Woodside Homes—No. 31 on the 2021 Builder 100—has appointed Arizona division president Roger Gannon to the newly created role of chief operating officer, effective immediately. As part of this transition, CEO Joel Shine will step down from his position as of Feb. 11.
In this new role, Gannon, who has been part of the Woodside team since 2014, will be responsible for overseeing the implementation of the home builder's strategic growth plan, combining the purpose of "enhancing the lives of individuals and families" with a more customer-centric approach.
Under Gannon's leadership, the Arizona division saw tremendous growth, going from 174 closed homes in 2014 to more than 500 homes last year. Focused on production modeling, he also implemented a fast cycle time, removing at least 60 days from his division's schedule and leading to higher productivity and profitability. The successful program has been adopted throughout the Woodside organization.
"Woodside is just at the beginning of taking advantage of the many opportunities that are available to a company like ours," Gannon says. "I thank Joel for all of his guidance over the last decade, and I am thrilled to be able to continue to work alongside this best-in-class team that cares so deeply about our home buyers and the communities we build in. Together, Woodside is poised for our next chapter."
Shine, who has been with Woodside for the past 12 years, told BUILDER that he plans to take a year off and will consider coming back into the industry after some personal time or may choose to retire entirely.
“Maybe I will come back to home building, and maybe I won’t. It’s unclear,” explains Shine. “I’ve taken a year off twice before. For me, typically that’s about it, but the last few times I did it, I was much younger. I’m 62 now, and it just may be time for me to move on.”
The leadership news surfaced after Osaka, Japan-based parent company Sekisui House announced the acquisition of The Holt Group, a private builder and land developer in the Pacific Northwest, in late January. With the new acquisition and Woodside’s existing footprint, Sekisui House has expanded its home building business area from four U.S. states—Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah—to include Oregon and Washington as well.
"Roger's leadership within the Woodside Homes family since 2014, his accomplished career in the home building industry, and his deep commitment to innovation will ensure a prosperous future for Woodside Homes," the company announced on LinkedIn. "We also want to express our deep gratitude to Joel Shine for his guidance as CEO for more than a decade. Whether he’s in a corporate meeting or hiking up a snowy mountain with his skis strapped on his back, Joel leads with patience, humor, and courage. We wish him the very best on his next great adventure."
