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Speakers and Panels

Ivy Dench-Carter

Ivy Dench-Carter

SVP, Development

Pennrose

Ivy Dench-Carter

SVP, Development

Pennrose

As Senior Vice President of Development, Ivy Dench-Carter oversees the execution and growth of Pennrose’s development pipeline within multiple designated regions, provides oversight of performance goals for the regions as identified in Pennrose’s Strategic Plan, and monitors regional performance and efficiency. Ivy also provides executive representation of Pennrose among industry organizations and associations, financial partners, design and construction partners, Housing Authorities, and State Agencies.

Ivy has more than 30 years of management and real estate development experience. She began with Pennrose Management Company in 1990 as a Property Manager for two properties before earning a promotion to Regional Property Manager, which gave her oversight of 21 affordable housing properties. In 1995, Ivy joined the development arm of Pennrose, expanding her career from property management to real estate development in the affordable housing arena.

Ivy previously led the Pennrose Baltimore Regional office (Maryland, District of Columbia, Virginia and U.S. Virgin Islands) where she oversaw all phases of development process, from sourcing deals to securing financing to overseeing the transition from construction to management. Under her supervision, she was proud to lead an exceptional staff who are responsible for the day-to-day project management and development activities. One of her many strengths is the ability to support her staff to successfully manage large teams to maintain the project the schedule and keep costs within budget. However, she continues to enjoy meeting with public housing residents and community stakeholders to alleviate their fears of redevelopment and providing them the opportunities for Section 3 and MBE/WBE participation during a transparent development process.

Ivy began her career in property management giving her a unique perspective during the development process. Her experience ranges from stand-alone affordable housing development deals to complex mixed-income, mixed finance, and multi-phase redevelopment projects including, HOPE VI, RAD, Upfront Grant and CHOICE programs. As a result, these programs require the complicated, multi-layered financing structures and the ability to secure soft resources required for 9% and 4% Low Income Housing Tax Credit transactions. While most of her career has been redevelopment of public housing, her office is also focused on mixed-income, mixed-use and market rate developments.

Throughout her career, Ivy has developed over thirty-five projects totaling approximately 2,400 units. Many of these projects involved public housing authorities and government agency owned land requiring the negotiation of complex Land Disposition Agreements and Master Development Agreements.

Ivy serves as President Emeritus of the Maryland Affordable Housing Coalition and is on the Board of Directors of Anne Arundel County Affordable Housing Coalition, Baltimore City Inclusionary Housing Board and The Reinvestment Fund Board of Directors. She is an active member of the community and a graduate of Leadership Maryland, an independent statewide program designed to expand the capacity of Maryland’s leaders. She is a frequent affordable housing panelist and recently recognized by the Baltimore Business Journal as a one of ten business executives for the 2019 Leaders in Diversity, which honors influential executives and business owners who promote diversity and inclusion in the Greater Baltimore business community. Ivy attended Spelman College in Atlanta, GA.

Creative Strategies Propelling Affordable Housing Forward

Aligning subsidies, public programs, and creative development strategy to maintain momentum in a constrained environment

Darion Dunn

Darion Dunn

Founding Partner

Atlantica Properties

Cecil Phillips

Cecil Phillips

CEO

Place Properties

Joel Reed

Joel Reed

Southeast Market President

Gorman & Company

John Hundley

John Hundley

Atlanta Studio Director

Rosemann & Associates

Rick Cunningham
Moderator

Rick Cunningham

Senior Public Relations and Development Manager

LDG Development

Darion Dunn

Founding Partner

Atlantica Properties

Darion Dunn, P.E. is a seasoned real estate developer, engineer, and civic leader with a track record of managing over $1 billion in transportation, infrastructure, and real estate projects. His expertise spans urban redevelopment, mixed-income housing, and strategic capital structuring, all driven by a commitment to creating thriving, holistic communities.

Darion began his career in real estate investment while earning a B.S. in Civil Engineering and a Certificate in Economics at Georgia Tech. He started by acquiring and rehabilitating single-family homes, leveraging his engineering and financial acumen to implement efficient construction management and cost controls. After graduating, he expanded his portfolio to multifamily properties and founded Atlantica Properties in 2010, focusing on sustainable, community-driven real estate development.

Before leading Atlantica Properties full-time, Darion built a strong foundation in engineering and project management. He worked as a Project Manager at Harrington, George & Dunn, P.C., where he gained expertise in site design, land planning, and infrastructure development. At Croy Engineering, he managed large-scale municipal bond and tax-funded projects, overseeing critical transportation and infrastructure improvements. He later served as the Director of Capital Improvements and Planning for the Buckhead Community Improvement District, where he directed high-impact urban projects that enhanced mobility and economic development in one of Atlanta’s most dynamic business districts.

Beyond his professional work, Darion is actively involved in the Atlanta community, serving on the boards of the Atlanta Apartment Association, the Georgia Tech School of Civil & Environmental Engineering Advisory Board, Open Doors, and Star-C. He strongly believes that real estate development should be a catalyst for equitable growth, balancing economic opportunity with long-term affordability. His leadership at Atlantica Properties reflects this mission, ensuring that every project contributes to the strength and resilience of the communities it serves.

Joel Reed

Southeast Market President

Gorman & Company

Joel Reed is based in Atlanta, GA and serves as Southeast Market President for Gorman & Company with a primary focus on Florida and Georgia projects. Joel has 20 years of experience in urban design, planning, and development. Joel’s experience ranges from senior affordable housing to luxury condominium buildings in Miami and the Florida Keys. He brings considerable knowledge and understanding of the development process given his history as a municipal planner, designer, development consultant, and developer in the private sector.

Joel holds a Master of Arts in Urban Planning and Policy and a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology, both from the University of Illinois, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from Wheaton College. Joel is registered under the American Institute of Certified Planners.

John Hundley

Atlanta Studio Director

Rosemann & Associates

John Hundley, AIA, LEED AP is an accomplished architect and Studio Director of Rosemann & Associates’ Atlanta office. With over 30 years of experience, he leads the design team, ensuring exceptional client service and project execution. His expertise in management, planning, and design helps transform visions into reality.

At Rosemann, community-focused design is at the heart of the work. Since joining in 2022, John has played a key role in shaping multifamily affordable housing, senior living, and student housing projects nationwide. His background in healthcare, commercial, historic preservation, and adaptive reuse deepens his commitment to creating housing that enriches lives.

John believes good design fosters a true sense of “home.” His experience across diverse housing sectors gives him insight into evolving needs at every stage of life, ensuring functional and meaningful communities.

A Memphis native, John launched his career in his hometown before living in Dallas and eventually settling in Atlanta. If you hear him humming Walking in Memphis, it’s just a nod to his roots. Outside work, he enjoys golf, home renovations, sporting events, the gym, and traveling with his fiancée, Nicole. He’s also a proud father of three college-age children pursuing their own paths in higher education.

Rick Cunningham

Moderator

LDG Development

I am a personable, intelligent, and result-oriented leader who understands the importance of each member of my team and have a unique

ability to harness and leverage every person's strengths to get remarkable results. I am a high-energy individual with strategic planning,

coaching and facilitation, marketing/business development, urban design, and management expertise with over 40 years of experience in

Architecture, Engineering, Planning, and Development including a focus on sustainability and resiliency.

A licensed Architect from 1982, I have Master’s Degrees in Architecture and Civil Engineering including course work in community, regional

and transportation planning. My experience has been mostly at senior management levels; in large, medium, and small firms at local,

regional, and national levels. I have been successfully responsible for managing regional programs and teams; planning and leading strategic

marketing/business development plans and pursuits; planning, managing, and delivering large projects; extensive internal and external

relationship development, team-building and partnership-forming; and growing staff and new offerings across multiple businesses lines in new

and multiple locations to meet our clients’ needs and expectations. My experience includes 4 years as Planning Director for the City of

Omaha, NE; over 4 years as the Deputy Director for Development Services for DeKalb County, GA; and currently the Southeast Region

Senior Public Relations and Development Manager for LDG Development, LLC.

My diverse list of clients includes federal, state, regional, county and municipal agencies and private organizations. I have served as coach,

facilitator, project principal, project manager, and project architect on a range of projects which have included project planning and

programming, new, renovation and retrofit construction. Projects include a full range of vertical projects and infrastructure projects

(transportation, water, wastewater, and natural resources) accomplished under various contract vehicles – Indefinite Delivery Indefinite

Quantity, Open-End, General, direct and as a sub-consultant.

Accelerating Approvals and Delivery at Scale

Zoning, permitting, feasibility, and construction strategies to shorten timelines and reduce risk

Cassius Coleman

Cassius Coleman

Founding Principal

Five Points Development

Torian Priestly

Torian Priestly

CDO

Benoit Group

Will Eckstein

Will Eckstein

Regional VP

Pennrose

Patrick Otellini

Patrick Otellini

National Affordable Housing Director

Swinerton

Mary Brooks

Mary Brooks

Environmental Planning Department Manager

Terracon

James Anderson
Moderator

James Anderson

Managing Partner

A3 Architecture

Torian Priestly

CDO

Benoit Group

As Chief Development Officer of The Benoit Group, Mr. Priestly is in- charge of day-to-day oversight and management of Real Estate Development, Development Advisory and Construction Management Operations for TBG.HealsoprovidesTheBenoitGroupwithexpertise in utilizing LIHTC, Tax-Exempt Bonds and HUD221(d)(4) financing. During his tenure with The Benoit Group, Mr. Priestly has developed over $600 Million in multi-family and senior housing units in NC, SC, GA, and IL. Mr. Priestly also has ownership in Marsh Creek Village a 20,000-square-foot retail/ office property in Atlanta. Prior to joining The Benoit Group, Mr. Priestly served as Vice President of Development for Ambling Development Partners. In this position he was responsible for overall development projects throughout the southeast, including the development of 887 units valued at $92 million. Mr. Priestly simultaneously served as VP for Ambling International, partnering with the Bermudian Government as advisor to the Island’s construction, demolition, environmental remediation, and hospitality development projects.

As a member of the SunTrust CDC team and Transom Development from 2002 – 2006, Mr. Priestly served as First VP working closely with SunTrust CDC Asset Management team on existing assets as well as developing LIHTC deals for Transom Development. Prior leadership positions include the management and development of multi-family projects for Regent Partners, the construction of over 2,500 units totaling $175 million, rehabilitation and asset management of over 800 units throughout the southeast, and the leadership support in the conceptual master plan and rehabilitation plan that was instrumental in J. A. Jones Military Housing Privatization Group’s award of $150 million in U.S. Army Housing Privatization projects. Mr. Priestly has also worked for one of the largest general contractors in the country, where he served as project manager for several municipal and private developments in Atlanta and Tennessee.

Education/Affiliations: A native of North Carolina, Mr. Priestly graduated from North Carolina A&T State University with a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering. He is an active member of the National Low- Income Housing Coalition and serves as the Chair of the Board of Directors for NC A&T State University Real Estate Foundation. Mr. Priestly is also affiliated with the following committees/ organizations:

Krimson Community Foundation (KCF) Board Member

Executive Committee Member of Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (GA/SC) Urban Land Institute Member

Former Board Chair for NC A&T Real Estate Foundation.

Yes! Atlanta (Mentoring Program)

Member of Atlanta Chapter of NC A&T Alumni Association

Grove Park Foundation Board Member

Veterans Empowerment Organization Board Member

President Aggie Gentz Foundation

Member of Council for Quality Growth

Will Eckstein

Regional VP

Pennrose

As Regional Vice President, Will is responsible for all aspects of the real estate development process from initial conception through construction, to lease-up and stabilized occupancy or sale. With more than 15 years of affordable housing development experience, Eckstein will lead the execution and continued growth of Pennrose's development pipeline in the Southeast region of the country with a focus on Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

Prior to joining Pennrose, Will served as senior vice president at Harmony Housing (formerly Greystone Affordable Development) in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Will holds a Master of Business Administration from Vanderbilt University and a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is actively involved in the affordable housing industry, serving on the boards of the Habitat for Humanity of Wake County, National Housing & Rehabilitation Association, National Rural Housing Coalition, and Rural Rental Housing Association - Texas.

Patrick Otellini

National Affordable Housing Director

Swinerton

Patrick Otellini is the National Affordable Housing Director with Swinerton and leads their affordable housing efforts in Company-wide. Prior to joining Swinerton, he served as the Chief Resilience Officer and Director of Earthquake Safety for the City and County of San Francisco under Mayor Edwin Lee and was responsible for the creation and implementation of the city’s resilience strategy: Resilient San Francisco – Stronger Today, Stronger Tomorrow. He received his Master of Construction Management from New School of Architecture and Design and his Bachelor of Political Science from Westmont College.

Mary Brooks

Environmental Planning Department Manager

Terracon

Mary A. Brooks is an Environmental Planning Department Manager based in Terracon’s

Macon, Georgia office, with more than three decades of experience in environmental

planning, natural resources, and regulatory compliance. She serves as a Professional

Wetland Scientist and Terracon Approved Project Reviewer, providing leadership and

oversight for environmental planning services including Clean Water Act Section

404/WOTUS assessments, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documentation,

Section 401 Water Quality, threatened and endangered species evaluations, watershed

protection planning, and federal and state environmental review processes.

Mary has extensive experience leading complex NEPA reviews for federal, state, and

municipal clients. Her work includes managing Environmental Assessments (EAs),

Environmental Impact Statements (EISs), and Categorical Exclusions (CEs), while ensuring

compliance with Section 106, Section 7, and other cross-cutting federal regulations. She

regularly coordinates with agencies such as the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban

Development (HUD), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and U.S. Department of Energy

(DOE), preparing defensible documentation that supports informed decision-making and

meets strict regulatory timelines. Mary is one of Terracon’s HUD Practice Resource Group

Leaders and has prepared and managed HUD-related environmental reviews and

applications for nearly three decades.

As a Professional Wetland Scientist, Mary leads wetland delineations, jurisdictional

assessments, and permitting efforts, and provides quality assurance reviews and staff

development to strengthen internal technical capabilities. She also oversees watershed

assessments and watershed protection plans for multiple municipalities, including the

planning and execution of long-term biological monitoring programs to support Georgia

Environmental Protection Division compliance. In addition, Mary leads habitat assessments

and species-specific surveys for federally and state-listed threatened and endangered

species, supporting Section 7 consultations and project permitting through coordination

with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Her

work emphasizes technical accuracy, regulatory integrity, and collaborative solutions that

reduce project risk while protecting sensitive natural resources.

James Anderson

Moderator

A3 Architecture

James has over 28 years of architectural experience across a wide range of sectors, including senior living, multifamily housing, hospitality, retail, commercial warehouses, and data centers. His work encompasses both complex renovations and large-scale, ground-up developments, with a primary focus on multifamily housing and senior living communities. James has designed and delivered a variety of projects including multi-family, retail, hospitality, data centers, as well as senior living projects—from independent cottages and ILUs to assisted living and skilled nursing facilities—integrating key services such as dining commons, wellness centers, and personal care amenities that support the aging-in-place philosophy. He has extensive knowledge of building codes, construction types (Types I, II, III, and V), and best practices for integrating specialized functions such as food service within residential environments. A skilled collaborator, James works closely with consultants, contractors, and regulatory authorities, including zoning boards, f ire marshals, and code officials. These relationships allow him to streamline agency reviews, expedite approvals, and keep projects on schedule. His technical expertise, combined with a client-focused approach, ensures that every project he leads balances design innovation, functional performance, and regulatory compliance.

Fireside Chat

Granvel Tate
Keynote

Granvel Tate

VP, Real Estate Operations

InvestAtlanta

Althea Broughton
Moderator

Althea Broughton

Partner

Arnall Golden Gregory

Granvel Tate

VP, Real Estate Operations

InvestAtlanta

H. Granvel Tate, III, is a senior real estate and finance executive with more than 25

years of experience spanning investment banking, real estate development, and public-

private partnerships. He currently leads real estate activities at Invest Atlanta, Atlanta's

economic and community development authority. He began his career at Goldman

Sachs advising financial institutions on M&A and public offerings and has since held

senior roles at General Growth Properties, The Michaels Organization, and Pivotal

Housing Partners. His expertise includes underwriting, capital structuring, and asset

management for affordable and workforce housing and mixed-use development. He

holds a B.S. from Florida A&M University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Althea Broughton

Moderator

Arnall Golden Gregory

Althea is a partner in the Real Estate practice. She has held several leadership roles at the firm, including serving as the former co-chair of the Real Estate practice, and the Affordable Housing industry team, the former Hiring Partner, and the former co-chair of the Diversity Committee. Althea is a leading practitioner in real estate law, representing developers, owners, and governmental agencies in structuring complex commercial real estate transactions. While her primary focus is affordable housing and community development, she has led transactions for many different types of projects. These projects have involved joint ventures, mixed-income housing, mixed-use developments, public-private partnerships, private equity, conventional and government-based debt financing, and federal, state, and local subsidies, such as low-income housing and other tax credits and TAD funding.

Why You Should Attend the Atlanta Affordable & Workforce Housing Conference

Why This Matters: 

Atlanta has committed to building or preserving 20,000 affordable homes by 2030 — and with more than 12,400 units already delivered or underway, the city is proving that meaningful progress is possible, even in a challenging development environment. Consistently elevated construction costs, a tighter capital markets environment, insurance escalation, and regulatory complexity continue to pressure affordable and workforce housing feasibility. Yet across Atlanta, developers, public agencies, lenders, and community partners are advancing projects through innovative financing structures, streamlined approvals, and evolving delivery models - positioning the region as a leading example of how collaboration can drive tanible results. In tandem, there have been pronounced efforts and creative approaches to support the "missing middle" and deliver attainable workforce housing communities alongside subsidized, affordable development. 

This event will explore how Atlanta’s housing ecosystem is translating ambitious policy goals into real production — focusing on capital stack execution, public-private alignment, design efficiency, and faster, more scalable delivery strategies that are moving projects from concept to completion. Join some of the most active private investors, developers, city officials, and housing leaders to examine where momentum is building, how obstacles are being overcome, and why Atlanta is positioned to continue meeting the challenge of housing affordability. 

What You'll Learn: 

  • How are developers and capital providers aligning with public subsidies, equity sources, and debt to structure viable capital stacks to keep projects moving forward today?

  • Which policy tools, public programs, and partnership models are proving most effective at accelerating funding approvals and maintaining momentum? 

  • How are mission-driven capital, philanthropic, and other creative investment vehicles supplementing traditional funding sources?

  • Where are projects losing time in the entitlement, permitting and approval process - and how are project teams compressing timelines to reach occupancy faster?

  • How are design practices, construction methods, and delivery models improving feasibility and reducing execution risk? 

  • What innovations in project planning and procurement are helping navigate construction pricing, labor cost and operational challenges? 

For questions regarding content, speaking and sponsorship opportunities please email our Southeast Director of Operations, Brandon Elsasser, at brandon.elsasser@bisnow.com. To request disability-related accommodations, please contact ariel.fromm@bisnow.comno later than seven business days prior to the event.

Venue

Wyndham Buckhead
3405 Lenox Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30326

Ballroom: Buckhead Ballroom


Self-Parking Garage: $25.00

Get Directions

Agenda

Time Activity
12:00 PM
1:00 PM
Pre-Event Networking, Registration & Breakfast
1:00 PM
1:30 PM
Fireside Chat
1:30 PM
2:15 PM
Creative Strategies Propelling Affordable Housing Forward

-Aligning subsidies, public programs, and creative development strategy to maintain momentum in a constrained environment

2:15 PM
2:30 PM
Brief Networking Break
2:30 PM
3:15 PM
Accelerating Approvals and Delivery at Scale

-Zoning, permitting, feasibility, and construction strategies to shorten timelines and reduce risk

3:15 PM
3:30 PM
Closing Networking

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