With 20 years of experience in marketing, Jimmy brings an analytic focus to improving home sales through user-centric online sales programs. As author of the annual Home Buyer Conversion Report, the industry's leading research showcasing technology's influence on new home sales, he's responsible for conducting home buyer research at The Bokka Group. As Creative Director, he turns this data into sales & marketing strategies that work. For the past 10 years he's applied cutting-edge technologies & best practices from other industries to new home sales programs, positioning digital at the hub of all marketing efforts. Jimmy frequently speaks at builder conferences on leveraging technology and usability research to optimize the home buying experience, from lead acquisition to referral.
Starting at Stanford with dreams of following Jacques Cousteau as a marine biologist, Dave realized (a bit late) that he was lousy at it and shifted to mechanical engineering with an eye on the energy problem. After four years in alternative energy, it was clear that this idea's time hadn't come yet. So while en route to biomedical engineering, Dave accepted an invitation to work for Apple, where he led product marketing for the mouse team and introduced laser printing to the masses. When Dave's boss at Apple left to start Electronic Arts, Dave joined as the company's first VP of Talent, dedicated to making "software worthy of the minds that use it." Having participated in forming the corporate cultures at Apple and EA, Dave decided his best work was in helping organizations build creative environments where people could do great work and love doing it. So he went out on his own; working with start-up teams, corporate executives, non-profit leaders, and countless young adults. They were all asking the same question: "What should I do with my life?" Helping people get traction on that question finally took Dave to Cal and Stanford and continues to be his life's work.
Mike Lyon has accumulated a wealth of knowledge and first-hand experience in the realm of online marketing and sales for home builders. He delivers his information from the trenches and draws from his diverse background in online advertising, digital design, and internet sales. The information, statistics, and strategies he presents are the result of his direct experience as an Online Sales Specialist and Sales & Marketing Director. Mike speaks with authority about online conversion rates and best practices that can be implemented to boost sales from internet leads. He is recognized as the top innovator in online conversion for the home building and real estate development industries. He is also the author of Browsers to Buyers: Proven Strategies for Selling New Homes Online.
Kevin Oakley has over 12 years of experience running marketing and sales operations for home builders of all shapes, sizes, and areas of expertise. Kevin has worked for two different multi-billion dollar revenue builders as well as for a private family owned builder. During his two years with NVR, a top 5 home builder, Kevin had full operational responsibility for land, construction, and sales for two home building divisions in the Pittsburgh MSA. Kevin's extensive background and time spent in the shoes of a home builder allows him to uniquely connect with the challenges you face in today's market. From launching new communities, increasing online lead volume or conversion, improving your customer's experience, lowering marketing costs, web design, and so much more – he has a strategy for success. Kevin is the author of Presale Without Fail: The Secret to Launching New Communities and Phases with Maximum Results.
Champion of new thinking and pushing the envelope of design with ideas that create thoughtful, livable, and economically viable communities. John paced himself early to lead design excellence into the future. He is a passionate creative who thrives on the opportunity to design at a variety of scales for a variation of project types. He is known for challenging each project team to develop the most innovative and cost effective solutions, engaging frequently in design brainstorms and introducing a comprehensive perspective and approach to the lifecycle of a community - how a plan reaches tomorrow and lives beyond today. A graduate of California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California, John has a Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture. He is a licensed Architect in Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Texas and Washington and is a LEED Accredited Professional. He is a veteran judge of design competitions and a sought-after speaker for international conferences on such topics as emerging markets, active adult communities, and trends in community design.
Al Trellis has over 40 years of experience as a custom home builder, consultant, speaker and writer for the home building industry as well as a motivational and informational speaker for large corporations. He is a co-founder of Home Builders Network (HBN), which provides management consulting, marketing, residential design and land planning for home builders throughout the United States and Canada. In 2015, HBN's consulting clients collectively built approximately 2,750 homes, for a sales value of $980 million. Ten of its clients have received either the prestigious America's Best Builder or Custom Builder of the Year award from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Al has served as chairman of the NAHB Custom Builder, Education, and Business Management committees, and is the author of many books and articles on residential construction, including his most recent book "Building with an Attitude."