Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/720597
SEPTEMBER 2016 15 THE JOURNAL The need for insightful, accurate and forward- looking information about the manufactured hous- ing industry is the driving force behind recently announced plans for the 2017 Manufactured Housing Show in Louisville, Ky. The 2017 Show will be held January 18-20 at the Kentucky Expo- sition Center and will feature more homes on dis- play, along with more efficient space for service and supplier exhibits. An expanded schedule pro- viding a full range of educational seminars is also being added to the 2017 program to offer greater business opportunities to attendees. The Show is sponsored by the Midwest Hous- ing Federation, including its five member organi- zations: the Illinois Manufactured Housing Association, the Indiana Manufactured Housing Association, the Kentucky Manufactured Housing Institute, the Michigan Manufactured Housing Association, and the Ohio Manufactured Homes Association. Leaders of the industry's retail, builders/devel- opers, installation, and community management sectors will share their experiences and knowledge about all levels of affordable homes, from HUD- Code homes to spectacular systems-built housing. "The Louisville Show has seen a significant evolution into the manufactured housing indus- try's premier indoor housing forum, drawing an ever-increasing turnout from more than 842 dif- ferent companies across all sectors of the housing industry," says Dennis Hill, Show Coordinator. "Positive feedback and input from attendees is helping us ensure that the 2017 Show will be even better and offer attendees outstanding opportuni- ties to benefit directly from their overall Show ex- perience. With the Show scheduled the first month of 2017, it will ensure that inventory will be delivered in time for the early selling season and that everyone can be ready for the start of warm weather sales." As an added benefit, the 2017 Show will fea- ture a much wider range of educational seminars tailored to provide real learning opportunities that directly improve business strategies and marketing outreach efforts. "What we're doing with the 2017 Show is to spread the seminars and workshops from just two days to all three days of the Show, along with moving the seminars from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. each day," stated Ken Rishel, director of Rishel Consulting Group LLC and chairman of the Show's educational programming. "This change will give us a total of 6 seminars/workshops during the Show and give attendees more time to visit and see the homes and exhibits, while also allowing us to provide more meaningful and rele- vant information to attendees." The seminars will also focus on bringing in "more outside-the-industry" experts who can pro- vide really important information on key initiatives that attendees need to adopt to be more success- ful in their day-to-day business activities," Rishel noted. "We'll move from the basics of marketing and advertising on the first day of the seminar schedule, to sales and financing strategies on the second day, to the third day's look at what na- tional issues and trends the industry needs to an- ticipate and incorporate ti be more successful. "Our ultimate goal with the seminars and work- shops is to expand our industry's education and adoption of smarter business strategies in order to expand and accelerate our successes in the hous- ing marketplace," Rishel stated. The 2017 Show will be held at the Kentucky Exposition Center, with the Crowne Plaza Hotel serving at the Show headquarters hotel. "The people attending the Louisville Manufactured Housing Show are motivated to purchase homes and services," Hill stated. "They have invested their time and money to be part of this unique show and they are decision-makers or have the ear of decision-makers. And January is the perfect time to get the industry's new sales year started. They are ready to do business and you need to be there!" The Show's ongoing enhancement activities and initiatives will be announced as developments occur. The Show's new web site at www.Th- eLouisvilleShow.com will include all relevant in- formation and registration instructions beginning in early July, along with regularly updated an- nouncements regarding exhibits, seminars and other Show-related items in industry publications and informational platforms. Dennis Hill may be reached at 770-587-3350 or showways@bellsouth.net. SOUTHEAST COMMUNITY OWNERS SYMPOSIUM Lowest attendee registration cost ANYWHERE! Bring your whole team! SECO 2016...READY – SET – GO! Wed & Thurs 10/26 and 10/27, 2016! SECO is designed and delivered by and for small & mid-size community owners & management/sales personnel. • Learn the latest tips and advice for buying, financing, marketing, renting, and selling new manufactured homes in your community through informative presentations and panel discussions by your peers. • Tour 6 of the latest Community Series homes on display at the venue. • Meet 20+ vendors/suppliers. Where? Holiday Inn Atlanta-Perimeter/Dunwoody 4386 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road, Atlanta, GA $199 Registration and $89/night Room Reservation will open August 1st on www.SECOConference.com If you are a Manufactured Home Builder, Supplier/Vendor, or Sponsor and are interested in participating in SECO 2016, please contact Genevieve Ketelle, event coordinator, at (770) 871-6889 or genevieve@SECOConference.com nothing will change. In MHARR's view, to curb this onslaught, the industry and con- sumers need to get serious about fight- ing hard in Washington, D.C. for the survival of manufactured housing as the nation's leading source of affordable, non-subsidized homeown- ership. Mark Weiss is President & CEO of the Manufac- tured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform. MHARR is a Washington, DC-based national trade association representing the views and interests of in- dependent producers of federally-regulated manufac- tured housing. Mark can be reached at 202-783-4087. \ 14 T J Louisville Manufactured Housing Show Expands to Meet Industry Needs