NH&RA Annual Meeting & Symposium (2026)

The Middle-Income Housing Symposium brings together leading developers, operators, and financial partners to tackle one of the toughest challenges in multifamily housing today — how to make middle-income deals work.

This pre-conference event focuses on practical strategies, deal structures, and financing solutions that make workforce and middle-income housing financially feasible. Hear directly from program administrators, developers,  lenders, equity providers, and policymakers shaping the next wave of tools and opportunities in this emerging space.

This panel explores how developers are layering state and local middle-income incentives to close financing gaps and make challenging deals pencil. Panelists will share real-world strategies for navigating programs and timelines to maximize support.

Panelists:

• Emily Bloom-Carlin, Metropolitan Planning Council
• Lee Cochran, Laurel Street Residential
• Neal Drobenare, NHP Foundation
• Kenneth Naylor, Atlantic Pacific Companies
• Kaitlyn Snyder, NH&RA*

This session examines the policies and market conditions shaping middle-income housing. Experts will break down what’s ahead—from policy shifts to market realities—and what it will take to scale solutions in today’s environment.

Panelists:

• Cesar Diaz, NewPoint Real Estate Capital
• Sharon Wilson Géno, National Multifamily Housing Council*
• Quintin Kauchick, Value Tech Realty Services
• Michael Kramer, Bank of America
• Lionel Lynch, J.P. Morgan Commercial Real Estate

Access to and cost of land remains one of the biggest barriers to affordable housing development. This panel highlights creative approaches to site control, public land partnerships, and entitlement strategies that are unlocking new development opportunities.

Panelists:

• Michael Green, Sophy Companies
• Kelvin Jeremiah, Philadelphia Housing Authority
• Milton Pratt, The Michaels Organization*
• Steve Wylder, Safehold

This session dives into the use of alternative bond structures to reduce reliance on scarce public subsidies while lowering cost of capital Panelists will present case studies, explain the ins and outs of each bond structure, and discuss opportunities for private developers to engage with government partners.

Panelists:

• Sam Adams, KeyBanc Capital Markets
• Wade Norris, Dinsmore & Shohl
• Matt Vruggink, Ojala Holdings

Client Pocket-Guide Handout

Federal Tax Law Requirements

Lessening the Burdens of Government with Section 501(c)(3) Financings

Prospects for TE MF Housing Bond Executions in 2026

Quick Guesstimate on Adverse Proceeds Impact of 50 to 25 Percent Test

Creating Cash with CBB

Understanding the Nuances of Multifamily Bond Volume Cap Recycling

Article

Participation is limited to NH&RA Board of Directors and their spouses.

Participation is open to all conference attendees and registered guests. Additional fee applies for registered guests.

Participation is limited to NH&RA Executive Committee members.

Participation is limited to NH&RA Board of Directors.

FHA Commissioner and Assistant Secretary for Housing, Frank Cassidy, will deliver the keynote address. 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.

Top executives offer an inside look at how they are steering affordable housing development through today’s market. From capital allocation to risk tolerance, this panel highlights what affordable housing industry professionals need to know from the CEO’s perspective.

Panelists:

• Tanya Eastwood, Harmony Housing Affordable Development
• Tim Henkel, Pennrose
• Lopa Kolluri, M&T Bank*
• Jeffery Woda, Woda Cooper Companies

• Peter Bell, NH&RA
• Jeremy Bronfman, Lincoln Avenue Communities

Gain the insights you need to navigate today’s evolving equity market. This session will deliver the latest trends and practical strategies to strengthen your developments around evolving investor appetite, factors to watch, and strategies to maximize equity in your deals. 

Panelists:

• Ben Applegate, Applegate & Thorne-Thomsen*
• Jeanine Armitstead, Bank of America
• Chris Jillings, Cinnaire
• Mark McCann, J.P. Morgan
• Darren Swanson, Red Stone Equity Partners

Participation is open to all conference attendees and registered guests. Additional fee applies for registered guests.

This session will explore the real-world implications of the reduced private activity bond financing threshold for 4% LIHTC developments — and how teams are adjusting deal structures, timelines, and execution strategies as a result. Panelists will share: 

• How the shift from the 50% test to 25% is changing capital stacks and underwriting; 
• What this means for bond volume, debt-sizing, and investor appetite, including legislative proposals aimed at increasing investor demand; and 
• Execution challenges and opportunities created by the lower threshold. 

Panelists:

• Emily Cadik, Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition
• Jeanne Marie Coronado, CBRE Affordable Housing
• Britton Henig, Stifel
• Lauren Marcus, Tiber Hudson*
• LC Wallace, Elmington

Slide Presentation

This roundtable will bring together HFA leaders to share:

• How agencies are thinking about project readiness, alignment, and timing
• What you should know about current QAP priorities and funding strategies
• Practical insights you can apply to your pipeline now

Whether you’re cultivating new agency relationships or strengthening existing ones, this session is your opportunity to connect directly with decision-makers shaping affordable housing across the country.

Panelists:

• Scott Farmer, North Carolina Housing Finance Agency
• Denise Farrior, Georgia Department of Community Affairs
• Melissa Levy, Florida Housing Finance Corporation
• Teresa Morales, Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs
• Ivy Dench-Carter, Pennrose*

25 Percent Test Map

This tech panel highlights innovative strategies and case studies that help affordable housing professionals reduce operating costs and unlock new revenue streams. Panelists will share practical examples of solutions—including AI—that pay for themselves and strengthen long-term financial sustainability.

Panelists:

• Kimberly Black King, The Grundy Cause*
• Nestor Carrillo, Buzze EV Charging
• Kerri Davis, Fortress
• Tanya Eastwood, Harmony Housing Affordable Development
• Orlando Valdes, ION Water
• Sang Venkatraman, Parcell

Separate registration fee of $415 required. NH&RA will arrange club rentals through the Sports Pro Shop for $125. Payment for rentals will be due at pick-up.

As the LIHTC program turns 40, preservation is critical to preventing the loss of existing units, this panel explores innovative rehabilitation and refinancing strategies, including the use of state and rural tax credits, to preserve aging assets and extend long-term affordability.

Panelists:

• Dan Duda, Churchill Stateside Group
• David Feo, Guardian
• Brandon McCall, National Equity Fund
• Brendan McLaughlin, Community Preservation Corporation
• Albert Rex, Ryan
• Kaitlyn Snyder, NH&RA*

This session connects federal policy to on-the-ground development decisions. Attendees will gain insight into how HUD programs, Opportunity Zones, regulatory reform, and legislative proposals can be leveraged to advance viable projects.

Panelists:

• Robert Hazelton, Dominion Due Diligence Group
• Catherine Lyons, Economic Innovation Group
• Ilana Morof, NH&RA*
• Carolyn Whatley, Berkadia