MEET OUR TEXAS EXECUTIVE TEAM
Don Luke
Regional President
Don brings over 34 years of experience in the homebuilding industry to his role as Regional President. Don began his career in 1985 at Ryland Homes and joined Lennar Homes in 1996 as Director of Sales. At Lennar he held various progressive positions over his 22 years from Director of Construction, Division President, City President, and Regional President. Don is a leader who is inspiring, growing, and building highly impactful performing teams and individuals. Don is known for his strong work ethic, integrity, and a high degree of personal initiative.
Jill Betts
VP, Finance & Accounting
Jill has worked in the residential home building industry for over 35 years of which 30 years have been in the Austin and Central Texas area. This includes working with both privately-held and publicly-owned homebuilders in both single family and multi family markets. She has been responsible for all accounting and reporting aspects during that time. Although she is a Texas native, she attended University of Las Vegas majoring in accounting where her homebuilding career began.
Craig Spriggs
VP, Purchasing
Craig’s career has taken him from construction management to purchasing, and along the way, he has developed a passion for building homes, leading teams, and forging strong relationships. The shift from construction to purchasing allowed him to combine his business acumen with construction knowledge, refining his skills in cost analysis, vendor management, and procurement.
Tracy Brown
Division President, Houston
Tracy brings over 28 years of experience in the residential construction industry to his role as the Houston Division President at Empire Communities. Prior to joining the Empire team, Tracy served as the Dallas Division President at David Weekley Homes where he managed the division’s strategic planning and operations including construction, sales, marketing, project management, and community development. He also worked as a Project Manager in Houston for David Weekley and Division Manager of Houston for Highland Homes. Tracy’s established experience and expertise has helped Empire expand its footprint within the Houston market.
Terry Shuffler
Division President, Austin
Terry brings over 30 years of experience in the homebuilding industry to his role of Division President in Central Texas at Empire Communities. He has an intimate knowledge of all facets of the business, having led the start-up of Trendmaker Homes’ Austin division in one of his previous positions. Terry has remained active in the industry as a prior GHBA Board Member and has spent numerous years supporting both Houston and Austin HomeAid. He graduated with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington.
Vince Ruffino Jr.
Division President, San Antonio
Vince brings over 29 years of experience in residential construction, with extensive experience leading construction operations. Vince is a strategic leader, focusing on profitability and division performance. Previously, Vince was Division President at Landsea Homes, where he managed all aspects of a startup division in a new market. Known for his results-oriented approach, Vince has held key leadership roles—ranging from Director of Construction to Division President—across various residential builders in Texas and Arizona. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University.
Corinne Branch
Director, People & Culture
Corinne brings over 15 years of human resources experience with a demonstrated history of success within the real estate industry. As Director, People & Culture, Corinne provides advice, coaching and support to leaders and employees alike, while ensuring compliance with federal and state employment laws. She is responsible for developing and ensuring that People & Culture strategic initiatives, programs and processes are implemented within the divisions. Corinne is a Senior Certified Professional through the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM).
Emily Gonzales
Director, Marketing
Emily brings 20+ years of homebuilding experience in various leadership roles to Empire Communities. Emily mostly recently served as the Director of Marketing at Lennar Houston, where she supported Sales, Construction, Purchasing and Operations in various capacities to drive efficiencies and promote a people-centered environment. As a believer in the American dream of homeownership, she is passionate about promoting homebuying initiatives, networking with partners to encourage industry growth, and committed to giving back to the community through outreach programs.