THOMAS STEPHANI

MIRM, GMB, MCSP, CAPS, CGP

GENERAL OVERVIEW 

Writing / Speaking / Training / Consulting Credentials

           Tom Stephani is an internationally recognized speaker, trainer and consultant on issues relating to the residential construction industry.  Tom draws on his 35 plus years of industry experience to give “meat and potatoes” presentations designed to improve the bottom line of small volume and custom builders as well as Remodelers.  He speaks regularly at the International Builders Show, Custom Builder Symposium, State and regional conventions, industry shows, and HBA’s & BIA’s.  His presentations have been consistently rated as “Best of the Show” by those in attendance.  Humor and a practical approach based on personal experience are hallmarks of Tom’s presentation style.

           Tom is approved to teach 30 National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Designation courses and is regularly called on to write, co-write, or serve as a subject matter expert on NAHB Education Department courses.

           In 2009, Stephani was selected by NAHB’s International department to travel to  Africa to work with the members of the Ghana Real Estate Developer Association. While there, he toured various developments and conducted two NAHB designation courses. He has also been the principal instructor, in Washington DC, for seven delegations of builders and government officials from Nigeria.  In 2011, he was invited to speak at the International Housing and Warranty Conference in Cape Town South Africa.

           For consumers Tom creates, produces, and presents seminars on Custom Building, Buying New Construction, First Time Home Buying, and Remodeling.  Since 1992, he has presented over 150 Seminars to over 7000 consumers interested in building, buying, or remodeling a home.

           In addition to his speaking, training, and consulting business, Tom is president of Stephani Enterprises.  Located in the Chicago suburb of Crystal Lake, IL, his company develops commercial & residential land, constructs light commercial projects and manages properties.  Previously, Stephani’s companies built custom homes & award winning traditional neighborhood infill projects.

           Tom is the 2010-2012 Illinois State Representative to NAHB and was the 2009 Chairman of  NAHB’s 10,000 member Sales & Marketing Council. He was Chairman of the Education Committee in 2000 and Chairman of the Certified Graduate Builder Board of Governors in 2003.  He is also a National Life Director & Life Spike.  On the local front, Stephani was President of McHenry County Home Builders Association in 1999, was named its Builder of the Year in 2000 & 2002, and received the President’s Award in 2003. In 2011 he was inducted into the HBA of Greater Chicago’s Court of Honor.

Career Highlights:

           Stephani Enterprises, Inc.  1984 – Present

                     Industry Consultant, Speaker, Trainer, & Writer (CCC, Inc.)

                     Custom Home Builder – Crystal Lake, Illinois (1991 – Present)

                     Commercial and Residential Property Management

                     Custom Home Builder – Colorado Springs Colorado ( 1984 - 1996)

                     Commercial & Residential Land Development & Construction            

           Other relevant industry experience  (1973 – 2003)

                     Owner of a carpentry contracting & painting firm (Colo.)

                     Management of carpentry and concrete subcontracting firms (Ill.)

                     Sales & Marketing of building components and materials (Ill. & Colo.)

                     Remodeling sales and contracting (Ill. & Colo.)

Industry Involvement:

           Designations –

                     MIRM – Master In Residential Marketing

                     GMB – Graduate Master Builder

                     MCSP – Master Certified New Home Sales Professional

                     CAPS – Certified Aging in Place Specialist

                      CGP -  Certified Green Professional

           NAHB Designation Course Development

                     Re-write Chairman - Land Development / Site Planning  

                     Re-write Chairman - Land Acquisition / Development Finance

                     Committee member / writer - Diversification for Builders

                     Principal writer - Estimating

                     Contributor - House Construction as a Selling Tool

                     Contributor / Writer - Certified Green Professional          

           Local –

                     Life Director – HBA of Greater Chicago 

                     Director – Attainable Housing Association ‘01

                     Director - McHenry County Home Builders Association ’95 - Present

                     Director – HBA of Greater Fox Valley  ‘95-‘96

                     President – McHenry County Home Builders Association ’99

                     Chairman – MCHBA Government Affairs Committee ’00 – ‘02

                     McHenry County HBA Builder of the Year, ‘00 & ‘02

                     Director - Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce, ’02 – ‘05         

                     Member – McHenry County ( Illinois) Housing Commission, 2010    

           National Association of Home Builders, Washington, DC -

Life Director

                     Member, Executive Committee ’00, ’09, ’10, ’11. ‘12

Illinois State Representative to NAHB  2010, 2011, 2012

                     International Oversight Group 2006 - 2011

                     Trustee – Building Systems Council  2010 & 2011

                     CGB Board of Governors  2010 & 2011

                     IRM Board of Governors  2010 & 2011

                     Chairman – NAHB - National Sales & Marketing Council  ‘09

                     Chairman – NSMC / IRM Education Committee ‘06

                     Chairman – NSMC / IRM Admissions and Standards  ‘08

                     Chairman – Certified Graduate Builder Board of Governors ‘03

                     Chairman - NAHB Education Committee ‘00

                     Member – NAHB Custom Builder Committee ’05. ’06, ’07, ‘08

                     Member – NAHB Education Committee ’99 – ‘03

                     Member – NAHB Small Volume Builder Committee ‘95-’98

Published Articles:

           Custom Builder Magazine – Columnist

           Homes & Gardens - Columnist

           Homebuilder.com                                 HousingZone.com

           Washington Post                                   Builder Magazine

           Chicago Tribune                                    Custom Home Magazine

           Kansas City Star                                    Chicago Sun Times                                         

           Professional Builder Magazine             Orange County Register                                  

           Southern Building Trends                               Georgia Builder

Speaking & Training Presentations (Trade):

           National Assn. of Home Builders International Exposition (25 times)

           Custom Builder Symposium (11 times)

           Certified Graduate Builder Designation – National Instructor

           Graduate Master Builder Designation – National Instructor

           CAPS & Green Building – National Instructor

           Institute of Residential Marketing – National Instructor

           The Southern Builders Show (6 times)

           The South East Builders Conference (2 times)

           The Custom Builder Conference & Expo (2 times)

           The Pacific Coast Builders Conference (Western Building Show) (3 times)

           Builder Industry Show (Southern California)

           Michigan, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Arkansas, NC & Indiana HBA Conventions

           Colorado Realtors Convention           

           Home Builder Associations (over 200 additional presentations)

Speaking & Training Presentations (Corporate):

           Andersen Windows – Builder & sales training

           Kohler Plumbing – Builder training

           Halo Division of Cooper Lighting – Sales training

           Household Banks, Firstar Bank

           Coldwell Banker, ReMax

           Adam Wholesalers (St Louis, Carlisle, PA)

           Morgan Distribution (Maryland, Michigan, Indiana, & Illinois)

           Oglethorpe Power (Georgia)

           Brockway Smith, Inc.

           EPS, Inc.

Consumer Seminars on New Construction: (Over 150 Total Presentations)

           Harris Banks – Chicago area                           McHenry County Home Builders

           Home Builders of Greater Chicago                HBA Greater Fox Valley

           Lake County Home Builders Association      Quad Cities Home Builders Assn

           Tulsa Home Builders Association                  BIA of Central Ohio       

           HBA of Saginaw Michigan                             Firstar Home Mortgage- Chicago

           LaSalle Home Mortgage                                  US Bank - Chicago         

·      In addition to his construction experience, Tom is an accomplished road racing driver in both SCCA National competition and vintage racing.

·      He has traveled extensively both nationally and internationally.

·      He is an avid skier and racquetball player

·      He is a proud father, grandfather, and husband to his wife of 40 years.