Brookstone Homes Earns Quality Certification From NAHB Research Center Signaling Significant Commitment To Quality

June 9, 2005 - Brookstone Homes, Inc., Oconomowoc, announced today that they have earned National Housing Quality (NHQ) Certification. NHQ Certification is presented by the NAHB Research Center to builders that have documented their management processes, implemented customer-focused quality assurance systems, and participated in a rigorous audit by NAHB Research Center quality experts. Brookstone Homes' NHQ Certification represents the company's ongoing commitment to continual process improvement and customer satisfaction in home building. Brookstone Homes is currently one of six home builders in the United States to earn the certification.

Participation in the NHQ Certified Builder program is designed to foster consistency and quality in building practices. NHQ Certified builders complete a thorough review of business practices to ensure all elements of their quality assurance system are integrated to provide greater efficiency and customer satisfaction. Brookstone Homes participated in field and office training to implement their quality program, work more efficiently with their trade contractors, and begin the continuous improvement efforts.

Brookstone Homes' participation in the certification program derived from their "Strategic Plan for Quality Improvement," which was developed in March 2004 at a company-wide strategic planning session. The plan called for specific actions to improve customer satisfaction and quality at Brookstone Homes, one of which included the implementation of a quality management system.

"The certification is a direct result from every associate at Brookstone saying, 'We are committed to customer satisfaction and quality,' and then going out and proving it," says Scott Thistle, president of Brookstone Homes. "An organization can only deliver high standards of customer satisfaction and quality if every associate and trade partner is on board with the company's vision. At Brookstone, delivering an exceptional customer experience is the primary goal and the NHQ certification process has enabled us to develop and manage our quality assurance systems to make our customer's experience second to none."

Frank Alexander, director of NHQ programs at the NAHB Research Center, said, "By focusing builders and trade contractors on getting the job done right the first time, NHQ certification differentiates those who talk about quality from those who can demonstrate it. Brookstone Homes certainly represents that differentiation."