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Amy Blackman

Amy Blackman

Managing Director

Apprise, a Walker & Dunlop company

Amy Blackman

Managing Director

Apprise, a Walker & Dunlop company

Amy Blackman, MAI, is a regional managing director at Apprise, a Walker & Dunlop company, and is based in Atlanta, Georgia. In this role, Blackman leads valuation assignments across primary and secondary markets throughout the East Coast. Her work supports lending and reporting needs for Agency and institutional clients, including Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae programs, life companies, CMBS lenders, and balance sheet lenders. She also has extensive experience providing valuations for annual financial reporting. Blackman has more than 20 years of commercial real estate valuation experience. Since 2014, she has specialized primarily in multifamily assets, including garden and mid-rise apartments, urban high-rise and mixed-use properties, fractured condominiums, affordable housing, and student housing. She also serves as Apprise’s national student housing practice lead and has overseen nearly 200 student housing appraisals since the firm’s launch five years ago.

Prior to joining Apprise, Blackman served as a valuation services director at Colliers International and as a valuation specialist at CBRE.

Blackman earned a bachelor’s degree in real estate from the University of Georgia. In 2025, she was named one of GlobeSt.’s “CRE’s Best Bosses.

Policy, Politics & Production: What Affordable Housing Really Needs Right Now

Exploring federal, state, and local policy shifts shaping deal feasibility, LIHTC allocations, zoning reform, and the next wave of affordable housing delivery

Andrew Hughes
Keynote

Andrew Hughes

Deputy Secretary

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Frank Cassidy
Keynote

Frank Cassidy

Federal Housing Commissioner and Assistant Secretary

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Alfonso Costa Jr.
Keynote

Alfonso Costa Jr.

COO

Falcone Group

Andrew Hughes

Deputy Secretary

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Andrew Hughes was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 10, 2025, to be the Deputy Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Hughes serves under the leadership of President Trump and Secretary Turner to advance HUD’s mission of expanding access to affordable housing, cutting burdensome regulations, increasing housing supply, and promoting homeownership opportunities for all Americans. Andrew manages the day-to-day operations at HUD, ensuring the department works efficiently and effectively in its service to the American people. Hughes most recently served as Chief of Staff to Secretary Turner and previously served in the same role to the 17th Secretary of HUD, Dr. Ben Carson during the first Trump administration. After his tenure as Secretary Carson’s Chief of Staff, Hughes became the Chief Executive Officer and co-founded the American Cornerstone Institute, helping lead the organization in promoting conservative, commonsense solutions to pressing issues facing our country. Hughes also worked on President Trump’s 2024 transition team and on President Trump’s first transition team and presidential campaign. Prior to that he worked at the University of Texas System Office of Federal Relations and worked in the wholesale plumbing supply industry and as a manufacturer’s representative which was closely tied to the development of housing. His Texas roots run deep as a passionate alum of Texas Tech, where he graduated with honors receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations. Hughes is the youngest Deputy Secretary in HUD’s History. Andrew is married to his wife, Kara, of 15 years, and they have three children, Hope, Henry and Reagan. They also have a daughter named Harper who they hold in their hearts. Andrew is from Fort Worth, TX and graduated from RL Paschal High School.

Frank Cassidy

Federal Housing Commissioner and Assistant Secretary

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Frank Cassidy serves as the Federal Housing Commissioner and Assistant Secretary for Housing

at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Nominated for this role by

President Trump, Mr. Cassidy was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in December 2025. Throughout

his career, Mr. Cassidy has been a leader in the mortgage industry, with in-depth management

and practical experience in mortgage origination and housing market issues.

In his role as Federal Housing Commissioner and Assistant Secretary for Housing, Mr. Cassidy is

responsible for HUD’s policies, programs, and operations supporting the nation’s homebuyers,

homeowners, renters, and communities. He oversees FHA’s approximately $2 trillion Single

Family, Multifamily and Healthcare mortgage insurance programs, HUD’s Multifamily assisted

housing portfolio, the administration of HUD’s housing counseling program, and the

development and oversight of federal standards for the design and construction of

manufactured homes.

Prior to joining HUD, Mr. Cassidy was most recently a senior managing director of FHA Finance

at Walker & Dunlop where he originated loans for multifamily properties, nursing homes, and

senior housing. Mr. Cassidy has also held a number of senior leadership roles in the mortgage

industry, including at Newmark and Oppenheimer Multifamily Housing & Healthcare Finance.

Throughout his career, Mr. Cassidy has been involved in the origination, funding and/or asset

management of more than $4 billion in commercial real estate loans, including FHA-insured

multifamily and healthcare mortgages. He has received numerous industry recognitions,

including being named a Rising Star by Commercial Property Executive magazine in 2020,

a GlobeSt 50 under 40 Achiever in 2022, and Philadelphia Business Journal 40 under 40

awardee in 2025.

A native of Philadelphia, PA, Mr. Cassidy earned a bachelor’s degree from St. Joseph’s

University. He and his wife Grace welcomed their first child, Margot, in 2025.

Alfonso Costa Jr.

COO

Falcone Group

As Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Falcone Group, Alfonso Costa Jr. oversees the development of multifamily apartment communities and condominium projects, leading public-private partnership opportunities as well as the company’s operational and strategic initiatives.

His current pipeline of mixed-use development projects includes more than 2,000 residential units and 200,000 square feet of retail & self-storage, with a total value exceeding $1 billion. Such projects include “Block C-East” at Miami WorldCenter, and the “Horizon of Oakland Park,” a mixed-use public-private-partnership with the City of Oakland Park.

Prior to joining the Falcone Group, Alfonso served as Deputy Chief of Staff & Opportunity Zones lead for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), where he oversaw policy for the $50 billion annually-budgeted Cabinet agency, which maintains a wide range of housing and community development programs, a $1.3 trillion mortgage insurance portfolio, and approximately 7,000 employees across 57 offices nationwide.

As an expert on the bi-partisan Opportunity Zones program, he held the title of Chairman’s delegate and HUD’s lead representative on the Federal Government’s inter-agency Opportunity and Revitalization Council, and for his efforts he was recognized in the Opportunity Zone Magazine’s “Top 25 OZ Influencers” list for both 2020 and 2021.

A former 5th-grade teacher as a Teach for America corps member, Alfonso is now an active social advocate through philanthropic & academic volunteer efforts on both the local and national levels.

In his home State of Florida, he is the Program Chair of ULI Florida’s Affordable & Workforce Housing Council (AWHC), Advisory Board Member & recent Chair of the Nova Southeastern University Master’s in Real Estate Development (MSRED) Program, recent Member of the City of West Palm Beach Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, Heart & Spirit Society member for the Boca Helping Hands food-giving non-profit organization, and an In Jacob’s Shoes of Hope Hero member for the shoes/socks/school supplies non-profit organization.

Nationally, he serves as a Member of the Harvard Alumni Real Estate Board, National Housing Taskforce, Housing Advisory Council Member of the Bipartisan Policy Center, Board Member of the Home Builders Institute, and Full Member of the Urban Land Institute.

He earned his law degree from Harvard University, master’s degree from the University of Oxford, and bachelor’s degree from Yale University, where he played both Division-I basketball and Division-I lacrosse while serving as Chair of the Yale Athletic Department’s Thomas W. Ford Community Outreach Committee.

Follow the Money: Financing Affordable Housing in 2026

Navigating higher rates, tighter spreads, creative capital stacks, and evolving investor return expectations

Brandon Kearse

Brandon Kearse

President, CIO

Jonathan Rose Companies

Andy Cohen

Andy Cohen

Managing Director

BRP Companies

Senthil Sankaran

Senthil Sankaran

Managing Principal

Amazon Housing Equity Fund

Brett Macleod

Brett Macleod

Executive Director

JPMorgan Chase

Stacy Kaplowitz

Stacy Kaplowitz

VP & Managing Regional Project Partner

Lincoln Avenue Communities

Joe LeMense

Joe LeMense

Managing Director

United Bank

Chad Musgrove
Moderator

Chad Musgrove

Executive Director, Agency Financing

PGIM

Brandon Kearse

President, CIO

Jonathan Rose Companies

Brandon Kearse joined Rose in 2015 and as Managing Partner, now serves as President and Chief Investment Officer.

In this role, Brandon drives firm-wide strategy and oversees the firm’s impact investment platform across acquisitions, recapitalizations, portfolio management, and investor relations, while deepening the firm’s mission of creating environmentally sustainable and socially responsible housing.

Prior to joining Rose, Brandon worked in technology investments at Summit Partners, a $15 billion growth equity fund, and as a Consultant at McKinsey & Company, serving government agencies and Fortune 500 companies on strategy, operations, and infrastructure.

Brandon holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and an M.S. in Civil Engineering.

Andy Cohen

Managing Director

BRP Companies

Mr. Cohen is responsible for managing BRP Companies' new construction and acquisition rehab transactions. Since 2013, Mr. Cohen has been responsible for over $1B in development comprising over 2,100 units of mixed-income affordable rental housing and over 150,000 SF of commercial space. Mr. Cohen previously held various positions at the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD). Most recently, Mr. Cohen served as the Director of Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Preservation where he oversaw the legal and financial restructuring of over 5,000 residential dwelling units, comprised of over 50 separate transactions. In this role, Mr. Cohen originated over $50M in construction and permanent debt and leveraged over $100M in bond financing, over $80M in equity, $17M in conventional debt, and refinanced over $150M in existing debt.

Mr. Cohen holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Urban Development from Trinity College and a Master of Arts degree in Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning from Tufts University.

Senthil Sankaran

Managing Principal

Amazon Housing Equity Fund

As Managing Principal of the Amazon Housing Equity Fund, Senthil is responsible for the

oversight, deployment and management of Amazon’s commitment of over $2 billion in below-

market capital, in the form of loans and grants, to preserve and create over 20,000 affordable

homes in Amazon’s ‘hometown’ communities: The Puget Sound region of Washington State,

the Arlington, VA/Greater Washington region, and Nashville, Tennessee.

Prior to Amazon, Senthil has served in a variety of real estate development leadership roles in

both the private and public sectors. As SVP, Real Estate Development & Capital Programs at the

District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA), Senthil led DCHA’s strategic portfolio

repositioning and rehabilitation efforts. He also served as Senior Director of Development

focused on the Union Market neighborhood in Washington, DC for EDENS – a firm specializing

in the acquisition, entitlement and development of mixed-use, urban infill, real estate projects.

Prior to EDENS, Senthil served as Director of Real Estate Development for the Government of

the District of Columbia in the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning & Economic

Development (DMPED) where he managed a multi-billion dollar portfolio of large-scale, mixed

use, public-private real estate development projects on behalf of the District — most of which

required the structuring and deployment of layered public financing tools such as Tax

Increment Financing (TIF), proceeds of securitized revenue bonds, capital budget funding and

real property tax abatements. Senthil began his real estate career as a real estate financial

advisory consultant with Jones Lang LaSalle’s Public Institutions practice in Washington, DC.

Senthil received an MBA as a John F. Connelly Foundation Scholar of Georgetown University’s

McDonough School of Business and holds a BA in Government/International Relations from

Georgetown University as well.

Brett Macleod

Executive Director

JPMorgan Chase

Brett Macleod is an Executive Director at JPMorgan Chase in the Community Development

Banking group, where he finances affordable housing and urban revitalization real estate projects

throughout the Mid-Atlantic. Prior to joining JPMC in April 2012, he was a Banker at Citigroup

in the Citi Community Capital division. Brett has originated over $2.3 billion of loans for a variety

of deal types, including affordable rental properties, for-sale housing projects, mixed-use real

estate deals and large-scale urban retail centers. Brett currently serves as Board Vice Chair of

Cinnaire; Board President of Housing& (formerly known as HAND/Housing Association of

Nonprofit Developers); and Board Chair of National Housing Trust Community Development

Fund. He holds two BA’s from Williams College and earned an MBA, magna cum laude, from

the F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business at Babson College with concentrations in Finance and

Global Management.

Stacy Kaplowitz

VP & Managing Regional Project Partner

Lincoln Avenue Communities

Stacy Kaplowitz is the Vice President/Managing Regional Partner at Lincoln Avenue

Communities where she leads the firm’s growing Regional Project Partner Development

platform and runs her own deal pipeline in the Mid-Atlantic.  Previously, Stacy was with KCG

Development where she established and grew the firm’s Mid-Atlantic portfolio, worth over $210

million. Stacy has more than 18 years of professional experience in infrastructure and affordable

multifamily development and P3 (‘public private partnership’) real estate advisory. Prior to KCG,

Stacy was with Brailsford and Dunlavey, where she and her team developed student housing

master plans for clients such as Rutgers University and George Mason University, and expertly

advised clients on how to position workforce housing as a valuable recruitment tool. Early in her

career, as a Development Director at Herman & Kittle Properties and Project Manager at DMA

Development Co., Kaplowitz oversaw the development of more than 650 affordable rental

housing units worth over $119 million in Texas, Louisiana, and the Mid-Atlantic. Prior to that, she

was a real estate officer for the District of Columbia. Stacy serves as Chair on the Rockville

Housing Enterprises Board in her hometown of Rockville, MD.

Lincoln Avenue Communities is one of the country’s leading developers, investors, and

operators of affordable and workforce housing, providing high-quality, sustainable homes for

low- and moderate-income individuals, seniors, and families nationwide. It serves more than

50,000 residents across 28 states, with a portfolio of more than 155 properties comprising

27,000 units.

Joe LeMense

Managing Director

United Bank

Joseph LeMense is the managing director of community development & nonprofit banking at United Bank, the largest headquartered community bank in Greater Washington. With over 40 years of experience, LeMense guides the Bank’s nonprofit business development and lending initiatives throughout the Bank’s markets in eight states and the District. He focuses on providing personalized financial solutions to mission-based organizations involved in community development, affordable housing, education, social services and trade associations. LeMense joined United Bank in 2004, most recently serving as a senior vice president of commercial banking. In this role, he developed and managed long-term lending relationships, primarily in the nonprofit, biotech and government contracting industries. LeMense’s areas of expertise include tax exempt bond finance, tax increment finance, Property Assessed Clean Energy (“PACE”) financing and Low Income Housing Tax Credit (“LIHTC”) and New Market Tax Credit (“NMTC”) financing. A fifth-generation Washingtonian and fourth-generation graduate of Georgetown University, LeMense is a board member of the Jubilee Housing Advisory Board and a former mayoral appointee to the D.C. Public Charter School Credit Enhancement Fund Committee. He is an active volunteer and advisor with the Georgetown University Alumni Club of Washington, D.C. as well as a guest lecturer at Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business. A 2015 graduate of Leadership Montgomery, Joe was also a charter member and past president of the Metro Bethesda Rotary Club.

Chad Musgrove

Moderator

PGIM

Chad Musgrove is an Executive Director at PGIM, based in Miami, Florida. In this role, Chad is

responsible for driving multifamily loan production, cultivating and managing key client

relationships, and delivering customized financing solutions through Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and

FHA-HUD executions with additional access to the firm’s proprietary capital sources and bridge

loan capabilities. With a deep understanding of Agency loan products and credit processes, Chad

plays a pivotal role in supporting institutional investors and borrowers across the Southeast and

beyond.

Before joining PGIM, Chad served as Senior Vice President at M&T Realty Capital Corp.

(MTRCC), where he launched the firm’s Florida operations and originated over $500 million in

multifamily loans and structured credit facilities. His career also includes leadership roles at Orix

Real Estate Capital (Lument), Hunt Real Estate Capital, and Centerline Capital Group, where he

structured and managed over $1.5 billion in loans.

Chad’s expertise spans permanent Agency financing, balance sheet bridge loans, construction

financing, preferred equity, and mezzanine debt, with a proven ability to advise clients on complex

transactions through financial analysis, market research, and risk assessment.

Chad began his career in New York, gaining experience in underwriting, credit analysis, and

strategic business development at Auriemma Consulting Group, Coleman Research Group, and the

NYC Department of Finance. His early roles provided a strong foundation in financial services,

market research, and corporate strategy.

Chad holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Columbia University. He is actively involved in

the real estate and local community, having served on the board of Rebuilding Together

Miami-Dade and as Vice President of the Real Estate Lenders Association – South Florida. Chad is

also a member of the Urban Land Institute, Mortgage Bankers Association, Real Estate Lenders

Association, 100 Black Men of South Florida, and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

Beyond Development: Operating and Scaling Affordable Housing

Managing rising operating costs, compliance complexity, resident needs, and long-term asset performance

Jamie Weinbaum

Jamie Weinbaum

CEO

Horning

Andrew Kadish

Andrew Kadish

President

CAPREIT

Jeffrey Woda

Jeffrey Woda

Founder and CEO

Woda Cooper Communities

Priya Jayachandran

Priya Jayachandran

CEO & President

National Housing Trust

Joe Ouellette

Joe Ouellette

Chief Operating Officer

Standard Communities

Kyle Shoemaker

Kyle Shoemaker

Managing Director

MMG Real Estate Advisors

Chuck Hurchalla
Moderator

Chuck Hurchalla

Founder and CEO

Evolution Sustainability Group

Jamie Weinbaum

CEO

Horning

Jamie is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the business including operations, development, and strategic planning. He is a seasoned real estate leader and senior executive with significant experience in multi-family and mixed-use investment, development, and asset management.

Prior to joining Horning, Jamie was an Executive Vice President at MidCity, where he led all development activities to build out a 4 million sf pipeline across numerous urban infill properties. Before MidCity, Jamie served as COO of Ditto Residential, where he led all development and construction-related activities as well as long-term strategic growth initiatives. His prior experience includes managing large-scale, mixed-use residential and retail projects at JBG Smith, serving as the Director of the DC Office of Zoning, and working for the DC Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development. Jamie has been active in several non-profits throughout his career, including serving in various leadership roles nationally and locally at the Urban Land Institute (ULI). Jamie holds a JD from the George Washington University School of Law and a BA from Wake Forest University.

Andrew Kadish

President

CAPREIT

Andrew Kadish is the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of CAPREIT and is

responsible for setting the strategic direction and culture of the company. Throughout his tenure

at CAPREIT, Mr. Kadish has served in a variety of roles, learning a great deal from his

predecessor at the company, his father, Dick Kadish. Rather than resting upon the company’s

numerous past successes, Mr. Kadish continues to push the envelope, supporting and

encouraging his valued team to ascend even greater heights while growing into new investment

areas. As an active investor and thought-leader, Mr. Kadish enjoys advising start-ups and early-

stage businesses within the real estate, technology, and social well-being spaces. Mr. Kadish

holds a Juris Doctorate from the Villanova University School of Law. He received his Bachelor of

Arts from the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Kadish is a member of the Bars of New Jersey and

Pennsylvania and the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO).

Jeffrey Woda

Founder and CEO

Woda Cooper Communities

Jeffrey J. Woda is the Founder and CEO of Woda Cooper Companies, Inc. (“WCCI”), which wholly owns Woda Construction, Inc., Woda Cooper Development, Inc., Woda Management & Real Estate, LLC, along with various other subsidiaries. Mr. Woda continues to serve as an officer of The Woda Group, Inc., the Woda Cooper Communities family of entities, and Woda Cooper Holdings, LLC. Mr. Woda founded WCCI’s predecessor, Woda Development & Construction, Inc., in 1990. In 2018, WCCI became the first vertically integrated, employee-owned affordable housing development company in the United States.

Mr. Woda has been involved in the residential construction and housing industry for most of his career and was fortunate to grow up involved in his family’s construction business based in eastern Ohio. Mr. Woda graduated from Bethany College with a degree in Accounting, then worked for Ernst & Whinney (later Ernst & Young) in Charleston, WV, where he achieved his CPA designation. Mr. Woda received his Master of Science degree from Syracuse University in Professional Accounting.

Mr. Woda currently serves as a board member of Bethany College, the National Housing and Rehabilitation Association, the Ohio Housing Council, the Appalachian Partnership, Inc., Appalachian Growth Capital (a U.S. Treasury federally-designated Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI)), and the Pennsylvania Developers’ Council. Mr. Woda is the Multifamily Housing Chair for the Ohio Home Builders Association and is a steering committee member of the Housing Credit Group of the National Association of Home Builders.

Mr. Woda is past President of the Council for Rural Housing and Development of Ohio, the Ohio Housing Council, and is a past board member of Main Street Bank, Benchmark Bancorp, VisionTrust International, the Building Industry Association of Central Ohio, Housing Services Alliance, Inc., Partners in Housing Corporation, Habitat for Humanity of Delaware and Union Counties, and the Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition. Mr. Woda was previously appointed by the Ohio Governor as an Advisory Committee member to Ohio Housing Trust Fund, previously served as an Advisory Council member for the Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati, and previously served as a member of the St. Clairsville Historic District Architectural Board of Review.

Mr. Woda and his wife, Lynette, have three daughters.

Priya Jayachandran

CEO & President

National Housing Trust

Since early 2018 Priya Jayachandran has led National Housing Trust (NHT). NHT is committed to the preservation of home, opportunity, and dignity through affordable housing. In her role as CEO, Priya leads NHT’s engagement in public policy, lending and energy sustainability.

Priya previously led Housing Development at Volunteers of America (VOA). In her role, she managed the strategic direction, acquisition, and development of rental housing for VOA. Priya served in the Obama Administration at the Department of Housing and Urban Development from 2014 until 2017, as Senior Policy Advisor, Director of the front office of Multifamily Housing, and ultimately as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Multifamily Housing Programs.

Before joining HUD, Priya spent more than 15 years in community development real estate banking in New York and Washington, DC. She led client teams delivering debt and tax credit equity for affordable housing and charter schools during that time. Under Priya's leadership, the Mid-Atlantic market at both Citi and Bank of America were the top production offices in the country. Priya is a recognized industry expert on affordable finance deal structuring. Priya has also worked as a consultant to women’s microcredit organizations in La Paz, Bolivia; at Credit Suisse as an investment banking analyst; and at California State Treasurer Kathleen Brown as a Capital Fellow. Priya earned her B.A. from the University of California and her MPA from the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs.

Joe Ouellette

Chief Operating Officer

Standard Communities

Joe Ouellette is Chief Operating Officer of Standard Communities, where he oversees the firm's vertically integrated operating platform across asset management, compliance, construction, data infrastructure, and investment management, spanning 200 communities, 30,000 units, and $6.3B AUM.

With more than 25 years of experience in affordable housing, Mr. Ouellette previously led the wind-down of a complex national affordable housing portfolio, realizing nearly $1B in value across HUD, LIHTC, and Section 8 programs — one of the most operationally complex assignments in the industry.

Mr. Ouellette joined Standard Communities in 2015 as a founding deal partner, helping to establish the acquisitions platform that became the firm's core identity. He has since led the build-out of the firm's full-cycle institutional platform — new construction, acquisition, redevelopment, and investment management — including an affiliated general contracting company, architecture and design firm, a proprietary compliance company, and a centralized data infrastructure purpose-built for scale.

Kyle Shoemaker

Managing Director

MMG Real Estate Advisors

Kyle Shoemaker, Managing Director at MMG Real Estate Advisors, has worked in multi-family investment sales for over twenty years. He has been based in the Chicago area for his entire career, focusing exclusively on Affordable Housing since 2006. After receiving a degree in Finance from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University in 2004, he moved to Chicago days after graduating to pursue this career. In 2013, he partnered with the principals of Senior Living Investment Brokerage (SLIB), one of the nation’s leading brokers of nursing home and assisted living facilities, to create a new boutique brokerage specifically focused on selling deed-restricted Affordable Housing. Since that time, he has directly led a team in closing over 150 transactions totaling over $650M in value. Kyle is an advocate for affordable housing, as an active member of the Illinois Housing Council, the Institute for Responsible Housing Preservation and the National Leased Housing Council. As a Chicago-based national authority on affordable housing brokerage, he has been a frequent speaker at industry conferences, including Bisnow Multifamily Forums, Interface Affordable Housing regional events, and REJournals Chicago Forums

Chuck Hurchalla

Moderator

Evolution Sustainability Group

Chuck Hurchalla is the president of Evolution Sustainability Group. He has over 30 years of experience in the deregulated energy markets, including natural gas, electricity and petroleum products. He is considered a subject matter expert on hedging strategies and the fundamental and technical drivers of movements in the energy markets, including renewable products. In addition, he has been instrumental in helping clients develop comprehensive energy management solutions that meet or exceed energy efficiency and sustainability goals.

Celebrating the Success Stories of Public-Private Partnerships

Case studies on land contributions, incentives, political alignment, and partnerships that moved projects from concept to completion

Andrew Velo-Arias

Andrew Velo-Arias

VP, Development

Related Urban

Connor Hughes

Connor Hughes

EVP

Harmony Housing Affordable Development

Albert Milo

Albert Milo

President

Related Urban Development Group

Tanya Eastwood

Tanya Eastwood

President, Greystone Affordable Housing Initiatives

CEO & President, Harmony Housing Affordable Development

Mike Chiappa

Mike Chiappa

SVP

True Ground Housing

Colleen Green

Colleen Green

Director

DC Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD)

Rob Barnard

Rob Barnard

Senior Director

Fairstead

Patricia Booker

Patricia Booker

Associate Principal

KTGY

Steven Mikulic
Moderator

Steven Mikulic

Associate

McGuireWoods

Andrew Velo-Arias

VP, Development

Related Urban

Andrew Velo-Arias is Vice President of Development for Related Urban Development Group where he oversees the acquisition, financing, development, construction and lease-up of mixed-income, mixed-use developments throughout the State of Florida. Since joining Related in 2017, Andrew has led the development of more than 4,000 units of affordable and workforce housing exceeding $1 billion of investment.

Andrew’s civic involvement includes serving as a member of the City of South Miami Pension Board and as a Partnership for Miami Fellow. Andrew earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Harvard College, a Masters in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and a Master in Business Administration from Harvard Business School.

Andrew was born and raised in Hialeah, Florida and currently resides in South Miami with his wife, daughter and yorkie.

Connor Hughes

EVP

Harmony Housing Affordable Development

“Connor Hughes is an Executive Vice President with Harmony Housing Affordable Development Inc. (HHAD), overseeing all aspects of acquisitions, underwriting, and capital market executions. Connor has played a leading role in the development of over 3,400 units of affordable, mixed-income and market-rate housing. He has worked on a variety of project types ranging from luxury condos in NYC to portfolios of affordable rural housing across the Country.

Connor graduated from Syracuse University with degrees in Finance and Real Estate, and has held numerous positions in project management, development, acquisitions, and finance throughout his career. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors for the Council for Affordable and Rural Housing (CARH). He is a licensed New York State Real Estate Salesperson and an active real estate investor in his local market. Outside of work, Connor loves spending time with his wife and two kids.”

Albert Milo

President

Related Urban Development Group

Alberto Milo Jr. leads Related Urban Development Group (RUDG), the

affordable and workforce housing division of the nation’s most prolific

development company, Related Group. In this role, he is responsible for

the overall design, development, construction, financing and budgeting for

each project within RUDG’s portfolio, whether public, affordable,

workforce or mixed-income housing. Under Albert’s leadership, RUDG has

built and rehabilitated more than 5,700 units throughout Florida with over

$1.5 billion in total development costs.

Most recently, RUDG has begun an ambitious new set of projects which are designed to eliminate many

of the drawbacks historically associated with public housing developments. Among these is the $600

million River Parc master plan in Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood, which is cited as the most

ambitious affordable housing development in the county to date, built in partnership with Miami-Dade

County. The development will contain over 2,500 units along with a new Riverwalk and commercial

opportunities. Similarly, a $400 million mixed-income riverfront development is underway in Tampa’s

historic West River district, developed in collaboration with the Tampa Housing Authority. Albert and his

team are also currently working on the redevelopment of Liberty Square, the oldest and largest public

housing development in the Southeastern United States. The project, which also follows the mixed-

income format, will contain over 1,500 units along with commercial and community opportunities. The

project has been lauded as one of the most significant public housing redevelopments in South Florida

and the country, with HUD Secretary, Dr. Ben Carson, calling the project an example to follow around

the nation.

Prior to his tenure at RUDG, Albert owned and operated real estate development, real estate brokerage

and mortgage brokerage companies over the span of 20 years. After developing his first affordable

housing development in 1999, he formed The Urban Development Group in 2002, focused on

revitalizing communities by creating affordable homeownership for underserved markets. As a

committed member of the local community, Albert has served on the Miami-Dade County Industrial

Development Authority since 2005 until 2020 and is a former member of the Greater Miami Chamber of

Commerce’s Workforce Housing Committee. He also served on the board of the YMCA of South Florida

from 2017 to 2019. In 2011, he was the President of the Builder’s Association of South Florida where he

was awarded the President’s Award and was named Builder of the Year in 2009 and 2019.

Tanya Eastwood

President, Greystone Affordable Housing Initiatives

CEO & President, Harmony Housing Affordable Development

For the past 20 years, Tanya has been responsible for the strategic

growth and implementation of Harmony Housing’s affordable housing

development efforts (formerly Greystone Affordable Development).

The group’s mission is to facilitate meaningful and significant impacts

on communities by providing low to moderate income households with

decent, safe affordable housing through the creation, preservation,

and capitalization of multifamily affordable housing assets across the

U.S. Her dedicated team of 30 specializes in multi-family real estate

development, construction management, structured financing involving

HUD, USDA, and other state and federal agencies. In recent years,

she has facilitated the preservation and construction of almost 18,000 affordable apartment homes

across 13 states, with another 8,000 plus units in various stages of development. Her executive

leadership role is to oversee and monitor the successful execution of affordable housing, including

managing internal and external business relations to ensure necessary private sector and government

level agency participation, transaction closing and deliverable of post-closing milestones.

Tanya has worked in multifamily real estate since 1989, specifically in development, management,

fiscal analysis, and asset management. She holds an active North Carolina Real Estate Broker-In-

Charge License, served as the Chairman of the Board and Past President of the National Council for

Affordable and Rural Housing (CARH), served on the Board of Directors for the National Rural

Housing Coalition (NRHC), as well as Chaired the Fannie Mae Rural Duty to Serve Advisory Council

for Multifamily. She currently serves on the Legislative Committee for the Affordable Housing Tax

Credit Coalition (AHTCC), is a Founding Executive Board Member of the Rural Multifamily Lenders

Council (RMLC), serves on the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta’s Affordable Housing Advisory

Council, and is a member of National Housing & Rehabilitation Association’s (NH&RA) Board of

Directors. Considered a thought leader in the affordable housing industry, Tanya is a frequent speaker

at industry conferences, as well as providing key testimony to Congress on national affordable

housing issues. She was named by Affordable Housing Finance as a Top Woman of Influence in

Affordable Housing, as well as named one of the Top Women of Influence in Finance by Globe Street.

Mike Chiappa

SVP

True Ground Housing

Mike Chiappa has served as Senior Vice President of Real Estate

at True Ground Housing Partners since January 2023. He has held

numerous roles at True Ground including Vice President of Real

Estate Development and Director of Real Estate Development.

Mr. Chiappa oversees all aspects of True Ground’s $1 billion+ real

estate development portfolio, including acquisition, entitlement,

financial underwriting, legal documentation, and construction

management, in addition to asset management since September

2022.

Under his leadership, True Ground has significantly expanded

its regional geographic footprint with 25 affordable apartment

communities that house more than 6,000 neighbors. True Ground

has properties across Arlington, Fairfax, and Loudoun counties

in Virginia, Montgomery County, Maryland, and opened its first

community in Washington, DC in 2025. He oversees an additional

1,000+ units under construction, with 1,800+ more in pre-

development across the region.

True Ground has received prestigious awards for its outstanding

contributions to affordable housing, including Best Large

Affordable Housing Project for Unity Homes at Ballston

(Housing&, 2025), Sale Multi-Family Residential Award of

Excellence for The Exchange at Spring Hill Station (NAIOP

Northern Virginia, 2024) and Affordable Housing Finance’s list of

Top Affordable Developers of 2023.

Mr. Chiappa joined True Ground in 2013 and served as the project

manager for the nonprofit’s first 4%/9% hybrid tax credit project,

the award-winning Columbia Hills, a 229-unit development that

was completed in 2018. He has doubled the size of the real estate

team since 2018, attracting top talent to fuel the organization’s

growth.

Prior to joining True Ground, Mike worked for

Berkeley Point Capital, where he underwrote

multifamily properties across the eastern

United States. Mike has over 18 years of

experience in investment management and

financial modeling, including more than 13

years of real estate development experience

focused on Historic and Low Income Housing

Tax Credit projects. Mike is a native Spanish

speaker and has lived with his husband in the

region since 2005.

Colleen Green

Director

DC Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD)

Colleen Green was appointed Director of the DC Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) on January 3, 2023.

Prior to her appointment, Ms. Green was the Vice President of Business Development and Strategic Initiatives at CORE DC and Managing Partner for Ashleys Builders.

Ms. Green has extensive experience in finance, real estate, advisory services, operations, strategic planning, and business development. Throughout her career, Ms. Green has developed over 2000 units of housing and overseen the acquisitions and dispositions for a $60 million national real estate investment fund.

Prior to her role as Vice President of Business Development and Strategic Initiatives, Ms. Green managed CORE’s business portfolio which included community reentry, homeless shelters, and transitional housing for marginalized communities.

In addition, Ms. Green has previously worked at several prolific financial institutions, operated her own property management and construction management firm, and served as Chief of Staff for the Department of Housing and Community Development.

Ms. Green received a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Science in Real Estate from New York University.

Rob Barnard

Senior Director

Fairstead

Robert focuses on the acquisition and development of affordable housing for Fairstead across the U.S. Prior to joining the company, Robert worked at SCG Development, where he was responsible for the development of more than 1,000 units of affordable and mixed income housing throughout the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. Robert earned a BA in Business and Political Science from the University of Rochester and an MPS in Real Estate from Georgetown University.

Patricia Booker

Associate Principal

KTGY

Patricia Booker is an Associate Principal based in KTGY’s Washington, DC office, and a member of the firm’s Key Leaders group, helping shape and implement corporate strategy. She leads KTGY Community, the firm’s employee-driven outreach initiative, and oversees design development, code analysis, multi-discipline coordination, and construction administration across a range of residential project types.

Her portfolio spans market-rate and affordable multifamily, senior and military housing, and community-focused developments, including The Lodge at Autumn Willow, Fairfax Crest, and Entwine. Ms. Booker is particularly passionate about advancing housing affordability through thoughtful, attainable design solutions and previously served as a committee member for HomeAid Northern Virginia. Outside of her professional work, Ms. Booker enjoys spending time with her family and two children.

Closing the Gap: Workforce, Mixed-Income & Missing Middle Housing Solutions

Serving households between subsidies and market-rate while attracting capital and meeting community needs

Adam Stein

Adam Stein

President

WinnDevelopment

AJ Jackson

AJ Jackson

President

LEO Impact Capital

Matthew Berger

Matthew Berger

SVP, Policy

NMHC

Aaron Pechota

Aaron Pechota

EVP

NRP Group

Alecia Hill

Alecia Hill

VP, Housing Preservation Investments

FCP

Pushpita Kotikalapudi
Moderator

Pushpita Kotikalapudi

Partner

CohnReznick

AJ Jackson

President

LEO Impact Capital

Brian Allan Jackson (AJ) serves as President of LEO Impact Capital, an investment management

platform focused on acquiring, operating, and investing in workforce housing. Using an Impact

Framework, LEO aims to enhance residents' financial well-being while providing competitive returns

for investors. Its business lines cover investments (debt and equity), asset management, and advisory

services. LEO is a subsidiary of JBG SMTH (NYSE: JBGS).

AJ joined JBG SMITH as Executive Vice President for Social Impact Investing and built the Washington

Housing Initiative, an innovative, market-driven approach to preserve and create affordable

workforce housing. In that role, he led the formation of the Impact Pool, an investment platform that

has provided capital for the preservation of more than $1 billion of affordable workforce housing. AJ

is a member of JBG SMITH’s Investment Committee and its Sustainability Committee.

Prior to joining JBG SMITH, AJ was a Managing Partner with EYA, LLC, a Washington, DC area urban

infill development company. He led EYA’s participation in more than one billion dollars of double

and triple bottom line real estate developments.

Earlier in his career, AJ served as Chief of Staff to the Administrator of the U.S. General Services

Administration (GSA) and on the staff of the Budget Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives.

AJ serves on the Advisory Board of Center Creek Capital Group , a mission-oriented housing

investment and development firm. He also serves on the Board of Up For Growth, a national,

cross-sector member network committed to solving the housing shortage and affordability crisis

through data-driven research and evidence- based policy. AJ is a Trustee of the Urban Land

Institute and Chair of the Advisory Board of ULI’s Randall Lewis Center for Sustainability in Real

Estate.

AJ was honored as a Minority Business Leader by the Washington Business Journal. He is a

Trustee of the Federal City Council and past president and a life director of the Maryland

Building Industry Association. AJ earned a BA with Honors in economics from the University of

Alabama and an MBA with Distinction from the Harvard Business School.

Matthew Berger

SVP, Policy

NMHC

Matthew M. Berger is SVP and Head of Policy. He is responsible for developing and managing policy strategies in support of NMHC’s strategic goals and industry initiatives. Additionally, Matthew represents the interests of the multifamily industry before Congress and federal agencies on tax issues. Prior to coming to NMHC, Matthew worked on the staff of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship under the leadership of former Senator Olympia J. Snowe. Before his time on the Hill, Matthew was National Tax Manager for Deloitte Tax LLP in Washington, DC, where he covered the formulation of tax policy in Congress. Matthew graduated from Stanford University.

Aaron Pechota

EVP

NRP Group

Aaron Pechota joined The NRP Group in 2004 and in 2021 was elevated to Executive Vice President of Development with responsibility for leading the affordable development organization and all related activity across the entire NRP footprint.

For more than 20 years, Aaron Pechota has developed multifamily housing at The NRP Group. He is responsible for leading the company’s affordable development activity across the entire NRP footprint. In this capacity, Mr. Pechota oversees 15 team members in more than 20 markets. It is his and all NRP’s mission to create exceptional rental opportunities for all individuals and families, regardless of income.

Over the course of his career, Pechota has gained extensive experience in various types of multifamily housing development including Class A luxury apartments, student housing, senior housing and affordable housing. During this time, he has developed over 50 communities totaling over $1 billion of investment, much of which has been in disadvantaged communities.He brings specialized expertise in urban infill developments, focusing on unique opportunities and challenges in redevelopment. He also has a long history of creating strong public/private partnerships with local municipalities, community groups, public institutions, community-based non-profit organizations and other for-profit developers.

Prior to joining NRP, Pechota worked as a Corporate Associate and in the investment banking group at National City Corporation, now PNC. In this role, he advised clients on both strategic sell-side and buy-side merger and acquisition transactions.

Pechota holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and accounting from the University of Dayton and an MBA from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University. He is a board member at the Ohio Housing Council and a board member of the Downtown Cleveland Alliance. Pechota resides in Avon, Ohio, with his wife and six children.

Alecia Hill

VP, Housing Preservation Investments

FCP

Alecia Hill is a Vice President and Assistant Portfolio Manager at FCP, a privately held real

estate investment company headquartered in Washington, DC. With expertise in workforce and

affordable housing, Alecia is responsible for overseeing all aspects of portfolio construction and

investment management for FCP’s Housing Preservation strategy, as well as the expansion of

broader firmwide multifamily impact investing initiatives. Prior to joining FCP, Alecia was a

member of the Impact Investing team at Enterprise Community Partners, where she focused on

Opportunity Zone Fund development, transaction underwriting, and new product development

within affordable and workforce housing.

Alecia has been a featured facilitator on community development finance structuring and

housing policy with HUD and the EPA. She has been a guest lecturer on private markets,

affordable housing, and sustainable investing at Southern Methodist University, Columbia

Business School, and New York University. Alecia holds an MPA in Management and Finance

from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and a BA from Columbia

University.

Alecia is Chair of Smart Growth America’s LOCUS Coalition for inclusive, transit-oriented

development, a member of the National Housing Crisis Task Force, and a member of the

Advisory Committee for the BILT Foundation. She currently serves as Chair of the National

Multifamily Housing Council’s (NMHC) Workforce Housing Committee and is Vice Chair of the

NMHC Emerging Leaders Committee. Alecia is currently a Young Leaders Fellow with Columbia

University’s Sustainable Investing Research Initiative.

Pushpita Kotikalapudi

Moderator

CohnReznick

With over 15 years of public accounting experience, Pushpita Kotikalapudi is involved in all audit functions, including audit approach design, evaluation of internal controls, staff supervision, and financial statement review.

Building Through the Headwinds: The Future of Affordable Housing Development, Construction, and Design

Controlling costs, rethinking design, shortening timelines, and delivering housing that pencils and performs

Timothy Henkel

Timothy Henkel

CEO & Principal

Pennrose

Keith Harris

Keith Harris

President of AVID

Avanath Capital

Feras Qumseya

Feras Qumseya

Chief Development Officer

Standard Communities

Jonathan Lubonski

Jonathan Lubonski

EVP, Development

The Michaels Organization

Bryan Embrey

Bryan Embrey

VP

The Whiting-Turner Contracting co

Bill Best
Moderator

Bill Best

Managing Director

Apprise by Walker & Dunlop

Timothy Henkel

CEO & Principal

Pennrose

As Chief Executive Officer and Principal, Tim Henkel provides strategic and day-to-day leadership for

nearly 520 Pennrose employees who support development and management activities in 17 states and

the District of Columbia. Tim assumed this role in 2025 to guide the company into thoughtful growth,

aligned with development and property management objectives and Pennrose’s mission of transforming

communities.

Tim began his career at Pennrose in 1999, became a principal in 2008, and was named President in

2022, a role in which he made significant contributions to the company's diversification and regional

expansion. In 2023, Tim was pivotal in the creation and launch of Contour Housing Partners, a housing

preservation firm focused on shaping the country’s housing landscape through strategic investments in

communities of need, including the acquisition and preservation of existing affordable housing.

Tim currently serves on the boards of the National Housing & Rehabilitation Association and New Jersey

Apartment Association. He is an alumni board member of the William E. Simon School of Business and

serves on the board of Citizens Housing Planning Council in New York City. He previously served on the

boards of Penn Reach and Triple C Housing, two nonprofits dedicated to helping people with special

needs find homes and services. Tim is a frequent panelist and speaker at national and regional real

estate development and finance events.

Tim holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Bucknell University and a Master of

Business Administration from the William E. Simon School of Business Administration at the University

of Rochester.

Keith Harris

President of AVID

Avanath Capital

As President of Avanath Investment & Development (AVID), a subsidiary of Avanath Capital Management, Keith Harris is responsible for the firm’s development activities across the U.S., including its venture with Vessel Technologies, Inc. Vessel is a mission-driven housing product company that provides key components of a building already completed through an industrial manufacturing process, which delivers full development of an apartment community swiftly and efficiently at scale. AVID focuses on the expansion of Avanath’s affordable housing portfolio, utilizing relationships with Housing Agencies and Cities throughout the country. Prior to the formation of AVID, Mr. Harris was Executive Vice President of Avanath’s Investment Group, responsible for the firm’s national acquisitions, financing, asset management, and capital renovation activities. He has more than 40 years of experience in real estate including work in acquisitions, dispositions, asset management, lending, and investment structuring. Before joining Avanath, Mr. Harris was Senior Vice President of the Bozzuto Group, an experience-focused real estate company founded in 1988 that acquired, developed, and built more than 50,000 homes and apartments. His responsibilities included institutional capital raising and client relations. Prior to Bozzuto, he spent 14 years at The Laramar Group, most recently serving as Chief Investment Officer. In this role, he led the firm’s acquisitions and dispositions as well as client capital management. Over the course of his tenure with The Laramar Group, he oversaw investment transactions for more than 30,000 apartment units valued at approximately $3 billion. Mr. Harris also spent 12 years with Heitman Capital Management and JMB Realty Corporation.

Feras Qumseya

Chief Development Officer

Standard Communities

Feras Qumseya is Chief Development Officer at Standard Communities, where he leads the firm’s national development platform focused on delivering high-quality, sustainable housing for underserved communities.

Feras has been instrumental in scaling Standard’s development efforts across multiple markets, overseeing a growing pipeline of large-scale projects utilizing Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), tax-exempt bonds, and innovative public-private partnership structures. His work spans the full lifecycle of development—from sourcing and structuring deals to navigating entitlements, financing, and execution.

Known for his disciplined approach to underwriting and his ability to navigate complex capital stacks, Feras plays a key role in advancing projects that balance financial performance with long-term community impact. He works closely with municipalities, housing authorities, and capital partners to deliver developments that are both economically viable and socially meaningful.

Beyond his professional work, Feras is actively engaged in housing policy discussions and serves on nonprofit and industry boards focused on expanding access to affordable housing and strengthening communities.

Jonathan Lubonski

EVP, Development

The Michaels Organization

As Executive Vice President of Development, Jonathan Lubonski is

responsible for overseeing The Michaels Organization’s nationwide

affordable housing development operations. In this role, he provides

strategic leadership across all regional business units, ensuring the

successful execution of an extensive and high-value project pipeline.

A member of Michaels’s Senior Leadership team, he is instrumental in

guiding the company’s long-term development vision, driving operational

efficiency, and ensuring alignment with the overall business objectives on

a national scale.

Mr. Lubonski joined The Michaels Organization in 2013, bringing a wealth

of experience in economic development and affordable housing. As Vice

President of Development, he successfully spearheaded the creation

of more than 1,500 units of affordable and mixed-income housing, with

a combined value exceeding $525 million. As Senior Vice President,

he established the core development infrastructure and processes

that professionalized the platform, strengthened risk management,

and enabled sustained, scalable growth, while leading the transaction

team that provided centralized oversight and support across the entire

development portfolio.

Mr. Lubonski’s expertise spans the full spectrum of real estate

development, from project conception and financial structuring to

construction management and final delivery. He has a proven track record

in leading complex, largescale projects, leveraging his deep understanding

of market trends, regulatory environments, and innovative financing

mechanisms to deliver impactful results. His leadership ensures seamless

coordination among internal teams and external partners, driving projects

forward and achieving long-term success for the organization.

Mr. Lubonski graduated from Rutgers University-Camden with a

bachelor’s degree in urban planning and a minor in political science.

Bryan Embrey

VP

The Whiting-Turner Contracting co

Bryan Embrey is a Vice President at Whiting-Turner, currently based in the firm’s Arlington, Virginia office, where he leads an operating group and is Whiting-Turner’s national leader for affordable housing projects. Since beginning his career in construction in 1999, Bryan has worked extensively across the DC region, leading nearly 35 projects totaling close to $700 million in value.

His experience spans many different industries including residential, education, institutional, and sports and fitness markets, but his passion and focus has centered on affordable housing. Bryan is currently the Project Executive for the Sanse project for Housing Alexandria, a transformative development aimed at expanding access to quality affordable housing in Northern Virginia. His previous work includes impactful mixed-use and residential projects which contributed to the region’s evolving urban landscape and housing accessibility.

Bryan is known for his collaborative approach and commitment to community-centered design, working closely with nonprofit partners, developers, and local stakeholders to ensure affordable housing projects are both mission-driven and financially sound. Bryan holds a Bachelors Degree in Civil Engineering from The Catholic University of America.

Bill Best

Moderator

Apprise by Walker & Dunlop

Bill Best is a managing director at Apprise, a Walker & Dunlop company, and is based in North Carolina. In this role, Best leads the firm’s agency, affordable, and FHA valuation practices across the national platform. He has more than 25 years of experience focused exclusively on multifamily real estate, with expertise in property valuation, brokerage, consultation, market and feasibility studies, and site analysis across all multifamily product types.

Prior to joining Apprise, Best served as senior valuation director at Arbor Realty Trust. Before that, he led the Carolinas multifamily team as senior valuation services director at Colliers. He has also been qualified as an expert witness in courts in South Carolina and Georgia.

Best earned a bachelor’s degree in business management from North Carolina State University. He holds the Appraisal Institute’s MAI designation, is a certified general real estate appraiser in North Carolina and South Carolina and is a certified North Carolina real estate broker.

Remarks and Presentations Throughout the Day

Emily Cadik
Opening Presentation

Emily Cadik

CEO

Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition (AHTCC)

John O'Donald II

John O'Donald II

Regional Manager

WoodWorks

Emily Cadik

Opening Presentation

Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition (AHTCC)

Emily Cadik is the Chief Executive Officer of the Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition (AHTCC), where she leads advocacy to support affordable rental housing financed using the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (Housing Credit). Prior to joining the AHTCC, she was a Senior Director of Public Policy at Enterprise Community Partners, where she led policy and advocacy related to the Housing Credit and other affordable housing and community development issues. While at Enterprise she served on the board of the AHTCC, chairing the Legislative Committee, co-chairing the Marketing Committee, and serving on the Executive Committee since 2016. She also helped to lead the A Call To Invest in Our Neighborhoods (ACTION) Campaign, the nationwide coalition of more than 2,000 organizations and businesses advocating on behalf of the Housing Credit, and remains active in this nationwide advocacy effort. In 2017 she received the NHP Foundation’s inaugural Advocacy Award, and in 2016 was named one of Affordable Housing Finance’s Young Leaders.

Before joining Enterprise she was a Presidential Management Fellow at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, where she served as a program coordinator for the Moving to Work demonstration and in the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. She earned a master’s degree in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin.

John O'Donald II

Regional Manager

WoodWorks

John is a licensed Structural Engineer in Maryland. Before joining Woodworks, he enjoyed working on various projects in the capital region for clients like the Smithsonian Institute and The National Parks Service, collaborating with architects and other engineers along the way. John is a member of Engineers Without Borders, enjoys woodworking in his free time, and is passionate about the sustainable aspects of wood construction. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from Penn State University and a Master of Civil Engineering Degree from Johns Hopkins University with a focus in structural engineering.

Why You Can't Miss this First-Time Conference

Inspired by our Bisnow's BMAC East series, our East Coast Affordable Housing Summit is a full-day event featuring 6+ panels discussing all aspects of affordable housing up to Boston down to Florida. From discussions on policy, financing, partnerships and public-private initiatives, asset management, construction, development, and design, join Bisnow as we bring together top leaders across the industry to discuss the unique challenges and opportunities they see in their distinct missions to create accessible, affordable housing for all. 

What You'll Learn: 

  • Hear how investors are structuring deals amid elevated interest rates and tighter debt, layering LIHTC equity, tax-exempt bonds, soft debt, and gap financing, and repricing risk and returns while keeping projects feasible

  • How leaders are predicting the future of the 9% and 4% LIHTC programs, particularly after recent changes made by the Trump administration, as well as state-level allocation changes and competitiveness, and potential expansions or reforms tied to affordability initiatives

  • How owners and developers are grappling with labor shortages and material volatility, value engineering without compromising long-term durability, and phasing projects or redesigning unit mixes to control costs

  • How operators are managing operating cost inflation (insurance, utilities, staffing), preserving affordability while maintaining quality and compliance, and using technology and data to improve efficiency and resident outcomes

  • The success stories: How owners and developers are working with municipalities on zoning, density, and land contributions, leveraging public land and incentives to unlock new supply, and navigating local political dynamics and community opposition

  • The Missing Middle: How CRE experts are serving households earning 60–120% AMI who fall outside traditional subsidies, blending affordable, workforce, and market-rate units, and attracting broader capital sources while meeting community needs

Who You'll Hear From: Top Owners, Developers, Investors, Political Officials, Foundations and Associations, and Providers working to build and preserve affordable housing up and down the East Coast. 

Why should you attend:

Bisnow events bring together the biggest power players in the industry to identify opportunities, build your network, and expand your business. With the largest audience of commercial real estate professionals in the world, no one knows how to help your business more than us.

For questions, recommendations, comments, or press inquiries please email our Vice President of Production, Elizabeth Baker at liz.baker@bisnow.com. To request disability-related accommodations, please contact sabrina.cole@bisnow.com no later than seven business days prior to the event.

Venue

Washington Hilton
1919 Connecticut Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009

Ballroom: Columbia West + 5,7,9,10


Daily parking at the Washington Hilton is $56. Rideshare services are encouraged. The closest metro station is Dupont Circle approximately 0.4 miles from the hotel.

Get Directions

Agenda

Time Activity
12:00 PM
1:00 PM
Registration, Networking, and Breakfast
1:00 PM
1:15 PM
Welcome to East Coast Affordable! Remarks and Commercials
1:15 PM
1:30 PM
Opening Presentation: Emily Cadik, CEO, Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition (AHTCC)
1:30 PM
2:00 PM
Policy, Politics & Production: What Affordable Housing Really Needs Right Now

Exploring federal, state, and local policy shifts shaping deal feasibility, LIHTC allocations, zoning reform, and the next wave of affordable housing delivery

2:00 PM
2:45 PM
Follow the Money: Financing Affordable Housing in 2026

Navigating higher rates, tighter spreads, creative capital stacks, and evolving investor return expectations

2:45 PM
3:15 PM
Networking Break!
3:15 PM
4:00 PM
Beyond Development: Operating and Scaling Affordable Housing

Managing rising operating costs, compliance complexity, resident needs, and long-term asset performance

4:00 PM
4:45 PM
Celebrating the Success Stories of Public-Private Partnerships

Case studies on land contributions, incentives, political alignment, and partnerships that moved projects from concept to completion

4:45 PM
6:00 PM
Lunch Break and Networking!
6:00 PM
6:45 PM
Closing the Gap: Workforce, Mixed-Income & Missing Middle Housing Solutions

Serving households between subsidies and market-rate while attracting capital and meeting community needs

6:45 PM
7:30 PM
Building Through the Headwinds: The Future of Affordable Housing Development, Construction, and Design

Controlling costs, rethinking design, shortening timelines, and delivering housing that pencils and performs

7:30 PM
8:30 PM
Closing Networking

PS - Want the attendee list for free?

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