Communities Connected: A Land and Lifestyle Podcast by Alosant

In this episode, host April LaMon, Co-founder and CEO of Alosant is joined by Matt Thornhill, Founder of Cozy Home Community.  Matt has spent his career understanding the behavior of older adults. Matt ran a think tank called The Boomer Project, where he helped big companies like Nasa, Hersheys, and Google understand the boomer generation. In 2020 Matt founded Cozy Home Community. Back in 2016, senior care facilities began reaching out to Matt to understand older adults better. Through the research and interaction with these facilities, Matt saw an opportunity to do senior living differently. Matt saw the senior care industry as bifurcated, with no product for the massive middle. It was clear to Matt that the future of senior living was to provide it as a service. His vision is to build homes for older adults that bring individuals together and bring services to that community.  Listen to the full episode to learn more about the first Cozy Home Community going beginning construction this fall, how senior care facilities and universities are looking to leverage the concept, and the creative approach Matt takes to accelerate human connection amongst residents through the Get Cozy profile. Connect with Matt Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattthornhill/ Learn more about Cozy Home Community: https://www.cozyhomecommunity.com

Welcome back to the Alosant Innovator Series. In our 15th episode, host April LaMon is joined by Pfilip Hunt, Partner at Wrathell Hunt & Associates.    In this episode, Pfil demystifies special district financing options for master planned communities, and talks more specifically about why developers leverage these tools, the upside for those involved in said project, and more.    Special Districts are a way for developers to fund public infrastructure like bridges, roads, water, and infrastructure using tax-exempt municipal bonds.    If you’re a developer exploring different financing options, Pfil describes this tool is most appropriate when you have a heavy infrastructure cost spread across many units (minimum thresholds approx. 300 resident units, 300-400k sqft on a commercial project).   Wrathell Hunt & Associates are working on a few large-scale urban infill projects in the Miami area, of which include Midtown Miami and Miami Worldcenter.   Looking ahead, Wrathell Hunt & Associates have their sights set on creating a CDD law in the legislature of Georgia and Tennessee and get these financing tools available for developers in those states to foster more development. ​ Connect with Pfil LinkedInWrathell Hunt & Associates 

In episode 14, host April LaMon is joined by Teri Slavik-Tsuyuki, Principal + Storyteller at tst ink llc. Teri discusses the key insights and takeaways from the America at Home Study, which directly tested consumer sentiment considering COVID-19 to understand the design changes consumers want in homes and communities.Teri spends her time working with developers, builders, entrepreneurs, and placemakers to try and connect with what matters to people most, then leverage those insights to design homes and communities.Listen to the full episode to learn more about how the insights from the America at Home Study are fueling the future of home building and communities. ​ About tst ink tst ink exists to motivate everyone to see the “so what factor” in the little things and turn those observations into places and experiences that make the world a better place. Teri’s work has been featured in major business media including USA Today, Forbes, Washington Post, and numerous industry and trade media. She is a frequent and engaging public speaker and facilitator comfortable on big stages at national events and in custom-designed focused workshops.  ​ Connect with Teri teri@tst-ink.com www.tst-ink.com America at Home Study website: https://www.americaathomestudy.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teri-slavik-tsuyuki-400b273/ 

In Ep. 9 of the Alosant Innovator Series, host April LaMon is joined by Dave Gilmore, CEO of DesignIntelligence. Amongst a breadth of engaging topics discussed throughout the episode, the conversation revolved around a new challenge that will face the housing market. Dave labels the challengers to the industry the Massive Middle. 10,000 new people in the United States turn 65 everyday. With medicine and science enhancing life expectancy, this generation will live longer than ever before. Longer lifespan will affect their decision as to where they will live in the later parts of their life. The Massive Middle generation is also the wealthiest, with billions of dollars in equity tied up in real estate, some assets of which that don’t have a mortgage. In the conversation Dave talks about the Great Opportunity for the Massive Middle, and how they are primed to unlock wealth through liquidating the equity they have in their homes and relocating to Active Adult, senior communities, and assisted care. Dave sees an opportunity for the industry to create affordable, accessible, and high quality products for this generation. He predicts a shift in the accessibility of amenities and services to residents, calling it the Rise of Proximity - the reintegration of services closer to home, in this case within the community. Communities will now build acute care facilities within its plan to provide more accessible care to residents. Subtle yet impactful changes to the resident experience that Dave mentions in the episode include more places for residents to walk and recover in shade throughout popular walking trails. Listen to the full episode to hear Dave and April talk more about the challenges the industry will face with the Massive Middle, the Rise of Proximity, and much more. About DesignIntelligence DesignIntelligence is made up of a series of business units such as media groups, a research organization, strategic advisory group, capital advisors group, and more. The Design Futures Council is a think tank organization that brings together people multiple times a year and discuss the future of the built environment across a series of themes. The DesignIntelligence Leadership Institute is focused on an expansive set of curriculum that is brought to firms on the redefining and understanding of leadership. Connect with Dave Gilmore Connect with Dave on LinkedIn Listen to This is DesignIntelligence Podcast

In episode 7 of the Alosant Innovator Series, host April LaMon is joined by Feed Balda.  President of Hillwood Communities since 1992, Fred is instrumental in providing leadership in operations, acquisitions, design, and. development at Hillwood.  Fred's experience in development spans more than 100 master-planned communities across 13 states and two countries. He is dedicated to thoughtful placemaking -- designing and developing communities that inspire a sense of belonging amongst community members and creates long lasting value for everyone involved.  Read the full show summary at www.alosantinnovatorseries.com/episode7

This episode of the Alosant Innovator Series features a conversation between host April LaMon and Barbara Wray, SVP of Strategic Growth at Wick Marketing.    Barbara recently completed a study of homebuyers who purchased in the last 15 months as interest rates began to rise. The study takes an in-depth look at the attitudinal landscape of who’s buying right now and why.In this conversation, Barbara breaks down what made them buy, insights from their purchase experience, and how we can better connect with prospects.    On June 29, Barbara will be sharing the full results of the study plus more insights on Beyond Buyer Profiles & Demographics: Who Is Buying Homes Now and Why. We highly recommend tuning in to this conversation. Learn more and register for the webinar below.   Beyond Buyer Profiles & Demographics: Who Is Buying Homes Now and Why June 29 @ 9am PST Location: Zoom   Join us as we unpack the results of our brand-new study of homebuyers who purchased after interest rates began to rise. Hear what motivated them to buy anyway and about their homebuying experience overall. Importantly, learn how you can leverage those insights with the prospects in your pipeline now and in the months ahead.    Click here to register

The latest episode of the Alosant Innovator Series features a conversation between host April LaMon and Dan Hutson, Head of Marketing at Priya Living. Dan and April discuss a new way of thinking about aging for Baby Boomers.  In this conversation, Dan challenges the industry to think differently about the lived environment for Baby Boomers. Dan's passion for this population is evident as he brings many powerful insights to how we understand the needs of seniors. With the human life expectancy on the rise, Dan explains what could be the future of designed environments for seniors to feel fulfilled, inspired, healthy, and creative. Dan calls the industry to action to mix the real estate and experience angles of senior living to provide a more unique experience for Baby Boomers in their last 30 years of life.  Priya Living focuses on combining culturally-relevant elements of their Indian-American target audience with what’s relevant to people later in life. In addition to a physical lived experience, Priya Living offers products and services that serve key emotional needs of those living in their third stage of life. Connect with Dan Connect with Dan on LinkedIn Learn more about Priya Living Presented By Alosant Azul The Alosant Innovator Series is presented by Alosant Azul, the scalable access control platform that seamlessly allows your residents to explore your entire community without ever needing a key fob. Learn how and why you should have mobilized access control for your community.

In Ep. 8 of the Alosant Innovator Series, host April LaMon is joined by Debra Wyatte for a conversation on the importance of connecting brand pillars to all aspects of a project, challenges the industry may face with Gen Z buyers entering the market, and more. President of WE Consulting, Debra explains how she works with communities to examine and align many aspects of the project with their brand pillars. She also discusses how she helps communities measure and analyze this work. Visit the Alosant Innovator Series to read more. 

Welcome back to the Alosant Innovator Series. In the first episode of season 2, April LaMon is joined by Tom Hoban Owner at Kitson and Partners. Mission, Vision, and Today at Babcock Ranch Tom and the many teams working at Babcock Ranch are collectively inspired by the mission of creating great places to live that enrich the lives of those who live there. In this episode, Tom discusses how these teams are collaborating to elevate the innovation throughout new development at Babcock Ranch and how they are successfully facing the challenge of building a town for the future. Tom has been involved at Babcock Ranch since the inception of the town planning in 2005. Since then, he has seen the plan evolve into one of the largest and most innovative communities in the world. Today, Babcock Ranch is over 18,000 acres with more than 20,000 homes. Seeing first time home buyers and families choose Babcock Ranch continues to validate the grand vision “they” had for the future back in 2005. Babcock Ranch continues to deliver an unprecedented experience to residents through solar power, fiber internet, a school system, the first autonomous shuttle service, and more. Innovation at Babcock Ranch In 2019, Tom went to the executive team at Kitson & Partners and proposed an event that would soon shift the attitude around innovation at Babcock Ranch. Innovation Summit, first held in 2019, was designed to bring the best and brightest in home building together to discuss new ideas for building practices, technology, and more. A positive byproduct of the first Innovation Summit in 2019 is Innovation Way. Innovation Way is a street in Babcock Ranch dedicated to showcasing homes of the future. Forging partnerships with the largest home builders in the country enabled Babcock Ranch to expand what is feasible with the model homes, putting on display cutting edge features. The next Innovation Summit will be held in the spring of 2023, and will be more comprehensive to include topics of home building like the last summit, and also include areas of focus on common area, infrastructure, technology, and parks and place. Connect with Tom Learn more about Babcock Ranch Learn more about Kitson and Partners Connect with Tom on LinkedIn

In this episode, host April LaMon is joined by Rick Severance, Division President at Wellen Park, Mattamy Homes. Rick discusses how he and the team at Wellen Park are building one of the fastest growing, most environmentally conscious communities in the country. He also discusses how collaboration, fresh perspectives and high energy are key components to designing a multi-generational community that can withstand the test of time. Rick joined the Wellen Park team just over three years ago and brings a wealth of industry knowledge with him. His mission: infuse energy, rebrand and create diversification. Rick believes the best master-planned communities in the country are those that have true diversification including single family homes for purchase, multi-family communities for rent, the right mix of healthcare, schools, commercial interest, amenities and a connection to the natural environment. Within the first 90 days of his tenure, he and his team had a plan for Wellen Park’s town center in place. Rick speaks to the importance of quality and why it's at the core of their design process. Whether that means investing more to create a better retail mix or creating “aha” moments that feel distinctive and special, Rick always prefers to err on the side of quality. Rick shares his perspective on designing communities around hallmark features. In the case of Wellen Park, building the community around solar technology was essential. He also discusses how he and his team are creating a community that fosters walkability and encourages alternative modes of transportation like bikes, golf carts, electric vehicles and even kayaks. Rick is a trusted voice in the industry and has often been commended for creating a collaborative and energetic environment during design charrettes. He prides himself on creating an environment where it is safe to express new ideas and even disagree.  He encourages others, particularly junior-level executives, to have the confidence to  “speak the truth, even if your voice shakes.” This cooperative approach has added tremendous value to these hands-on planning meetings. About Wellen Park Wellen Park is a mixed use, master planned development on Florida’s West Coast. Formerly land that was used for cattle ranching and citrus, the land has been transformed today into one of the most advanced, environmentally friendly and interactive communities in the country. About Rick Rick finds inspiration everywhere! From traveling around the world to public art and unique branding, Rick believes imitation is the greatest form of flattery.  While he’ll never duplicate what’s been done, he often seeks to create his own unique spin on a great idea. Connect with Rick Connect with Rick on LinkedIn Learn more about Wellen Park Learn more about Mattamy Homes

In this episode, host April LaMon is joined by Nicole Godfrey, Global President at Runway. Nicole discusses the origin story of Runway amidst the financial crisis of 2008, how Runway is leveraging the metaverse to create virtual, immersive home buying experiences and how PropTech can empower consumers when buying a home. About Runway Runway is an international, award-winning inventory management and sales and marketing tool partnering with leading community developers and home builders. Runway solves the most complex back office challenges faced by the industry and delivers incredible home shopper experiences that increase sales velocity and conversion rates. Runway is privately held and was established in Melbourne, Australia in 1997. The metaverse, and the new immersive homebuying experience In Australia, developers sell land directly to consumers, followed by builders selling home designs to those same consumers. That means there are two separate transactions, each with different contracts. In order for a builder to generate leads, they must put together detailed virtual house and land packages outlining all details and expenses. This process can be time consuming, inefficient and can often lead to mistakes. Upon entry into the US market, Runway quickly recognized the challenges of that process and in turn, developed a series of configurable algorithms to allow builders to create thousands of these packages within minutes. Runway’s cutting-edge technology creates dollar-perfect packages that are compliant with all rules and design guidelines. Builders can generate a PDF and publish these virtual packages to websites and major portals within hours rather than weeks. By eliminating that manual, repetitive effort, Runway has been successful in getting builders what they need faster, more efficiently and from a single source of data. Typically, only builders and sales teams have had access to these virtual packages, however in 2018, Runway released the first version of Homebuyer, a program that enables consumers to access, build, and customize these virtual packages for their home. Through confidence in their market pricing and integrity of their data, Runway is able to empower consumers with key information and allow them to customize their home with precise detail. Connect with Nicole Connect with Nicole on LinkedIn Explore Runway:

In this episode of the Alosant Innovator Series, host April LaMon is joined by Greg Wagner, Assistant General Manager at Moonlight Basin in Big Sky, MT. ​ Greg discusses how the world-class team at Moonlight Basin is using innovative technology such as the newly implemented Alosant Access Connector™ to enable residents to access amenities and spaces with the ease of their smartphones. He also shares how living in Montana keeps him inspired. ​Greg moved from Santa Monica, California to Big Sky almost ten years ago to join the team at Moonlight Basin. With extensive experience as a PGA Golf Professional, Greg combines his passion for marketing and business with his competitive nature to create success throughout Moonlight Basin. Here are some highlights from his conversation with LaMon: How Moonlight Basin leverages innovative technology to enhance the member experience Moonlight Basin strives to provide an authentic, hospitable experience to members, residents, and guests of the community— technology enables them to do that. ​In 2020 Moonlight Basin launched its Moonlight Member App powered by the Alosant ResX™ Community Branded App Platform. The app was originally used by members to access club information, book reservations and easily locate contact information for club staff. However, last year, Moonlight Basin implemented the Employee User Role, offering  all staff members access to important  content such as the community’s handbook, schedules, urgent messages, community values and more. As members roam the property, staff is now better equipped to answer questions and provide direction seamlessly.Greg discusses how these little touches go a long way, and how the flexibility of the Alosant ResX™ Community Branded App Platform. allows the Moonlight Basin team to elevate the member experience. ​The Newly Implemented Alosant Access Connector™ at Moonlight Basin Moonlight Basin and Alosant partnered to redesign how members and guests access amenities and spaces throughout the community. With the technical expertise of local provider SAV Digital Environments based in Bozeman, MT, Moonlight Basin is the first community to have fully integrated access control throughout every building in the community. Members, residents, and guests can now shake their smartphone to access ski lockers, gym and pool access points and much more. In this episode, Greg shines light on the entire process from the many benefits of discontinuing its fob access system to the tremendous cost savings the new technology has afforded the community. He explains the collaborative nature of the system and how it encourages the partnership with trusted vendors to maintain the system. Connect with Greg Connect with Greg on LinkedIn Learn more about Moonlight Basin

The Alosant Innovator Series is excited to release Ep. 2 with another esteemed guest. In this episode, host April LaMon chats with Monaca Onstad, President and CEO of OnPlace, a placemaking firm that specializes in community strategy, amenity planning, and lifestyle design. They discuss the intentionality that she and her team use to design resident-centric amenities, her successful career in community lifestyle marketing and what she sees on the horizon for the industry. Onstad has over a decade of experience in community lifestyle management and recently launched OnPlace in 2022, which combines her passion for lifestyle and community planning. Connect with Monaca Connect with Monaca on LinkedIn Visit OnPlace

In this episode of the Alosant Innovator Series, Paul Johnson sits down with host April LaMon to discuss his notable career in community development, how residential lifestyle trends are changing in a post-COVID world, and what he sees on the horizon for the industry. Johnson has over 25 years of experience in building, planning, and developing some of the leading master-planned communities in the country including Ladera Ranch and Rancho Mission Viejo in Southern California. From the start of his career, Johnson has always believed in the core values of having fun and building communities that are financially feasible, sustainable, and innovative. In this episode, Johnson speaks to the power of those around you. He accredits the innovation at Ladera Ranch and Rancho Mission Viejo to the legacy of the ownership and the teams that challenge themselves to innovate and enhance the resident experience in unprecedented ways. Connect with Paul and Rancho Mission Viejo Connect with Paul on LinkedIn https://www.ranchomissionviejo.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/rancho-mission-viejo/

Bob Cardoza, Chief Operating Officer of FirstService Residential, discusses his journey from consulting to executive leadership and the vision guiding the future of community management.He reflects on the creation of FirstService Residential Development Advisors, his transition into the COO role, and how strong partnerships, culture, and a focus on prosperity shape long-term success. Bob also highlights the company’s three-year operational evolution, including investments in AI and new technology platforms, while emphasizing that people remain at the heart of everything FirstService Residential does.Key Takeaways:00:00 Introduction.01:10 The value of building trusted partnerships in new business initiatives.08:47 Why early planning is essential for sustainable community development.13:48 Leadership transitions shaped by mentorship and personal guidance.19:00 Balancing prosperity, culture, and career opportunities.24:57 The role of technology and innovation in shaping the future.30:17 Building consistency and scalability through a unified brand and platform.35:13 Success as a result of passion for the work and the people involved.38:38 Advice on career growth, patience, and surrounding yourself with the right people.Resources Mentioned:Bob Cardozahttps://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-cardoza-818aa09/FirstService Residential | LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/firstservice-residential/FirstService Residential | Websitehttp://www.fsresidential.comUrban Land Institutehttps://uli.org/Thank you for listening to “Communities Connected: A Land and Lifestyle Podcast by Alosant.” If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star review and subscribe to our channel so you don’t miss any future episodes.You can find more about Alosant on our LinkedIn page and alosant.com#ResidentExperience #MasterPlannedCommunities #Proptech #LifestyleManagement About the Host:April is the CEO and Co-Founder of Alosant. She is an experienced entrepreneur and real estate technology expert with an innate curiosity for consumer behavior. Alosant-powered apps make it easy for users to stay informed and engaged, offering solutions to connect with everything their community has to offer.

We feature Sara Carbonell, Director of Marketing for Amblebrook Gettysburg of Crown Community Development, in a thoughtful discussion on creating vibrant communities where active adults thrive. With more than two decades in homebuilding and years of experience shaping lifestyle-driven developments, Sara shares how Amblebrook blends resort-style amenities, resident-driven programming, and meaningful partnerships to foster a dynamic, connected culture.From lifelong learning initiatives and intergenerational collaborations to innovative wellness programs, Sara highlights how Amblebrook has become more than a neighborhood. It is a place where residents can flourish, connect, and reinvent their lifestyles.Key Takeaways:00:00 Introduction.01:34 The community benefits from the diverse experiences residents bring.05:42 The environment fosters connection and lifelong learning.11:06 Partnerships with health providers expand wellness options.13:17 Collaboration with local institutions enriches community life.19:09 New amenities continue to enhance resident opportunities.20:49 Immersive programs give prospects a deeper sense of the community.24:55 Inspiration comes from industry exposure and personal influences.29:14 Curiosity and openness create opportunities for professional growth.Resources Mentioned:Sara Carbonellhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/saracarbonell/Crown Community Development | LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/crown-communites/Crown Community Development | Websitehttps://crowncommunities.com/International Builders’ Show (IBS)https://www.buildersshow.comMel Robbins Podcasthttps://www.melrobbins.com“People We Meet on Vacation” by Emily Henryhttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54985743-people-we-meet-on-vacation?utm_source=chatgpt.comThank you for listening to “Communities Connected: A Land and Lifestyle Podcast by Alosant.” If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star review and subscribe to our channel so you don’t miss any future episodes.You can find more about Alosant on our LinkedIn page and alosant.com.#ResidentExperience #MasterPlannedCommunities #Proptech #LifestyleManagement

Erica Sinner, Founder and CEO of Ladies in Land, shares how she is creating a space for women in the land and homebuilding industry to learn, grow, and find community. She reflects on her journey from sales and marketing to land acquisition, and how her passion for education sparked the launch of a movement that is rapidly expanding across the country.Ladies in Land is built on the values of education, representation, and inclusion. Erica discusses the importance of building confidence through knowledge, creating safe environments where professionals can ask questions, and ensuring women have visible roles in panels, publications, and leadership. She also shares her long-term vision for scaling the organization, integrating with universities, and shaping the future of land and development.Key Takeaways:00:00 Introduction.02:16 The founding story and inspiration behind creating an alternative to traditional networking.05:19 The role of education in fostering confidence and professional growth.09:50 The organization’s three core pillars: education, representation, and inclusion.15:18 Accessibility through virtual participation and shared resources across markets.19:33 Strategic partnerships that amplify representation and industry visibility.22:50 Long-term vision for university integration and broader industry impact.27:44 Advice for younger professionals on continuous learning and asking the right questions.30:24 The importance of creating a safe space to share both successes and failures.Resources Mentioned:Erica Sinnerhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/esinner/Ladies in Land | LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/ladies-in-land-inc/Ladies in Land | Websitehttp://www.ladiesinland.comZondahttps://www.zondahome.com/Thank you for listening to “Communities Connected: A Land and Lifestyle Podcast by Alosant.” If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star review and subscribe to our channel so you don’t miss any future episodes.You can find more about Alosant on our LinkedIn page and alosant.com.#ResidentExperience #MasterPlannedCommunities #Proptech #LifestyleManagement

In this special episode of the Alosant Innovator Series, we revisit one of our most popular conversations: the origin story of Newfield. Originally featured in Episode 29, this re-air of our interview with Dan Grosswald, Division President of Mattamy Homes SE Florida, explores the inspiration behind Newfield—a small-town-style development rooted in agriculture, community, and intentional design.But first, we sit down with Monaca Onstad, President and CEO of OnPlace, who leads the placemaking efforts at Newfield. Monaca shares how the community has evolved, the success of spaces like the Harvest House, and the ways local partnerships are helping shape Newfield into a thriving destination. She reflects on what makes the community work—from long-term community building to its unique programming.Monaca also recently sat down with Dan Grosswald on an episode of Smith Lane, where they dove deeper into their shared vision for Newfield. Listen to that conversation here.Whether you're discovering Newfield for the first time or revisiting its journey, this episode captures the power of vision, place, and people.About DanDan Grosswald is a highly accomplished senior executive with over thirty years of demonstrated achievements in homebuilding and land acquisition operations. His winning strategy combined with exceptional leadership skills have a proven track record for driving profit growth, market share, revenue and customer loyalty with diversified product and services knowledge and effective P&L management experience in multiple markets for both start up and high growth organizations.Currently serving as Division President with Mattamy Homes overseeing homebuilding and land acquisition operations for their southeast Florida region, Dan has also served in leadership roles for Lennar, CalAtlantic, Standard Pacific, and Toll Brothers.Dan attended the University of Florida for his bachelor’s degree and earned his MBA in Finance from Florida Atlantic University.Connect with DanLinkedInMattamy HomesAbout MonacaMonaca is a nationally recognized community relations and lifestyle executive with a passion for building community in the residential and commercial real estate markets. She has more than 20 years of sales and operations experience in the real estate industry with the last several years focused on driving new home sales and leasing efforts through placemaking, community relations, and lifestyle programming. During her time with Lakewood Ranch, Monaca helped move the community from the 4th best-selling community in the U.S. to the #1 best-selling community in the U.S. for all ages.​Recognized as the best lifestyle director in the U.S. in 2018 by the National Association of Home Builders Sales and Marketing Council. Ranked among the top 4 lifestyle directors in the country in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022. Monaca holds a bachelor's degree in business management and a master's degree in marketing.Connect with MonacaLinkedInOnPlace

In this episode, we sit down with Anja Seng, Manager of DesignLens at John Burns Research & Consulting’s New Home Trends Institute team, for a conversation about how long-term consumer and societal trends are shaping the future of homebuilding.Anja shares how NHTI’s research helps the industry stay aligned with evolving homeowner needs. We explore how her team blends qualitative and quantitative methods to uncover actionable insights—and how those findings are shared across the industry. Our conversation covers everything from shifting family dynamics and economic pressures to the lasting impact of remote work.Rooted in research, NHTI empowers the industry to stay ahead of the curve. Anja reflects on the value of the NHTI community’s collaborative culture, the importance of embracing curiosity, and what’s ahead for both NHTI and DesignLens.Tune in for a thoughtful conversation on how research and community come together to shape what’s next in housing.About AnjaAnja serves as the Manager of DesignLens at the New Home Trends Institute where she tracks and analyzes the most successful, innovative homes and communities nationwide. Her goal is to bridge the gap between what consumers want and what they're being offered and uncover trends that will shape the future of residential design. Her primary responsibilities include managing DesignLens, a comprehensive database and publication featuring over 900 of the best residential projects, and overseeing NHTI's five councils—curated groups of industry leaders committed to solving housing's greatest challenges and innovating for what's next. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Strategic and Corporate Communication and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance from Chapman University. Connect with AnjaLinkedInJohn Burns Research & Consulting

In this episode of the Alosant Innovator Series, we're joined by Evan Harney of Pahlisch Homes, a regional homebuilder in the Pacific Northwest that's redefining the homebuying experience through their user-centric platform, Wayfinder. Evan shares how they approach the process with the same level of customization you might expect when buying a Ford truck—empowering buyers to configure their future homes, explore finishes, and envision life in their space.Rooted in the values of innovation, intentionality, and a servant’s heart, Pahlisch Homes relies on customer feedback to shape a digital journey that supports homeowners from initial inspiration through post-sale engagement. Evan also discusses how leading with values has attracted like-minded collaborators, and how thoughtful technology can bring meaningful change to antiquated aspects of the homebuying industry.Join us for a conversation at the intersection of technology and customer care. About EvanEvan Harney is an innovator that is driven by developing solutions that delight customers.  With deep experience and leadership in a variety of real estate arenas and a passion for technology, Evan has focused on creating PropTech solutions to enhance the customer experience, first as an entrepreneur and now with Pahlisch Homes.As the Director of Software Development at Pahlisch Homes, Evan spearheads the development of groundbreaking customer experiences at Pahlisch Homes, including Wayfinder, its revolutionary app designed to transform the home-buying journey for Pahlisch Homes' customers.Outside of work, you might find Evan on a variety of adventures that involve exploring the mountains around Bend, Oregon by foot, mountain bike or snowboard. He is also an avid tennis player and captains several USTA teams in Central Oregon.Connect with EvanLinkedInPahlisch Homes