Sekisui House Group is an exceptional global company with a rich history and a proven trajectory, and I was thrilled to join the company in January 2023 after they acquired Chesmar Homes’ Financial Services. I spent 28 years with a national mortgage company, serving as Senior Vice President of National Production and Operations, overseeing operations across 22 markets throughout the United States. Nearly a decade ago, I began my journey with Chesmar Homes as President of CLM Mortgage. I am now the President of Financial Services, which encompasses the Mortgage Company (CLM Mortgage), the Title Company (N Title), and the Homeowner’s Insurance Company (C Star Insurance).

CLM Mortgage takes great pride in assisting homebuilders in selling homes and fulfilling the dream of homeownership for countless families. Our team is committed to delivering personalized mortgage solutions that cater to the individual needs of each homebuyer. I am dedicated to leading by example, emphasizing the significance of seeing each loan not merely as a transaction, but as a family's aspiration and future. By cultivating a culture of empathy and dedication, we ensure that every team member shares the sentiment of gratitude I feel for being part of this life-changing industry. We have expanded into new markets beyond Texas, beginning with our first office in Utah in October 2023, followed by openings in Arizona, Idaho, and Nevada, and three offices in California, all to support Woodside Homes. Looking ahead, we are eagerly anticipating the opening of CLM Mortgage offices to support Holt Homes. The remarkable success of Sekisui House is truly inspiring, motivating me to personally expand my understanding and skills in developing sustainable business models that will propel our continued growth.

Our success hinges on the exceptional team and culture we have built. While my responsibilities include managing revenue, expenses, and risk, my primary focus is prioritizing our associates. As a leader, I strive to inspire, motivate, and develop our associates to help them reach their full potential. By investing in their growth and well-being, we foster a positive and enjoyable workplace. Associates, in turn, invest their talents and dedication into our company, which allows us to reach new heights. Building a diverse workforce has played a critical role in developing our business and enables us to see things from different viewpoints, ensuring we tailor our products to meet the varied needs of our nationwide customer base while fostering a culture of loyalty and respect. Our mission of fulfilling people’s dreams of homeownership is a responsibility we hold dear, fueling our commitment to excellence, and I am incredibly enthusiastic about our future. With continued brand growth on the horizon and the unmatched innovation that is the hallmark of Sekisui House, we will continue to create forward-thinking products at the forefront of our industry.

Since arriving in Australia, which is my third country assigned as an expatriate, I’ve been working on developing an in-depth understanding of the local market and business practices while taking part in multiple development projects together with project teams.
Through the integration of Sekisui House’s knowledge and expertise in sales, technology and project management cultivated in both domestic and international business, combined with my experience in working in various countries, I want to devote myself to development projects to build homes that will be cherished by many for years to come in Australia.
In the other two countries I was assigned to, the projects involved forming joint ventures with local project partners, but Sekisui House Australia Holdings (SHAH) is a local operating company that is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sekisui House. There are large number of employees, but employees here have good understanding of the Sekisui House philosophy and a passion for homes, regardless their position and experience with Sekisui House.
I’ve worked on various overseas projects, but the one that stands out the most is the City Ridge project in U.S., Washington D.C. This was a major project that consists of 690 rental apartments and roughly 30,000 square meters of retail and office space. It was designed to preserve existing buildings while delivering a positive change to the existing residents in the surrounding area. It was a truly rewarding experience, as for someone who joined Sekisui House with a desire to be involved in a development project that would remain on the map or be recognized as the area’s asset, while contributing to society.
The happiness when residents directly express their joy to you is another truly special moment. When I would show the multi-family apartment projects in the U.S. to visitors, including colleagues from Japan, residents would approach us, smiling, and tell us how much they liked living there. As a developer, these moments are motivating, and it was also wonderful opportunity for the colleagues from Japan to see and further understand the impact the International Business of Sekisui House has on people’s quality of life.

I value an attitude of “understanding others” when working with different identities. As I’ve been in a diverse and multicultural environment since my college days, the idea comes naturally to me, but I believe it was further encouraged over the 3 years I worked in sales of rental homes in Osaka. I dealt with customers who were considering how to use their own land effectively, and this required me to think in depth; the reason why they need to build an apartment at that time and the benefits we can provide. Through the lessons learned from my supervisor at the time, various role-play exercises for sales training, and day-to-day sales activities, I made a habit of consciously trying to understand others. I think that has served me well, even as of today, in Sekisui House Australia.
Having worked abroad for more than half of my career at Sekisui House, I have gained a wide range of experience and knowledge. However, there’s a lot of potential for further growth and my journey in Australia has only just begun. With deeper communication, I will aim to develop and implement strategies that everyone can resonate, while continue to learn from teammates.