Richard Miller Is June 2020 Graduate Master Builder Designee of the Month
The ultimate symbol of the building professional, the Graduate Master Builder (GMB) designation is for dedicated veterans only. GMB courses require additional study, with in-depth instruction geared for experienced building professionals. Graduating with a GMB certification is an enormous undertaking that requires a significant amount of time. But graduates gain a complete knowledge of all facets of the home building industry, build a network of peers across the country and inform their potential clients of their allegiance to the best of home building, customer service and advanced construction techniques.
An exemplary example of this can be found in the June GMB Designee of the Month, Richard Miller, GMB, CGB. His reputation for honesty, leadership and attention to detail can be used as a benchmark to compare to other builders both locally and nationally.
This can be validated by just looking at some of his career highlights. He was named Project Manager of the Year within six months of starting with a Fortune 500 homebuilder and won the earmarked selection of Team Player of the Year the following year. Subsequently, Richard was named to the company’s Legacy Club, which ranked him among the top managers for customer satisfaction in the firm’s 50-year residential construction history.
Having reached an unprecedented level of success, Miller elected to work with several luxury high-end builders in Dallas, where he perfected his craft on a variety of single- and multifamily homes for both new and remodeling projects for celebrities and other discerning Dallas clientele. Richard’s ability to build using the latest in building science, successfully executing high-end finishes and leveraging the latest technology to organize the process leaves his clients with an experience they are happy to brag about to their friends.
When asked where he learned to push the envelope in the industry, he referenced the GMB designation and the advanced classes it took to gain him that distinction.
“It’s the top builder-specific designation (GMB) within NAHB,” Richard says. “I started working toward this designation on my own time, even while I was still working for other builders. I felt that it would give me an edge in interviews with builders, and if I started my own company, it would be a marker of distinction and credibility.”
Not satisfied with just learning, Miller reserved a portion of his time to give back as often as possible. He is active on the Dallas Builders Association Board of Directors and the Dallas Parade of Homes™, where he shares his remarkable 16 years of building experience.
However, his volunteering does not stop at just the local level. Richard has always been interested in public service but got seriously involved with Rescue Training in earnest as a direct result of Hurricane Harvey. He felt so much empathy for the victims that he grabbed his trailer and drove down to help, but quickly learned that he didn’t have any of the needed qualifications to help in a professional way. That is where he learned about the Texas Search and Rescue (TEXSAR) team. Their motto is Texans Helping Texans.
He has been seriously training since Harvey and is now qualified to offer advanced aid should something like that ever happen again. That encompasses helping in multiple capacities, including being a member of a statewide forensic dive team, a technical rescue team and an EMT with Wise County EMS.
His company, Richard Miller Custom Homes, Inc, is considered exclusively an “architect’s masterpiece modern” homebuilder. They provide a turnkey modern home construction experience. RMCH primarily builds within the I-635 loop, he is drawn to this specific area because it attracts homeowners who appreciate modern architecture. With noted craftsmanship and attention to detail, Richard and his team guide the homeowner through a once in a lifetime quintessential homebuilding experience.
What is the biggest challenge you face in the current market, and what are you doing to overcome it?
“The largest challenge we face currently is a skilled labor shortage. At Richard Miller Custom Homes, Inc., we take every opportunity to participate in career fairs and other public events to spread the word that there’s a great career that pays well waiting for you in the skilled trades. We have longstanding relationships with most of our trades, so it isn’t impacting us as much as some, but it’s still an important message to spread.”
What does being a member of the Dallas BA do for you and your business?
“Being a member of the Association has been invaluable with their access to education resources, access to other experienced builder peers to turn to with questions, and access to quality trade partners when the need arises.”
How do you market your certification?
“I mention it when talking to prospective clients; I have it on the branding on my truck, and in my email signature.”
Written by Tag Gilkeson, CGB,GMB CGR,CGP,MCGP,CAPS,CGA, CSP,MCSP,CMP,MIRM