Sales & Marketing Council

Board Members

 

Colleen Ellison, CSP, MCSP, CMP
Digital Map Products
 
Stewart Title
 
 
Bridgeland
Taylor Morrison Homes
 
RE/MAX Select 1
 
Post Oak Publishing, Inc.
David Weekley Homes

David Weekley Homes
Ashton Woods Homes
 
Frankel Building Group
Newland Communities
Meritage Homes
Partners in Building
Taylor Morrison Homes


Taylor Morrison
PulteGroup
Trendmaker Homes
Metrostudy
Stewart Title
 

Colleen Ellison- President
Colleen Ellison, CSP, MCSP, CMP currently serves as President of the Greater Houston Builders Association (GHBA) Sales and Marketing Council (SMC).  She has been actively involved in the GHBA and SMC since 1995 which has earned her the SMC Associate of the Year distinction in 1999 and again in 2006. In addition to her contributions at the local level, Colleen is the National Sales and Marketing Council (NSMC) liaison for the GHBA and an active member of the NSMC. She has earned her Certified Sales Professional (CSP), Master CSP and Certified Marketing Professional (CMP) designation. Colleen is currently using her 15+ years of Real Estate experience to grow Digital Map Products, LandVision Central Division as their Regional Director. LandVision is the premier land acquisition and land data software solution.

Ashleigh Genzer - Vice President
Ashleigh Genzer currently holds the position of Builder/Developer Services for Stewart Title, with over 10 years experience in the real estate industry.  In her position she is responsible for builder/developer sales in the Houston market.  She is an active member of The Greater Houston Builders Association, where she serves on several councils, SMC, Membership, Ambassadors, and Associates Council.  In 2009 Ashleigh received a Houston Best Award, formerly PRISM Award for Sales and Marketing Council Board Member of the Year.  She currently holds the position of Vice President of the Executive Committee of the Sales and Marketing Council.  Ashleigh is a graduate of The University of Houston with a BBA in Management.
 
Lona is a native Louisianan and a graduate of the University of Central Florida.  She has been involved in marketing for 10 years, the last 5 of which have been in the home building and land development industry. Currently she is the Marketing Manager for Bridgeland and handles all aspects of promoting the 11,400 acre master-planed community located in northwest Houston.  She has been an integral part in winning more than 40 awards for the community on a local, regional and national level, most recently NAHB’s Community of the Year for 2008.  Lona has been a member of SMC since 2005 and is proud to be serving her third year on the Board of Directors.
 
Upon graduating from the University of Northern Iowa in 1995, Amy moved to Houston, Texas to pursue a career in teaching.  She taught for two years while working part-time for Pulte Homes which evolved into a full-time career in new home sales in 1997.  Amy furthered her success in new home sales at Standard Pacific Homes, receiving the PRISM award for rookie on-site salesperson of the year in 1999.  She then pursued an opportunity on the vendor side of the homebuilding business with Ranger American Security Systems, serving as vice president of sales and marketing and various other roles for six years.  In 2005, Amy joined Taylor Morrison as the vice president of sales and marketing.  She has been an integral part of the growth of the company through the merger of Morrison Homes and Taylor Woodrow in 2007.  Her passion for her people continues to be paramount in her leadership.  During her tenure, the company has earned a number of industry awards and Amy was awarded the 2007 PRISM marketing professional of the year.  Throughout her career, she has been involved in the GHBA and is currently the secretary on the Sales and Marketing Council board of directors. 
 
Terry Dawson - Immediate Past President President
Terry is a New Home Specialist who has assisted over 800 new home owners in the purchase of their homes. He has been in the Real Estate industry for over 12 years. Not only has Terry Dawson been a Team Leader he has been a Team Player as well. Terry  has won numerous awards for his performance throughout his career. Awards such as The “2002 Sales Manager of the Year” for the Southwest Region of the United States. That region was comprised of six states.    

His professional background with Disney World, Pepsi-Cola and builders Centex Homes, David Powers Homes, and Mercedes Homes.

Terry has the experience to help you with your Real Estate needs if you need to Buy, Sell or Lease.
 
Michael Blalock is the President of locally-owned and operated Post Oak Publishing, Inc. / www.HoustonNewcomerGuides.com.

Mike has over 19 years experience working with newcomer and relocation guides and Chamber of Commerce publications.  Mike also created and works on the Clear Lake, West Houston, Northwest Houston, Northeast Houston, Texas 288 South and Fort Bend newcomer and relocation guides.
 
Mike recently joined Poetic Systems, LLP a web marketing & development company based in Houston, TX, specializing in Web design, new media, Web optimization, and application development.

Mike serves on the Board of Directors for the Silver Spur Alumni Association the Sales and Marketing Council of the Greater Houston Builders Association and was the 2007 President of the Houston Relocation Professionals.
 
Jenni Binnion-Leccese
Jenni Leccese is a native Houstonian who has been in the Home Building Industry for over five years.  She began with David Weekley Homes as a Purchasing Coordinator.  After pursuing her Marketing Degree from the University of Houston- Downtown, she made the switch into the Marketing Department. Jenni currently serves as a Marketing Coordinator and is responsible for realtor, prospect and homeowner marketing efforts in communities as well as their Build on Your Lot Program. She also assists with the overall branding as well as city-wide Marketing Campaigns in Houston. Jenni enjoys volunteering in her community; including serving the last four and a half years as a big sister with the Big Brothers and Big Sisters program. This is Jenni’s first year as a member of the SMC Board.

Jamin Bortz
Jamin Bortz has fourteen years in new home sales experience with some of Houston’s finest builders.  Jamin also sits as Vice President on the municipal utility district board #150, a contributing author to Salesattitude.com, and volunteers for the Coral Club during the Houston Rodeo. Originally born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Jamin has lived in Houston for 23 years and attended StephenF.AustinUniversity for finance with a specialization in real estate.
 
John Buzga
John Buzga has worked for David Weekley Homes since early 1997.  He started off as a ROOKIE salesperson and was David Weekley’s Rookie of the Year nominee for the PRISM Awards in 1997.  He won the Salesperson of the Year Award for David Weekley in 1998 for the Top Customer Satisfaction in Houston.  John was promoted to Sales Manager in late 1999 and since that time has been given the opportunity to “wear a couple different hats” and has also worked as a Sales Coach and as a Recruiter.  Most of Johns early life was spent in the Kingwood, Texas area, but due to a very fortunate job transfer accepted by his Father, John had the opportunity to live in the Hawaiian Islands for 10 years and that is where he attended High School and College.
Tracy started off in the home building industry  in 2001, marketing homes for over 2 years. She then moved into sales and has been selling new homes for over 5 years. She currently has won numerous awards for her sales performances during those 5 years She has been involved with the GHBA for almost 10 years and started her involvement on the Membership Committee in 2001.  She was honored with the Rookie Spike of the Year in 2002 and is currently in the Green Blazer level for the SPIKE Club. Tracy has been on the SMC Board since 2002 and the Executive Committee from 2004-2009.  During that span she served as Chair or Co-Chair on many SMC and GHBA committees. In 2007 she was PRISM Chair, served as SMC President in 2008 and on the general GHBA Board of Directors in 2008 as well. She stays committed to the home building industry and making contributions to the SMC Board and the GHBA.
 
Scott’s passion for architecture and building began at quite a young age. Growing up walking jobsites with his father and seeing the amount of work and detail of the various projects left a lasting impression that blossomed into a career. A native Houstonian, Scott attended The Kinkaid School and received a Bachelor’s in Political Science with a Business minor from The University of Texas at Austin. Upon graduating, Scott began working with Newmark Homes. He then went to work for a new building company called Lindenwood Homes, which was later acquired by John Lang Homes. Recognizing an opportunity to expand his vision and passion for custom home design and building, he joined Frankel Building Group.
 
Scott is a Certified Graduate Builder, Certified Green Professional and a Graduate Master Builder. Scott is also a member of a Builder 20 group and has recently joined the Greater Houston Builders Association Sales and Marketing current Board of Directors. Progressive building and costumer-focused business techniques allow Scott to ensure customer satisfaction. Eager to improve processes and increase the productivity of contractors, Scott constantly strives to make the building process more enjoyable and rewarding for customers.
 
Heather Gould
Heather Gould currently serves as the Marketing Director for Newland Communities.  She is responsible for all marketing efforts in the master planned communities of Cinco Ranch and Telfair. Prior to her time at Newland Communities, Heather served as a Marketing Manager for a builder.  She then spent 2 years as a Design Studio Manager for a builder.  Heather earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication from TrinityUniversity in San Antonio.  This is Heather’s second year as a member of the SMC Board.
 
Kristina Jones
Experienced marketing professional with a 10 year career in the homebuilding industry; earned a BBA in Marketing from the University of Houston-Downtown and has worked in marketing related positions for various homebuilders and industry related companies.  Currently the Marketing Director for Meritage Homes Corporation in Houston she oversees all aspects of advertising, marketing and branding for the companies 40 plus Houston area communities.  This is her fifth consecutive year as a member of the Sales & Marketing Council Board of Directors. 
 
Elizabeth is a third year SMC board member, and she has been an active SMC member for the last 4 years.  She is also active with the Women's Council of Realtors Houston chapter.  Elizabeth has worked for Partners in Building for 9 years (5 years in sales, where she received the salesperson of the year award in 2005, and 4 years as marketing director), and has helped PIB win numerous Texas Star and Houston's Best awards.  Elizabeth is a native Houstonian, and graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in Marketing with a concentration in French.
 
Teresa Shannon
Teresa is native Iowan and graduated from Iowa State University in 2002.  In late 2003 she moved to Houston with the plan of starting a career in the hospitality industry.  Shortly after her move to Houston, Teresa happened upon an opportunity in Real Estate with Taylor Morrison (then Morrison Homes) as a new home sales associate which was the beginning of her career in homebuilding.  A year into her role, Teresa was promoted to Marketing Manger and she currently works as Marketing and Internet Sales Manager with Taylor Morrison.  In 2008, she received the GHBA PRISM award for Marketing Professional of the Year and has also played an integral role in the success of Taylor Morrison at PRISM/Houston’s Best for the past 3 years.  She has been involved with the SMC since 2005 and this will be her first year to serve on the SMC Board of Directors.

Sarah Starr
Sarah is a native Houstonian and upon graduating from Texas A&M University started in the homebuilding industry in 2003. She has worked for various builders in both sales and marketing roles and currently serves as Marketing and Internet Sales Manager for Taylor Morrison Homes. She is responsible for all aspects of advertising, marketing and branding for all the Houston area communities and has played a vital role in her company winning over 20 PRISM/Houston’s Best awards in the past 3 years alone. Sarah has been involved in SMC for 5 years and this is her first year as a member of the SMC Board.

Christy Stratton
Christy Stratton and her more than 16 years of marketing and public relations experience spanning many different industries, including real estate, hospitality and nonprofits has recently returned to Texas. Back with PulteGroup, Stratton is focused on the operational marketing communications of the Houston division for the largest homebuilder in the country offering multiple brands across the home buying life stages.
 
Stratton spent most of the last decade in Las Vegas, Nevada, also working for Pulte Homes and even stepping out to start her own marketing and public relations consulting firm. While in Nevada she helped to start the state’s ENERGY STAR® Partners program bringing awareness of energy-efficient opportunities to both businesses and consumers and has brought the same sort of efforts to Houston.
 
A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, Stratton started her career in the home building and real estate industry in Houston and remains involved with memberships in Women’s Council of REALTORS®, the Houston and National Association of REALTORS, the Greater Houston and National Association of Home Builders as well as its Sales and Marketing Council.

Tori Torres
Tori is the Realtor Relations Specialist for Trendmaker Homes and Trendmaker Development Company.  She has spent 10 years building long lasting relationships with Realtors in and around the Houston area.
 
Trendmaker Homes builds in 23 Master-Planned communities as well as two of their own Development communities, Crighton Woods and their newest development, Cross Creek Ranch.  It is her job to make sure that Realtors are up to date on all of the upcoming events and incentives.  From speaking at the Women’s Council of Realtors’ luncheons to speaking at the Houston Association of Realtors’ luncheons...Tori is everywhere spreading the word.
 
You may have seen her while you were receiving your MCE credits as she attends the Champion School of Real-Estate classes as well as Houston Association of Realtors classes.  She keeps Realtors up to date through emails and by visiting them at their offices. Her goal is to make every Realtor aware of Trendmaker Homes and Trendmaker Development.   With her tenure with the company, Tori has worked with Trendmaker to maintain up to 85% Realtor sales.  Trendmaker knows the value of its Realtors and understands that they play a key role in the success of the company.  This is Tori's first year on the board of SMC and plans to help the Council build awareness in the Realtor Community. 
Toby Ware is a Senior Market Analyst with Metrostudy Texas Consulting.  Mr. Ware is a graduate of TexasA&MUniversity, where he received a Masters Degree in Land Economics and Real Estate (LERE) through the Mays School of Business.  Prior to joining Metrostudy in 2006, Mr. Ware was in strategic planning, product development, and land acquisition for Ashton Woods Homes’ Houston and Dallas divisions.  Mr. Ware began his real estate career in 2001 with Deloitte and Touché’s Financial Advisory Services.  While with Deloitte and Touché he conducted real estate valuations on a variety of commercial and residential properties, as well as provided consulting services for property tax assessments.     
 
Over the years, Mr. Ware’s professional expertise in commercial and residential real estate has become diversified.  Since joining Metrostudy, he has completed and delivered over one hundred custom market studies focusing on single-family and multi-family developments.  Mr. Ware has consulted with his clients on a wide variety services which include site selection, product positioning, product development, market demand analysis, lot pricing, and business plan forecasts.  Mr. Ware is an active member in the Greater Houston Builders Association, where he sits on the board of the Sales and Marketing Council.

Jackie Wilcox
Jackie Wilcox is Business Development Manager for Stewart Title and has been in that position for 11 years.  She has been involved in the Real Estate Industry for most of her career.  She is a board member of the Sales & Marketing Council for GHBA, and chaired “The New Home & Remodels Show for 3 years.  Jackie is a member of the executive committee and a co-founder of The Fort Bend Society of Commercial Realtors.  She was a recipient of the PRISM award for Marketing Director of the Year as well as had the honor of receiving the PRISM award for Associate Member of the Year in 2000.  Jackie is a member of the fortBend Chamber of Commerce, Houston Association of Realtors, and a former Vice Chairman of the Group Ticket Sales committee for the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo.


2010 SMC Underwriter
    
            
            
    

For more information, contact D'Nita Kuhn:

281-970-8970, ext. 130 or DKuhn@ghba.org

 

AFFILIATED WITH

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

 

Thanks to Our Platinum Sponsors