Born Into It, Built for It: How Rose Graham Brings Heart, Hustle, and Leadership to Sales at Roots

If you ask Rose Graham how she found her way into the manufactured housing industry, she won’t say she stumbled into it—she’ll tell you she was born for it.

Her journey began long before she officially joined the workforce. In 1977, Rose’s parents opened a manufactured housing dealership, and the business grew alongside the family. Her father started with a maintenance job in a community and eventually built a full-fledged operation offering transport, setup, and on-site services—all handled by the family.

From an early age, Rose worked with her two older brothers on setup crews, pitched in around the office, and supported the family business in every way she could—even while pursuing a degree in education. “I always thought I’d be a teacher,” she says with a laugh. “But when I looked back, every job I’d ever had involved sales—I just didn’t realize it at the time.”

It wasn’t until she stepped into a sales role during a busy season at her family’s dealership that she realized she’d found her calling. Her passion for teaching and service remained, but she discovered a new way to make an impact—helping people become homeowners.

After her parents sold the dealership, Rose reached out to her favorite manufacturer—Clayton Homes. They created a role just for her. “I only wanted to work with them,” she says. “I believed in the product and loved the work.” For over a decade, she worked remotely, building relationships and helping families achieve their dreams of homeownership.

That’s when she first connected with the Strive team, now part of Roots Management Group. When an opportunity opened up at Roots, Rose was invited to apply—and the rest is history.

Today, two years into her role as Divisional Sales Manager, Rose says she’s exactly where she’s meant to be.

“I hands-down have the best job,” she shares. “I get to teach, coach, and cheer people on—all the things I love. Helping someone become a homeowner is life-changing, and being part of that journey never gets old.”

Rose’s leadership is more than just results—it’s deeply rooted in character, a quality her leader, Dan Roacho, VP of Sales, believes is the foundation of any great team.

“When hiring a sales leader, I prioritize who they are over just what they’ve achieved,” says Dan. “I look for servant leaders—those who lead with kindness, empathy, and a commitment to building trust and a positive team culture. I value resilience, accountability, and authenticity. Skills can be taught, but character cannot.”

Rose brings heart, patience, and a spirit of service to everything she does—whether guiding a Community Manager through their first sale or helping implement new sales strategies. Her resilience and resourcefulness have driven team success, and her empathy and humility have helped build a supportive, high-performing culture.

One of her proudest moments? Mentoring Community Manager Brandi Crane.  “Brandi is a shining star,” Rose says. “Her heart is in the right place. She’s excited, driven, and just really cares. Watching her succeed has been incredible.”

Brandi recently celebrated her very first Establish Your Roots, rental conversion sale and Rose was always available—guiding her, coaching her, and riding the emotional roller coaster together. The sale was especially meaningful because the family they were working with was one they knew personally, and together they helped turn them from renters into proud homeowners. “It was such a moment of pride and accomplishment for all of us,” Rose recalls.

“Brandi is a shining star,” Rose says. “Her heart is in the right place. She’s excited, driven, and just really cares. Watching her succeed has been incredible.”

Rose has taken the teacher inside her and applied it into her daily routine, and it shows. Her team has great things to say about working with her.  

“Rose is the best role model and manager,” says Claudia Jardinez, Regional Sales Manager at Roots. “She’s gone above and beyond to recognize my work. She’s a true boss lady—360 degrees. She empowers women, uplifts her team, and balances her personal and professional life so beautifully. Our entire sales team just loves her.”

Rose’s secret to happiness? “No matter what you do, you can make it fun. Put me behind a gas station counter, and I’ll still find a way to enjoy it. It’s what you bring to the job that makes it special.”

At Roots Management Group, we’re proud to have Rose on our team—not just for her unmatched industry expertise, but for the values, energy, and heart she brings to everything she does. In every sense of the word, Rose is a leader—and we’re better for it.