Walter E. Nichols has over 25 years of experience in leadership roles in the homebuilding industry. He is currently the Division President of Benchmark Communities North Carolina, where he oversees all division operations including acquisition, development, construction, purchasing, sales, marketing, and customer service. Prior to this role, Nichols held various leadership positions at John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods, including Vice President of Sales and Division President, where he successfully improved division operations and financial performance. He has a proven track record of developing high-performing teams, implementing process improvements, and navigating divisions through challenging market conditions.

1. Walter E. Nichols
6007 Camrose Crossing Lane
Matthews, NC 28104
PH (704) 726-8000
walter.nichols1@gmail.com
LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
Benchmark Communities North Carolina 2/2015 – Present
Division President
• Responsible for full division operations including acquisition and
development, construction, purchasing, sales, marketing and
customer service.
• Direct new home product development with outside architecture
firms for all new product, validate plans and initial frame walks
and make adjustments for livability and efficiency
• Create and/or adopt and implement standardized and best practices
to be utilized throughout the division
• Developed a value engineering framework to eliminate waste from
product with engineers, architects, and suppliers
• Develop and/or lead process improvement initiatives to include
scheduling, reduction of variance purchase orders, lower house
cost, improved cycle time, and consistent product specifications
• Recruit and develop an effective and efficient divison team
• Implemented a new community project tracking timeline to
minimize obstacles and pinch points in overall resources to open
communities on time with 100% readiness
• Oversee business planning and modeling for potential acquisition
targets with emphasis on financial underwriting, due diligence,
land development, product identification, costs, and operational
procedures
• Identified and implemented a new 3rd
party design center program
and design consultant
John Wieland Homes and Neigborhoods 3/2008 –2/2015
Vice President of Sales - SE Divisions
• Managed approximately 25 Neighborhood Sales Managers
• Helped develop and implement a new sales training program
• Recruited, hired and mentored all new Neighborhood Sales
Managers and Sales Associates

2. • Provided market analysis real estate sales activity
• Worked closely with marketing and helped develop sales
promotions
• Assisted in land acquisition analysis and due diligence
• Participated in monthly, quarterly and annual budget forecasting
John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods 10/2006 – 3/2008
Division President - Nashville, TN
• Responsible for full division operations including acquisition and
development, construction, purchasing, sales, marketing and
customer service
• Recruited and developed an effective and efficient divison team
• Corrected operational inefficiencies; reduced cycle time and
warranty spending
• Introduced new product and repositioned neighborhood startegies
to improve gross margins in a down market
• Navigated the divison through a series of reductions in force to
keep the divison open and viable through a major market downturn
John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods 10/2003 – 10/2006
Division President - Charleston, SC
• Responsible for full division operations including acquisition and
development, construction, purchasing, sales, marketing and
customer service
• Recruited and developed an effective and efficient divison team
• Improved purchasing process to create more accurate budgets and
reduced variance purchase order spending
• Implemented improved quality control measures leading to higher
customer satisfaction ratings and lowering first year and overall
warranty spending to the lowest average among 5 divisions
• Achieved highest average gross margins among 5 divisions
• Created and implemented the company's first successful "build on
your lot" program
John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods 10/1997 – 10/2003
Vice President of Sales - Charlotte, NC
• Hired, trained and mentored a sales team consistently achieving
"Gold" and "Platinum" sales revenue awards year over year
• Achieved "Platinum" sales manager recognition year over year
• Provided market analysis of resale and new contruction
activity

3. • Worked closely with marketing and helped develop sales
promotions
• Assisted in monthly, quarterly and annual budget forecasting
John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods 09/1995 – 10/1997
Neighborhood Sales Manager - Atlanta, GA
• Led on-site sales and marketing efforts
• Provided lead generation through broker outreach and prospecting
• Responsible for customer satisfaction results
• Compiled and presented real estate market analysis
• Achieved "Silver" and "Gold" sales revenue awards
Nichols Financial Group, Inc. 10/1992 – 12/1995
President/Owner - Atlanta, GA
• Provided real estate and marketing services
• Offered insurance and investment planning services
Porraro and Associates 1/1991 – 10/1992
Financial Services Associate - Atlanta, GA
• Provided insurance and investment planning services
EDUCATION
University of Georgia 9/1986 – 12/1990
• Bachelor's in Business Administration
• Finance Emphasis
REFERENCES Professional and personal available upon further interest and
request