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Larry A. Mizel

Also Known As Mizel, Larry Mizel

CEO of M.D.C. Holdings

Education

  • Undergraduate degree - University of Oklahoma
  • Graduate degree - University of Denver

Overview

Larry A. Mizel is a Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, M.D.C. Holdings, Inc.(MDC)

Larry A. Mizel is an entrepreneur and businessperson who founded M.D.C. Holdings, Inc., The Mizel Museum and Simon Wiesenthal Center, Inc. and who has been at the helm of 6 different companies. Currently, he holds the position of Chairman & Chief Executive Officer at M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. and Chairman & Chief Executive Officer at Richmond American Homes Corp. (a subsidiary of M.D.C. Holdings, Inc.). Larry A. Mizel is also Chairman of Simon Wiesenthal Center, Inc. and Member of Council on Foreign Relations, Inc.

He previously was Chairman at Commercial Assets, Inc., Chairman at Omni Bancorp, Inc. (Colorado) and Chairman for American Land Lease, Inc.

Mizel received an undergraduate degree from the University of Oklahoma and a graduate degree from the University of Denver.

In 1972, Mizel founded the Mizel Development Corporation, which became M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. (MDC), a New York Stock Exchange-listed homebuilding company. MDC is the parent company of Richmond American Homes, which has homebuilding operations in 15 U.S. states. It is one of the few homebuilding-based companies to receive an investment-grade rating from all three rating agencies and is recognized as one of the top home builders in the United States. MDC was ranked 12 on the annual Builder 100 list published by Builder Magazine in 2021. Other MDC subsidiaries include HomeAmerican Mortgage Corporation, American Home Title and Escrow Company and American Home Insurance Agency, Inc.

Mizel was elected Chief Executive Officer of the company in 1988, a position he held until he assumed the role of Executive Chairman of the Board in October 2020.

Mizel was also a founder of Asset Investors Corporation (AIC), a New York Stock Exchange-listed real estate investment trust, and was a chairman of its board until 1996. He also sat on the board of Commercial Assets Inc. (CAX), a real estate investment trust, that traded on the American Stock Exchange. Until 1995, he was chairman of the board of directors of Omnibank, a multibank holding company, until its sale to KeyCorp.

Early Life

Larry A. Mizel was born to a Jewish family in 1942. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Oklahoma in 1964, and with a JD from the University of Denver College of Law in 1967.

Mizel and his wife, Carol, have an adult son, a daughter and six grandchildren

Career

  • M.D.C. Holdings - CEO
  • M.D.C. Holdings - Chairman

Recognition

80s and 90s :

In 1987, Mizel received the National Humanitarian Award from National Jewish Health, a global leader in the research and treatment of respiratory, immune and related diseases.

He was also named Honorary Dean of the University of Denver's Burns School of Real Estate and Construction Management in 1996.

Early 2000s:

In 2001, Mizel was the recipient of the distinguished Ellis Island Medal of Honor, which pays tribute to the immigrant experience and individual achievement. Honorees are listed in the Congressional Record.

The next year, he was awarded the title Honorary Irishman by the Ancient Order of Hiberians, a Catholic-Irish-American Fraternal Organization founded in 1836, for his work in supporting the heroes of the September 11 attacks in 2001.

Mizel was also made an Honorary Colonel of the 88th Regiment of the Army for his creation of the Victims of Terror Fund in 2003.

In 2005, Mizel received the Defenders of Freedom award from the National Homeland Defense Foundation, an organization that is dedicated to securing freedom in the fields of homeland defense and security.

The Kempe Foundation is a nonprofit that supports the prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglect. Mr. Mizel was named a Kempe community honoree in 2006, along with David Mandarich.

2010s : 

In 2010, Mizel was awarded the Ben S. Wendelken Special Trustees Award by Colorado's El Pomar Foundation for embodying the spirit of service and giving through his life's work.

Mizel received the Steve Ross Lifetime Achievement Award from the Milken Institute in 2011 and was named a Colorado State Patrol honorary colonel. He was also named the "7th Most Powerful Person" in Denver by the magazine 5280 that same year.

United States Senator Mark Udall paid tribute to Larry from the Senate Floor in 2012. The tribute is available in the Congressional Record. Senator Udall is quoted as saying:

"There are very few leaders who have brought our community together since September 11, 2001, like Larry has. Larry has rallied Coloradans together literally to remember the heroes and victims of 9/11 and to rise up against the evils of terrorism. It is what he does best: He assembles diverse groups of people, finds their commonality, and marshals them toward a noble purpose. Larry cares greatly about the security of the United States, as well as our allies worldwide. And he will stop at nothing to try to create a world where people do not live under the constant threat of attack, whether by persecutors, terrorists, or other enemies."

In 2014, Mizel was named the "15th Most Powerful Person" in Denver by the magazine 5280.

The Colorado Branch of Volunteers of America (VOA) recognized Larry Mizel for his generosity to the VOA and other organizations by presenting him with the Humanitarian Award during the annual Western Fantasy gala at the National Western Event Center in 2016.

Mizel was then inducted into the Colorado Business Hall of Fame in 2016 by Junior Achievement-Rocky Mountain and the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. A video of the presentation can be viewed on the Junior Achievement YouTube channel.

Reference

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