At the beginning of October, Jake Eilermann was appointed as the new CEO of McBride Homes, No. 69 on the 2023 BUILDER 100 list.
Eilermann has been part of the McBride Homes team since 2016, starting as the manager of architecture before serving in roles as the vice president of architecture, purchasing, and the design studio and as the president of the home building company. Outgoing CEO John Eilermann Jr. says Jake has “a proven track record with intense focus on process, technology, and talent development” and shares that he played an important role in the launch of McBride Homes’ design studio and new corporate headquarters.
Jake Eilermann spoke with BUILDER, discussing his role as CEO, his plans for the future of McBride Homes, and the elements he believes differentiates the Missouri-based home builder.
In the role of CEO, what do you see as the next chapter for McBride Homes, and where would you like to take the company moving forward?
It is important to me to keep the great legacy of high-quality and high-value homes that we provide in the metro St. Louis area. McBride has a building tradition that spans over 77 years. For our next chapter, I want to retain our dominance by improving our competitive efficiencies within our own market, but also start to accommodate the housing needs for the outlying areas that have pent-up demand.
How will the role of CEO differ from your previous role as president? What additional responsibilities will you assume with the new title?
For the past few years, I have been running the daily operations at McBride Homes as president. With the new role, I will have more oversight with land acquisition and financial performance.
What do you see as differentiators for McBride Homes? What are important elements of the business that you hope to maintain and enhance?
We have a very strong culture in our organization and refer to it as the “McBride Magic.” We value and prioritize our relationships, and we’ve cultivated a work environment where we focus on our core values everyday. Each day we make an investment that makes a difference. We focus on refining our process, technology, and talent development. We have a very passionate team that shows with hard work throughout our whole organization. I want to continue our strong preference of growing from within.
The company opened its design studio in 2018. What value does it bring to McBride Homes, and what plans do you have for the design studio moving forward?
Since the implementation of our design studio, we’ve had four record-breaking years. We’re focusing on a world-class experience for our home buyers and always trying to improve and build on the experience. Our team consistently introduces new products and selections at our design studio to reflect the latest design trends, too.
The company opened a new corporate headquarters adjacent to the design studio in 2021. What factors contributed to the decision to build a new headquarters?
The new $4 million corporate office is a symbol of our long-term focus on the future. We wanted to create a friendly and fun work environment for our employees, including incredible amenities like a fitness center and state-of-the-art cafe. The new office was also a chance for us to take advantage of our acceleration toward technology, including televisions with built-in Zoom cameras, new laptops for every employee, and a sound masking system. Our new office, which sits adjacent to our design studio, really offers a creative and healthy working environment while enhancing our operational efficiencies and day-to-day task management.
How did you get your start in the home building industry? What about McBride Homes as a company has allowed you to grow and advance your career?
McBride has always been very family-oriented, and throughout the years I have been involved in all aspects of this company. I fell in love with architecture and graduated from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a Master of Architecture, Master of Science Civil Engineering: Construction Management, and a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies. When I came back to St. Louis a few years after, I submerged myself in every aspect of McBride, from purchasing to project management.
What are the biggest lessons you have learned during your time in the home building industry?
I have learned over the years that we need to focus on operational processes, plus the tools to provide the best customer experience. Every part of our business uses technology, and we’ve spent millions of dollars in people, software, and time. This is why we dominate the market: You need to make investments that make a difference.
