Click on a date below to see the schedule for that day.
2019 SECO Conference Schedule
Day 1 - October 8
8:00a
Registration Opens for SECO19
Eleven 1 ½ hour workshops, one repeated, 3 running concurrently throughout the day.
9:00a – 10:30a
CPA: Keeping More of the Money You Make
Introduction: Chris Roane, Pentagon Properties
Speakers: Kelly Smith and Tim Watt, Bennett-Thrasher
A discussion on asset capitalization and the impact of repair regulations on qualified business income. Includes information on tax-efficient business structures, and what’s changed in tax reform impact on interest expense and estate planning.
9:00a – 10:30a
How to Stop Wasting Money on Advertising
Introduction: Maryuri Barberan, Pentagon Properties & Judy Roden, Mountain View Estates
Speaker: Cathy McIntosh, Affinity Solutions
Get the most out of social media and digital marketing with a clear, compelling message.
9:00a – 10:30a
Everything Newbies Wanted to Know But Were Afraid to Ask
Introduction: Larry Mathews, American Commerce Bank
Speakers:
Kolman Bubis, Sunstone Real Estate Advisors
John Fairey, AM Partners
Chuck Meek, Calhoun Homes
Charles Schierbeck, MAI, Colliers International
Eric Wanck, The MHP Broker
Variations on how to balance homes for rent and homes for sale. This includes an overview of manfuactured home community and land-lease community valuation. Other topics to review will be on how to buy new manufactured homes, due diligence, and purchasing mistakes to avoid.
10:30a – 12:00p
CPA: Keeping More of the Money You Make
Introduction: Chris Roane, Pentagon Properties
Speakers: Kelly Smith and Tim Watt, Bennett-Thrasher
A discussion on asset capitalization and the impact of repair regulations on qualified business income. Includes information on tax-efficient business structures, and what’s changed in tax reform impact on interest expense and estate planning.
10:30a – 12:00p
Manufactured Home Site Selection and Set Up
Introduction: Frank Murphy, Blue Ripple Properties
Speakers:
Cole Phillips, Phillips Investment Properties
John Overmier, Tie Down Engineering
Jennifer Rainey, Style Crest
Disccusion on planning, placement and installation of homes in a community.
10:30a – 12:00p
In-Community Chattel Financing
Introduction: Larry Mathews, American Commerce Bank
Speakers:
Ed Barber, CRE Capital Partners
Spencer Roane, Pentagon Properties
Covers the topics of in-community home sales, seller-financing, lease-with-option-to-purchase (LO), transaction structure, default rates, finance difference between new and existing homes, conventional loan requirements, and combinations of LO and conventional loans.
12:00p - 1:00p Lunch
1:00p – 2:30p
Community Ownership Succession
Introduction:Larry Mathews, American Commerce Bank
Speaker: Brett Danko, GENCapital
Plan ahead, transfer options besides an outright sale, financial psychologist’s tough questions, contingency plan, family considerations, employee and resident concerns.
1:00p – 2:30p
Renting vs. Selling Manufactured Homes
Introduction: Cole Phillips, Phillips Investment Properties
Speakers:
Fred Boshardt, FBK Management
Steve Case, Military Homes
Paul Chase, Iron Horse Properties
Chuck Meek, Calhoun Homes
George Morosani, George Morosani & Associates
There’s a strategy to deciding on how to balance homes for sale and community-owned rental homes. This involves detail on rehabbing homes, single-section vs. multi-section homes, and the upside of buying new homes for community infill.
1:00p – 2:30p
From Fried Dead Bird – to Finger Lickin’ Good
Introduction: Mark Titshaw, Stonegate Management Group
Speaker: Brad Simmons, Bluegrass Team Real Estate Professionals
Investor and master marketer Brad Simmons offers you tips, tricks and secrets to make your products sexier and increase your bottom line in any market.
2:30p – 4:00p
How RV Parks Compare to Manufactured Home Parks and Land-Lease Communities
Introduction: Dave Jackson, NAI G2 Commercial Real Estate
Speakers: Heather Blankenship & Sherry Koebler, Colliers International
A talk about RV Park location, valuation, due diligence, management and marketing.
2:30p – 4:00p
The Ins and Outs of Passive Investing
Introduction: Steve Case, Military Homes
Speakers:
Dyches Boddiford, Oaks Group
Maria Horton, Newport Pacific
Jefferson Lilly, Park Avenue Partners
Kim Shultz-Rainford, Affordable Casa Group
Passive investing in the industry continues to grow. We’ll have a discussion about raising capital, information on self-directed IRA accounts, and third-party management of manufactured home communities and land-lease communities.
2:30p – 4:00p
Service Animals, Emotional Support Animals, and MH Community Insurance
Introduction: Lewis Whitley, Iron Horse Properties
Speakers:
Sean Dalton, Haylor, Freyer & Coon
Kurt Kelley, Mobile Insurance
David Roden, Mountain View Estates
We will cover the differences between service animals and emotional support animals, associated provisions, and the impact each has on land-lease and manufactured home community insurance.
Day 2 - October 9
7:00a – 8:00a
Registration Opens SECO19
HFI Event Services, SECO19 event planner American Commerce Bank
Maryuri Barberan, Pentagon Properties
Tom Lackey, Able Mobile Housing
Judy Roden, Mountain View Estates
Mark Titshaw, Stonegate Management Group
8:30a – 10:30a
Attendee Introductions
10:30a – 11:15a
Refurbishing Older Communities and Zoning Challenges
Speaker: Don Westphal, Westphal Associates
Many land-lease communities were built 40 to 50 years ago when “mobile homes” were towed behind the family automobile. The “NIMBY” mentality continues to prevent the development of new communities. Yet, hardly a week goes by without a politician, state, or municipality lamenting the lack of affordable housing. We’ll talk about how to operate in the face of these critical realities.
11:15a-11:30p
Case Study – Refurbishing Coweta Hills LLC
Speaker: Jon Harrison, Inspire Communities
What a difference! We will take a look at how removing 150 old homes and replacing them with beautiful, new manufactured homes can create excitement and sales.
11:30a – 12:15p
Ask the Attorneys
Moderator: Jim Ayotte, Florida MHA
Panelists:
Carl Becker, Becker Bouwkamp Walker PC
Kurt Kelley, Mobile Insurance
All topics are open game – service animals & pet policies, rules & regulations, undesirable residents, tenant evictions, home sales, chattel financing, insurance liability, employee issues, and everything in between.
12:15p – 2:30p
Lunch – George Allen ‘State of the Industry’
Introduction: Maria Horton, Newport Pacific
Speaker: George Allen, EducateMHC.com
Industry veteran George Allen will provide an update on industry news and events while we grab a bite to eat and catch up with exhibitors. This is another excellent opportunity to network and learn. We also will provide a sneak peek at SECO2020
2:30p – 3:15p
Marketing Essentials for the Independent Community Owner
Speaker: Darren Krolewski, MHVillage
Owners and operators of small to midsize manufactured home communities have all the same marketing needs as the larger operators, but with fewer resources to achieve the same results. So, how do you do it?
Each of us has been overwhelmed at times when it comes to prospecting for potential buyers and residents. And, once you find some potential residents, you need to decide how to communicate with them and present yourself and your property in the most positive light. Darren Krolewski, co-president and chief business development officer for MHVillage and Datacomp, will take you through the absolute essential marketing strategies and tactics for any independent community owner who wants to increase occupancy. From signage to call tracking and open houses to digital marketing, Krolewski will detail the “must-do marketing approach” for your park.
3:15p – 4:00p
Alternative Community Ownership Options
Speaker: Dyches Boddiford, Assets 101
Dyches helps you decide whether you should pursue business in community ownership, operating a dealership, or run a home finance company. There are a variety of structures within each area to be considered, each with their own tax implications.
4:00p – 5:00p
Meet SECO19 Sponsors and Exhibitors
Moderator: Vendo Toming, HFI Event Services
SECO19 Sponsors and Exhibitors
Get to know the products and services our exhibitors offer to make your life easier, increase revenue, cut costs, increase efficiency, and meet industry and individual needs.
5:00p – 5:10p
Roundtable Announcements – Topics & Speakers
Speaker: Dave Jackson, NAI G2 Commercial Real Estate
5:10p – 6:00
Visit Exhibitors
6:00p – 7:00p
Reception
7:00p – 8:30p
Networking Roundtables (topics based on interest, announced earlier, and posted in Whova app)
Day 3 - October 10
7:00a – 8:00a
Newbies – Lessons Learned
Moderator: Clyde Rainford
Panelists:
Amie Hacker, Parkplace Homes & RV Sales
Erin Smith, Spotlight Strategies
Frank Murphy, Blue Ripple Properties
Ryan Narus, Archimedes Group
Lewis Whitley, Iron Horse Properties
Hear new operators of small and midsize communities talk about mistakes they made, what things they will do differently next time, and what advice they have for other newcomers to the community business.
8:00a – 9:00a
The Social and Economic Impact of Bringing Old Communities Back to Life
Speaker: Frank Rolfe, MHU.com
9:00a – 10:00a
Mini-TED talks for the Manufactured Housing Industry
Moderator: Jennifer Rainey, Style Crest
All Atendees
Freeform 5-10 minute presentations on everything from manufactured home sales to storm shelters, chattel financing, new industry expectations, in-community retail sales, a case study on improving credit score to qualify for conventional chattel financing, and an introduction of the SECO Youngbloods.
10:00a – 10:45a
1 Minute Money Makers – pass the mic
Moderators:
Steve Case, Military Homes
Tom Lackey, Able Housing
David Protiva, Sterling Acceptance
All Attendees Are Encouraged to Participate
This is among the most popular sessions at every SECO conference: Sales, marketing, finance, and management ideas from community owner attendees. Pick up on ideas that generate revenue, cut costs or make communities more attractive.
10:45a – 11:15a
Community Owner Representation at State & Federal Levels
Moderator: George Allen, Educate MHC.com
Panelists:
Susan Brenton, NAMHCO
Jay Hamilton, GMHA
Betty Whittaker, KMHA
We will detail the benefits of state manufactured housing association membership, as well as provide an introduction to the National Association of Manufactured Home Community Owners (NAMHCO)
11:15a – 12:45p
Lunch, Last Chance to Visit Exhibitors
12:45p – 1:30p
MH Manufacturers
Moderators:
Paul Chase, Ironhorse Properties
Chuck Meek, Calhoun Homes
Panelists:
Aaron King, Clayton Homes Building Group
Marvin Shell, Champion Homes
Dwayne Reynolds, Fleetwood Homes
Brent Cook, Legacy Housing Corporation
Gary Taylor, Scotbilt Homes
Some of the manufactured housing industry’s top home builders will provide the latest insight on home features and options, and talk about how plants conduct sales into communities.
1:30p – 2:15p
Manufactured Home Community and Land-Lease Lenders
Moderator: Jeff Buice, GEN Capital
Panelists:
Jeff Bush, American Commerce Bank
Lou Vela, Q10 Capital | Lutz
Our panelists will detail the state of providing community home loans, covering rates, size, loan-to-value rations, park-owned homes and, terms.
2:15p – 3:00p
In-Community Chattel Financing of MHs
Moderator: Ed Barber, CRE Capital Partners
Panelists:
Jerry Bretton, Credit Human
Scott MacFarlane, CIS
Kirk McDowell, Park Lane Finance Solutions
Ron Roldan, MH Specialty Services
For community owners to rent or seller-finance (lease-option) and the difference between conventional and retail financing of manufactured homes.
3:00p – 3:45p
Meet the Brokers of Mobile Home Communities
Moderator: Bob Love, Love Properties
Panelists:
Max Baker, The MHP Broker
Mike Nissley, Colliers International
Kolman Bubis, Sunstone Real Estate Advisors
Harrison Bell, Yale Realty & Capital Advisors
Kevan Enger, Capstone Manufactured Housing
Dave Jackson, NAI G2 Commercial Real Estate
An exploration of community-types that are in demand, cap rates and valuation of park-owned mobile homes versus lot rent.
3:45p – 4:15p
Wrap up – pass the mic
Moderator: Larry Matthews
All attendees
Attendees are encouraged to raise questions about mobile home features, financing, acquisition, resident and buyer, mobile home park and land-leased communities, industry concerns (trailer parks, NIMBY, setup contractors), and SECO19 stats.