Edward Robson, Class of 2013
Well-regarded as one of the nation’s most successful master-planned active adult community developers, Edward J. Robson believes that building a place to live is about creating an experience.
Ed’s real estate career began in 1960 with Coldwell Banker, then continued at Del Webb Corporation. By 1972, he had started his first active adult community, Sun Lakes. Ten thousand homes strong, it would go on to reach sellout success.
Ed’s sharpened focus on crafting clearly defined, unique places to live has solidified his status as a legend in the housing industry, as he oversaw the creation of active-adult communities in Arizona and Texas including Pebble Creek in Goodyear; Robson Ranch Arizona in the Casa Grande area; SaddleBrooke, The Preserve at SaddleBrooke and SaddleBrooke Ranch, all in and around Tucson; Quail Creek in southern Arizona in Green Valley; and Robson Ranch Texas in Denton, Texas.
Lita Dirks, Class of 2017
Lita Dirks, owner of Lita Dirks & Co., is an award-winning, nationally recognized leader in model home merchandising. Dirks regularly judges national and regional design competitions, conducts lectures and seminars, and authors nationally published articles. Her professional designations include Master in Residential Marketing (MIRM), International Interior Design Association (IIDA), as well as a Seniors Housing Marketing Specialist with a CAASH designation.
Dirks has served on NAHB’s IRM Board of Trustees, 55+ Housing Council Board of Trustees, National Sales and Marketing Council (NSMC) Board, and Design Committee. Dirks currently sits on the ULI Lifestyle Residential Development Council. She was awarded the IRM Presidential Award two years in a row and was honored by the NSMC in 1993 with the prestigious Bill Molster Award. Most recently, she received a Legend award by the Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Denver.
William “Bill” A. Davidson, Class of 2022
Bill Davidson founded San Diego-based Davidson Communities in 1978. For more than 40 years, Davidson and his new-home neighborhoods have been honored with local, regional and national building industry awards for design and marketing excellence. In 2014, Davidson was named a “Legend of Residential Marketing” by NAHB, and in 2011, he was inducted into Builder Magazine’s Hall of Fame for Design Excellence. Davidson was elected into the California Building Industry Foundation Hall of Fame in 2000, followed by the San Diego Building Industry Association (SDBIA) Hall of Fame in 2006.
Davidson’s volunteer commitment to industry leadership spans nearly 40 years. In 1988, as SDBIA president and chairman of the Construction Industry Federation, he successfully led the campaign against four local growth control initiatives. In 2013 and 2015, Davidson and his wife, Dawn Davidson, co-chaired the Pacific Coast Builders Conference in San Francisco.
Davidson is an active member of the World President’s Organization, the Urban Land Institute and Lambda Alpha International. He served on the local Children’s Hospital Foundation’s Board of Directors from 1990 to 1995 and as vice chairman in 1993. He also served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Magdalena Ecke YMCA and the Board of Trustees of Bishops School and is patron of San Diego Cares.
The post BALA Celebrates Inductees Robson, Dirks & W. Davidson first appeared on Best In American Living.