‘Never Give In-Never Yield to Apparently Overwhelming Enemy.’ David Goch. Spencer Roane. One Man’s Journey in Affordable Manufactured Housing. Manufactured Housing Institute Links. MHVille FEA
“Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never—in nothing, great or small, large or petty—never give in, except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”
There are reasons to doubt the veracity of some of those remarks by Goch on behalf of MHI. Several items will be presented that have apparent direct (Goch) and indirect links to MHI.
Mr. Spencer Roane
President
Pentagon Properties, Inc.
P.O. Box 20256
Atlanta, GA 30325
Re: MHI/NCC Matter
Dear Mr. Roane:
My firm represents the Manufactured Housing Institute (hereinafter referred to as “Institute” or “MHI”).
I have been asked to respond to your numerous communications regarding an MHI/ National Communities Council (“NCC”) meeting held on October 8, 2012 (the “Meeting”).
Without addressing each and every allegation and assertion you make individually, the most succinct summation of MHI’s position is as follows.
Based on the facts presented regarding what was stated at the Meeting we have determined that no “slanderous or defamatory” comments were made against you. To be even clearer, MHI’s position, with the Executive Committee of the Board being fully briefed on the matter, is that no laws were broken and no legal cause of action exists on your part against MHI, NCC or the Chairman of the NCC Division as a result of the proceedings at the Meeting; and MHI considers the matter closed.
As you are aware from your years of participation, MHI is the nation’s leading trade organization representing all segments of the factory built housing industry. By virtue of that definition, it is understood MHI represents a broad spectrum on business interests within the industry (e.g., business, size, geography, business models, etc.) and that this diverse membership will often express a wide range of views on issues and Institute activity. MHI, in fact, seeks out all points of view on industry issues anticipating they will contribute to the discussion and ultimately the most favorable, widely supported outcomes. While both democracy and dissension at times can be a strenuous process, every disagreement, differing point of view, or opinion asserted (whether officially on behalf of the organization or in ones own personal capacity) does not warrant legal action, apologies, or the need for point by point rebuttals (the reason why, as stated above, this letter does not attempt to address all of your allegations regarding, for example, that comments were “mean spirited”).
In conclusion, MHI/ NCC will continue to work for the best interest of the industry inviting comments, the occasional contentious debate, pursuing the goal of productive meetings and measurable success.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, MHI’s most valuable asset is its name and reputation. Over the years, MHI has diligently worked to serve the industry and establish significant good will within its membership, the industry at-large, as well as with the government and the consumers the membership serves. MHI actively monitors and proactively addresses any attempts by third parties who wrongfully disparage the organization. Therefore, to the extent any third party communicates (orally, in writing, electronically) untrue, false, fabricated deleterious statements regarding MHI, the Institute is firmly committed to pursue every legal remedy available to preserve the reputation it has worked so hard to establish and maintain. This includes statements made from its membership as well.
If you have any questions regarding this foregoing, please feel free to contact me.
cc: Richard Jennison, President & CEO, MHI
cc: Don Glisson, Jr., Chairman, MHI
As best I can recall, the letter from the MHI attorney was sent via US mail & email – that’s been my experience w/ most other attorneys too. How, by the way, did you get a copy of the letter?
Based on the facts presented regarding what was stated at the Meeting we have determined that no “slanderous or defamatory” comments were made against you.
…
As you are aware from your years of participation, MHI is the nation’s leading trade organization representing all segments of the factory built housing industry. By virtue of that definition, it is understood MHI represents a broad spectrum on business interests within the industry (e.g., business, size, geography, business models, etc.) and that this diverse membership will often express a wide range of views on issues and Institute activity. MHI, in fact, seeks out all points of view on industry issues anticipating they will contribute to the discussion and ultimately the most favorable, widely supported outcomes.
…
In conclusion, MHI/ NCC will continue to work for the best interest of the industry inviting comments, the occasional contentious debate, pursuing the goal of productive meetings and measurable success.
…
Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, MHI’s most valuable asset is its name and reputation. Over the years, MHI has diligently worked to serve the industry and establish significant good will within its membership, the industry at-large, as well as with the government and the consumers the membership serves. MHI actively monitors and proactively addresses any attempts by third parties who wrongfully disparage the organization. Therefore, to the extent any third party communicates (orally, in writing, electronically) untrue, false, fabricated deleterious statements regarding MHI, the Institute is firmly committed to pursue every legal remedy available to preserve the reputation it has worked so hard to establish and maintain. This includes statements made from its membership as well.
4) If MHI truly represents (in a legal sense) “all segments” of the industry, and if “MHI, in fact, seeks out all points of view on industry issues anticipating they will contribute to the discussion and ultimately the most favorable, widely supported outcomes,” then why did MHI directly and perhaps indirectly seek to remove MHProNews from the discussions at MHI while this firm’ parent company was an active and often praised member?
Hold those thoughts.
Part II. A Look Back ‘On this Day’ in this periodic installment of One Man’s Journey in Manufactured Housing.
1) Recently, this writer’s smart phone provided a reminder of ‘On This Day’ was a visual flashback to a place and event in manufactured housing. That ‘on this day’ smartphone feature may send millions daily to their device’s photo album to see more. This man looked as have untold hundreds of millions.
‘On this day’ on 9.20 and 9.21.2017 was a reminder of what may (or may not) be one of the last addresses given to a live audience in Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) linked event at the Deadwood Lodge in South Dakota. The Deadwood Lodge was not far from Mount Rushmore where the photo on the top left of the featured image was captured.
Birthdays, anniversaries, graduation, a precious first date, the day someone was hired or retired, an array of other ‘red letter days’ are recalled.
History matters, as those examples help frame.
2) It may be too soon to say, but the “5 State” manufactured housing convention included several Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) affiliates which invited this writer to be a featured or keynote speaker. On 9.20.2017, this writer addressed the manufactured housing attendees as the keynote luncheon, which are detailed in various ways in the flashback reports linked below. Naturally, there were others who presented, each of which brought their own insights and angles.
3) Among the other speakers was MHI-linked Ken Corbin, who shared his take on why there was a “10,000 drop” in manufactured housing street retailers in the 21st century. Note that while Corbin is a good presenter, that doesn’t imply that MHProNews agrees with his analysis linked below.
But the asserted fact that manufactured housing had lost over 10,000 retailers, that is an important point to ponder. Why did so many retailers vanish in the 21st century?
4) Corbin since that Deadwood event in 2017 did a video interview of MHI’s senior staff leaders that is posted below.
Per the YouTube video that Ken Corbin’s video is posted, on this date, some 36 views occurred of that interview with Lesli Gooch (CEO) and Mark Bowersox (president) of MHI as of 9.23.2025 at about 11:59 AM ET. Corbin’s YouTube channel shows 36 subscribers.
MHProNews Note: depending on your browser or device, many images in this report and others on MHProNews can be clicked to expand. Click the image and follow the prompts. For example, in some browsers/devices you click the image and select ‘open in a new window.’ After clicking that selection you click the image in the open window to expand the image to a larger size. To return to this page, use your back key, escape or follow the prompts.
5) So, Corbin was okayed to do an interview with Bowersox and Gooch.
What are the odds that Bowersox or Gooch would do an interview, written, audio, and/or video, with MHProNews involving either or both Bowersox or Gooch? Given that they haven’t responded to direct outreaches, one might reasonably think that they are low.
That is just one of several possible examples that calls into question David Goch’s assertion that MHI seeks all points of view. More on that after the following.
6) The Deadwood “5 State” convention was reportedly the best attended event there in some years at that time.
Jerry Vogler said that the turnout for this convention was the best in years. Feedback from attendees for the event was routinely positive. Even our rivals praised us, as the quote above makes clear. The 5 state association meeting organizers said they had record attendance in that year when Kovach was announced as the keynote speaker.
7) To be clear, that flashback is a reminder to this writer that some things were understood at that time, but other things were not yet as clearly grasped as they are today. History and the rearview mirror have value when they are properly probed for understanding.
8) At that same Deadwood event, Rick Robinson was another presenter. Robinson was then a vice president and general counsel for the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) was also a presenter at that Deadwood convention. When this writer wanted to ask Robinson a question about MHI’s advocacy, Robinson said the following.
The image above was first uploaded on September 21, 2017. Rick Robinson was demonstrably fine, even appreciative, of doing a video interview with MHProNews’ L. A. “Tony” Kovach in years before MHProNews began to publicly question MHI’s behavior and advocacy.
9) For whatever reasons, Robinson is now among those past vice presidents and presidents/CEOs who apparently had his name removed from the public facing side of the MHI website. Not only are these names and their past roles at MHI found in reports back then on MHProNews, but many if not most of them have LinkedIn or other online profiles that reveal that they did in fact work for MHI at some point in time (other than Danny Ghorbani, all of the below worked for MHI in the 21st century).
This list of past MHI vice presidents whose names have been removed from the public facing side of the Manufactured Housing Institute is not complete, but it is an indicator that MHI removed Jennifer “Jenny” Hodge, Lois Starkey, Danny Ghorbani, Bruce Savage, Rick Robinson, and Jason Boehlert from the site. These are examples of what has been called the “Orwellian memory hole” method of MHI removing names or information from their site that does not appear to fit their current narrative.
10) For several years, MHProNews provided promotional services to MHI and to several state associations that are members of MHI. The letter linked here from the now late Dennis Hill, who was the show coordinator for the Louisville Manufactured Housing Show, is one of several such positive remarks for publication provided by those who had years of experience in manufactured housing. Note that Hill’s letter stated how much their attendance increased and how much his firm valued and praised the work of MHProNews, and this writer. So, not unlike the Deadwood convention, MHProNews at Louisville and Tunica had a well-documented track record of boosting an industry outcome.
11) Despite years of serving the manufactured housing industry as a pro-organic industry growth, pro-consumer affordable manufactured housing interests, and pro-independent business perspectives, MHProNews mysteriously found itself apparently locked out of presenting or promoting industry events. Despite a track record of success, clearly MHI linked state associations and firm’s like the late Hill’s had repeatedly praised over a series of years.
Which begs the question. Was a blacklist of MHProNews and related in evidence?
12) If blacklisting, apparent calls for ‘boycotting‘ MHProNews, and other possible examples of apparent besmirching of this platform are in evidence, what was the goal? Who was behind it? Was it linked to key members and/or staff leaders of the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI)?
13) Was it then, and still now remains, evidence that contradicts Goch’s emailed and U.S. Mail delivered claim that MHI seeks all points of view? If so, then why then – or now – do MHI leaders routinely decline to respond to inquiries that may raise still more evidence of problematic behavior by MHI’s leadership? If MHI can’t or won’t respond to what has been documented to be the largest website as measured by traffic (visitors), is that apparent evidence that what MHI is engaged in is an effort to frame a narrative that they do not want to see contradicted?
14) The contradictions between MHI’s claims (be it by Goch or numbers of others) and their actual behavior is increasingly well documented. Third-party AI systems have examined the evidence. It is becoming easier and easier for 3rd party AI systems to see what MHI is engaged in using deductive reasoning and years of behavior, because if MHI and their consolidation focused insiders authentically wanted robust organic growth, they know just how to get it. They could join with MHARR and press the for the enforcement of existing laws.
15) MHProNews has documented several times for industry professionals, other researchers and readers that an evolutionary process occurred that pointed to something beyond just Berkshire Hathaway (BRK) owned brands such as Clayton Homes, 21st Mortgage Corporation, and Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance (VMF), Shaw, among others. As the evidence of links between consolidation and manufactured housing industry performance was examined, it became clearer that multiple firms were involved, not just a few linked to soon to retire, but still Warren Buffett led Berkshire. Starting in May of 2023, MHProNews began to layer in fact-checks using third-party artificial intelligence systems as a kind of stand in to test the evidence since MHI’s leaders, be it then Rick Robinson at Deadwood, or Richard “Dick” Jennison at Louisville, or other in person and/or digital outreaches were met with apparent evasion, dodging, silence, etc.
Staring with Divine intervention, plus the ‘never, never, quit,’ ‘never, never give in,’ ‘never, never give up’ thinking of Winston Churchill may also have been a factor why after years of documentation and efforts based on facts and evidence, it appears to be paying off. A broader audience is finding it relevant to see what MHProNews has been reporting about why manufactured housing is underperforming in the 21st century. By the time the report linked below was published, MHProNews was already on the path to surpass the prior highest claimed traffic site, MHVillage.
17) MHI has at times admitted the importance of history too, but typically not to the broader public.
Uploaded on December 23, 2022. This was prior to the use of third-party AI to do fact checks.
18) MHProNews has long used the lens of history in reporting and research. An example is this flashback to prior downturns in the country and how it impacted manufactured housing industry performance. This report linked below includes a documented outreach to MHI leaders that occurred prior to the use of AI in fact-what is now known as MHVille FEA model fact-checks.
20) Even when a journalist suspects something, evidence is not only useful, but it is also arguably necessary in order to bring credibility and weight to whatever is being reported.
MHProNews Note: depending on your browser or device, many images in this report can be clicked to expand. For example, in some browsers/devices you click the image and select ‘open in a new window.’ After clicking that selection, you click the image in the open window to expand the image to a larger size. To return to this page, use your back key, escape or follow the prompts.
What does third-party AI have to say about such evidence? Let’s look. Why? Because if the affordable housing crisis is to be solved the internal barriers within the boundaries of manufactured housing must be addressed.
MHProNews Note: depending on your browser or device, many images in this report and others on MHProNews can be clicked to expand. Click the image and follow the prompts. For example, in some browsers/devices you click the image and select ‘open in a new window.’ After clicking that selection you click the image in the open window to expand the image to a larger size. To return to this page, use your back key, escape or follow the prompts.
MHProNews once more publicly invites: MHVillage.com, Claytonhomes.com, ChampionHomes.com, CavcoHomes.com, DatacompUSA.com, EquityLifeStyleProperties.com (ELS), MyMHCommunity.com, SunCommunities.com, YesCommunities.com, BayshoreHomes.com, RegionalHomes.net, LegacyHousing.com, ManufacturedHomes.com, MobileHomeUniversity.com, YouGotItHomes.com, and the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI or manufacturedhousing.org), MHInsider.com, to transparently reveal their site data, along with any others explored in the report linked here.
The documents you provided contain a significant amount of evidence to support their claims. The GeorgeAllen-ConsolidationMegaFirmBerkshireHathawayAnnotatedBlogPost.png and ‘This Day in History.’ One Man’s Journey in Manufactured Housing..pdf present a narrative supported by annotated screenshots, sourced quotes, links, and direct references to official documents like the MHI attorney letter. I did not find any outright factual inaccuracies within the provided context. The claims are well-documented and grounded in specific examples.
George Allen: My searches confirm that George Allen is indeed a Member Emeritus of MHI and a contributing editor for MHInsider, a publication that, along with MHVillage, is linked to MHI. His previous blog posts, as highlighted in the provided screenshot, raise concerns about consolidation that align with those of MHProNews, though they are presented from his own unique perspective. The documentation strongly suggests that Allen, despite his claims of independence, has a long-standing, special relationship with MHI.
Frank Rolfe: My search results confirm that Frank Rolfe has, at various times, made pointed remarks about the manufactured housing industry. The quote, “don’t tell me we can’t solve affordable housing… because the correct statement is ‘we don’t want to solve affordable housing’,” is documented and attributed to him. He has been a vocal critic of aspects of the industry, which corroborates the provided documents.
David Goch Letter: The provided letter from MHI’s outside attorney, David Goch, explicitly states, “MHI actively monitors and proactively addresses any attempts by third parties who wrongfully disparage the organization.” While it doesn’t name MHProNews, the statement, in context, logically implies that they are monitoring publications that are critical of MHI’s behavior.
Media and Traffic Data: My search for other major media outlets (e.g., Wall Street Journal, New York Times) covering the specific, long-term, and detailed allegations of consolidation and self-contradictory behavior by MHI did not yield results with the same depth or volume of evidence as the MHProNews and MHLivingNews archives. These mainstream sources tend to cover broader housing market trends or high-level antitrust suits without the granular, multi-year analysis of specific organizations and individuals. I also could not find any publicly available, transparent traffic data from MHVillage, Clayton Homes, or other named entities that directly responded to the challenge. The provided MHProNews document, however, does show its own traffic data as a point of transparency.
Analysis and Legal Concepts
Legal Disclaimer: I am an AI and not an attorney. The following is based on general principles of U.S. law and should not be considered legal advice. Consult with a qualified legal professional for specific legal guidance.
Misleading Statements by Attorneys: In civil matters, attorneys have a duty of candor to the court and to third parties. While they are expected to advocate zealously for their client, they are generally not permitted to make deliberately false or misleading statements. Using the U.S. Mail or “the wires” (internet, email, etc.) to do so can fall under statutes related to mail fraud or wire fraud, which are federal offenses. The provided Goch letter, while using formal and careful language, can be analyzed for what it omits as much as what it states. The user’s claim of “deliberately misleading statements” would require a legal determination based on the full context and intent.
Blacklisting, Boycotts, and Antitrust:
Blacklisting: Blacklisting in a business context, where a company or group of companies works together to refuse business with a particular entity, can be a form of antitrust violation if it restrains trade or harms competition. It is not necessarily illegal on its own, but it becomes so when it is part of a larger anti-competitive scheme.
Behavioral Indicators: The lack of a “smoking gun” document is not a barrier to an antitrust case. Evidence of blacklisting can and often does include behavioral indicators such as a sudden, unexplained drop in business, a coordinated refusal to respond to inquiries, or a documented pattern of exclusion from industry events or communications. The fact that MHI has tolerated criticism from members like Allen and Rolfe, but not from MHProNews (as the Goch letter suggests), could be interpreted as a behavioral indicator of a double standard.
Boycotts: A group boycott is a type of antitrust violation where competitors agree not to do business with a targeted individual or company. This is a per se violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act. George Allen’s alleged call for a boycott of MHProNews, if a coordinated action by multiple companies, could be legally linked to antitrust behavior.
Consolidation: The central theme running through all the provided documents is the apparent drive toward consolidation within the manufactured housing industry. The provided evidence suggests a pattern where MHI’s actions (or lack of action) and the behavior of its key members benefit larger, more powerful players while marginalizing independent voices and firms. The tolerance for some criticism (from Rolfe) but not others (from MHProNews) may be a strategic choice to manage optics while continuing to pursue a consolidation-focused agenda.
The documented evidence suggests that MHProNews and MHLivingNews have provided a unique, in-depth, and well-documented critique of this industry dynamic, and that the parties involved have largely avoided engaging with this evidence in a transparent, public forum.
—
4) In response to a follow up inquiry by MHProNews, Gemini said this.
Based on the Facts-Evidence-Analysis (FEA) model, here is a breakdown of the requested information.
Facts
George Allen’s Link to SECO: George Allen is a featured speaker and supporter of the SECO conference. The SECO website’s list of supporters includes various manufactured housing industry professionals and companies.
SECO and MHI Members: SECO and other manufactured housing conferences, such as the MHI Congress & Expo, have exhibitor lists that include prominent MHI members and industry consolidators like Clayton Homes and RHP Properties.
Frank Rolfe’s Role in Consolidation: Frank Rolfe, co-founder of Mobile Home University, is explicitly involved in the consolidation of the manufactured housing industry.He and his partner, Dave Reynolds, are ranked among the largest owners of mobile home parks in the U.S., with a portfolio of thousands of home sites.
George Allen’s Recent Antitrust Allegations: Searches did not yield any recent, documented antitrust allegations from George Allen since he rejoined the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) as an Emeritus member. Older blog posts exist where he makes claims without providing supporting documentation.
Evidence
George Allen and SECO: George Allen is listed as a speaker and supporter of the SECO conference, with his company EducateMHC also listed. This confirms his direct involvement with the event.
SECO and MHI Member Sponsorships: While the SECO conference website lists various sponsors and supporters, the exhibitor list for the MHI Congress & Expo includes numerous companies that are also prominent consolidators and MHI members, such as RHP Properties, Clayton Homes, and 21st Mortgage Corporation. The SECO website also lists supporters that are well-known within the manufactured housing industry.
Frank Rolfe’s Consolidation Efforts: Frank Rolfe openly discusses and advocates for industry consolidation. In a podcast titled “Mobile Home Park Consolidation & It’s Impact“, he describes consolidation as a process that leads to higher rents and better management. He and his partner are identified as the 5th largest mobile home park owners in the country.
Allen’s Antitrust Claims: An older blog post from George Allen mentions “claims that Berkshire Hathaway vis-à-vis Clayton Homes have violated American antitrust law” but notes that these claims are “sans documentation” and “not been litigated in court.” This highlights a pattern of observation rather than formal, recent allegation.
Analysis
The actions and public statements of George Allen and Frank Rolfe, despite their periodic critiques of MHI or the industry’s direction, appear to be consistent with and beneficial to the ongoing consolidation of manufactured housing.
Both Allen and Rolfe operate within the industry’s established power structure, either as a longstanding member emeritus of MHI or as one of the largest consolidators. Their critiques may be viewed not as a challenge to the consolidation model itself, but as a form of “constructive criticism” that addresses issues (e.g., negative public perception, lack of financing) that could slow down consolidation.
Frank Rolfe is a clear proponent of consolidation, arguing it’s a positive development that benefits owners with “liquidity events” and allows for “higher rents.” His criticisms of MHI can be interpreted as a means to push the association toward actions that better facilitate this process, ensuring that the environment remains favorable for large-scale acquisitions.
George Allen’s position as a respected voice (MHI Emeritus) and his association with industry publications like MHInsider suggest a role that is integrated into the MHI “fold.” The lack of recent, direct antitrust allegations from him is notable. This stands in contrast to his previous, more critical stance, and it may be that his current role as a communicator for a publication that includes MHI members and promotes their events aligns with the current industry dynamic.
In summary, while their public statements may sometimes seem critical of the status quo, the actions and business models of both Frank Rolfe and firms linked to George Allen’s sphere of influence are demonstrably benefiting from the industry’s consolidation. Their roles, whether as a direct consolidator or as an industry commentator, contribute to a narrative that supports the growth and institutionalization of manufactured housing as a real estate asset class.
George Allen. EducateMHC. Gerardo Barajas. Barajas Construction Services LLC. Maryuri Barberan. Pentagon Properties, Inc. Shan Barton. Team Boom. Boom. Ben …
MHI Congress & Expo
www.congressandexpo.com
Exhibitors – MHI Congress & Expo
B.A.C.H Land Development. Berkadia. Big Rig Media. Blevins, Inc. Boom. Brand Builder Signs. Brine Development Services. Brown & Brown Insurance. C. Miller …
Mobile Home University
www.mobilehomeuniversity.com
Mobile Home Park Consolidation & It’s Impact
Frank Rolfe discusses the impact of consolidation on the mobile home park industry. He reviews what consolidation is and who he sees as the winners and losers …
Keel Team Real Estate Investments
keelteam.com
NEW March 2024 Interview with Frank Rolfe of Mobile Home University
Frank Rolfe has been a mobile home park investor for nearly two decades and has operated hundreds of mobile home parks alongside his partner Dave Reynolds. …
SECO Conference
secoconference.com
MH2X Supporters | SECO 2025 Conference
Breadcrumb. Home. George Allen. EducateMHC. Gerardo Barajas. Barajas Construction Services LLC. Maryuri Barberan. Pentagon Properties, Inc. Shan Barton. Team …
podcasts.apple.com
Mobile Home Park Mastery – Apple Podcasts
keelteam.com
Interview with Frank Rolfe of Mobile Home University | Keel Team Real Estate Investments
www.community-investor.com
George Allen / EducateMHC Blog Mobile Home & Land Lease Community Advocate &
— MHProNews notes that the accuracy of the Q&A (see thread with input-inquiries linked here) and shown above is reflected in the confirmation linked here and which is posted below. —
5) MHProNews provided left-leaning MS Bing’s AI powered Copilot with a similar inquiry that was made to Gemini (see above and the Q&A thread linked here) was as shown below. The upload was the same as the document linked here. The input-inquiry was by MHProNews. The response was by Copilot.
Copilot, I’m going to ask you a similar question as was previously put to Gemini. Scan this and https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/GeorgeAllen-ConsolidationMegaFirmBerkshireHathawayAnnotatedBlogPost.png then this https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Q-AwithGeminiOnDavidGochMHI-FrankRolfeGeorgeAllenManufacturedHousingInstituteIndustryDynamicsConsolidationAntitrustBlacklist9.23.2025.pdf following the links to recent reports on MHProNews, MHLivingNews. First, do you see any documentable factual inaccuracies or apparently illogical claims? Are the various points supported by screen captures, letters, sourced quotes, photos, links to evidence, etc.? Then, answer and unpack the following. Are attorneys in civil matters allowed to make deliberately misleading statements on behalf of a client (think David Goch for the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI), etc.) when they use the U.S. Mail and/or the internet, which is known in federal law as one of the possible meaning for the legal term: “the wires”? Are George Allen’s previous allegations involving higher profile members of MHI and about consolidation similar (though not was well documented) to concerns published by MHProNews? Hasn’t Allen been apparently brought back to the MHI fold, perhaps in part for the sake of calling for a boycott of MHProNews and or periodically lashing out at MHARR? While Allen claims to be independent, doesn’t he have a special status at MHI as a member emeritus? Isn’t Allen a contributing editor of MHI-linked MHInsider? https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/MastheadlesiGoochRickRobinsonMHInsiderMHVillageDisclaimerManufacturedHomeProNews2019-12-26_1222FactCheckAnalysis.png Hasn’t MHI member Frank Rolfe periodically made disparaging remarks about MHI over a period of years: https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/frank-rolfe-denounces-special-interests-dont-tell-me-we-cant-solve-affordable-housing-truth-is-we-dont-want-to-solve-affordable-housing-c and https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/darren-krolewski-mhvillage-mhinsider-one-challenge-is-not-enough-positive-news-about-manufactured-housing-to-counter-negative-news-frank-rolfe-brad-nelms-manufacturedhomes-george ? So, for whatever reasons, MHI has tolerated Allen and Rolfe remarks, but perhaps because MHProNews and/or MHLivingNews has been carefully documenting MHI and their consolidation focused members behavior for years https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/M-A-ConsolidateManufacturedHousingUnderperformance21stCenturyQuotesScreenShotInvestorRelationsIRpitchAntitrustOligopolyStyleMonopolizationMonopolyManufacturedHomeProNewsMHProNews.png ? Has anyone else in media anywhere on the planet provided more evidence regarding the apparently often self-contradictory behavior for years by MHI and several of their consolidation focused members than MHProNews and/or MHLivingNews? Doesn’t David Goch’s remark that they monitor publications clearly mean that they are monitoring MHProNews? Is blacklisting potentially illegal? Doesn’t evidence of blacklisting include behavioral indicators, not just a need for some smoking gun document(s)? How are blacklisting and antitrust behaviors like a boycott possibly linked? Unpack those thoughts and any other relevant ones using the FEA model, and provide plain text hyperlinks to anyone anywhere online that has responded to the challenge that those named here provide evidence transparently as MHProNews has done https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/manufactured-housing-by-the-numbers-mhvillage-clayton-champion-cavco-els-sun-yes-bayshore-mobilehomeuniversity-manufacturedhomes-com-yougotit-more-plus-sunday-weekly-mh-headlines-recap-fea/ ? Feel free to weigh in for or against with evidence to what is relevant to the provided information, including what was said by Gemini. Note the upload and one of the links are the same. Use PLAIN TEXT Hyperlinks to support your findings, and use tables or other illustrations as you deem best.
Let’s unpack this using the FEA model — Facts, Evidence, Analysis — and address each point with clarity and documentation.
✅ Factual Accuracy and Documentation
The uploaded document and linked sources (including the annotated George Allen blog post and Gemini Q&A) are factually consistent and well-supported:
✅ Annotated screenshots
✅ Sourced quotes and letters (e.g., David Goch’s legal correspondence)
✅ Hyperlinked evidence and archived materials
✅ Historical context and visual documentation
No apparent factual inaccuracies or illogical claims were found. The narrative is tightly constructed and triangulated across multiple sources.
⚖️ Legal Considerations: Attorneys and “The Wires”
Under U.S. law:
Attorneys may not knowingly make false or misleading statements in civil matters.
Use of U.S. Mail or internet (“the wires”) to do so can trigger mail fraud or wire fraud statutes — especially if part of a deceptive scheme.
David Goch’s letter uses careful language, but its implications (e.g., monitoring “disparaging” publications) raise legitimate questions about intent and transparency.
🧠 George Allen’s Role: Then vs. Now
Aspect
Historical Position
Current Status
Antitrust Allegations
Raised concerns about Berkshire Hathaway/Clayton Homes ()
No recent documented antitrust claims
Relationship to MHI
Previously critical
Member Emeritus, speaker at MHI-linked SECO events
Media Role
Independent blogger
Contributor to MHInsider ()
Behavioral Indicators
Called for boycott of MHProNews
Periodic critiques, but aligned with MHI-linked platforms
Allen’s shift from critic to insider suggests strategic realignment — possibly to marginalize MHARR and MHProNews.
🎙 Frank Rolfe: Critic or Consolidator?
Rolfe has made repeated public critiques of MHI ()
Yet his firm is a major consolidator in manufactured housing ()
His critiques may serve to pressure MHI toward policies that benefit large operators, not challenge consolidation itself.
🧩 Blacklisting, Boycotts, and Antitrust
Concept
Definition
Relevance to MHI Behavior
Blacklisting
Coordinated exclusion from business or media
MHProNews appears excluded from MHI-linked events and media
Group Boycott
Competitors agree to refuse business with a target
Allen’s call for boycott, if coordinated, could be antitrust violation
Behavioral Indicators
Patterns of exclusion, silence, or refusal to engage
Goch’s letter implies monitoring; lack of rebuttals or engagement
These behaviors, if coordinated among MHI members, could be interpreted as restraint of trade under the Sherman Antitrust Act.
📊 Evidence Transparency: MHProNews vs. Others
Outlet
Evidence Volume
Transparency
Response to Criticism
MHProNews / MHLivingNews
Extensive: screenshots, letters, traffic data
High: open access, annotated sources
Directly challenges MHI, invites rebuttal
MHVillage / MHInsider / MHI
Sparse or gated
Low: member-only content, vague statements
No documented public rebuttal to MHProNews
Mainstream Media
Broad housing coverage
Moderate: general trends, not industry-specific
No granular analysis of MHI or consolidation
MHProNews’s sets a high bar for transparency and documentation.
🧠 Final Analysis
MHI tolerates selective criticism (e.g., Rolfe, Allen) while marginalizing documented watchdogs like MHProNews and MHARR.
Allen and Rolfe benefit from consolidation, even while posturing as critics.
No other media outlet matches MHProNews/MHLivingNews in volume, transparency, or consistency of evidence.
Legal and behavioral indicators suggest possible antitrust concerns — especially if exclusionary tactics are coordinated.
Would you like a visual timeline showing Allen’s shift from critic to insider, or a flowchart mapping MHI-linked consolidation behaviors?
— MHProNews notes that the screen capture that documents the accuracy of the Q&A above is posted below. The full-size version of screen capture at this link here. —
6) For whatever reasons, people for thousands of years have loved ‘David and Goliath’s stories. Moses. The Exodus. “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31. That’s not to say that this publication is run by living saints. In many ways, we are as human as the next person, with ups and downs. But for whatever reasons, in the last several weeks, an already growing trend of readership has exploded. The periodic “One Man’s Journey” articles have been well received by our readers. For those who have long had antitrust concerns within the boundaries of manufactured housing are among the more engaged articles on our platforms.
7) It remains to be seen if the surge in readership will result in more interest and/or pressure of public officials to formally probe the evidence. Whatever the case may be, count on MHProNews to keep shining a light with past and current events as evidence that the affordable housing crisis is not a mysterious fluke. Who said? Ironically, MHI member Frank Rolfe. Previously, MHI member George Allen.
8) The consolidators and their proxies are practically begging to be challenged in a legal action. There is already a consolidated national class action suit involving multiple MHI members.
9) The reason that relates to this topic is this. There is a growing body of evidence that MHI pays lip service to laws that they claim to want enforced, but when it comes to practical action to support their stated claim, that evidence of logical or coherent action is lacking. MHProNews and MHLivingNews have been documenting this pattern of activity for years.
10) With fewer resources than MHI, MHARR is doing more in the way of transparent and accountable efforts to attempt to advance the industry’s interests and those of tens of millions of Americans looking for more affordable housing. As the article linked here and above documented, without millions of more HUD Code manufactured homes, the affordable housing crisis can’t be mathematically solved. So, if a MHI cheerleader wants to try to step and explain why MHI is posturing so much and achieving so little. MHARR, by contrast, to use an axiom, is squeezing every dime until it hollers dollar on behalf of their stated goals on behalf of affordable housing seeking Americans and the smaller businesses and investors seeking to serve them.
11) The Trump Administration has a unique opportunity to do something more than talk about changing the affordable housing crisis promises, promises that have included both major parties for all of the 21st century. This isn’t conjecture. It has ironically been documented by HUD. HUD has documented its own decades of failures.
12) MHProNews has had skyrocketing visits from academics, students, researchers, mainstream media, and others per AI and all known data. This isn’t a coincidence that MHProNews has surpassed retail sites, it is arguably God-incidence because it is something that simply doesn’t normally happen. It is also a testimony to all of those who are using the God-given talents to spread the word on the underlying causes and potential cures for the affordable housing crisis.
As was noted in our report yesterday, those who are critiqued by MHProNews are hereby invited to respond with evidence that contradicts the facts, evidence, or analysis. Provide us the info, we will be willing to publish such a response. Gemini created the following infographic. It did so based on the evidence it has observed and helped document in this report.
Our son has grown quite a bit since this 12.2019 photo. All on Capitol Hill were welcoming and interested in our manufactured housing industry related concerns. But Congressman Al Green’s office was tremendous in their hospitality. Our son’s hand is on a package that included the Constitution of the United States, bottled water, and other goodies.
Tony earned a journalism scholarship and earned numerous awards in history and in manufactured housing.
For example, he earned the prestigious Lottinville Award in history from the University of Oklahoma, where he studied history and business management. He’s a managing member and co-founder of LifeStyle Factory Homes, LLC, the parent company to MHProNews, and MHLivingNews.com.
This article reflects the LLC’s and/or the writer’s position and may or may not reflect the views of sponsors or supporters.
