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Connie Lamphear – 2010
Lifetime Achievement Award
Recipient
Connie is overwhelmed at being
honored for 32 years of service to
CMHI
Connie began her career in the
mobile/manufactured housing industry
in September 1979. Hired by CMHI’s
predecessor, Western Manufactured
Housing Institute (WMHI) on a part-time
basis to prepare consumer materials
for the association’s annual Dodger
Show, she quickly became an asset to
the organization. Her part-time status
evolved into a full time position with
WMHI in December 1980 when she
took over the reigns of the mail room
and copy center.
Ms. Lamphear was in charge of
WMHI’s HUD Label Department where
she filled sales orders of required
HUD labels and shipped them to
manufacturers across the western
United States. She efficiently worked
with label producer, DecoArt, to keep
pace with the many changes required
by HUD.
Her assistance with the planning
and execution of WMHI shows,
meetings and events were instrumental
in ensuring the success of these
functions. By late 1984, she was
appointed WMHI receptionist and
administrative assistant to the president
of the association. Her loyalty and
tenacity allowed the successful
transition of WMHI to the California
Manufactured Housing Institute
(CMHI) in June of 1986. In addition
to her receptionist and administrative
assistant duties, she was appointed
director of Membership Services.
Connie completed computer courses
in word processing and Pitney Bowes
SmartMail® software programs to
assist her in mailings of member
correspondence and CMHI publications
which often totaled over 7500 pieces
per mailing. In an effort to stay up-todate
with today’s modern technology,
she also has become proficient in Excel
Spreadsheet and daily maintenance
of CMHI’s website. Ms. Lamphear
has assumed the role of association
historian, librarian and event planner
extraordinaire.
She has two grown children; son,
Bob Vogel and his wife Lisa and her
daughter, Jami and her husband, Tad
Wilson. She is the proud Grandma to
two adorable grandchildren, Trey, age 5
and Kaitlyn, age 4.
For 32 years of achievement on
behalf on CMHI members, staff and
most importantly for her concern and
assistance to our homeowners, the
2010 Lifetime Achievement Award is
well earned!
Joan Karsten Awarded 2010
Lifetime Achievement Award
A surprised Joan Karsten graciously
addresses the attendees when
presented with this well deserved honor
on December 9th.
Page 2
The first time she saw a trailer she
was nine years old with her dad who
was an accountant for a company
called Chicago Trailer House that built
shelter for the military and gypsies.
A few years later her dad, Jerry
Golden, had an opportunity to run a
trailer factory in Monrovia, CA. The
family moved there six months later and
that is how Joan’s story began.
In 1965, her dad started Golden West
Homes in Fullerton, CA. Joan’s mom
was the receptionist and made all color
choices for the homes. In 1968, Golden
West opened its second plant in Santa
Ana, CA and her mother expanded her
responsibilities to include all the interior
design. That year, Joan began working
part-time to help her mom with design
work. Later on for a Housing Show at
Dodger Stadium, Joan’s mother dared
her to decorate one of the models on
her own. She accepted the challenge,
did a “Western Theme” and the house
was sold at the show, fully furnished.
Today that house still stands in Malibu,
CA overlooking the ocean.
After many great years, Golden West
merged with Oakwood in 1994. In 1997,
after a two year sabbatical, Joan’s
husband Harry founded Karsten Homes
of New Mexico and she became the
Interior Design Manager. The company
expanded through a merger with
Harry’s brother, Andy and the Andrew
Karsten Company. They went on to
open Karsten facilities in Stayton,
Oregon and Breckenridge, Texas and
Joan’s role expanded to include design
responsibility for all the plants. After
eight successful years operating the
four Karsten facilities, Harry and Joan
joined Clayton in 2005 through its
acquisition of Karsten Homes. After,
the acquisition, Joan’s responsibilities
were expanded to include several other
Clayton owned operations such as
Golden West, Schult and Marlette.
Every product line Joan Karsten
has lent her talents to has been a
design leader in the manufactured
housing industry and there is more
to come. Joan feels fortunate that
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