Management Team

Mr. Hilton is the Executive Chairman of Meritage Homes and has been a director since 1996. Mr. Hilton led Meritage Homes for 35 years as Chairman and CEO until his retirement as CEO effective January 1, 2021. In 1985, Mr. Hilton cofounded Arizona-based Monterey Homes, the predecessor company to Meritage Homes. Under Mr. Hilton’s leadership, Monterey became publicly traded in 1997.

Mr. Hilton received a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Arizona. He serves as a board member for Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGEN) Foundation and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale Foundation. He also previously served as Chairman of the Board for Banner Health Foundation from 2021 to 2023, and as a board member for Western Alliance Bancorporation, (NYSE: WAL) until June 2022. Mr. Hilton brings extensive and intimate knowledge of the Company to the Board as its co-founder and through over 35 years of experience in leading the Company.

Mr. Lord became the CEO of Meritage Homes on January 1, 2021 and was appointed to the Board at that time. He previously served as Chief Operating Officer of Meritage Homes from 2015 to 2020. From 2012 to 2015, Mr. Lord was President of the West Region at Meritage Homes. Mr. Lord began his Meritage Homes career in 2008 by creating the Company’s strategic operations and market research department, which analyzes land acquisitions, product and pricing.

Prior to joining Meritage Homes, Mr. Lord held leadership positions with Acacia Capital, Centex Homes and Pinnacle West Capital. Mr. Lord received a Bachelor's degree in Economics and Business from Colorado State University and completed his master's coursework in Economics at the University of Arizona. As CEO of the Company, Mr. Lord is uniquely qualified to serve as a member on our Board.

Ms. Hilla Sferruzza has served as Chief Financial Officer of Meritage Homes since 2016. Previously, she was the Chief Accounting Officer (from 2010-2021) and Corporate Controller of Meritage Homes (2010-2015). Her career at Meritage Homes started in 2006 serving in accounting, finance and financial reporting management roles. Prior to joining Meritage Homes, Ms. Sferruzza worked in various leadership positions at KPMG and Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

Ms. Sferruzza earned her Executive Masters of Business Administration from Washington State University and her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an Accounting and Journalism emphasis from the University of Arizona. She serves as a board director of Footprint International Holdco, Inc. and a member of its audit committee, as well as a member of the Arizona State University’s W.P. Carey School of Business Dean’s Council and Finance Advisory Board.

Mr. Clint Szubinski became the Chief Operating Officer of Meritage Homes on January 1, 2021. Mr. Szubinski served as South Region President of Meritage Homes from 2018 to 2020. Prior to this, he extended his experience in the homebuilding industry, working in senior management roles at K. Hovnanian and Cal-Atlantic from 2014 to 2018. From 2011-2014, he was the Florida Region President at Meritage Homes. Mr. Szubinski initially started at Meritage Homes as Vice President of Land Acquisition and Entitlement in Orlando, Florida and briefly moved to Raleigh, North Carolina, to lead the startup of the Raleigh Division. Previously, Mr. Szubinski was the Gulf Coast Division President at KB Home from 2005-2009.

Mr. Szubinski received his bachelor's degree in business administration and political science as well as a law degree from Louisiana State University.

Ms. Malissia Clinton became the General Counsel of Meritage Homes on April 18, 2022. Prior to joining Meritage Homes, Ms. Clinton spent 12 years at The Aerospace Corporation as the senior vice president, general counsel and secretary. From 1998 to 2009, she served in multiple management positions at Northrop Grumman including the senior counsel for special projects in the Office of the General Counsel. Following law school, Ms. Clinton worked as a litigator at the law firm Tuttle and Taylor from 1993 to 1998.

Ms. Clinton received a bachelor’s degree in political science at Arizona State University, earned a Juris Doctor from Stanford Law School and completed the UCLA Anderson School’s Executive Program in Business Management. She serves as a board director of 3D Systems Corporation (NYSE: DDD) and its Compliance Committee Chair as well as a board director of Pacaso. She was formerly a board director of Progyny, Inc. (NASDAQ: PGNY) and a member of its Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Additionally, she is a board director of the Arizona State University Foundation and previously was the former chair of the Aerospace Diversity Action Committee and board director of the National Defense Industrial Association.

Mr. Javier Feliciano has served as Chief People Officer of Meritage Homes since 2015. Prior to joining Meritage Homes, Mr. Feliciano previously held leadership positions at Ford Motor Company, PepsiCo, Apollo Education Group, and Valeo.

Mr. Feliciano received a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice as well as a master's degree in human resources and labor relations from Michigan State University. Mr. Feliciano also completed Cornell University’s executive development program for the modern CHRO role. He serves as a board member of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.