Our Organization
EXECUTIVE TEAM - Southwest
Catherine Nicholas, President
As President of our Southwest Division, Catherine oversees all company operations for Southern California, Nevada and Arizona. She works closely with the senior management team and clients to ensure they receive optimal service in new product development, research analytics, market positioning as well as advertising and promotional strategies. She is an instructor for the Certified Sales Professional and a Certified Instructor for Integrity Selling. A 30-year veteran of the development industry, her background as a land use planner and a construction project manager gives an added dimension to The Ryness Company's Leadership Team. Catherine is a member of multiple Sales and Marketing Councils, Vistage and Board of Governors of the Builder Marketing Society. In 1996, Catherine was named NAHB Silver Award winner for Region 3 for Sales Manager Of the Year.
Janis K. Randazzo, President - Sales Innovations
With over 24 years of industry experience, Ms. Randazzo oversees the sales operations and management for the Southwest Division of The Ryness Company which covers Southern California, Nevada and Arizona. Janis is well known throughout the industry for her innovative thinking and proactive approach to New Home sales. She is California Broker licensee and a member of the Executive Board for the Southern California Sales and Marketing Council. She volunteers her time as an instructor for the Certified Sales Professional (CSP) course and most recently she was the creator of the symposium on “Coaching the Sales Coaches” at PCBC. Janis has received numerous awards for her industry contributions and spearheads the sales coaching, education and recruitment for The Ryness Company Southwest Division. Janis was named MAME Sales Manager of the Year and is a two time recipient of the NAHB Silver awards for Sales Manager of the Year for Region 2 (2001 & 2004). In 2007, she was awarded with the Presidents Award by the Southern California SMC.
Don Anderson, Senior Vice President
As Senior Vice President of our New Business Development Team, Don's brings 25 years of experience in new home marketing and sales. Throughout his career, he has been responsible for the sales and marketing of thousands of new and converted condominium products. His expertise in urban high rise, condominium conversions and resorts is invaluable as he leads our new business efforts on major projects. Prior to joining The Ryness Company, Don was president of Developer Marketing Associates, formerly one of the largest new home sales and marketing firms in California, Arizona & Nevada. He has been a speaker at the Pacific Coast Builders Conference and for the National Association of Home Builders and has held various posts in numerous sales, marketing and builder associations.
Michael J. Hixson, MIRM, Executive Vice President
Over 30 years’ experience working with residential builders, lenders, master-plan community developers, and governmental entities has earned Mike the role of Executive Vice President of our Southwest Region. In this capacity, Mike manages the marketing and sales operations for our clients in Central and Southern California, Arizona and Nevada, and serves as the corporate broker for the region. Prior to joining The Ryness Company, he was President of Developers' Diversified Services, Inc. He was also founder and principal of Goodman/Hixson & Company where he generated a half-billion dollars in new home sales for his clients. Mike has served as president of three industry organizations, including the Sales and Marketing Council of BIA/SC, the Institute of Residential Marketing (IRM) of the National Association of Homebuilders, and the Inland Empire SMC. Mike also served as a director of the BIA/OC and BIA/Southern California and is an instructor of marketing for homebuilders at the University of California, Irvine, in both the Light Construction and Development Management (LCDM) and the Marketing for the Residential Homebuilder certificate programs. With a MBA from California State University, Long Beach, Mike has received nearly every accolade in the industry including the prestigious Max Tipton award, the Bill Molster Award and was names Industry leader of the year by the IESMC.
Johanna Gunther, Senior Vice President
Ms. Gunther works closely with urban development teams and builders, overseeing the development and implementation of successful sales and marketing programs for her teams. She leads a highly successful team of award winning Sales Managers and on-site sales teams. With 18 years in the new home industry, she is able to assist clients in developing marketing strategies, advertising and promotional campaigns, and product development, as well as managing the sales process and the development of sales teams. Johanna is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley and in 2006 was awarded with the Elan Marketing Director of the Year and the NAHB, Region 2 Silver Award for Marketing Director of the Year. Johanna is an active member of both the LA/Ventura and SoCal Sales and Marketing Council and is active in the CBIA City of Hope fundraising.
Christopher R. Gray, Regional Account Manager
Chris’ extensive field research background and in-depth market knowledge has been instrumental to his success as a Regional Account Manager. Chris works closely with his clients to ensure that their communities are properly positioned within their respective marketplaces and keeps them informed of current market trends through ongoing data analysis. His insight assists his clients in formulating product development concepts and creating marketing strategies, advertising and promotional campaigns, as well as leading his award-winning sales teams through the sales process to close out. Chris is a graduate of the University of Arizona with degree in Marketing and was honored with the NAHB Silver award for Marketing Director of the Year in 2008.
Marianne Pepe, Vice President – Nevada
Marianne has over 23 years of experience working with developers, builders, governmental entities, homeowner's associations and financial institutions. Originally from New Jersey, she relocated to Nevada in 1997. Since that time, she has been recognized as a key contributor to the Las Vegas real estate industry in both the new and resale markets. Marianne is currently representing low, mid and high-rise condominium projects as Vice President for Nevada with the Ryness Company. An expert in the emerging urban development arena, her areas of concentration include the management of sales, marketing and professional training. She is a graduate of the Maxwell School at Syracuse University, Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, the Atlantic Community College of New Jersey and she is currently a MIRM candidate. Marianne is an active member of the ULI, Nevada Home Builders Association and the Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors. She was awarded with the NAHB Region 2, Marketing Director of the Year and the Silver Award for NAHB Sales Manager of the Year.
Lori Asaro, San Diego Area Regional Manager
Ms. Asaro oversees the development and implementation of successful sales and marketing programs for her developers. She leads a highly successful team of award winning sales associates and has over 17 years in the new home industry. Lori’s professional background includes over 5 years of sales management of both SFR and attached product for a publicly traded builder and has recently lead her teams through the successful sales and closings of over 1,000 podium units. Her depth of market helps her provide her clients insight while developing marketing strategies, advertising and promotional campaigns. Lori is a graduate of San Diego State University and has received numerous awards over the years from the Sales and Marketing Council.
Emily Norton, Regional Account Manager
A graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara, Emily has had the opportunity to work throughout Southern and Central California specializing in urban development. Recently she has completed her coursework to finalize her MIRM designation through the University of California, Irvine. Mrs. Norton has worked as an Assistant Sales Manager, Community Sales Manager, and Regional Account Manager within our organization. Her experience working with single family detached communities, condominium conversions, and a variety of other types of urban development continues to add value to our organization as a whole. In 2004, she was awarded the MAME Sales Professional of the Year and she is a member of the SoCal Sales and Marketing Council.
Joe Riley, Regional Sales Manager
Throughout his tenure at The Ryness Company, Mr. Riley has dedicated his heart, head, and will to recruiting, growing, and improving sales teams. His desire to build excellence in his teams, help them grow, and settle for nothing less than the best has been a beacon to our industry, and a welcome addition to The Ryness organization as a whole. Joe’s one-of a kind person to person training, his unique ability to nurture his teams, and his instinct for superior sales talent have been the source of repeated successes in our past. His experiences with all forms of residential development and his focus in urban and attached development have allowed him to bring his talents to the urban residential community. Joe is a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles and a member of the LA/Ventura Sales and Marketing Council.
Bevin Ryness, Education and Recruitment Manager
Bevin began her career with The Marketing Directors in New York as a project manager and education coach. Her main focus is on one-on-one field coaching, working with each individual sales associate to perfect their presentations, using the sales center, models and plans as a classroom. Bevin is a graduate of Northwestern University and she heads up our active recruiting for Southern California.
Suzanne Coleman, Manager of Operations
Ms. Coleman designs and implements the process and procedures to support the Southwest Division. In addition, she works closely with urban developers in San Diego on the strategy and execution of sales and marketing programs, events launches, as well as planning and marketing coordination. Suzanne is a CSP designate and her vast experience includes managing and recruiting staffs of various sizes in multiple industries including real estate, executive recruiting and retail. Suzanne is a member of the San Diego Sales and Marketing Council and a member of the board of directors for the SD Chapter of the Forum for Women.