Stephanie McCarty Named Inaugural CMO of the Year by BUILDER

Zonda, a CoStar Group company, announced the honor on October 12, 2026, ahead of its Accelerate sales and marketing summit in Park City, Utah. McCarty was selected from a field of four finalists, including marketing executives from K. Hovnanian Homes, M/I Homes, and Shea Homes. The panel recognized her for shifting marketing from a traditional support function into a primary driver of business growth and customer engagement at Taylor Morrison.

Her tenure is noted for unconventional initiatives, such as the "Killer House" collaboration with Liquid Death, which prioritized storytelling over standard industry practices. By building an in-house marketing organization, McCarty successfully bridged the gap between product development and consumer experience. Jeff Meyers, president of Zonda, credited her with setting a new benchmark for marketing excellence within the homebuilding sector. McCarty will be profiled in the upcoming Q4 print edition of BUILDER magazine.