Whistleblower’s Documents on Lesli Gooch – Manufactured Housing Institute CEO – New Discoveries

WhisleblowersDocumentsOnLesliGoochPhotoCEO-ManufacturedHousingInstituteLogo-NewDiscoveriesManufacturedHomeProNews

Our industry is full of people that don’t think very far out.”

And Legacy’s view is, we have to address all of those concerns [that are limiting manufactured housing] and
more to be effective in the affordable housing market
.”

– Curt Hodgson, Legacy Housing (LEGH);
comments made during investor call.

 

What follows is arguably another indication of a slow-motion, multiple billion-dollar scheme to defraud manufactured housing industry professionals which obliquely harms consumers in the wake of deceptive practices that new documents shed light on.

The Federal Trade Commission Act is a consumer protection law. It created the FTC.” stated the Winston and Strawn LLP law firm.

A source at the Federal Trade Commission has told MHProNews on background that the agency pursues cases of fraud perpetrated against businesses and other professionals “all the time.”

That FTC source gave examples, but there are several to be found published on the FTC website. So just because the word “consumer” is in the law, that is not meant to exclude professionals, investors or businesspeople that can be victimized by fraud, misrepresentation, false advertising or other forms of deceptive practices.

Addressing the meaning of the federal law regarding a deceptive or unfair practice, “There must be a representation, omission, or practice that misleads or is likely to mislead the consumer. An act or practice may be found to be deceptive if there is a representation, omission, or practice that misleads or is likely to mislead the consumer,” stated the Federal Reserve about Section 5 of the act, which is about unfair or deceptive practices.

MHProNews reached out to Gooch and MHI leadership via email for comments, clarification or reaction. Here was that message, which included several others in the industry as BCCs to document the outreach.

The subject line said:

About those Lesli Gooch documents, questions, feedback and additional insights

The body of the message to MHI leaders is dated Monday, January 20, 2020 at 8:46 AM and read as follows.

 

====

QuoteMarkManufacturedHomeLivingNews“Soheyla pointed out that several of those date and time stamped documents electronically signed by Lesli Gooch occurred during weekday work hours.

 

DIgitiallySignedLesliMcCollumGoochCEOManufacturedHousingInstituteLobbyingMHProNews

 

There’s more, but those examples make the point. That would suggest that while Ms. Gooch was ‘on the clock’ so to speak for MHI, she was doing lobbying reporting for others.  That leads to even more questions.

An association executive told MHProNews that it might potentially be okay, based upon certain disclosures and given the notion that it wasn’t in itself a conflict of interest. That sentiment was echoed in an email from a longtime MHI member, one who appears to be ‘pro-Gooch.’ That message, including typos in the original, are found below.

“My gut reaction is that there was and has been full disclosure by Leslie to the key MHI senior staff member who she reported directly to and the Executive Committee if that senior staff member followed either the MHI By-Laws or proper protocol.  All of this had to have been disclosed when Lesli was originally interviewed and subsequently hired.  Especially, since these relationships predated her employment with MHI.  Furthermore, just as you have done, these are all public records which would have been disclosed in a thorough personal investigation which should be standard in an employment situation of this nature.

If that is not the case then, in my opinion, the individual or group who hired Lesli have some major explaining ro provide.

In my opinion, someone is definitely looking to create an issue regarding Leslie and her employment with MHI.”

Those points noted – namely that there might be a different way to view this, were noted in our original report, although it did so using different verbiage.

https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/masthead/tipsters-uncontroverted-documentary-evidence-reveals-new-manufactured-housing-institute-ceo-lesli-gooch-controversial-quagmire/

This point about the time/date stamps begs several questions. Was Ms. Gooch not only doing reports for others during ‘MHI time,’ but was she also lobbying at times during MHI time?

As the original report notes, an insider thought this was an ‘unusual’ arrangement.  “Was not aware if MHI’s BOD [executive committee] knew about it.” But either way, if the BOD knew or not, it doesn’t look good does it?

And if Rick Robinson, who an insider said was also seemingly doing work for others besides MHI during his tenure there, then how much of this type of behavior was going on? Why would MHI’s BOD sanction it at all? What wonderful outcome has flowed from Gooch’s or Robinson’s moonlighting that MHI could point to as some accomplishment for the industry?

One must keep in mind that the whistleblower who provided those initial documents as a tip clearly must have thought that they were sending something relevant and problematic. Recall that there was no cover or other notes with the whistleblower’s tipped documents.  That source surely must have thought that the documents would speak for themselves.

Several contacts with MHI members resulted in ZERO that said they were aware of Gooch’s outside activities. But in fairness, some were asked that declined to respond.

In our view, much of this arguably underscores the hypothesis that MHI exists in recent years as a tool for consolidation being used by what Marty Lavin called ‘the big boys’ and not as a genuine body for advocacy on behalf of all of the industry. That opens up several ethical and legal issues. As a non-attorney, among them could be deceptive trade practices, fraud, RICO and COI – as was reflected in the original report.

We welcome follow up comments. If MHI’s BOD, Ms. Gooch or others have a reasonable explanation for this, we await such a written explanation. So far, those sources have remained silent.

Needless to say, the article is getting good readership. More on that another time.

Thank you in advance for your emailed comments and insights. If it [is] on or off the record, please so state in your message.

ExtendedQuoteSymbolCloseQuoteSBManufacturedHomeProNews
End of extended quote from the source shown.

Thanks,

Tony

== ## ==

 

According to a published study by the FTC in 2017, mass market consumer fraud accounted for a large share of the 15.9 percent of the population that were harmed by various illicit schemes. That amounts to some 40 million U.S. adults.

Internet transactions, which continue to grow, accounted for a substantial share of fraudulent incidents. According to the survey, 54 percent of all incidents of fraud involved Internet promotion of products and services, up from 33 percent in the 2011 survey,” per that FTC research.

That FTC source on background told MHProNews that the agency routinely collects “millions of dollars” in individual cases involving schemes that defraud businesses.

When asked about a trade association involved in deceptive practices, that becomes more nuanced, said that FTC source. There are variables that may make the matter a federal case, but others could make it a state case. The facts and the law would dictate.

The FTC research in 2017 also said:

The survey results indicate that consumers aged 35 to 54 were more likely to be victims of fraud compared to consumers in other age categories. According to the survey, 22 percent of respondents between 35 and 44, and 20 percent of respondents between 45 and 54, were victims of fraud. The survey also found that women were more likely to be fraud victims than men, with 19 percent of women reporting that they were victims of fraud, compared to 13 percent for men.

The survey results indicate that people who were more willing to take risks, and those who had recently experienced a negative life event (such as a severe illness or the death of a loved one), were more likely to have been fraud victims. Those experiencing high levels of debt and those who predicted that their incomes would rise substantially in the next few years were also more likely to have been fraud victims.”

 

MHProNews Analysis and Commentary

  • There are only 2 reasonable possibilities. Either the MHI Executive Committee (MHI board of directors or MHI BOD) knew about Gooch’s – and possibly Rick Robinson and others – outside activities and purported conflicts of interest, or they did not.
  • Given that a source within MHI has told MHProNews their awareness of this apparent conflict of interest (COI), it is reasonable to think that the MHI BOD knew too.
  • But even if the MHI BOD didn’t about Gooch’s purported COI, that also speaks volumes. Why would staff tell MHProNews something and not tell or ask their own board?
  • Furthermore, why hasn’t MHI’s BOD – now that they most certainly know from our reporting – taken steps to publicly and swiftly address this concern?
  • In short, there is silence from MHI’s elected leadership. There is silence from Gooch.  And there is public silence from MHI President Mark Bowersox. If they had a good explanation, why haven’t they already provided it?

The deductive logic of the above arguably leads to only problematic conclusions.

OccamsRazorDefinedManufacturedHousingIndustryDailyBusinessNewsMHProNews-768x287

 

As a relevant flashback, consider the following.

In an article that was updated on July 20, 2016, MHProNews publisher, who served as an MHI Suppliers Division board member and was still an MHI member – L. A. ‘Tony’ Kovach made the case “Why Richard “Dick” Jennison and Lesli Gooch at MHI Should Resign or Go.” That link is to the page on this new website, which reflects that the original report was updated on our previous website on 7.20.2016.

That incident outlined in that report from approaching 4 years ago flowed from a tip from a regular attendee at MHI meetings. That tipster’s firm has been an MHI member for some time. Rephrased, for over 4 years, several issues of concern involving the Arlington, VA based MHI have flowed from MHI members and insiders that are troubled by evidence of apparently deceptive practices.

Those alleged deceptions involve the use of ‘the wires’ could trigger several possible agencies involvement. If one presumes that the goal is to defraud, while that may involve the FTC and/or state agencies, it could also involve others. Antitrust, SEC, RICO, IRS, FHFA and HUD are just some of the federal agencies/legalities that could be involved.

RICO-RacketeringINfluencedCorruptOrganizationsMailWireFraudDailyBusinessNewsMHProNews-549x430

 

It is difficult to forge an argument in defense of the Arlington, VA based trade group that could reasonably explain how MHI could be so bad at doing the advocacy that they claim to do on behalf of all segments of manufactured housing in their federal filings.

At the time of that 7.20.2016 updated report, there was concerns raised about Gooch and Jennison in terms of their honesty to the industry. That was brought to attention of the chairman of the MHI board of directors at that time, Tim Williams. Williams is also the president and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway owned 21st Mortgage Corporation. The MHI board of directors or “executive committee” was given the benefit of the doubt for some time. What did Williams do? Williams staged a vote at a subsequent MHI meeting in support of Jennison. That public vote organized by Williams makes it difficult to claim plausible deniability now.

Since that time, as noted and as longer-time MHProNews readers know, there have been other documents periodically provided as news tips. Among those were those signed by Tim Williams. See the report below, because that report makes the case that the math points to a multiple-billion-dollar scheme.

 

SmokingGunEvidenceOfAntiTrustMonopolisticCollusionMoatClaytonHomesKevinClayton21stMortgageTimWilliamsWarrenBuffettMHLivingNewsMHProNews
Smoking Gun?!? In a series of direct quotes from Warren Buffett in context, a document from 21st Mortgage signed by Tim Williams, a Berkshire brand in MH Financing, and video recorded comments by Kevin Clayton, these all line up to demonstrate how independent retailers, communities, and producers – among others – where purportedly harmed by action that could be deemed an antitrust violation. MHI publishes an antitrust statement that is used at meetings. Why have they not acted on an apparent example of antitrust violations by their own members? The first half of the report linked below tees up the topic for a general public audience, but then goes into the details noted that ‘make the case’ for alleged antitrust violations by MHI member brands. https://www.manufacturedhomelivingnews.com/bridging-gap-affordable-housing-solution-yields-higher-pay-more-wealth-but-corrupt-rigged-billionaires-moat-is-barrier/

 

Copies of the documents from the same whistleblower’s recent tip are found in the systematic report linked below.

 

TipsterDocumentaryEvidenceRevealsNewManufacturedHousingInstituteLogoCEOLesliGoochPhotoControversialQuagmireMHProNews
https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/masthead/tipsters-uncontroverted-documentary-evidence-reveals-new-manufactured-housing-institute-ceo-lesli-gooch-controversial-quagmire/

Those documents came in the wake of the prior report found at the linked text-image box below. That focused on purported prima facie evidence of perjury and other legal offenses.

PrimaFacieCaseRichardJennisonTimWilliamsKevinClaytonTomHodgesPhotoManufacturedHousingInstitute21stMortgClaytonHomesLogoEtAlManufacturedHomeProNews
https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/masthead/prima-facie-cases-against-manufactured-housing-institute-richard-a-dick-jennison-tim-williams-21st-mortgage-kevin-clayton-tom-hodges-clayton-homes-et-al/

 

MHI has purportedly struck deals with MHVillage which published MHInsider. Per MHVillage they are “endorsed” by and ‘partner’ with MHI. While the free press has rights that absolutely must be respected, it is a reasonable question if what MHInsider, George Allen, MHI or others produce is in fact propaganda that is compensated and intended to deceive.

  • The manufactured housing industry is dramatically underperforming.
  • MHI is the industry’s self-proclaimed umbrella association which includes post-production issues.
  • MHI claims in their IRS Form 990 specific efforts to grow and improve the industry’s operating environment. Those claims are made under penalties of perjury. Their own 990 filing makes it clear that the executive committee or MHI BOD reviews the final version of that IRS statement.
  • There are prima facie examples of false and misleading claims made by MHI that use the U.S. Mails, the internet or ‘the wires.’
  • These raise issues that could be violations of state and/or federal laws.
LesliGoochManufacturedHousingInstituteCEOchiefLobbyistPhDConflictofInterestFraudDeceptiveTradePracticesManufacturedHomeProNews
It is hard to justify having an executive working for conventional housing organizations while she is working ‘full time’ for a manufactured housing trade association. MHI’s leaders, Gooch and their outside counsel have declined response. To see this graphic full size click to download and then open.
HowardWalkerPhotoELSViceChairmanManufacturedHomeCOmmunitiesManufacturedHousingInstituteExecCommitteeMemberQuoteTransparencyMHProNews
Thoughtful words, worth pondering.  Why doesn’t MHI apply it in this matter?

 

Nonprofit Quarterly On Fraud Hiding in Plain Sight

There are examples of various forms of illegal activities that have occurred with respect to nonprofits in the United States.

NonprofitFraudNonProfitRiskNonprofitQuarterlyManufacturedHousingInsittueHidingPlainSightManufacturedHomeProNews
If the MHI nonprofit is guilty of illicit, unethical or illegal activities, it would not be the first time that this occurs in the U.S. It is an issue that Non Profit Quarterly and others have been addressing for years. The reason that nonprofit accrediting organizations exist is due in part precisely because a nonprofit is capable of being misused. Note: in the view of this publication’s experts, MHI was a normal nonprofit that has been ‘taken over’ by interest groups that have since perverted the organization. That view fits the claims and concerns of present and past members.

If MHI staff or board members of guilty of fraud, deception or other problematic practices, it won’t be first in the nonprofit world.

The response, such as it is, by MHI is to have surrogates attempt to purportedly threaten or undermine this trade media, rather than dealing with the allegations. The razzle dazzle, photo and video opportunities, or similar head-fakes are more in keeping with a con. If the MHI BOD were not aware of these problems – and they learned about it from MHProNews – then if they were ethically minded, they would arguably remove the offending MHI senior staff.

But the opposite seems to have taken place. MHI’s senior staff have been given bonuses, per their 990 filings, instead of accountability.

Bonuses, Bonuses! Manufactured Housing Struggles During Affordable Housing Crisis, While Top MHI Staffers Get Bonuses

It is outrageous on its face that during an affordable housing crisis that MHI has done such a terrible job, based upon the actual data. Other forms of housing, as well as other big ticket sales products, are doing much better. See the step-by-step facts and the logic of that claim linked below.

Manufactured Housing Comparisons – Data Sets Vs. Existing and New Single-Family Housing Sales, RVs, Auto Facts – Potent Insights for MH Professionals, Investors

How can MHI claim momentum in that video on their home page with a straight face?

ManufacturedHousingInstituteLogoMHILogoNewYearGreetingManufacturedHomeProNewsFactCheckAnalysisMHProNewsLogo
MHI used to say that they were about forging consensus. More recently, they are saying they want to share THEIR plans. Beyond the disconnect, perhaps the more revealing point is that MHI’s plans repeatedly have failed to work in practice. Millions have been spent. The industry continues to underperform. Much of the problematic news in manufactured housing is connected to MHI ‘black hat’ members. MHI rolled out a new code of ethical conduct, after months of reports by MHProNews, but there is no evidence to date that their code of conduct has been enforced.

ManufacturedHousingAssocOklahomaLogo7StateShipmentReportManufacturedHomeProNewsFactCheckAnalysisMHProNews

ManufacturedHousingInstituteLogoMHILogoQuoteShipmentsDownPotentialHighManufacturedHomeProNews
MHI’s own recent admission that shipments are in decline logically debunks their claim of ‘momentum.’
ChrisFisherDuckerWorldWideManufacturedHousingInstituteDuckerResearchCost$MHISalariesOtherSpendingProgramsRevealedManufacturedHomeProNews
For those that may have a copy of the MHI paid research report, they are encouraged to send it to MHProNews. https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/expose-manufactured-housing-institute-ducker-research-cost-salaries-other-spending-program-revealed/

MobileHomeShipmentHistoryPercentageAllSalesRealtorU-NARManufacturedHomeShipmentsNewHousingStartsPercentageManufacturedHomeProNews

ManufacturedHousingInstituteLogoMHILogo2018VideoStillManufacturedHomeProNewsFactCheckAnalysis
To see full size, click to download, and then open.
iReportNewsTipsCommentsSendMastheadManufacturedHomeProNews
We recommend that news tips NOT use company, nonprofit or organizational emails or cell phones. To report a news tip, click the image above or send an email to iReportMHNewsTips@mhmsm.com – To help us spot your message in our volume of email, please put the words NEWS TIP or COMMENTS in the subject line.

 

MHI fails to properly push the good laws that are on the books. The evidence for that is once more found in the actual results.

Instead of pushing for the enforcement of existing good laws, they are instead pushing for a new law that as currently phrased could undermine enhanced preemption.

Federal Bill that MHI, Prosperity Now, NAMHCO Tout – MHARR Opposes, Why?

This analysis isn’t suggesting that MHI has always been a scheme to defraud. But there is evidence that over the course of time since Clayton Homes was acquired by Berkshire Hathaway, that the industry’s largest trade organization has routinely failed in the ways that matter.

Even their former Chairman Nathan Smith said that the industry had to be honest with itself and admit that it had failed to be pro-active. He pledged that the problematic pattern would change. Has it?

 

 

Note that the video from Smith – produced prior to the time that problematic news about his firm SSK Communities became widely known – laughs as he explains that he wants all of the communities for himself, and doesn’t want outsiders coming in. That sounded like a joke at the time. But was it revealing with respect to how MHI is being used for consolidation?

Frank Rolfe, whom several believe has been bad for the industry’s image, ripped Nathan Smith later.

FrankRolfeMHIChairmanNathanSmithSSKCommunitiesHypocrisyQuote-MHProNews

SSKCommunitiesFlagshipCommunitiesBBBBetterBusinessBureauAwardFRatingNathanSmithMHProNews-554x768
Nathan Smith is a partner in SSK Communities. Perhaps to escape some of this problematic history of concerns, SSK has since been rebranded as Flagship Communities.  A video clip of Nathan Smith’s SSK is part of the expose by HBO’s Last Week Tonight with John Oliver errantly dubbed “Mobile Homes.” Note that each of those firms named or shown in Oliver’s satirical video are apparently connected to MHI. It is too bizarre to believe, but the evidence is hiding in plain sight. See the video Oliver video and related report linked here.

Rolfe – a partner Mobile Home U and in what was then called RV Horizons, but has since been rebranded Impact Communities – also ripped MHI for failing to defend the industry when bad news occurred, or to promote the industry when good news took place. That noted, using the principle of separating the wheat from the chaff, ponder this statement by Rolfe.

FrankRolfeNegativeArticlesOnIndustryNoCommentbyManufacturedHousingInstituteMHIRVHorizonsMobleHomeUniversityPostedDailyBusinessNewsMHProNews
The principle of separating wheat from the chaff must be used with Frank Rolfe and all others. In quoting Rolfe, we are not endorsing his business practices, but rather pointing out an apt statement that criticizes the association he himself is a member of today.

 

As if to confirm such concerns that MHI is being used to thwart growth rather than promote it, Jennison in 2014 urged on camera slow growth.

 

 

Note that Jennison and others connected to MHI, perhaps due to their years of public praise for MHProNews, has had a hard time refuting the mounting evidence.

 

HowardWalkerELSViceChairmanPraisingMHProNewsMHLivingNews

TimWilliams21stMortgageCorpPriorMHIChairmanPraisingMHLivingNewsMHProNewsTonyKovach-1-575x194.png

 

This problematic pattern of behavior – viewed in hindsight and compared to the actual outcomes – makes a compelling case of deliberate underperformance. The purpose? To create conditions that would slowly consolidate the industry at discounted valuations.

 

MHShipmentProductionBloombergManufacturedHousingIndustryJune2019ManufacturedHomeProNews
Since Buffett bought Clayton and other pieces of the manufactured housing industry, the industry is actually selling fewer new homes today than in 2003. How is that possible during an affordable housing crisis? Given Buffett’s assets, the BH Media Group, and over $128 billion in the liquid assets, doesn’t it seem logical that manufactured housing is underperforming because that is what Buffett wants at this time?
UnderstandingWarrenBuffettCastleMoatMetaphorsQuotesDailyBusinessNewsMHProNews
Since Buffett-led Berkshire bought Clayton, the industry is actually smaller today than then. How is that possible, during an affordable housing crisis, unless they wanted it to be so?

 

When asked about such matters, there have been several ‘over the target’ reactions. But no known defense of MHI has been published that debunk or successfully explain away this multi-year pattern of underperformance.

 

CurtHodgsonPhotoLegacyHousingLEGHQuoteIndustryFullPeopleDontThinkVeryFarOutLegacyViewAddressConcernsLimitingManufacuturedHousingEffectiveAffordableHousingMHLivingNews

PayMoreAttentionToWhatPeopleAreDoingThanWhatTheyAreSayingOrNeverMindWhatPeopleAreSayingWatchWhatTheyAreDoingMartyLavinQuoteManufacturedHomeProNews
Lavin’s rephrasing of the above came in the wake of the report linked here. The logic of his statement is that someone might say whatever, but what is more important is what occurs after that statement is made. Do words and deed line up? If not, why not?

 

The elected and staff leaders at MHI are educated and intelligent individuals. To believe that they routinely fumble – or fail to be pro-active, as Nathan Smith said – is a logical stretch. Isn’t the more logical thing to believe that they are a corrupted nonprofit that is hiding in plain sight?

 

LanceIndermanMobileHomeMilitiaMarkTwainManufacturedHomeProNews
See Lance Inderman’s specific comments about Clayton at this link here.

 

The Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) has for years urged the industry to form a new post-production trade body that is effective. Mark Weiss a year ago called MHI’s activities “The Illusion of Motion.” Isn’t that akin to a polite way of saying they are attempting to fool people?

 

IllusionMotionVsRealWorldChallengesSpotlightedByManufacturedHomeIndustryLeaderMHARRDailyBusinessNewsMHProNews
https://manufacturedhousingassociationregulatoryreform.org/the-illusion-of-motion-versus-real-world-challenges/ 

While their decisions since creating the National Association of Manufactured Housing Community Owners (NAMHCO) could certainly be questioned, nevertheless there is wheat to be sifted from Neal Haney’s comment below.

NealTHaneyNAMHCOWhyBreakawayfromManfuacturedHousingInstituteMHI
Former MHI state affiliates broke away and in 2018 formed the National Association for Manufactured Housing Community Owners, NAMHCO. They cited MHI’s years of failures as part of their reason for doing so.

Then president of historic Dick Moore Housing, Bob Crawford, said on stage and on camera the following.

BobCrawford-ManufacturedHousingInstituteRateMHI5outof10QuoteManufacturedHomeProNews

At the time, our publisher was frankly still not convinced that MHI was a scam. But as the evidence mounted, what other conclusion could an intelligent person come to regarding MHI?

But the purportedly pernicious ways that other nonprofits have been weaponized and aligned to aid MHI that bears scrutiny too. People like George Allen and Spencer Roane ‘teach’ practices that have been called illegal by an industry attorney. They are RV MH Hall of Fame inductees? Isn’t that an insult to those who have done white hat business, often for decades, who have been similarly inducted?

Controversy Erupts! Tunica Manufactured Home Show ‘Educational Seminar’-Legally Questioned “Lease Option” “Chattel Lending” ‘Taught’ by Spencer Roane, Promoted By George F. Allen, SECO

How good is an award from MHI? When one looks at the legal and regulatory cloud that has hung over many of their executive committee members, isn’t it increasingly self-evident that this is a corrupt scheme that includes a corrupted nonprofit?

 

ManufacturedHousingInstituteLogo-MHILogoExecutiveCommittee-BoardofDirectorsMHI-ManufacturedHomeProNews

ManufacturedHousingInstituteLogoMHIBoardOfDirectorsLogoMHIExecutiveCommittee
The satirical logo is used in part to poke with a lighter touch at a serious topic. As some have framed it, there are white hat companies at MHI, and black hat companies. Once more, one must separate the wheat from the chaff. MHI’s black hats arguably keep white hats around as a form of cover, as well as a source for possible future consolidations and revenues.

This report scratches the surface on years of research. There are ripples of implications for investors, professionals, public officials, affordable housing advocates and others.

mas kovach mhpronews shopping with soheyla .jp

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This industry for decades was made up of ‘mom and pop’ operations that routinely took good care of their customers. They are among the ‘white hats’ of manufactured housing. By the early 2000s, there has been evidence of a trend to consolidate smaller firms, sometimes by arguably derailing or sabotaging them. Those that use unethical or arguably illegal tactics are the black hats. When one looks at the history of MHI over the last decade, it is important to ponder the exiting comment of a prior president and CEO, Chris Stinebert. Knowing that MHI reportedly requires non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) from their staff, Stinebert’s exit message to the industry was arguably a polite slap in the face at the leadership of the Arlington based trade group,” said L. A. ‘Tony’ Kovach, former MHI board member.  “The pattern of behavior and their lack of performance is so problematic that it is hard to defend them as an authentic trade group. Indeed, a MHEC member said they are guilty of “association malpractice” in their handling of issues.”

But if you read the emails and message of MHI and their toadies, you’d think the industry is soaring instead of snoring. That disconnect that has been ongoing for years bears regulatory and investigatory scrutiny.  If MHI were serious about their reputation, wouldn’t they suspend and ask for a third-party to  investigate Gooch? Or are they unable to do so without the paper trail leading back to their corporate leadership?

 

ChrisStinebertFormerPresidentManufacturedHousingInstituteCeoMHIndustryMustFocusGoalIncreasingValuePropositionHomeOwnerMHProNewsQuotePhoto
Chris Stinebert’s comment only makes sense if one believes that the industry’s largest trade association – MHI – was somehow failing or lacking in those categories he was stressing where in need of attention. Note that on the resale front, that could also be an oblique slam on MHVillage. When the Stinebert parting message is carefully considered, knowing that he is said to have signed a NDA – non-disclosure agreement – the comments are a polite slap in the face of the trade group he was leaving.

There’s more ahead, but that’s a wrap on this installment of “Industry News, Tips and Views Pros Can Use © – MHVille’s runaway #1 news source, where “We Provide, You Decide.” © (News, fact-checks, analysis, and commentary.) Notice: all third party images or content are provided under fair use guidelines for media. SoheylaKovachDailyBusinessNewsMHProNewsMHLivingNews

Submitted by Soheyla Kovach for MHProNews.com.Soheyla is a co-founder and managing member of LifeStyle Factory Homes, LLC, the parent company to MHProNews, and MHLivingNews.com. Connect with us on LinkedIn here and here.

 

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