IRVINE, CA
– The
second class of the popular lecture series, ULI Leaders in Planned Communities,
Residential Design & Urban Infill Program, was treated to insights on
design by Randall Lewis, Executive Vice President of Lewis Operating Corp. The program, presented by Urban Land
Institute of Orange County/Inland Empire and Martin & Associates, features
many of the most effective leaders in the community development and
homebuilding industry. The successful
lecture series held September 9th through November 4th provides
a relevant learning experience designed for both the public and private sectors
of community development and the housing industry for professionals as well as
university students.
Lewis Operating Corp. is a leading developer of
master planned communities in the Western United States, now in its 60th
year. A family business, many long-tenured
employees are under the direction of second and third generation management
teams. Since 1955, the Lewis
organization has developed new communities in California, Nevada, Arizona, and
Utah, totaling in excess of 25,000 acres and housing more than 100,000
families. In 1999, the Lewis family sold
a portion of its business, Lewis Homes, to Kaufman and Broad (KB Home),
creating the largest homebuilder in the United States at that time.
Randall Lewis oversees the sales and marketing
operations of the company. He is
regarded as an industry leader in promoting the arts, education, healthy living
and sustainable development initiatives.
Named in the Los Angeles Times 2006 “West 100” list as one of the top
100 influential people in southern California, he has also received the
California Business Properties Association Champion of the Industry Award and
has been inducted into the California Building Industry Association Hall of
Fame.
Randall built his reputation on the company’s tradition
of quality, integrity and stability His strict adherence to ethics, kindness
and giving back has developed many long term relationships and a long term
strategy for growth. He is very much a
stickler for details and has a sense of obligation to look for transformative innovation
that will make a difference. The company
as a whole is very research oriented with a business model focused on
innovation and always asking what they can do that is different.
Business strategies include heavy
investment in infrastructure to create communities that address the highest
aspirations of the people who live within them. Understanding that open space
equals peace of mind, parks promote healthful living and recreation centers
kindle community spirit, Lewis creates key amenities early in the development
process. “Buyers don't buy green bananas,” stated Randall. “They are looking
for infrastructure already in place and we are always seeking ways to move time
tables up to meet expectations, together with providing touch points throughout
the buyers’ journey.” An example of the company’s leading technology
is the lightning-fast, fiber-optic cable being built into the project at Park
Place in Ontario. Quality and vision for
a healthy place to live go hand in hand throughout their planning and
development process.
Focusing on long term value,
Lewis Operating Corp. works with builders on quality control and supplementing
their market knowledge, including sharing extensive research on what buyers are
looking for in a home and a community.
Constantly seeking new
inspiration, Randall enjoys spending time with people and working with consultants
who are passionate about what they do and take pride in every project with a
sense of empathy as if it were their own. He looks at many other industries for
insights into innovation, such as IDEO, an international design and consulting
firm and Stanford University, one of the world's leading research and teaching
institutions.
Among the challenges he sees in the homebuilding
industry are its cycles coupled with fierce competition, along with a significant
shift in water conservation that will add to the price of homes. Top trending opportunities he cited include
next generation development, inside and outside of the homes, for
multigenerational families and also the three story density model with features
such as roof decks. He also sees a way
to bring down prices is allowing buyers to upgrade their homes over time versus
a turnkey concept. For more insights
into Lewis Operating Corp. visit http://www.lewisop.com.
Please contact orangecounty@uli.org
for more information on the ULI Industry Leaders Program.
The Urban Land Institute (www.uli.org) is a nonprofit education and
research institute supported by its members. Its mission is to provide
leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining
thriving communities worldwide. Established in 1936, the ULI has more than
40,000 members worldwide representing all aspects of land use and development
disciplines.
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