Tickets Now On Sale!

LEGEND OF RESIDENTIAL MARKETING

Since 1992, The National Sales & Marketing Council has saluted homebuilders and marketing professionals who have stood apart as “legendary” in the field of new-home marketing. They are selected based upon their professionalism, their commitment to our industry and the quality of their marketing contributions.

2020 HONOREE

MELINDA BRODY, MIRM, CSP

Melinda was an icon in the home building industry, founding Melinda Brody & Company in 1986, as one of the only video shopping firms to focus solely on home builders. Melinda held the MIRM designation (Master in Residential Marketing) and was a six time MAME award winner (Major Achievement in Marketing Excellence). In 2015, she was recognized as the recipient of the distinguished John P Hall Award at the Southeast Building Conference (SEBC) Excel Awards. This highly recognized achievement, by nomination only, is bestowed upon an individual who has shown a commitment to excellence, professionalism, and true dedication to the home building industry. Melinda held the CSP designation (Certified New Home Sales Professional) from the National Association of Home Builders and an additional CSP designation (Certified Speaking Professional®) from the National Speakers Association (NSA). The CSP is the most prestigious earned designation conferred by NSA to approximately only 17 percent of members. A nationally recognized speaker, Melinda was a regular fixture on the platform at the International Builders Show (IBS), The Southeast Builders Conference (SEBC), and almost every Home Builders Association across the country. Known for her humor and directness, her professional passion was training, coaching and speaking to new home sales associates providing insight and advice on how to perfect their sales presentations.

Melinda had the unique benefit of incorporating actual mystery shopping video clips of best practices into her sales seminars and sales training products. Not only did she teach salespeople how to deliver the best presentation possible, she demonstrated real life examples from the field. It was considered a high honor to be showcased by Melinda as one of the top performers in the nation. In 2013, Melinda accomplished one of her life goals, writing and publishing “They Said What: Behind the Scenes of 25,000 Undercover Video Mystery Shops” which provides training tips and resources along with examples of the best and worst in video shopping for new homes salespeople. Melinda was named one of the “Top 25 Businesses in Orlando” by the Greater Orlando Chamber of Commerce. She was a proud member of the National Speakers Association for more than twenty years and the Greater Orlando Home Builders Association, Florida Home Builders Association and the National Home Builders Association.

She also believed in giving back to her community and was involved with Dress for Success and the American Cancer Association.

As team captain for “Mel’s High Steppers” for the American Lung Association’s Fight For Air Climb – Orlando, Melinda inspired others to raise funds to help those affected by lung disease.

Retiring in 2016, Melinda pursued her passion for exploring the world, visiting Indonesia, South Africa, Iceland and many other exotic locations. Today Melinda’s legacy lives on through her daughter, the company that bears her name, and the many lives she inspired with her mega-watt smile, fantastic sense of humor, warrior spirit and zest for life.

PREVIOUS HONOREES: 1992–2019

Kenneth W. Agid – The Marketing Department
Adrienne Albert, MIRM  – The Marketing Directors
S. Robert August – North Star Synergies, Inc.
Al & Jim Baldwin – The Baldwin Company
Doug Bauer – TRI Pointe Homes
William E. Becker, MIRM – The William E. Becker Organization
Barry Berkus, AIA – B3 Architects Planners
Andrew Brethour – PMA Brethour Group
William R. Bone – Sunrise Colony Company
Larry Cannarelli – American West Homes
Bill Conner – Conner Development
Arthur C. Danielian, FAIA – Danielian Associates Architecture + Planning
William (Bill) Davidson – Davidson Communities
Mary Dewalt, IRM Fellow, MIRM, CMP – Mary Dewalt Design Group
Philip Dion – Del Webb Corp.
Ralph Drees – Drees Homes
Richard Elkman, MIRM – Group Two Advertising
Timothy Eller – Centex Homes
Sanford Goodkin, MIRM – Goodkin & Associates
Lester Goodman, MIRM – Prudential New Homes
Charles (“Chuck”) Graham, MIRM, IRM Fellow –  Newton Graham Consultants
Alan Green – The Green Company
Andrew Greenman, MIRM – Greenman Group
Keith Johnson & Peter Ochs – Fieldstone Company
Kevork Hovnanian – K. Hovnanian Companies
Bruce Karatz – Kaufman & Broad Homes
Randall Lewis – Lewis Homes
Daniel R. Levitan, MIRM – Levitan & Associates
Hal & Jim Lynch – RecreActions Group of Companies
General William Lyon – Wm. Lyon Homes
John Martin – MMDC, Inc.
Ian McCarthy – Beazer Homes
David Miles – Milesbrand
Ira Norris – Inco Homes
Jorge Perez – The Related Group
William Pulte – Pulte Homes
Thomas Richey, MIRM – Richey Resources
Van Rose Jr. – Rose & Womble Realty
Arthur Rutenberg – Rutenberg Homes
William Ryan Jr. – Ironhart Communities
Gary Ryness – The Ryness Company
John Schleimer, MIRM – Market Perspectives
Bob Schultz – New Home Specialists
Bert Selva – Shea Homes
William R. Smolkin, MIRM – Hebert/Smolkin Associates
Dave Stone, MIRM – The Stone Institute
Robert Strudler – US Home Corporation
Robert & Bruce Toll – Toll Brothers
W. Lawrence Webb – John Laing Homes
David Weekley, MIRM – David Weekley Homes
John Weiland,  MIRM – John Wieland Homes
Jack Willome – Ray Ellison Home