NM Builders Summit Guest Speaker Session
State of the Housing Market and Wider Economy
Ali Wolf, Chief Economist, Zonda
Description
In this session, we’ll explore what recent events and longer-term trends mean for the future of the homebuilding industry and wider economy. Zonda’s Chief Economist will decode the latest data on the housing market, look at trends across New Mexico, and parse out the varying market views of today’s buyers and sellers.
Ali Wolf Biography
Chief Economist for Zonda, the largest new home construction data company in North America. As head of the Economics Department, Ali manages and analyzes the content for Zonda, runs special research projects, strategizes with the nation’s largest homebuilders, and presents nationwide covering topics across the housing market and wider economy.
Ali is the creator of Zonda’s proprietary indices, including the New Home Pending Sales Index and the New Home Lot Supply Index. Ali has focused much of her career on understanding prior recessions and led the charge on ‘Millennials discussing Millennials’ in the homebuilding space. Highly regarded as an industry expert, Ali is quoted frequently in national publications including CNBC, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and Yahoo! Finance, and has also appeared on national and international TV and radio programs such as Bloomberg TV and Marketplace. Further, Ali serves as an advisor to the White House, providing data and insights on the U.S. housing market.
Prior to joining the Zonda team, Ali worked for another consultancy firm and was a researcher for both the Canadian and UK Parliaments. Ali holds a bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University in Economics and a Master’s Degree from the London School of Economics in Real Estate Economics and Finance.
Rate Cuts Begin to Appear
Danushka Nanayakkara-Skillington, Assistant Vice President, Forecasting and Analysis, National Association of Home Builders
Description
A comprehensive macro and housing market outlook, focusing on the broader economy, current housing demand, supply challenges faced by home builders, and the NAHB’s projections for single-family and multifamily housing.
Danushka Nanayakkara-Skillington Biography
Assistant Vice President for Forecasting and Analysis at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), she leads the Forecasting & Analysis section within NAHB’s Economics group, overseeing areas such as housing market analysis, industry surveys, and the development and maintenance of national, regional, and long-term forecasts, including remodeling expenditures. Before assuming her current position, Danushka served as a Senior Economist at NAHB, where she focused on state and local market analysis. She also has experience in the automotive industry, having worked as a Senior Economic Analyst at J.D. Power. Danushka serves as a member of the Joint Advisory Board of Economists for the Commonwealth of Virginia. She holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and business administration from Otterbein University and a master’s degree in applied economics from Johns Hopkins University.
Shaping the Future: Demographic Trends and Their Impact on Housing and Economic Growth
Chris Porter, Senior Vice President, John Burns Research and Consulting
Description
A deep dive into the demographic drivers of housing and economic growth nationally and for New Mexico, including implications for consumers’ housing needs and wants. Shifting population dynamics, evolving migration patterns, and challenging affordability conditions are redefining housing today and in the future. The big influencers of demographic shifts—government policy, the economy, technology, and societal shifts—are all at play in big ways, impacting how consumers live and behave.
Chris Porter’s Biography
Senior Vice President at John Burns Research and Consulting. As part of the Research group, Chris has advised executives across the country on the US housing industry for the last 19 years. His deep dive into national and local market dynamics provides a comprehensive perspective for navigating today’s complex housing landscape to help prepare for tomorrow’s challenges. Along with John Burns, Chris co-authored the book “Big Shifts Ahead: Demographic Clarity for Businesses” to make demographic trends easier to understand, quantify, and anticipate. He is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and has been quoted in numerous media outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, The Economist, and Bloomberg Businessweek.
Leading Without a Title: Inspiring Change with a Purpose
Dr. James (Jim) A. Crupi, President of Strategic Leadership Solutions; Leadership and strategic consultant to Fortune 500 enterprises; Founder of the Society for International Business Fellows [SIBF]; Founder, Middle East Leadership Academy [MELA]
Description
Foster Innovative Thinking: Understand the critical role of fresh perspectives and creative problem-solving in addressing today’s challenges. Strengthen Collaborative Leadership: Discover the power of collaboration and build strategic partnerships to drive impactful solutions. Tackle Complex Challenges Together: Explore practical approaches to solving challenges through teamwork, creativity, and shared vision. Be the Catalyst for Change: Leave inspired to lead with energy, purpose, and a commitment to making a lasting difference in whatever you touch.
Dr. James (Jim) A. Crupi’s Biography
Dr. James Crupi is a renowned expert in international business, future trends, and leadership development, widely recognized for his impactful leadership workshops and engaging speaking engagements. He has worked with Fortune 1000 companies, including Coca-Cola, AT&T, Siemens, and IBM, helping executives align strategy, enhance productivity, and develop leadership teams. Jim has advised the Office of the President of the United States and served as a strategic advisor to the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army (2001–2008). He played a key role in designing and instructing the Army Strategic Leadership Development Program for senior leaders post-9/11 and has consulted for global combatant commanders. A former Army Ranger School instructor and company commander, Jim founded several influential organizations, including the Society of International Business Fellows (SIBF), Middle East Leadership Academy (MELA), and Leadership America. He also serves on boards such as Gates Defense Systems and the UNG Cyber Board.
Jim holds degrees from North Georgia College (B.S.), the University of Southern California (M.S.), and the University of Florida (Ph.D.), with advanced studies at Oxford, the London Business School, and Geneva’s International Management Institute. His accolades include the James D. Cockman Humanitarian Award, SIBF Global Impact Award, and membership in the University of North Georgia Hall of Fame.
The Power of Three: Maximizing Value Through Local, State, and National Home Builder Associations
- Introduction to the federation structure; how the local, state, and national associations interact with one another
- See the value of the “three in one” membership
- Understand what NAHB does for both the local association and the grassroots members.
- Help people understand why their membership is important; and how their commitment strengthens the industry
- Present current challenges within the industry and how NAHB is engaging to fight those issues on our members’ behalf.
- Show how involvement at any of the three levels of the federation can advance an individual’s business acumen and boost profitability while mitigating risk.
Bill Owens, Second Vice Chairman of the Board for National Association of Home Builders
Biography
Bill is a Worthington, Ohio-based, remodeler and home builder with more than 40 years of experience in the residential construction industry and is NAHB’s 2025 First Vice Chairman. Owens is principal at Owens Construction, a residential design/build firm focused on integrating seamless appearance, energy-efficient technology, and creating welcoming home environments.
Bob Peterson, Third Vice Chair of the Board for National Association of Home Builders
Biography
Bob is a Fort Collins, Colorado-based remodeler and home builder with more than 40 years of experience in the construction field, is NAHB’s 2025 Second Vice Chairman of the Board. Bob is the founder of the Association in Building + Design, Ltd (ABD), a company he started in May 1990 that specializes in custom homes and high-end remodeling.