LGI Development

TOM LIPAR, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer LGI Development

In a real sense Mr. Lipar is the personification of the defining attributes of the company which he founded in 1995 – “Quality, Value, Service and Integrity." In his early career with a large, publicly traded (NYSE), national land developer – Patten Corporation ("Patten") – he distinguished himself in sundry marketing and managerial roles, including that of president of a major division, thereby, gaining the foundational experience necessary to successfully launch a new company. Since its founding, ten years ago, LGI has become one of the most profitable and highly regarded land developers in Texas and continues to grow at an impressive pace.

Prior to entering the land business, over seventeen years ago, Mr. Lipar was general manager of a Ford Motor Company dealership in his native state of Michigan. A family-owned company, Canadian Lakes Development Corporation, had initiated the development of a 5,500-acre recreational and retirement community in Stanwood, Michigan, and recruited Mr. Lipar to establish a comprehensive sales and marketing program. Subsequently, Patten entered into an agreement to market properties in the project and Mr. Lipar joined that effort. Within 10 months, he distinguished himself as the second highest volume-sales producer at the national level and was promptly promoted to sales manager.

As a project manager for the development of a recreational community near Chicago, he was at the helm when the project became Patten's top income producer in the nation. Patten's leadership team then sent Mr. Lipar to Houston to handle operations as district manager - a job that made him directly responsible for developing 3,500 acres for six projects that produced $15 million in sales volume. In 1993, Mr. Lipar was promoted again. This time he was named National Sales Manager for Patten. He immediately implemented a comprehensive training program, which received acclaim throughout the industry. It's a program that has since been used by land development companies throughout the United States. Ultimately, Mr. Lipar was chosen by the president of Patten to head one of three newly formed major marketing divisions. As president of the Eastern Division, he skillfully managed operations of thirteen offices in eleven states.

Although his exemplary record and distinguished career at Patten produced many lucrative offers, Mr. Lipar decided to go out on his own. In 1995, with the financial backing of private investors, he launched Lipar Group, Inc. Developments. From the beginning Mr. Lipar has surrounded himself with a highly skilled team of dedicated, seasoned professionals and has consistently expanded the purview of LGI to meet the growing market demands. In addition to its land development activities, the company is now aggressively involved in home building – through LGI Homes (entry-level, production housing) and provides a full range of mortgage-banking and title-insurance services through Interlinc Mortgage and its title-agency affiliate. The scope of LGI core business is methodically expanding to accommodate the dynamic needs of a demographically and economically strong market.