The 2026 International Builders’ Show (IBS) in Orlando proved once again why it remains the premier event in the residential construction industry.

This year, 13 members of our team traveled from across the country to represent RWC, HOME, and its affiliates at IBS. With 75,000 attendees at IBS and an impressive 117,000 combined attendees alongside KBIS, the scale and opportunity were undeniable.

Our booth activity was nothing short of electric.

We acquired hundreds of qualified builder leads, driven largely by our new interactive attractions. The debut of our Putt-Putt Plinko game was a true showstopper. It quickly became a sensation on the floor—drawing passersby in to test their luck for a chance to win prizes, including $50 cash on the spot. The generosity caught many attendees by surprise and created an atmosphere of excitement and appreciation.

In addition to daily prizes, we gave away a $1,000 cash prize to a qualified builder lead, which was ultimately won by Kauffman Builders of Indiana. Moments like that created buzz, drove meaningful conversations, and reinforced our brand as both engaging and builder focused.

Attendees visiting the booth also received fun promotional items and the opportunity to join our warranty program with either 50% off or a free discount incentive—a compelling offer that generated strong interest and valuable conversations.

From setup to breakdown, our team operated like a well-oiled machine. Aside from occasionally navigating the maze of a show floor still under construction, execution was seamless. Collaboration, professionalism, and hustle were on full display all week.

It wasn’t all business. One of the highlights of the week was our team dinner, where we celebrated year-end achievements and recognized top performers and 2025 Account Executives of the Year.

2025 Account Executive Awards:

Freddy Pesqueira – 3rd Place

Tiaira Satchell – 2nd Place (her first recognition in this category — a huge accomplishment)

Staci Cool – Account Executive of the Year
Recognized for her consistent production, professionalism, and willingness to go above and beyond the scope of her role.

Celebrating these accomplishments together reinforced the strength of our culture and the talent within our organization.

The IBS House Party brought the team together for drinks, great food, live music, and some very entertaining bull riding — with RWC proudly represented in the action.

Some team members even braved the carnival swing ride soaring several hundred feet in the air, while others formed what can only be described as an Orlando scooter gang, buzzing through the city streets on Electric Lime scooters.

It was the perfect blend of hard work and camaraderie.

IBS 2026 was both fun and highly productive. The connections made, the qualified leads generated, and the brand presence established will undoubtedly translate into meaningful new business for RWC in the months ahead.

Just as importantly, the experience strengthened our team and reinforced the culture that drives our success.

Next stop: Las Vegas for IBS 2027.

By: Rich McPhee, National Sales Manager

If you are looking for an extra special gift for that animal lover on your list this holiday season, we have a suggestion. Our very own (MHWC/RWC) Account Executive, Staci Cool, recently released an adorable children's book entitled Not All Reindeer Can Fly.

Not All Reindeer Can Fly centers around Ivy, a lost husky puppy who is taken in by Santa and his reindeer to be raised at the North Pole. After a blizzard threatens to halt the delivery of presents, Ivy comes to learn that, although she is different from the rest of her North Pole family and friends, she has an ability unlike anyone else.

This is a slightly longer than average Christmas story filled with heart, tenderness, and warmth. Adults and children find delight in this story focused on finding one’s purpose through discovering one’s unique skills. A portion of the proceeds for the book are being donated to a local no-kill shelter through the holiday.

You can find Not All Reindeer Can Fly on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and via www.coolestbooks.com.

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One of the often-overlooked benefits of becoming a member of MHWC/RWC is the customer service support that comes with the warranty.

Our Warranty Resolution Administrative Team fields an average of 40 calls each day from homeowners. These calls can be as simple as asking how exactly to submit a warranty request (claim), but more commonly, homeowners are reaching out because they are experiencing an issue with their home.

Our trained Warranty Administrative Assistants listen carefully to each concern and provide guidance on what is - and isn’t - covered under the warranty.

For example, if a homeowner inquires about an item not covered, we explain the coverage and the relevant exclusions, which are referenced in their warranty booklet.

This helps homeowners understand their coverage more clearly and prevents unnecessary calls to the builder regarding issues that fall outside the scope of coverage.

By Sandra Sweigert, MHWC/RWC

2025 National Sales Meeting Highlights

The sales teams recently gathered in Harrisburg, PA for our 2025 National Sales Meeting - a week dedicated to collaboration, innovation, and finding new ways to serve our valued builder members.

This year’s theme was all about growth and progress. From enhancing our warranty programs to introducing new homeowner-focused products, we’re streamlining operations and expanding opportunities for builders nationwide.

Our team also explored exciting technology upgrades and marketing initiatives designed to make doing business with MHWC/RWC faster, simpler, and more effective.

Our reps joined field training sessions at active job sites, seeing firsthand how MHWC/RWC coverage protects builders and homeowners from the ground up.

We’re energized for what’s ahead—new products, greater efficiencies, and continued innovation—all aimed at helping our members build with confidence.

Onward and upward—together.

By Rich McPhee, MHWC/RWC National Sales Manager

Life can be funny, and by “funny” we don’t necessarily mean comical. We mean that life can be difficult to explain or understand at times. Life’s road is riddled with unexpected twists and turns. We can be set in a comfortable pattern that we think will last forever, but when we stay that course, and the road unexpectedly twists this way or that, we need to find the better way forward or risk disappointment, sadness, or even calamity.

This truth does not apply just to individuals but also to businesses and specifically to home builders. At MHWC/RWC, we have a sister company that has been building homes for fifty-three years. Over more than half a century that company has generally thrived but sometimes twists in the road presented challenges that required changed plans, innovative approaches, or simply patience. There were mortgage interest rates exceeding 18% in the eighties. In the nineties the dot.com bubble expanded then burst, causing a feast for builders and then famine. In the first decade of the new century money was easy to borrow. McMansions, like so many mushrooms, popped up in developments across the American landscape. But then came the crash of 2008 and the meltdown in the real estate market.

Just as the homebuilding industry was feeling “normal” again, the Covid pandemic hit, and the market dried up. When the pandemic eased and normalcy returned, builders faced delays, shortages, and price increases in their supply chains. Some builders did not make it through, while others adapted to the new normal and found a way.

Government money paid to people who had lost their jobs or their customers during the pandemic soothed some fears but also triggered another round of inflation. The market stalled. When people regained the mood to start building and buying, builders again faced supply chain problems, and good labor was hard to find at affordable prices. Those problems were mostly resolved, or at least improved, but then interest rates rose, and the market cooled down.

With the start of 2025, the homebuilding industry was poised to prosper. But as we write this, the stock market is tanking, economic uncertainty is gripping the world, and builders are preparing for yet another twist in the road, this one caused by the expected inflation, the possible higher interest rates, and whatever other problems might develop from a prolonged trade war. We don’t have a crystal ball, and maybe these issues will be resolved without affecting the homebuilding market. But even if these concerns disappear, at some time there will certainly be more obstacles, curves, and detours on the road ahead for America’s homebuilders. The question we should always be asking is, “What’s next?” so we can anticipate coming obstacles and react to them early if we want to beat the competition and continue to thrive.

We recently had the pleasure of attending a meeting conducted by John, a builder friend of ours, who talked about how his company is preparing for whatever the future brings. He broke his company’s business down into four parts: getting leads; getting contracts; building the house; and servicing the home and customer after the sale. John recognized the importance of the warranty and our warranty resolution staff in making that fourth part successful no matter what the future holds.

For four decades and counting, MHWC, and national affiliate RWC, have protected millions of homes with warranty solutions built to fit real-world needs. All warranties provide clear performance standards that help create realistic homeowner expectations and provide a road map to resolve even the stickiest customer complaints.

Life is funny, you know, and life’s road can be twisted and bumpy. And we are never sure of what challenge is coming next. You will be better able to navigate the road your company is on no matter how that road twists or turns if you take MHWC/RWC along for the ride and place our warranty on every home you build.

Have a great summer!

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In a city where dreams go to die and wallets go to empty, the MHWC/RWC sales force excelled at everything (except at the bowling alley).

The MHWC/RWC sales team recently returned from Las Vegas with heads held high after a productive showing at the International Builders Show 2025. While Vegas might be designed to separate fools from their money, our team managed to separate potential clients from their contact information with impressive efficiency.

STACI COOL: OUR DESERVING CHAMPION

In a well-earned recognition that surprised absolutely no one who works with her, Staci Cool claimed the National Account Executive of the Year award. Cool, who represents the company across multiple facets including as our national account executive for manufacturers, continues to demonstrate why she's such a valuable asset to both the team and company. Her contributions are genuinely appreciated, and this award simply confirms what we already knew.

The accolades were spread across the table, including Freddy Pesquera who edged out Logan Canby for most new applications in a friendly but determined competition. Both representatives showed exceptional skill in connecting with potential clients, though Freddy ultimately claimed the top spot by a narrow margin.

BOWLING: OUR HIDDEN TALENT GAP

Las Vegas is never for the faint of heart, especially when it comes to after-hours activities. While our sales team approaches the bowling lanes with unbridled enthusiasm, we've never claimed to be particularly skilled at the game. What we lack in bowling technique, however, we more than make up for in team spirit and good-natured competition.

This year, the team may have collectively decided to focus on "enjoying the weather and company" after previous gambling adventures left certain unnamed team members explaining suspicious ATM withdrawals to their significant others. Sometimes the best Vegas experiences happen away from the casino floor.

THE NUMBERS: GENUINELY IMPRESSIVE

The show statistics reflect a team firing on all cylinders:

• 81,000 attendees and 1,800 exhibitors created a bustling marketplace
• 530 leads collected, representing a healthy increase from last year's 450
• Meaningful engagement with at least 10 larger builders, each constructing over 100 homes

INDUSTRY CONNECTIONS: BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS

Our team successfully connected with key representatives for productive conversation with builders from across the country, laying groundwork for future collaborations.

Competition maintained a modest presence this year with MHWC/RWC taking the lead in presence in the New Home Structural Warranty field.

LOOKING AHEAD: ORLANDO AWAITS

Next year's show will be relocated to Orlando, providing a fresh venue for industry engagement. Our booth operations ran smoothly this year, though we're considering refreshing our giveaway items to maintain interest and engagement.

As we reflect on what was genuinely "one of the most efficient and well-executed experiences to date," the MHWC/RWC sales team returns home with valuable connections, industry insights, and tangible opportunities for business growth. The coming months should reveal the full impact of our successful showing at this year's International Builders Show.

The Parmer Group has celebrated the start of 2025 by adding The Zigmund Company to its family of operations. The Zigmund Company is an independent insurance consulting business that, for over forty years, has provided its clients with analysis, advice, and risk management assistance related to their property, liability, professional, and workers compensation insurances. The Zigmund Company is now located at 5300 Derry Street, Harrisburg, and Courtney Scamardella, a long-time Zigmund consultant, will head up the operation.

The Parmer Group owns and/or operates Fine Line Homes, Residential Warranty Company, HOME of Texas, and Eastern Atlantic Insurance Company among other companies associated with the home building, warranty and insurance industries. The Parmer Group continues to expand its footprint in these industries and has found that each newly acquired company has made its sister companies and the overall operation stronger.

This is the fifth company the Parmer Group has acquired in the last fifteen months. Other recent acquisitions include Delaware Valley Plumbing of King of Prussia, PA, West End Hardware Supply Company of Voorhees, NJ, Musser Home Builders of Dillsburg, PA, and LTS Homes located in the Pocono Mountain region of Pennsylvania.

The 2025 NAHB International Builders’ Show^® (IBS) is in Vegas from Feb 25 – 27. After a long day at the show and before evening social events, take a culinary journey through the hottest and newest dining destinations to hit the area.

#1 Aqua Seafood & Caviar Restaurant

Michelin-starred chef Shaun Hergatt offers the latest dining spot to hit Resorts World, Aqua Seafood & Caviar Restaurant. Dine like a high roller as you order from an extensive menu ranging from caviar and antipasti to entrees and more.

#2 Beerhaus

Whether you’re a beer nerd or casual drinker, Beerhaus, inside New York New York, is a fresh take on a classic beer hall. With a promise to find your favorite beverages, grab your choice cold and order savory sausages, sandwiches or snacks with hormone-free meat and locally sourced produce. Participate in trivia or watch the biggest game of the year indoors or on the outdoor patio.

#3 Canteen Food Hall

Canteen Food Hall inside the Rio Hotel & Casino is an upscale adult food court with six eateries, including Southland Burrito Co., Shogun Ramen, Tony Luke’s (a cheesesteak chain), Tender Crush (a chicken tender concept from the people behind Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer), Nama Nama (a sushi spot) and Attaboy Burger.

#4 Mijo Modern Mexican Restaurant

Send your tastebuds south of the border at Mijo Modern Mexican Restaurant to immerse yourself in the diverse flavors of coastal Mexican cuisine and spirits. Mijo puts an unconventional twist on prime meats, fresh whole fish, decadent desserts and elevated street food favorites. Explore Mexico’s most beloved spirits with Mijo’s one-of-a-kind tequila and mezcal program guided by “catadores,” tequila experts, and find hidden gems in tequila lockers.

#5 Ole Red Las Vegas

Country star Blake Shelton has begun his restaurant residency at Ole Red Las Vegas in the Horseshoe. Dine on delicious food or catch some live entertainment with a fun music-venue-meets-restaurant vibe. It’s also the venue for the IBS Young Pro Party for our industry pros under 40.

#6 Orla

Chef Michael Mina combines timeless flavors and textures to create culinary genius in his brand-new Mediterranean restaurant, Orla, inside Mandalay Bay. Embark on a dining journey with seafood, charcoal-roasted meats and zesty vegetables.

#7 Vic’s

Vic’s downtown is where jazz club meets supper club. Socialize, drink, dine and enjoy music by national and local jazz artists. Vic’s is a culinary experience like no other – adding new twists and eclectic flavors to Italian and American favorites.

After the Builders’ Show ends for the day, explore, indulge and savor the flavors of Las Vegas, where dining is not just a meal but a culinary adventure.