, Towson University
Accomplishments
• O’Neil Interactive team is four times larger since Megan started • Company revenue has increased 120% • Marketing expertise and insight trusted by more than 50 builders nationally • Creates a collaborative company environment • Provides valuable insight and direct support to company president • Donates marketing and event promotion skills to Next One Up • Co-founder of the annual Mrs. Claus Cares event, which has raised thousands of dollars to benefit the Women’s Housing Coalition
Extracurricular
• Speaker for IBS education sessions three years running • Completed the Center for Creative Leadership development program • Speaker at the Do You Convert Online Sales & Marketing Summit • Key member of Maryland Building Industry Association’s Builder Mart Committee, association’s largest, most profitable event
Off the Clock
• Yoga • Running • Stationary bike • Listening to podcasts
Secret Life
• Has memory like an elephant • Aspiring screenwriter
Blaine Flynn, 31
CEO and President
Pensacola, Fla.
Qualifications
• Licensed Florida General Contractor
Accomplishments
• Went from high school dropout to owning and running a multi-million-dollar company • Expand-ed business into multi-family, commercial construction, and investment properties • Company set to surpass 120 homes and over $30 million in revenue after six years in business • Grew from building one house to operating in six counties • 7-time Parade of Homes winner • Best of the Bay winner 2018 • VIP Pensacola Best Builder for 3 consecutive years • Forged company connection with Ronald McDonald House and The Seven Project
Extracurricular
• Home Builders Association of West Florida 2020 president, youngest ever • Workshops at Pensacola State College to attract local talent to the industry • Member, Pensacola Young Professionals • Serves on Governmental Affairs Committee for Florida Home Builders Association
Off the Clock
• Pack leader for son’s Scout troop • Coaches Little League • Golf • Smoky Mountains vacations
Secret Life
• Collects antique wooden duck decoys • Phenomenal drummer
Kyle Gable, 37
Broker
Douglasville, Ga.
Education
• BBA, Real Estate, University of West Georgia • 100+ hours of real estate continuing education
Certifications
• Licensed Real Estate Broker in Georgia and Florida
Accomplishments
• Helped shape real estate process that expanded pipeline volume to over $150 million • National Association of Realtors 30 Under 30 Class of 2011 • Awarded the designation of Accredited Land Consultant by Realtors Land Institute • Organized and analyzed data on new-home sales and education options for over 23 counties
Extracurricular
• Member, Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors • Member, Realtors Land Institute • Board member, Douglas County Chamber • Member, Young Gamechangers Class of 2016 • Deacon at church
Off the Clock
• Mission trips to Thailand, Honduras, Cuba • Leads men’s ministry at church • Sunday afternoon Bible studies • Helps run church’s Thanksgiving Day celebration that feeds 400 people • Thriving family life • Hunting and fishing
Secret Life
• Excellent barbecue cook
Patrick Ginn, 38
Founder and CEO
Vancouver, Wash.
Education
• BBA, Finance, Golden Gate University • MBA, University of Oregon
Accomplishments
• Helped identify the “missing-middle market” to tackle affordable housing shortage • Built 950 homes and started more than 300 in 2019 • Grew company from 13 staff in 2016 to 65 in 2019 • Developed 2,000 lots in 31 communities worth over $1 billion in market value • Established multifamily division • Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce, 2019 Large Business Award • Received Clark College Outstanding Alumni Award 2018
Extracurricular
• Launched philanthropic arm, Ginn Gives, and donated over $150,000 in 2019 • Executive committee and chair, Real Property Oversight Committee, Clark College Foundation Board • Board president, Boys & Girls Club of
SW Washington
Off the Clock
• Reading • Journaling • Traveling • Watching the Portland Timbers
Secret Life
• Runs in marathons around the world • Formerly top-selling real estate broker
Brek Goin, 27
Co-founder and CEO
San Francisco
Education
• BA, Finance, International Business, Entrepreneurship, Washington State University
Accomplishments
• Founded professional networking platform Hammr and leveraged social media to connect with young builders and address labor shortage • Grew the largest builder community on social media, Builders of Insta, to over 190,000 followers driving 75 million impressions • Nominated for the Ivory Prize • Rebuilt a company after losing everything but his Instagram account • Founder of YouTube Series “Beyond the Build”
Extracurricular
• Speaker at IBS 2020 • Host of NAHB panel at IBS 2019, 2020
Off the Clock
• Snowboarding • Wake-surfing • Visiting beaches • Hanging out with dog • Basketball
Secret Life
• Couch surfed first four months of starting business • Still has ‘92 Jordan booties from childhood
Paul Hanson, 39
President
Dublin, Ohio
Education
• BS, Grove City College • MBA, University of Florida
Accomplishments
• Responsible for the direction and growth of the country’s largest home building franchise • Execut-ed a new franchise agreement with new payment terms favorable to its builders • Initiated development of BIM drawings and line-item purchasing takeoffs for its franchise builders • Expanded franchise recruiting methods to include LinkedIn campaigns, regional builders • Doubled the number of new franchises
• Customer Service Award
Extracurricular
• Speaker at IBS 2020
Off the Clock
• Skiing in New Mexico • Hiking • Watching the Cleveland Browns
Secret Life
• Married high-school sweetheart after reconnecting a decade later
Justin Henry, 38
Owner
Houston
Education
• BS, Psychology, Austin Peay State University
Certifications
• Certified Green Professional • Certified Graduate Builder • Licensed real estate agent
Accomplishments
• Grew company from remodeling business to custom home powerhouse • Builds and sells 10 custom homes per year • Revenue over $4 million • First in family to attend college • Company recognized 62 times since 2014 with awards and nominations at both state and local levels, including Texas Association of Builders (TAB) 2019 Star Awards Best Architectural Design (Under $350K) • Worked with families to rebuild after Tropical Storm Imelda
Extracurricular
• Licensed real estate agent
Off the Clock
• Coaches baseball and basketball • Volunteers with youth at church
Secret Life
• Played four years of college football, team captain for two
Jennifer Hoops, 39
Builder Partnerships Lead
Durham, N.C.
Education
• BA, Architecture; BS, Political Science, minor in Urban Design, Miami University – Oxford, Ohio
Accomplishments
• First to convert plan library to full lot-specific plan delivery for a national production builder • One of first in industry to successfully manage a national builder’s conversion of plan library into fully functioning BIM model • Managed as many as 12 divisions; responsible for full architectural services, including CD sets and estimating • Spearheaded first virtual-reality consumer research project for a national builder • Maintained high level of service to 23 operating divisions • First person in extended family to earn a college degree
Extracurricular
• Member, North Coast Building Industry Association “Dream” committee • Involved in planning and construction of “2000 Minute House” built by the National Association of Women in Construction • Member, Women’s Housing Leadership Group
Off the Clock
• Attends her kids’ sporting events • Harvests produce from farms around her home • Takes dog on long walks through the woods
Secret Life
• Designed her own canning kitchen
Taylor Humphrey, 36
Division Sales and Marketing Manager
McKinney, Texas
Education
• Doug Wilson Advanced Leadership 3-year program • Sales Solves Everything training courses • Builder Partnerships: Front Line Management and Managing for Profit courses • Jeff Shore sales training
Accomplishments
• Shaped team that doubled sales and profits in less than 6 months • Grew company sales and marketing staff from 6 to 25 in 2019 • Will expand company reach from 5 communities to 13 by Q2 2020 • Wrote three construction manuals, a sales manual, and created a sales training program • Started career as construction manager and built several model homes; five of which were completed in just 45 days
Extracurricular
• Secretary, Board of Adjustments, City of Frisco • Dallas Builders Association, Young Professionals Committee • Co-chair, annual golf tournament at ManeGait, raises $100,000 annually • Partnered with Scott Wozniak and Chick-fil-A
Off the Clock
• Community group leader at local church • Level 4 Personal Protection officer licensed in Texas • Golf • Triathlons
Secret Life
• Sponsored triathlete for more than a decade
Justin Julian, 38
Senior Associate, Senior Architect
Dahlin Group Architecture | Planning
Bellevue, Wash.
Education
• BS, Architecture, Ohio State University • Pursued Human Factors Engineering degree with minor in Business, Wright State University • Pursued Business degree with basketball scholarship, Bluffton College
Certifications
• Licensed architect, Washington state • American Institute of Architects • LEED Accredited Professional, US Green Building Council • IDP and CIDP requirements met
Accomplishments
• Promoted to senior associate/senior architect within 3 years • Spearheaded company’s venture into new territories in single-family, multifamily, commercial, and hospitality builds • Received Tribute Awards from the New Home Council
Extracurricular
• 2020 NAIOP Commercial Real Estate Development Association Membership Committee incoming chair • NAIOP Community Enhancement
Off the Clock
• Sports • Road-tripping • Home improvements • Researching parenthood for first-born child
Secret Life
• Former All-Ohio basketball player • Holds a -20 handicap in golf, that is the arcade game Golden Tee Live golf
Chelsey Keenan, 27
Director of Social Media
Philadelphia
Education
• BA, Advertising and Leadership Studies, University of Tampa
Certifications
• Myers Briggs Certified Trainer
Accomplishments
• Started as an intern and is now director of an entire department • Company grew from 7 to 25 since Chelsey started at Group Two • Coached executive officers at the Association Leadership Institute • Gives presentations across the country to crowds of 100+ • 2020 NAHB Young Professional Awards Finalist Region A • Helped revamp hiring process • NAHB vlogger for IBS 2019 • Founding member, Building Industry Association sales and marketing council
Extracurricular
• Active member, NAHB Young Professionals • Has volunteered for over a decade with Spark the Wave, a nonprofit empowering teens • Member, Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance and Philabundance hunger-relief organizations
Secret Life
• Backpacked solo around Europe • RV road trips to national parks
Off the Clock
• Yoga • Reading
Mike Latimer, 34
Design Director
South Lyons, Mich.
Education
• BS, Architectural Engineering, Lawrence Technological University • Certificate of Achievement in Architecture, Lansing Community College
Accomplishments
• Architect with framing carpenter background provides unique perspective for home designs that combine aesthetics, functional livability, and cost savings through Lean building principles • Lead designer on projects that won awards and were featured in Pro Builder • Stepped in as a last-minute speaker at IBS with just a few days to prepare
Off the Clock
• Ice hockey • Teaching ice skating clinics • Mission trips to Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Mexico • Building motorcycles and a Jeep Wrangler from the ground up
Secret Life
• Started a company with a high school friend that hand-crafted sand boards; made a design that “unofficially” broke the world record for speed at 53 mph
Joanie McCann, 38
VP, Sales and Marketing, Maryland/Delaware Division
Columbia, Md.
Education
• MS, Real Estate Development, Johns Hopkins University • BS, General Business and Management; BA, Government and Politics, University of Maryland
Accomplishments
• Improved division sales performance to rank No. 2 across 38 divisions (as of Sept. 2019) by increasing year-over-year absorptions in more than 30 communities by more than 25%, improving digital advertising to increase community traffic by 12% year over year, and handled merchandising and marketing to open 19 new communities in one year on time and performing above business plan • Led CalAtlantic team through merger with Lennar and retained 100% of both companies’ sales associates through the transition • Broke division record for 1,000 annual sales by improving field sales associates and marketing team relationship
Extracurricular
• Chairwoman, Maryland Awards of Excellence, Maryland BIA
Andrew Peek, 30
Lead Generation Manager
Tulsa, Okla.
Education
• BS, Information Technology, Florida State University
Credentials
• Google Analytics, Google Ads
Accomplishments
• Cohost of popular new-home marketing podcast “Market Proof Marketing,” with nearly 50,000 downloads as of November 2019 • Nicknamed the “Ad Doctor” • Highly rated IBS speaker since 2018 • Leads team that manages and optimizes more than $16 million annually in digital advertising for more than 40 home builders
Off the Clock
• Church children’s ministry volunteer • Preparing to be a foster parent • Competitive power lifter
Secret Life
• Cancer survivor
Ryan Perrone, 35
President
Sarasota, Fla.
Education
• BA, Construction Management, Everglades University
Accomplishments
• Started company just nine years ago and it now competes as a top-three luxury home builder in one of the nation’s most exclusive markets • First home he built made the cover of Veranda magazine’s 20th anniversary hard-cover book • Taught himself to use SketchUp, Sage 100 Contractor, ProCore, and Sage Estimator, among other programs and apps; developed workflow plan detailing every aspect of the business; digitized documentation so company operations are almost paperless • Won four regional Aurora Awards, SRQ magazine’s Best Contractor 2016-2019, SRQ HOTY Silver 2017, Best of Houzz Design Awards 2018-2019. Homes also were featured in magazines Veranda, Florida Design, Style, SRQ, Venice, Luxury Home, and more
Extracurricular
• Board member, General Contracts Licensing and Examining Board of Sarasota County • Weekly mentor for high school students studying architecture and construction management; scholarship donor and provider of paid internship for top student
Owen Nerren Pratt, 37
VP, Construction
Chattanooga, Tenn.
Education
• BA, Business Administration, with emphasis in Real Estate Finance, University of Mississippi • AA, Wallace State Community College
Accomplishments
• Led construction team since 2010 in building and closing more than 1,200 homes and over 25 communities, boosting the company to the top 200 in Pro Builder’s Housing Giants rankings • Expanded housing products to new and revitalized rental apartment properties • Founded Callio Earthworks to create a fully integrated building and development organization
Off the Clock
• Working on the farm, riding horses, and raising cattle
Secret Life
• Spent four years being a cowboy for National Outdoor Leadership School and working at various ranches in and around Jackson Hole, Wyo.
Greg Prieb, 38
President
Prieb Homes
Olathe, Kan.
Education
• BA, Business Administration, minor in Economics, Kansas State University
Accomplishments
• Built 270 homes in 2018 and again in 2019 • Created Prieb Property Management, which has a dozen multifamily projects under construction and will result in 3,500 units available for lease • Company’s land development arm provides about 85% of the lots the home building division builds on, making Prieb one of the larger Kansas City builders in annual revenue and permits, and among the city’s fastest growing companies since 2016
Extracurricular
• Remodeled group home for Healing House • Prieb Family Foundation raised more than $2 million for local charities
Off the Clock
• Flying and photographing scenery with drones • Weekends tying up with flotilla of neighbors’ boats in lake community • Lake Quivira council member
Amber Richard, 35
Director, Sales and Marketing
Irvine, Calif.
Education
• BA, Human Communication, California State University, San Bernardino
Accomplishments
• Sales process relaunch included weekly sales calls, construction meetings, regular field visits, and detailed follow-up to deliver an excellent customer experience • Dives deep into marketing research for pricing, consumer and product data, and works with ad agency on campaigns tailored to each product and neighborhood • Closings totaled $57 million since starting at Melia in 2017 and were on track to finish 2019 at $93 million • Sold and closed more than 700 units, from entry-level, multifamily to single-family, totaling $600 million in nearly seven years working for Irvine Pacific until 2017 • Nominated “Rising Star of the Year” for 2019 SoCal Awards
Extracurricular
• Chairwoman, NAHB Entry and Education committees, SoCal MAME Awards and Sales Awards committee • Board member, Great-er Sales & Marketing Council
Secret Life
• Loves writing and is currently working on writing a book • First job was collecting snails from neighbors’ yards for a nickel apiece
Sean Ricks, 38
President, Dallas-Fort Worth Division
Dallas
Education
• JD, University of Southern California • BS, Business Administration, California Polytechnic State University
Credentials
• State Bar of California
Accomplishments
• Represented TRI-Pointe Group for the 2014 acquisition of Weyerhaeuser Real Estate Company. The deal elevated TRI-Pointe to being one of the top 10 largest public home builders and added five brands to the company’s portfolio • Expanded TRI-Pointe’s footprint to Texas as a member of team that completed the acquisition of Dunhill Homes and its 55+ brand Nathan Carlisle Homes, which have been rebranded as Trendmaker Homes
Off the Clock
• Riding Peloton and mountain biking • Pro bono legal assistance for nonprofit organizations • Youth basketball coach
Secret Life
• As a boy, escaped a mama black bear attack in the Shasta Mountains after accidentally startling her cub
Elizabeth Russell, 31
Director of Marketing
College Station, Texas
Eduction
• BS, Family Science, University of Maryland
Accomplishments
• Acquired unique marketing perspective about homebuyers’ needs by working as an on-site sales executive for a year before returning to marketing and eventually being promoted from manager to director • Relaunched company website while simultaneously recreating the marketing department to be a more professional division providing web content and updates that were previously delivered by a third party • Gathers analytics about traffic and marketing outreach
Extracurricular
• U.S. Army officer wife who participates in a variety of military and cancer charities and the Margaret P. Cullison Scholarship Foundation (Howard Community College)
Secret Life
• Manager for Univ. of Maryland’s wrestling team • Featured in Kane Brown music video
Anjela Salyer, 39
VP, Division Manager
Tucson, Ariz.
Education
• BA, Business and Communication, Arizona State University
Accomplishments
• Led a team of 40 employees that generated more than 300 closings in 2019, ranking Mattamy among the Top 5 builders in the Tucson market • Led customer experience that earned the division an AVID score that exceeds the national average • 2018 Sales Leader of the Year by the Southern Arizona Home Builders Association (SAHBA)
• Designed and developed layout and floor plans and marketing plans for Alterra at Vistoso Trails, SAHBA’s 2018 Community of the Year. Also handled same duties for Saguaro Trails, which sold more than 130 homes in six months
Extracurricular
• Chair, SAHBA’s Sales & Marketing Committee
Colin Scattergood, 32
Product Manager, MarkSystems
Mount Laurel, N.J.
Education
• BS, Entrepreneurship, Temple University
Certifications
• Project Management Professional, Project Management Institute • PMC Level IV, Pragmatic Institute
Accomplishments
• Collaborated with divisions and team members to create best practices for working with builders to ensure successful startup of enterprise resource planning solution • Not a programmer, but learned SQL to enhance communication between the development team and management • Pursued continuous improvement by overseeing 10 new version releases of the MarkSystems platform, which included more than 2,500 enhancements and fixes • Since becoming product manager in 2017, MarkSystems’ customer base has grown 40% due to development of features targeted to bring in specific customer segments
Off the Clock
• Coaches youth lacrosse and plays in a men’s league
Kate Seabaugh, 32
Senior Manager Research Group
John Burns Real Estate Consulting
Irvine, Calif.
Education
• MEng, concentration in Financial Engineering, Cornell University • BS, Business Administration, Finance emphasis, University of Connecticut
Accomplishments
• Becoming a housing industry expert within four years of joining the company, after transitioning from a finance and investments career • Has attended 73 industry events; presented at six during 2018 • Built her brand by writing forward-looking white papers, newsletters, and posting content about macro/regional/local housing industry data on social media • Participated in the Urban Land Institute’s Young Leaders Executive Committee and the Women’s Leadership Initiative and Mentorship Program and won the group’s Emerging Leader Award
Off the Clock
• Hiking • Tennis • Golf • Pickleball • Visiting nearly every U.S. national park • Trying new Mezcal cocktails
Secret Life
• Played Division I college volleyball on full scholarship • Climbed Mt. Whitney, Half Dome, and hiked the Grand Canyon rim to rim
Will Spencer, 37
Director of Operations
Monroe, Wash.
Education
• BS, Travel and Tourism/Hospitality Management, St. Cloud State University
Accomplishments
• Left successful cellphone sales management and tech services career for family cabinetmaking business • Arrived with an outsider’s perspective and identified production bottleneck in the finishing system. Smoothed out cabinet production flow, doubling total weekly output, cut manufacturing lead time to 1 workday compared with two to three weeks for competitors • Further improved productivity by addressing work-life balance; changed workweek from five 8-hour days to four 9-hour days and a 4-hour Friday, giving employees 2 ½-day weekends. Average monthly bonus employee profit sharing checks jumped from about $500 to $1,800 and turnover was eliminated
Extracurricular
• Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association • Cabinet Makers Association • Washington State Golf Association
Dennis Steigerwalt, 38
CEO and President
Pittsburgh
Education
• BS, Finance; BA, Accounting, University of Pittsburgh
Accomplishments
• Increased Alliance membership by more than 30% and annual program underwriting partnerships by more than 25% since becoming president in June 2019 • Led team that drove innovation in Middle East and North Africa housing industry with $30 million multiyear program that developed more than 1,000 subject-matter experts, including 46 manufacturers, ultimately resulting in the Middle East’s first LEED platinum home, a community of 1,200 LEED Silver homes, and a LEED Gold interactive exhibition center. As of 2019, the program has resulted in more than 100 business opportunities with more than $500 million in new value creation
Extracurricular
• Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Free Care Fund • Investing with like-minded entrepreneurs in infill development to reactivate distressed neighborhoods in partnership with community groups
Off the Clock
• Snowboarding • Paddle boarding
• Hiking
Secret Life
• Conducted business in 28 countries and traveled to many more
Emily Sweitzer, 39
VP and Associate General Counsel
Alpharetta, Ga.
Education
• BA, Sociology and Anthropology, Carleton College • JD, Northwestern University
Credentials
• State Bar of Georgia
Accomplishments
• Integral member of team that grew land pipeline from 11,053 homes and lots under control in 2016 to 39,014 homes and lots by year end 2019 • Helped create single-family rental business that delivers fee build services and build-to-rent single-family homes to rental companies • Developed robust banking platform to facilitate Ashton’s rapid growth
Off the Clock
• Hiking • Camping • Biking • Uno championships with two sons
Extracurricular
• Urban Land Institute’s Residential Neighborhood Development Council • Women’s Housing Leadership Group
Andrea Wagner Watts, 35
Commercial Application Technology Leader
DuPont Performance Building Solutions
Midland, Mich.
Education
• BS, Civil Engineering, Cornell University
Credentials
• LEED Green Associate
Accomplishments
• Holds two patents related to the development of silicone air and water barriers • Developed and successfully launched two new products in different market segments during the same year; both attained their sales plan targets • Provided technical support for $30 million sales territory through problem-solving causes of possible product failure, presented technical information to customers and evaluated possible use of product in applications beyond traditional scope of material
Extracurricular
• Co-chair, technical committee of Air Barrier Association of America • Buffalo Habitat for Humanity construction committee
Secret Life
• Visited 35 national parks by high school graduation • Performed leads in two Shakespeare plays
Cindy Wasser, 33
Senior Manager, Green Building Programs
Upper Marlboro, Md.
Education
• MBA, Sustainability, Bard College • BS, Environmental Policy, Institutions, and Behavior, Rutgers University
Accomplishments
• Helped refine policies and procedures to keep the NGBS Green Certification program flexible and affordable and helped it grow to more than 202,000 certified homes and apartments since launching in 2009 • Provided path for growth of green certified buildings by developing a suite of technical tools that streamline the path for single-family construction and for certifying mixed-use commercial path • Earned MBA while working full-time, changing jobs, moving, and getting married
Off the Clock
• Cooking • Yoga • Biked from Washington, D.C., to Leesburg, Va., and Richmond to Williamsburg, Va.
Secret Life
• While studying abroad in South Africa in 2007, helped student group launch community service organization that aids rural schools • While pursuing MBA, worked on consulting team that developed growth plan and financial model for Eileen Fisher Renew, a women’s clothing company that takes used clothing for resale, reinvention, or repair
Robert White, 39
Senior Brand Manager, Shopper Marketing (Retail and Builder Channel)
Benton Harbor, Mich.
Education
• BA, Business Administration, Illinois State University • MBA, University of Illinois
Credentials
• Six Sigma Green Belt
Accomplishments
• Rebranded an already successful marketing effort by overhauling the campaign to redefine how the manufacturer speaks to builders with the tagline “Count on Us.” Business has since outpaced building industry growth, and the builder-targeting website WhirlpoolPro.com saw double-digit traffic increases, engagement quality, and interactions • Launched Whirlpool’s first-ever builder business CRM program, which resulted in best-in-class open rates and click-through rates • Started investigating through test buys and then led patent enforcement effort against imports of counterfeit water filters for refrigerators that led to more than 40 patent lawsuits resulting in $14 million in rulings to date
Secret Life
• Army veteran served two deployments in Iraq and Germany (awarded 1st Sergeant Award for outstanding leadership, Army Commendation Medal, two Army Achievement Medals) • Has been to 36 countries in 18 years, goal is to visit 100
Nick Wisniewski, 31
VP
Mt. Juliet, Tenn.
Education
• BS, Concrete Management, Middle Tennessee State University
Accomplishments
• At age 26, led team that won 12 of 15 awards in the Parade of Homes • After graduating college in 2011, worked as a project manager and eventually as director of operations in Afghanistan leading more than 2,000 employees to build hotels, office buildings, restaurants, power stations, and the country’s first underground irrigation system • After returning from Afghanistan in 2012, helped triple closings for the family home building business through 2019
Off the Clock
• Boating • Skiing • Four-wheeling in his Jeep
Secret Life
• Had such a strong work ethic even at 12 years old that parents restricted his summer work hours to three days a week
Erin Wright, 37
Owner, CEO, and President
Hawkins, Texas
Education
• AA, Tyler Junior College
Credentials
• Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist • Green Professional • Graduate Builder • Master Builder • Can operate a front-end loader, haul truck, track hoe, tractor, and drive an 18-wheeler
Accomplishments
• Was building houses while attending junior college one class at a time. Joined the local HBA, enrolled in NAHB classes, became a general contractor, and has built more than 100 homes in 15 years • Texas Association of Builders (TAB) JB Sandlin Builder of the Year winner • Inducted into inaugural class of TAB’s Excellence Under 45 award • Featured in the Houston Chronicle and Wall Street Journal • Best of Houzz for Design and Service 2013, 2014, and 2015
Extracurricular
• Organizes food drive for local pantry • Collected trailer loads of supplies and delivered to HBAs affected by Hurricane Harvey • Has organized local Fourth of July fireworks show for past three years • Executive officer and chairman, Parade of Homes, Tyler Area Builders Association • Young Professionals Council, Texas Association of Builders • Bond and campus improvement committees for Hawkins Independent School District
Off the Clock
• Boating • Paddle boarding • “Floating” on lake near home
Secret Life
• With husband, Brandon, co-owns a bar/family restaurant that hosts concerts, Christmas toy drives, and other charity fundraisers
Access a PDF of this article in Pro Builder's March 2020 digital edition