2009 Aurora Award Judges
Lyle J. Breeze, AIBD
Breeze & Associates
Clearwater, FL
Lyle Breeze was born and raised in Dearborn Michigan and graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 1973 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Art majoring in Art History and Design.
Lyle began his design career working for a residential design firm in Clearwater Florida, and established his own design business in 1987. The focus of Breeze & Associates has always been to provide custom services dedicated to designing site specific homes that meet the specific needs of the people that will live in them. Lyle has designed one of kind custom residences throughout Florida, in the northeast United States, and the Caribbean.
As a member and eventually President of the Florida Residential Designers Association, he has been involved in the ongoing efforts to increase public awareness of Residential Design as a profession. As an early member of the Florida Society of the American Institute of Building Design he furthered the efforts of both organizations by serving as President of both simultaneously in a three year long effort to merge the two organizations as one.
Lyle went on to serve AIBD on the national level in many capacities eventually serving two terms as National President of The American Institute of Building Design. As president, one of his primary goals was to encourage the establishment of a college level curriculum specifically focused on Residential Design as a profession, an effort that has since gained attention at numerous institutions of higher learning across the country, several of which have already implemented curriculums.
As a design professional certified by the National Council of Building Designer Certification, he has maintained a continuing education effort exceeding minimum requirements to maintain certification. Lyle has chosen to focus his creative talents on designing single family homes, and has honed his skills and furthered his education accordingly. His involvement in helping to establish a relationship between AIBD Florida and the Institute of Classical Architecture and Classical American lead to his own completion of a year and a half long course study in the principles of classical architecture specifically designed and taught by the ICACA in Florida, an educational opportunity not previously offered by ICACA outside of New York City.
Roberta Klein
Editor
North Miami Beach, Florida
Roberta Klein is a veteran design and architecture writer and served as editor and primary writer of Florida Architecture Magazine for 12 years. Among the additional publications her stories have appeared in are Architectural Digest, Veranda, Southern Accents, Multi-Family Executive, South Florida Business Journal, Florida Design, Architecture Magazine, Hospitality Design, Robb Report’s Home Entertainment and Design and Florida International. She served as the design writer for Sunshine Magazine, the Sunday Magazine of the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, for 17 years until its demise and subsequently wrote for its successor, City & Shore, a regional stand-alone magazine published by the Sun-Sentinel through the Chicago Tribune.
Roberta compiled and produced an acclaimed hard cover art book titled The Collages of Robert M. Swedroe. She also assisted in the production of a documentary-style video on direct entry elevators for the firm of Robert M. Swedroe Architects & Planners. The video won both Aurora and Telly Awards.
Prior to launching her writing career in the mid 1970’s, she wrote and acted in a series of commercials for Argentina Airlines and held supporting roles in plays presented by several Broward County community theaters. In addition, she was featured in a segment of Que Pasa, USA?, the long running, first bi-lingual soap opera written for television. She also won an Addy Award for brochure text for the former Mutiny Hotel & Club in Coconut Grove, Florida.
Roberta attended Miami-Dade Community College and the University of Miami. The mother of five and grandmother of four, Roberta lives in a modern apartment in North Miami Beach and enjoys her “back yard� nature preserve and wide bay.
Brenda G. Kunkel, Owner
Kunkel Real Estate Strategies and Development LLC
Tampa, FL
Partnering with Home Builders, Land Developers and Realtors includes everything from business start-ups to community close-outs; with more than 30+ years of hands on experience.
Services include: Strategic business planning; product positioning & design; Comprehensive marketing and sales strategies; plan and budget, Project design evaluation and assessment of amenities; Sales programming and management; Sales center design; Personnel and administration audits, DISC profiling, Realtor co-op strategies, programs, incentives, events.
As Vice President Marketing & Realty for Newland Communities, Kunkel collaborated with regional operations and project/community teams to provide marketing strategies and programs to meet regional business plans and financial goals for new acquisitions and community start-up phases. Kunkel directed and supervised the strategic marketing programs for assigned regions to meet IRR and annual business plan goals while Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Terrabrook. She directed all marketing staffs and provided leadership and training to the marketing and realty teams; participated with Regional President to set regional strategy. During her time as Director of Sales and Marketing at American Newland, Kunkel directed all community and builder marketing, builder relations and was Broker of Record for Westchase, a 2,000 acre master planned community in northwest Hillsborough County, one of the most successful communities in the 1990’s in the state of Florida
A native of South Carolina but having lived in Florida since college, Kunkel is a Florida Licensed Real Estate Broker and Licensed Mortgage Broker in Florida; a member of the Mid Florida MLS and The Greater Tampa Association of Realtors; A past president and the first woman to be elected as President of the Tampa Bay Builders Association in 1995 also a Life Director and a Life Spike. Serve on several committees and on the Board of Directors for Florida Home Builders Association and National Association of Home Builders; Past Trustee of the IRM (Institute of Residential Marketing, NAHB). Have won numerous awards locally, state and nationally for sales, marketing and design but most valued awards were the 2004 John P Hall Award for lifetime achievement and dedication to the Florida Building Industry and Tampa Bay Builders Association 1998 Builder Member of the Year.
David A. Hoke, MIRM
BLF Marketing
Nashville, TN
A partner with BLF Marketing, David Hoke has worked with more than 40 community banks and homebuilders over the past ten years. BLF is a full-service niche marketing firm, specializing in helping companies orchestrate marketing activities to increase revenues, market share and improve profitability. His background includes 12 years of domestic and international marketing experience with David Weekley Homes, Proctor & Gamble and AMSCO International.
Since 2003, David has been a regular speaker at the International Builders Show and community banking conferences. He is also a licensed real estate broker and supports his wife as chief strategist for Ann Hoke & Associates (Keller Williams Realty). He served the Middle Tennessee Association of Homebuilders in consecutive terms as president of the Sales and Marketing Council.
He combines proven branding and marketing strategies with real-world leadership experience to provide solutions that can be effectively integrated into any company or organization. David is a coach at heart with a passion for entrepreneurship and excellence in all things.
Kathy Browning, CMP, IIDA, USGBC, ASID Allied Member
Principal Designer, Owner
Design Consultants
Virginia Beach, VA
With a degree in Professional Interior Design from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Kathy Browning’s early design background covered retail, commercial and residential design. Kathy has been an instructor in the Interior Design Department of Tidewater Community College and owner of Design Consultants, a 28-year-old business working exclusively with builders in Model Home Merchandising.
Credits include over 1000 homes merchandised, award winning Best Model Complex and the Stanley award for Best Interior Merchandising for three consecutive years from Tidewater Builders Association. Kathy has been a speaker for several years representing National Sales and Marketing Council and Design Committees at the NAHB International Builder‘s Show.
As an active member of Tidewater Builders Association, she has served as Homearama Interior Designer, Member of the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Sales and Marketing Council, Chairman of the Stanley Awards and currently is a member of the Green Building Council. Browning served as a trustee for The National Sales and Marketing Council and is currently a member of the Design Committee, 50+ Council, Convention Education, Convention and Planning Committees. Her articles on affordable merchandising and design trends have been featured in the National Association of Homebuilders Sales and Marketing Ideas magazine and Builder Magazine. She has contributed to and has been the subject of feature articles in the Virginian Pilot newspaper.
Kathy has held the office of president of The University of Tennessee Virginia Bay Area Alumni Association. She has served on the Board of Directors of the Junior League of Norfolk/Virginia Beach, President of Tidewater Alumnae Panhellenic Association, graduate of Leadership Hampton Roads, National Officer of Phi Mu Women’s Fraternity, and on the Administrative Board of Virginia Beach United Methodist Church. She is certified CERT (Citizens Emergency Relief Team) and served on numerous volunteer boards and committees throughout the Hampton Roads area.
Browning has judged for Parade of Homes and Sales and Marketing Award Programs throughout Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, California as well as The Best In American Living Awards for Professional Builder magazine.
Design Consultants has merchandised model homes, condominiums, apartments, clubhouses, community buildings and adult care living facilities throughout the south and northeast.
Carolyn McMoran
National City Mortgage
Jacksonville, FL
Carolyn McMoran has been associated with the real estate industry in one way or another for nearly forty years. She began by doing title searches as a summer intern in Arizona, was the office manager/bookkeeper for a real estate firm, then moved on to the mortgage business as a loan processor and earned her credentials as a direct endorsement underwriter for conventional & government loan products. She branched out and became a top producing loan officer with several nationally known lenders, both in Virginia and Florida. She was then asked to take over a non-performing branch office for a major lender and turned that operation into one of the top ten percent of the company’s nearly 500 branches. Carolyn is an ardent supporter and member of the Northeast Florida Builders Association (NEFBA), Sales and Marketing Council (SMC) and the Northeast Florida Association of REALTORS® (NEFAR) where she has garnered numerous awards for her efforts. As a FREC certified instructor, Carolyn teaches many of the Fair Housing classes throughout northeast Florida. She is currently serves as the Area Manager/Vice-President for National City Mortgage/PNC Bank for Northeast Florida.
Nanci Theoret
Editor
Naples, FL
A former newspaper reporter and staff magazine writer/editor focusing on luxury real estate and interior design, Nanci Theoret added travel writing to her repertoire after her daughter left for college three years ago. An award-winning journalist, Nanci also writes about food, wine, shopping and lifestyles, and is a regular contributor to Florida Travel + Life and other titles throughout Florida and Southwest Florida. She has also written for Visit Florida’s e-magazines, Florida Design, Robb Report’s Home Entertainment Design and Wine Enthusiast, and is the editor and writer of IN Good Company, a Southwest Florida lifestyle magazine named the No. 1 custom publication in 2007 and 2008 by the Florida Magazine Association. She resides in the Naples, Fla.
Dottie Fawcett, MIRM
MOVE.com
Garnet Valley, PA
Dottie Fawcett, MIRM, is the Regional Sales Manager for Move.com responsible for the internet marketing of Builders to consumers serving Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and New York. Dottie has helped builders develop custom award winning websites through Move’s website team in Wisconson. She is a lead instructor for Lifestyle Merchandizing, Advertising & Promotion (IRM III), co-instructor for Understanding Housing Markets and Consumers (IRM I), lead instructor for Certified New Home Sales Professional (CSP) and Essential Closing Strategies for the University of Housing teaching to Home Builder Associations across the country. Prior, Dottie was the VP of Sales & Marketing for the Ryland Group, Inc. in their Philadelphia Division (PA, NJ, DE). She has been in the Real Estate Industry for the past 25 years in many different capacities.
Dottie resides in Garnet Valley, PA with her husband Jim. She currently serves on the Sales and Marketing Councils for 4 Home Builder Associations: Chester/Delaware (PA), Bucks/Montgomery(PA), The Builder’s League of South Jersey(NJ), and Delaware, where she is currently the Chair of the Sales and Marketing Councils for both Chester/Delaware and the state of Delaware.
Nancy Anderson, AIA
Senior Associate/Senior Architect
Dahlin Group Architecture Planning
Currently her work takes her to China and California
Ms. Anderson has over 21 years experience as an architect and project manager overseeing large custom residences, recreational facilities, country clubs. She also has previous experience with an international food service consulting firm.
Anderson graduated from the University of Oregon, Eugene, OR with her Bachelor of Interior Architecture and a Bachelor of Arts degree. She is licensed in California AIA and NAHB Professional Affiliate.
Anderson’s many projects include:
Bussey Residence; Blackhawk, CA
Garaventa Residence; Concord, CA
Goulding Residence; Walnut Creek, CA
Hing Nguyen Residence; Alameda, CA
Hites Residence; Danville, CA
Kleinman Residence; Monte Sereno, CA
Lam Residence; Hillsborough, CA
Lam Penthouse; Vancouver, BC, Canada
Lenahan Residence; Alamo, CA
Manley Residence; Santa Clara County, CA
Morasch Residence; Hillsborough, CA
Pan Residence, Lost Altos Hill; CA
Penland Residence; Danville, CA
Peterson Residence; Blackhawk, CA
Rivera Residence; Blackhawk, CA
Seeno Residence; Alamo, CA
Spears Residence; Oakland, CA
Taghioff Residence; Fremont, CA
Trachtenberg Residence; Santa Rosa, CA
Tsao-Zaul Residence; Oakland, CA
Vu Nguyen Residence; Fremont, CA
Weber Residence; Alamo, CA
Luxury Villas; Beijing, Hangzhou, and Shanghai, China
Luxury Spec; Cupertino, CA, The O'Brien Group
Luxury Spec; Fremont, CA; The O'Brien Group
Luxury Spec; San Martin; CA; The O'Brien Group
Luxury Spec; San Jose, CA; Viking Development
Spec Home; Blackhawk, CA; E. B. Driggs Construction
Spec Home; Tiburon, CA; Masma Construction
Spec Home; Thousand Oaks, CA; UDC Homes
Spec Homes; Evergreen-San Jose, CA; Shapell Industries of Northern California
Mike Hofmeister, MIRM, CMP, MCSP, CSP
New Homes Account Manager
New Homes Division
Coldwell Banker Gundaker
Prior to joining CBG, Mike Hofmeister owned MarketBuilders, a multi-disciplinary design firm specializing in ’Builder’ services.
Since forming his own business in 1979, Hofmeister has provided award-winning land planning, product design, advertising, marketing and real estate services for over 200 local, regional and national clients.
While employed by a nationally recognized urban design firm and land planning firm, Hofmeister was a member of the design teams that created the master planned communities of Chesterfield Village (Chesterfield, MO), Riverwood (North St. Louis County, MO), Cottonwood Station (Edwardsville, IL), Washington University Medical Center Redevelopment area (St. Louis, MO) and St. Louis University Redevelopment area (St. Louis, MO). Hofmeister also spent 3 years on staff with a major inner-city redevelopment company as a neighborhood planner, construction supervisor and marketing director.
Hofmeister has contributed to the sales and marketing achievements in residential, commercial, recreational, and multi-use communities in St. Louis, MO, Houston, TX, Indianapolis, IN, Kansas City, MO, Kennewick, WA, Little Rock, AK, Louisville, KY, Naples, FL, Phoenix, AZ, and Springfield, IL.
Cindi MacPherson
N.C.I.D.Q #01846 (National Council of Interior Design Qualifications)
Design Degree/New York School of Interior Design
Professional A.S.I.D (American Society of Interior Designers)
Member of the Greater Atlanta Homebuilders
Board Member of the Sales and Marketing Council
Co-Chair of the Greater Atlanta HBA OBIE Awards
Member of the 50s + council
As Partner in a full service design firm The Interior Partner’s, I provide Design Services for Model Home Merchandising, Commercial, Professional and Residential Spaces. I have over 20 years experience in the Home Building Industry. As Executive Vice President of Nations Development, I was involved in construction projects from the land development stage through to the completed structures. My background includes the following aspects: architectural documents, specifications, finishes, and model merchandising. I was responsible for marketing research to determine the product and feature levels. It was my responsibility to direct design strategy for agents and buyers based on statistical research of the target market. For 7 years , I was with an award winning model home merchandising firm. My focus was completely on Model Home Merchandising for a variety of clients through in the South East United States. I judge national and regional design competitions, and conduct lectures and seminars.
Published in the following periodicals:
Custom Builder
Professional Builder
Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles
Sales & Marketing Ideas
Atlanta Magazine
Builder Magazine
Builder Architect
Peachtree Kitchen & Bath
Atlanta Building News
The Atlanta Business Chronicle
The Atlanta Journal