Stock Information

Management & Executive Bios

Larry A. Mizel

Chairman & Chief Executive Officer

With little more than $50,000 and a dream, Larry A. Mizel founded Mizel Development Corporation in 1972, a homebuilding company which later became MDC Holdings, Inc., parent company to Richmond American Homes. Under Larry's leadership, the organization began trading on the NYSE in 1984, grew into a nearly $5 billion business at the height of the last market cycle and is among the most respected in the homebuilding industry. His vision and strategic direction have seen the company through four housing market downturns.

Larry's philanthropic endeavors are wide-ranging. As one of the founders of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, Mr. Mizel has served as the International Chairman of the Board of Trustees since 2003. In addition, he was the founder of the Mizel Museum. Both the Simon Wiesenthal Center and the Mizel Museum promote understanding and tolerance and champion human rights. Larry has received numerous honors and recognition over the years, including being named Honorary Dean of the University of Denver's Burns School of Real Estate and Construction Management and receiving the distinguished 2001 Ellis Island Medal of Honor. Larry also serves as a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

David D. Mandarich

President & Chief Operating Officer

As a Colorado native and Vietnam veteran, David Mandarich joined MDC in 1980 and has since held many prominent leadership positions with the company. David's superior management skills helped MDC emerge from housing market downturns in a position of strength. He has served in his current role as President and Chief Operating Officer since 1999.

In working on land acquisition and oversight of MDC's day-to-day operations, David takes a hands-on approach to his job. He works diligently both in the field and at the home office to continually advance every aspect of MDC's business processes. His unerring commitment to excellence—coupled with over 30 years of homebuilding experience—has driven the sale of more than 155,000 single-family homes in multiple markets across the country.

Michael Touff

Senior Vice President & General Counsel

Michael Touff has been guiding MDC's talented in-house legal team for more than 15 years. As the company's Senior Vice President & General Counsel, he continues to pursue his passion for his profession, practicing law on behalf of MDC.

Prior to joining MDC, Michael practiced law for 20 years with several law firms in Denver. He received his BA from Harvard, attended London's School of Economics and then earned his law degree from the University of Michigan.

John J. Heaney

Senior Vice President and Treasurer

John J. Heaney has over 40 years of experience in the homebuilding, mortgage banking and building products industries. He has served as Senior Vice President and Treasurer of MDC since 1999 and has been a Vice President since 1989. John is responsible for all of the treasury functions for MDC and its subsidiaries, and is one of the chairmen of MDC's Asset Management Committee.

In the past, John has served as President and Chief Financial Officer of MDC's mortgage banking subsidiary and has managed other finance subsidiaries of the Company. John, a native of New Jersey, began his career in New York City, relocated to Denver and has lived in Colorado for over 38 years.

John M. Stephens

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Stephens possesses more than 20 years of experience in business, accounting and corporate finance, including 5 years in public accounting with the international accounting firm Arthur Andersen LLP and 15 years in homebuilding. Most recently, he served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Standard Pacific Corp., one of the country's largest publicly traded homebuilders, where he led a finance organization of more than 50 people. Stephens brings to MDC his strong financial leadership experience in finance, treasury, SEC reporting, strategic investments and accounting. He holds a bachelor's degree in business economics with an emphasis in accounting from University of California at Santa Barbara and is also a Certified Public Accountant.

       Liesel Cooper

Senior Vice President

Karen Gard

Vice President - Human Resources; Chief HR Officer

Karen Gard joined MDC with more than 25 years of experience in the human resources field. Prior to her career at MDC, she held a number of senior leadership roles with large-scale companies, including USWest (Qwest), Aramark and Enron.

As a member of MDC's executive team, Karen is the driving force behind the company's approach to recruitment, employment practices and benefits policies. Her wealth of knowledge regarding compensation strategies, talent acquisition and retention, employment law and change management continues to be a major asset to the company and its employees.

Robert N. Martin

Vice President of Finance and Corporate Controller

Bob Martin first joined the MDC team in 2002 as a Financial Analyst, and has since held a number of leadership roles within the company. The Notre Dame alumnus was soon promoted to Senior Financial Analyst, and not long afterward gained the position of Director of Finance and Investor Relations. Bob played a key role in many crucial business decisions that helped MDC maintain its investment-grade status during a time of incredible stress for the industry.

Most recently, Bob's financial acumen and ever-growing experience in the homebuilding industry have earned him the title of VP of Finance and Business Development, where he continues to provide solid financial leadership as the company adapts and grows with the changing needs of the business. Bob is both a Certified Public Accountant and a CFA Charterholder.

       Kelly Taga

Vice President of Information Technology

       Joseph H. Fretz

Secretary and Corporate Counsel