This year, Jess Maxcy, CMHI President announced that there will be two recipients of the 2006 Lifetime Achievement Award.  Robert “Bob” N. West, retired CMHI President and Tom Paden, Founder Viva Mobile/Manufactured Housing will each be honored at the 2007 CMHI Annual Wells Dinner and Reception in March, 2007.

Bob served as CMHI President from 1995 until 2006.  During that time he worked diligently within the industry and the community to promote high-quality, high-value manufactured housing.  He often traveled to Sacramento lobbying for the concerns of our industry and to help pass legislation allowing manufactured housing on residential lots as well as many other initiatives.

His accomplishments are numerous!  From 1977-1991 Bob co-owned and operated Westway Homes, Inc., a single plant manufacturer producing multi-wide manufactures housing.  In the ten years prior to this, Bob worked at in various positions with Fuqua Homes, Inc, a multi-state manufacturer, including serving as their company President.

Tom began his first business in 1973 and in 1977 was the founder of Viva Mobile/Manufactured homes located in El Cajon, California over which is currently operated by his son Tom Paden II.  Tom has worked diligently over the years: served as President and a Board member of the California Mobile Home Association; chaired the San Diego County Blue Ribbon Committee for Mobile homes; chaired the San Diego City Task Force on mobile home issues; and, helped organize the San Diego Park Managers Association, which is now known as the California Mobile Home Park Managers Association (CMPMA).

Tom was on the steering committee that restructured the Western Manufactured Housing Institute, (WMHI), to the California Manufactured Housing Institute (CMHI) and served on its first Board of Directors.