Morgan Knapp, owner of Elysian Homes, shares her journey from an Epcon employee to an Epcon Franchise Builder. She joined the Epcon team in 2010 and the Epcon builder network in 2023 and is thrilled to be building her first Epcon community.
“We talk so much about the process. It’s one thing to read about it and to hear about it. But I would recommend that potential owners immerse themselves in that process as well. So join us on site, you know, at our community, at any other Epcon communities, really experience it firsthand and absorb that process.”
Host: Thank you, Morgan, for taking this time to sit down and chat today. I’m really excited to get your story. I was wondering if you could share a little bit about your Epcon journey over the past decade plus now?
Morgan Knapp of Elysian Homes: Sure. It was 15 years [ago] that it started already. I started in 2010 selling for Epcon Communities and that was an interesting time to begin. The market was pretty tough and it was such a blessing because I actually learned how to sell. You had to back then, nothing was easy.
I benefited from some of the best training that Epcon had to offer and grew up through the company. I started off selling for the first few years, I became the director of sales for Epcon Communities Columbus, and kind of just grew from there. Grew to a training and recruiting role nationally. I was on the franchise team for just a little bit and then went back to the corporate team.
I always had so much interaction with the franchising side as well. At the Epcon conferences and [Franchise Builders] would reach out to us for advice and things like that. So I was always aware of that side of things. And then, low and behold, here I am on the franchising side.
Host: Speak a little bit to that because now you’re in a different role. So instead of working for Epcon, now you’re working with Epcon. What led you to make the decision to become a Franchise Builder?
Morgan: It was because I believe so much in the homes and the lifestyle that we’re selling. I subscribed to that a long time ago. And I really do believe that we have the best luxury ranch homes in America.
Ed and Phil did the hard part a long time ago and I was lucky enough to work firsthand with them and the team at Epcon Communities corporate. Learn the product, learn the process. And like I said, I believe in it.
I’ve done that in different regions across the country and saw that everywhere that we’ve brought Epcon communities, it works if you follow the process.
Host: What’s that journey been like for you, becoming a builder and then starting your first community?
Morgan: It’s been exciting. It’s been a lot of work also. There’s a certain beauty whenever you’re working for Epcon Communities of just focusing on the one thing that you’re really good at, which for me was sales and marketing. And now we get to do it all and we get to do it all at once. So that’s been exciting. We’ve learned a lot, but that’s probably been the biggest part.
The community where we’re building is, it’s just excellent. So we’re in Sunbury, Ohio. We’re north of Columbus. A little bit away from all the hustle and bustle, but still close enough to everything. It’s a golf course community. We have home sites that are on the golf course, and just absolutely beautiful.
Host: What’s been surprising to you as you’ve made this transition?
Morgan: I think one of the things that surprised me the most was just how excited everyone is along with us. Our team, we’re all so excited. I’ve got a great director of construction, a great partner in sales, a great partner helping us with our permits and our design.
We’re obviously all so excited, but all of our trade partners also. We had a breakfast to welcome them all as we’re getting ready to kick off and start building our first homes. And they keep telling us how excited they are about this project and this community and how excited they are to come to work.
And then our homeowners, we have 15 buyers that are already waiting for their homes to be built. In phases, we’ll get there, but they’re excited for this also. So I think just that general enthusiasm and how many people we have rooting us on has been really encouraging.
Host: Let’s talk about the home buyers. You mentioned the excitement. What are they most looking forward to?
Morgan: It’s a little bit of everything. They are excited about their homes and these initial homeowners that we’re working with have very carefully selected the floor plans and the features, and that’s just been fun working alongside of them.
But I think they are equally excited about the community. We followed the playbook, which is having monthly events. And honestly, that’s as much for us as it is for them. That keeps us going and gives us energy as well. But we’ve done these monthly community events, it’s tying the community together and you can watch, it’s working just the way that it should.
A true family is being formed and we can’t wait to get their homes started. We can’t wait to get them moved into their homes because it’s going to just keep growing.
Host: Let’s talk about some of the challenges that have come up. How is Epcon helping you to overcome those?
Morgan: There [are] challenges every day. That’s just part of the fun of it, right? You know, nothing stands out. There hasn’t been anything that’s been overwhelming. It’s just been different challenges to solve every single day.
Even little things that’ll come up, even little questions, I know that I can always reach out and I’m just an email away from your entire team. And to get quick answers and efficient responses has been a great help.
I have to remind you guys sometimes, yes, I’ve done this for years and years, but I need you. And I know that every single time, I think I’ve come to several of your franchise orientations, and each time I learn something new and you know, just being part of the franchise network as well and working with these talented business owners, there’s always so much to learn. And that’s part of what’s energizing for us. It’s part of why we’re doing this.
Host: That leads perfectly into my next question, which is, what advice would you give to a new builder who’s considering Epcon? What would you tell them about the experience and what it’s been like for you, and why would you steer them to do it themselves?
Morgan: I would tell them that the process works, that these are the best luxury ranch homes in America and that there is a proven process. It’s been perfected over almost 40 years now. So follow it. It works, and it’s a lot of fun whenever you follow it and you see it working.
But I would also say that, we talk so much about the process. It’s one thing to read about it and to hear about it. But I would recommend that potential owners immerse themselves in that process as well. So join us on site, you know, at our community, at any other Epcon communities, really experience it firsthand and absorb that process.
Host: I think my biggest question for you, Morgan, is why Epcon and how has it impacted you?
Morgan: I think that because Epcon is built on such solid foundations, there’s such a core set of values and competencies. And that starts from the two principles and owners, and that’s permeated the whole company.
And I was lucky enough to work firsthand with that for 13 years and now, in a more indirect way, I hope for years and years to come. So I guess the thing that I would say is, Epcon is good to the core.
To learn more about Morgan’s story, watch From Epcon Employee to Epcon Franchise Builder.