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

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  Andrew Hughes

  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.

  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

  Deputy Secretary

  Keynote

  Andrew Hughes

  Deputy Secretary

  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

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  Alfonso Costa Jr.

  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.

  Falcone Group

  COO

  Keynote

  Alfonso Costa Jr.

  COO

  Falcone Group

Follow the Money: Financing Affordable Housing in 2026

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

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  Brandon Kearse

  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.

  Jonathan Rose Companies

  President, CIO

  Brandon Kearse

  President, CIO

  Jonathan Rose Companies

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  Andy Cohen

  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.

  BRP Companies

  Managing Director

  Andy Cohen

  Managing Director

  BRP Companies

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  Senthil Sankaran

  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.

  Amazon Housing Equity Fund

  Managing Principal

  Senthil Sankaran

  Managing Principal

  Amazon Housing Equity Fund

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  Brett Macleod

  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.

  JPMorgan Chase

  Executive Director

  Brett Macleod

  Executive Director

  JPMorgan Chase

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  Joe LeMense

  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.

  United Bank

  Managing Director

  Joe LeMense

  Managing Director

  United Bank

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  Chad Musgrove

  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.

  PGIM

  Executive Director, Agency Financing

  Moderator

  Chad Musgrove

  Executive Director, Agency Financing

  PGIM

Beyond Development: Operating and Scaling Affordable Housing

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

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  Andrew Kadish

  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).

  CAPREIT

  President

  Andrew Kadish

  President

  CAPREIT

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  Jamie Weinbaum

  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.

  Horning

  CEO

  Jamie Weinbaum

  CEO

  Horning

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  Priya Jayachandran

  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.

  National Housing Trust

  CEO & President

  Priya Jayachandran

  CEO & President

  National Housing Trust

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  Jeffrey Woda

  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.

  Woda Cooper Communities

  Founder and CEO

  Jeffrey Woda

  Founder and CEO

  Woda Cooper Communities

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  Joe Ouellette

  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.

  Standard Communities

  Chief Operating Officer

  Joe Ouellette

  Chief Operating Officer

  Standard Communities

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  Kyle Shoemaker

  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

  MMG Real Estate Advisors

  Managing Director

  Kyle Shoemaker

  Managing Director

  MMG Real Estate Advisors

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  Chuck Hurchalla

  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.

  Evolution Sustainability Group

  Founder and CEO

  Moderator

  Chuck Hurchalla

  Founder and CEO

  Evolution Sustainability Group

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

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  Connor Hughes

  “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.”

  Harmony Housing Affordable Development

  EVP

  Connor Hughes

  EVP

  Harmony Housing Affordable Development

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  Andrew Velo-Arias

  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.

  Related Urban

  VP, Development

  Andrew Velo-Arias

  VP, Development

  Related Urban

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  Mike Chiappa

  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.

  True Ground Housing

  SVP

  Mike Chiappa

  SVP

  True Ground Housing

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  Colleen Green

  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.

  DC Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD)

  Director

  Colleen Green

  Director

  DC Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD)

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  Rob Barnard

  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.

  Fairstead

  Senior Director

  Rob Barnard

  Senior Director

  Fairstead

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  Patricia Booker

  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.

  KTGY

  Associate Principal

  Patricia Booker

  Associate Principal

  KTGY

• Moderator

  Steven Mikulic

  Associate

  McGuireWoods

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

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

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  Adam Stein

  President

  WinnDevelopment

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  Aaron Pechota

  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.

  NRP Group

  EVP

  Aaron Pechota

  EVP

  NRP Group

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  AJ Jackson

  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.

  LEO Impact Capital

  President

  AJ Jackson

  President

  LEO Impact Capital

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  Matthew Berger

  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.

  NMHC

  SVP, Policy

  Matthew Berger

  SVP, Policy

  NMHC

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  Alecia Hill

  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.

  FCP

  VP, Housing Preservation Investments

  Alecia Hill

  VP, Housing Preservation Investments

  FCP

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  Pushpita Kotikalapudi

  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.

  CohnReznick

  Partner

  Moderator

  Pushpita Kotikalapudi

  Partner

  CohnReznick

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

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  Keith Harris

  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.

  Avanath Capital

  President of AVID

  Keith Harris

  President of AVID

  Avanath Capital

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  Feras Qumseya

  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.

  Standard Communities

  Chief Development Officer

  Feras Qumseya

  Chief Development Officer

  Standard Communities

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  Jonathan Lubonski

  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.

  The Michaels Organization

  EVP, Development

  Jonathan Lubonski

  EVP, Development

  The Michaels Organization

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  Bryan Embrey

  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.

  The Whiting-Turner Contracting co

  VP

  Bryan Embrey

  VP

  The Whiting-Turner Contracting co

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  Bill Best

  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.

  Apprise by Walker & Dunlop

  Managing Director

  Moderator

  Bill Best

  Managing Director

  Apprise by Walker & Dunlop

Remarks and Presentations Throughout the Day

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  Emily Cadik

  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.

  Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition (AHTCC)

  CEO

  Opening Presentation

  Emily Cadik

  CEO

  Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition (AHTCC)

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  John O'Donald II

  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.

  WoodWorks

  Regional Manager

  John O'Donald II

  Regional Manager

  WoodWorks