Macomb Daily
Armada home built in record time, draws crowd of well-wishers, fans of ABC-TV show
Not the dark clouds or the rain. Even standing in one spot with little to do for eight hours. Nothing seemed to dampen the spirits of the 3,000 people who gathered in Armada to see Ty Pennington and the stars of ABC-TV's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" reveal to Maryann Gilliam and her six children their new home. Read More

Romeo Observer
'Goodness' overwhelms Home Makeover's newest recipients
 Maryann Gilliam fell backward into the arms of television home improvement guru Ty Pennington when she saw the home her community had built for her. Once she regained her footing, cameras rolling, a very audible "Oh my goodness," could be heard over the hushed crowd of thousands awaiting the family's reaction to their new home. Read More

ABC: Extreme Makeover Home Edition
Gilliam Family
Maryann Gilliam and her six children of Armada Township, MI, lost their father in a tragic, unexpected death on Christmas Eve. David Gilliam simultaneously worked several jobs to support his family in order to fulfill his dream of becoming a firefighter and EMT. Read More

Erie Times
Rick Merlini's unforgettable experience
Merlini appeared on Sunday night's episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (WJET-TV). American Heartland, LLC, Rick’s building company in Macomb Township, Mich., built the 4,000 square-foot home featured on the show in early August. His company, picked from a group of 1,200-plus builders in the Detroit area, built a house with seven bedrooms, four-and-a-half bathrooms for an Armada Township, Mich., family. The 1,500 workers, consisting of his employees and sub-contractors, built the home in 53 hours, 54 minutes, shattering the show’s previous record of 96 hours, Merlini said. Read More

Reality TV Magazine
Gilliam Family ON Extreme Makeover Home Edition:
Maryann Gilliam and her six children of Armada Township, MI, who lost their father in a tragic, unexpected death on Christmas Eve, will get a welcoming visit from Ty and the gang when they deliver the news that they'll be receiving a new and renovated home in a remarkable seven days, on "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. Read More

C&G Newspapers
Letting the sunflower shine in
GROSSE POINTE — Artist Jon Bell of Grosse Pointe Park has worked on lots of different creative projects, but making a metal sunflower was a first. Although the sculpture was a small part of the total project — which got help from dozens of Michigan businesses, including American Heartland Homebuilder and Lombardo Homes — it was a crucial piece. The sunflower symbolized David Gilliam, and was “planted” in front of the house in his honor. Read More

TV Guide
October 1, 2006 Episode
Hi everyone! Michael Moloney here.
I just returned home from what turned out to be an amazing week. This time the bus stopped in Armada Township, a tiny farming town about an hour outside of Detroit, Michigan. I was excited to go back to Michigan cuz we shot one of our most popular shows there already. Read More

PR Newswire Association
WXYZ-TV/Channel 7's "Extreme Home Makeover: Motor City Edition" to Air Prior to Episode
On the evening of Sunday Oct. 1, America will have the chance to witness the heart shown by Macomb, Mich.-based American Heartland Homebuilder and the company's construction partners as the hit ABC-TV series "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" chronicles the recent construction of a new home for the Gilliam family of Armada Township, Mich. Read More

Keep Media
Done in Record Time: American Heartland Homebuilder and Lombardo Homes Complete 'Extreme Dream' Home Two Days Ahead of Schedule
Teamwork. That's how Rick Merlini, chief executive officer of American Heartland Homebuilder, and Anthony Lombardo, president of Lombardo Homes, explain their record-breaking 53-hour homebuild. Read More

Keep Media
Community Outpouring Fills All Volunteer Slots for Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and American Heartland Homebuilder Project in Armada Twp., Mich.
Thanks to the overwhelming response from people in local communities, American Heartland Homebuilder has filled all time slots for volunteers who have offered their assistance during the homebuilding for the deserving Gilliam family this week. The Macomb, Mich.-based building company wants to thank everyone who has offered to assist. Read More

Goldon Solutions
Currently airing on Comcast, view Rick Merlini in a spot for Goldon Solutions.
 View Video

LCMS
School Family Receives New Home
Everyone knows what a special time Christmas is, especially those with young children.  However, for one St. Peter's family, last Christmas was one of the saddest times of their lives. Read More