The Reporter

May - June 2024

 "The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new."

-- Socrates --

The 2023 - 2024 THA Board of Directors enjoyed having MHI CEO Dr. Lesli Gooch speak at this year's 2024 THA Annual Member's Meeting! We have a lot of fun things to share and more pictures will be posting in the days to come. Visit www.thaannualmeeting.com.

Elected June 11, 2024

2024 – 2025 Board of Directors

Service term begins July 1, 2024

This Elected Board of Directors consists of industry representation as follows:

3 - Community

5 - Finance

2 - Installer/Transporter

6 - Manufacturing

4 - Retail Sales

4 - Service/Suppliers

Last week, two manufactured homes featured prominently on the National Mall as part of the 2024 Innovative Housing Showcase, presented by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), with MHI supporting the event as a co-presenter.

Events kicked off on Tuesday with HUD Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman hosting a press conference in front of the homes and touring the homes with MHI CEO Dr. Lesli Gooch. On Tuesday and Wednesday, numerous policymakers toured the homes and learned more about manufactured housing. Thursday, MHI led multiple panels during HUD’s educational program. The panels focused on the development, opportunities and challenges of the industry. The official opening kickoff event on Friday morning included additional tours for government leaders and Congressional staff. Through the weekend, visitors to the National Mall learned more about manufactured housing and the attainable homeownership opportunity it offers through conversations with industry professionals and experiencing the homes.

A quote from Rep. Andrea Salinas (OR-6) after her tour of the homes summarized the impact of the industry during the week: “We need to make sure that we are doing everything we can to invest in manufactured housing.”

Acting Secretary Todman addresses the press conference.

Senior Advisor and Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs Tom Perez addresses the press conference.

(June 10, 2024) In recognizing Gary Farley with the prestigious President's Award, THA President Owen Robertson stated, "As President of the Board, I have the opportunity to select an individual to honor, who has provided support to the Association and the industry, in ways which have a greater impact outside of what is visible from just the day-to-day operations.

The success of our industry is more than passing plant inspections or home inspections. It involves relationship building, trust and integrity. Those relationships are necessary when an issue rises to the level which can cripple an entire process or result in predatory legislation. 

It is important to have leadership at the state level who understands our industry and can discuss the attributes and benefits of not just affordable housing, but factory-built housing.  As an industry, we need champions that have good relationships with code officials, city leaders, commissioners, and legislators.  Individuals who can speak the language of officials but understands the code process.  Also, we need individuals which can bridge the gap with other divisional Commissioners and Assistant Commissioners. 

We have had such a friend over the last several years and we would like to recognize him tonight."

President Robertson went on to thank Gary Farley for his support of our industry over the last several years and for the staff he has mentored and developed who will now be carrying out the opportunities established for our industry.

We all wish Gary Farley well in his next professional adventure!

On Tuesday (June 12), the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) held a panel discussion about manufactured housing and off-site construction at the Bipartisan Policy Center’s (BPC) Summit on Housing Supply Solutions. Speaking before thought leaders in government and beyond, the panel focused on manufactured housing’s role in the attainable and affordable housing spheres as well as its potential to solve the housing supply crisis. Beyond MHI’s panel, manufactured housing was a hot topic as the event took place on the heels of the Innovative Housing Showcase. Both Federal Housing Commissioner Julia Gordon and Chairman Emeritus of Trammell Crow Residential and founder and chairman of the J. Ronald Terwilliger Foundation for Housing America’s Families Ron Terwilliger included references to manufactured housing during other sessions. 

At the end of May, the Washington Post ran an opinion piece about the ongoing discussion about removing the permanent chassis requirement from the definition of a manufactured home. However, the authors incorrectly credited safety as the reason for removing the chassis, as opposed to what it really is—increasing the variety of home designs and subsequently expanding the housing supply. To correct this misinformation, MHI submitted a letter to the editor explaining the reasoning along with additional information about manufactured housing. 

On June 7, MHI joined the real estate coalition in sending a letter to the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee urging the advancement of S.3625 the Protect Small Business and Prevent Illicit Financial Activity Act.

This act would extend the deadline for companies to report ownership information to the Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) to two years from the current one year.

The letter explains how the extension would allow for more thorough explanations and examinations of the requirements to take place, increasing the awareness of the rule particularly among small businesses and minimizing the number of businesses that could incur hefty penalties due to accidental non-compliance. 

Manufacturer Forum

Financial Forum

Retailer/Community Forum

THA Annual Member's Meeting - Monday Morning - June 10th, 2024

ATTENTION RETAILERS!

ENTER YOUR CUSTOMERS TO WIN $2,500

Two (2) PRIZES WILL BE AWARDED

HOMES MUST BE SOLD BETWEEN

April 1, 2023 - March 31, 2025

Announcement of winners will be made during THA's 70th Anniversary celebration, scheduled for June 8 - 10, 2025.

THA Annual Member's Meeting - Sunday Morning - June 9th, 2024

1st Place Team

2nd Place Team

3rd Place Team

We have a lot of pictures to process! So stay tuned! Visit our Annual Meeting webpage in a few days to see our Gallery! https://thaannualmeeting.com/

2025 THA Annual Member’s Meeting

"Power of the Past - Force of the Future"

June 8 - 10, 2025

Dollywood's HeartSong Lodge & Resort

1210 Dollywood Resorts Blvd

Pigeon Forge, TN 37863

THA Association Website:      https://tnmha.org/

Go to THA’s main website for the latest industry news, show dates, legislative action items, licensing educational news, scholarship information, member listings, PAC updates and so much more! There is no log in or password needed for this site!

THA Educational Website: https://education.tnmha.org/

This is the direct link to the educational platform where courses are available for initial licensing/certification and continuing education! Please check the Association website (tnmha.org) throughout the year for special announcements, field updates, and yearend deadlines. You must have a log in and password for your educational account, but not the Association website.

THA Annual Meeting Website: https://thaannualmeeting.com/

This annual meeting website has been established for the purpose of collecting and posting annual notices and ongoing developments for future member meetings or special events. The main website will link to this site and save space on the member’s ‘business tool’ website to allow for more member photos of those special events!

THA Consumer Website: https://www.tennesseemanufacturedhomes.com/

This is a consumer-facing website which allows consumers to tour homes and send messages directly to THA members for home quotes, community inquiries, inquire about financing or reach one of our service/suppliers. You must be a THA member to have your business listed on this site.

Follow us on social media!

https://www.facebook.com/tnmha.org

https://www.instagram.com/tennesseemha/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/tennessee-housing-association/

https://www.youtube.com/@tennesseemha

Download the graphics and videos from your e-mails!

If you missed them, go back and search the dates or the subject lines with these titles...

May dated 5/2/2024 -

"Home is Where the Fun Is!"

June dated 6/11/2024 -

"June is Homeownership Month 🏡"

Use these links to make changes or additions to your TennesseeManufacturedHomes.com listing.

Pick your course. Pay online. Access Online.

Print your certificate of completion right from your dashboard!

The educational portal opened on January 5th and will close on December 6th, 2024.

Discounts are available for THA member companies ONLY!

(Email Office@tnmha.org for your member discount coupon, prior to purchase!)