Dr. Lesli Gooch is the CEO of the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI), a national trade association representing nearly 90% of manufactured homes produced in the United States. Her work centers on expanding access to affordable homeownership by advocating for policies that support manufactured housing as a viable solution to the nation’s housing affordability challenges. Under her leadership, MHI has made significant strides in advancing legislative priorities, including efforts to update federal housing regulations and construction codes to better reflect modern industry innovations.
In the past year, Dr. Gooch played a key role in facilitating a congressional hearing focused on expanding the range of homes built under the federal single-family construction code. She has supported bipartisan legislation aimed at reaffirming HUD’s regulatory authority over manufactured housing and removing outdated construction mandates that limit industry growth. Additionally, she worked to prevent the imposition of conflicting regulations that would have increased costs for homebuyers.
Dr. Gooch also helped establish a new deputy assistant secretary position within HUD dedicated to manufactured housing, elevating the sector’s profile alongside single- and multifamily housing. She advocated for expanding the HUD code to include duplexes, broadening affordable housing options. Her advocacy extends to the state level, where she has provided expertise on housing legislation in over a dozen states.
Recognized for her contributions, Dr. Gooch received the Jack E. Wells Memorial Award for her leadership and bipartisan collaboration. Through her efforts, manufactured housing remains a central topic in national housing policy, shaping solutions that impact millions of Americans seeking attainable homes.
Name:
Lesli Gooch
Title:
Chief Executive Officer
Company Name:
Manufactured Housing Institute
