News & Moves: March 10, 2008

TOUSA, also known as Technical Olympic USA, is restructuring its equity and all of its unsecured debt. To implement the proposed restructuring, TOUSA filed for bankruptcy. The filing includes TOUSA Homes, Newmark Homes LP and entities that represent all of their brands: Engle Homes, Newmark Homes, Fredrick Harris Estate Homes and Trophy Homes.

BSH Homes Appliances Corp. announced that Builder Sales team member, Craig Moon, passed away. The company made a contribution to the American Cancer Society in his honor.

Toll Brothers promoted Ken Thirtyacre to president of the company's Florida west division. He will be responsible for all of Toll Brothers' operations in the division, including land acquisition, land planning, project management construction and marketing and sales.

ProBuild Holdings appointed Lonnie Bernardoni to the position of senior vice president of manufacturing. Bernardoni will be responsible for overseeing ProBuild's manufacturing activities in his new role.

Robert L. Salomon is the new senior vice president, chief accounting officer and controller for Beazer Homes. Salomon joins Beazer Homes from Ashton Woods Homes, where he served as chief financial officer and treasurer.

Dominion Homes May Go Private Dominion Homes announced it entered into a merger agreement to be acquired by a buyout group that includes Douglas G. Borror, chairman and chief executive of the company. BRC Properties, the home builder's largest shareholder, is joining with Angelo, Gordon & Company and Silver Point Capital to buy the company for 65 cents per share. Now it's up to the shareholders to vote to accept the deal. The deal will take Dominion Homes private for the first time since 1994.

Kathy Harter, Lennar Corp.'s regional vice president in Orlando, Fla., retires after 31 years in the construction business. Wayne Brodel succeeds her as division president for all central Florida operations. Laureen Ramsey has been promoted to president of east central Florida operations, and Eric Sergi becomes president of west central Florida operations.

Mission Viejo, Calif.-based James Hardie Building Products and Wolf Distributing Co., based in York, Pa., announced they would combine forces to deliver James Hardie's fiber cement products throughout eight eastern states. Wolf Distributing Co. will offer dealers from New York to North Carolina a full line of James Hardie fiber cement home exterior products.

Rob Parker has been promoted to senior vice president of sales and marketing at Regis Homes of Northern California. Parker will oversee all residential project marketing plans.

CMI, a Chicago-based manufacturer and marketer of Craftmaster Interior Doors, announced it entered into a joint venture partnership with Yawei and TaFu, makers of particleboard, door facings and related products. TaFu resides in Dunhua, Jilin Province, China. The move expands CMI's manufacturing network and is aimed at helping the company grow its international business.

Dave Fleiner, president of Georgia-Pacific Gypsum, retired after 37 years. Brent Paugh is taking Fleiner's place as president — Gypsum. Previously, Paugh was the vice president of sales for Georgia-Pacific Gypsum. Filling in Paugh's shoes is Craig Jacks, who was the Eastern U.S. sales manager for the company.

LWR Communities announced that Tom Danahy is leaving the company. Milt Flinn will take his place as president of LWR Communities, effective immediately.

Retired NFL quarterback Scott Covington joined Orange County, Calif.-based The Hoffman Company as part of a strategic initiative to expand the firm's involvement with commercial and multifamily projects.

Rich Allison has been named president of Knife River Corp.'s mountain region. Bob Vaughn, president and chief operating officer of LTM and southern Oregon region president for Knife River retired. Mike Crennen has been named to succeed Vaughn.

Chicago-based Solomon Cordwell Buenz announces three promotions of senior level professionals to vice president: Katy Ruscitti heads the marketing department. David Carr is a senior designer who has done various projects for JP Morgan. Larry Nordin is a senior architect whose recent projects include The Legacy at Millennium Park.