Beazer Taps Howard Heckes For Board; Danny Shepherd Retires

Beazer Homes announced the appointment of Howard Heckes as a new independent member of the company’s 10-person board of directors, along with the retirement of board member Danny Shepherd. 

Heckes has extensive experience in the building materials and services industry and is currently a member of the board of directors of James Hardie Industries, a public company specializing in high-performance building materials. He also serves on the board of directors for Airtron Heating & Air Conditioning. 

From 2019 to 2024, he worked as the CEO of Masonite International, which manufactures, designs, markets, and distributes doors and door solutions. Before that role, he was CEO of Energy Management Collaborative, an LED lighting and controls provider. 

Earlier in his career, Heckes was also a Division President at Newell Brands and held multiple leadership positions at Valspar Corporation, a manufacturer of paint and coatings that Sherwin-Williams acquired in 2017. 

“He brings a wealth of experience across materials and services businesses with strong ties to the homebuilding industry and a long track record of successful leadership. His extensive experience in building materials, home improvement, and finding unique points of differentiation to successfully grow businesses will be particularly valuable as we execute our differentiated product strategy,” said Allan Merrill, Chairman and CEO of Beazer Homes, in a press release. 

Danny Shepherd, who was named to Beazer’s board of directors in 2016, will retire and won’t stand for re-election in 2026. 

Beazer Homes is a leader in energy efficiency

Heckes’s experience in building materials aligns with Beazer Homes’ focus on energy-efficient homes. The Atlanta-based company is a leader in energy efficiency and was the first builder to commit to building 100% of its new homes to comply with the U.S. Department of Energy’s zero-energy-ready standard. 

During the company’s latest earnings call in November, executives emphasized two main benefits of these energy-efficient homes. 

First, it provides consumers with ongoing savings, primarily due to lower utility bills. Merrill provided an example of a recently closed community in Atlanta with homes that delivered savings of about $3,000 per year compared to comparable new houses. 

Beazer Homes also expects to reduce the cost of delivering the zero-energy-ready homes by $10,000 each by Q4 2026, with savings expected to grow progressively throughout the year. These cost savings could increase margins by about 200 basis points by the end of 2026, executives say.