Trainers

Renee Dickinson
Multifamily Compliance Manager | Minnesota Housing

Ms. Dickinson has over 30 years’ experience monitoring properties for compliance with Low Income Housing Tax Credits. She currently supervises Minnesota Housing’s compliance staff who monitor over 1,300 properties financed with Low Income Housing Tax Credits, HOME, National Housing Trust Funds and state resources. As Multifamily Compliance Manager, Ms. Dickinson is responsible for implementing state and federal compliance and monitoring regulations, establishing monitoring policy and procedure and coordinating with Minnesota’s sub-allocators.

Stephanie Flanders
Director of Tax Credit Programs | Virginia Housing

Stephanie Flanders is the Director of Tax Credit Programs at Virginia Housing, bringing nearly two decades of experience in affordable housing development, federal and state tax credit administration, and strategic policy leadership. She oversees the LIHTC and state housing credit programs, leads a high‑performing allocation team, and is known for her collaborative, stakeholder‑driven approach to shaping the Qualified Allocation Plan. Before joining Virginia Housing, she advanced supportive housing development with a statewide nonprofit, managing financing, tax credit applications, and project delivery. Stephanie holds a Master’s in City and Regional Planning from Clemson University and is recognized for her commitment to expanding equitable, inclusive housing opportunities across Virginia.

Kathryn Grosscup
Manager, Housing Tax Credit | Colorado Housing and Finance Authority

Kathryn Grosscup is the manager of housing credits for CHFA. CHFA is the allocating agency of federal and state housing tax credits in Colorado, which are awarded to developers of affordable rental housing. In this role, Grosscup is responsible for the administration of CHFA’s tax credit allocation program and leading CHFA’s tax credit team. Since the program’s inception, housing tax credits have supported more than 80,000 affordable rental units in Colorado by leveraging over $5.4 billion in private sector equity investment into the state’s affordable housing need. Prior to joining CHFA, Grosscup garnered more than 20 years of experience in affordable housing with the Colorado Department of Local Affairs’ Division of Housing, Garfield County Housing Authority, and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Stephanie Naquin
Director of Multifamily Property Compliance | Novogradac & Company LLP

Stephanie Naquin is a Director of Multifamily Property Compliance in Novogradac’s Austin, Texas, office. Ms. Naquin was previously the director of multifamily compliance with the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA), where her team oversaw all aspects of compliance monitoring, physical inspection and compliance administration. Ms. Naquin began her career as a leasing agent in August 2002 with an owner-managed affordable housing organization where she had the opportunity to hold various positions in the private sector before joining TDHCA in 2007 as a compliance monitor. Her experience in both the private and regulatory sectors of the industry allows her to synthesize complicated federal and state regulations and present that information in a concise and easily digestible manner. Ms. Naquin is also a renowned public speaker and a nationally recognized expert in utility allowance regulations. In that light, Ms. Naquin writes a monthly column on property compliance for the Novogradac Journal of Tax Credits, is an instructor on Novogradac webinars and is a member of the LIHTC Working Group. Her certifications include the National Center for Housing Management Certified Occupancy Specialist, the National Association of Home Builders Housing Credit Certified Professional and the Novogradac Property Compliance Certification.

Claudia O’Grady
Vice President, Multifamily Finance and Development | Utah Housing Corporation

Claudia currently serves as Vice President, Multifamily Finance & Development at Utah Housing Corporation, where she has overseen the multifamily programs since 2009. Prior to joining UHC, she was the Executive Director of a nonprofit affordable housing development organization, and later joined a tax credit syndicator connecting developers with investment.

Jessica Perry
Director of Development | Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency

Jessica Perry is the Director of Development for the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA). At PHFA she manages multifamily development functions related to both the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program and PHFA’s loan resources. Prior to PHFA, Jessica spent 20 years working for the City of Pittsburgh’s Urban Redevelopment Authority in various housing development roles including serving as the Director of the Residential Lending Department as well as Director of the Housing Opportunity Fund, Pittsburgh’s first local housing trust fund. In those roles, Jessica created and administered both Single-Family and Multi-family programs and managed Federal funding sources such as HOME and Community Development Block Grants (CDBG). Jessica holds a Master of Science in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University with a concentration in Urban Economic Development and a Bachelor of Science Degree with a dual major in Business Administration and Religion from Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania. Jessica also serves as an adjunct professor of Affordable Housing Policy and Finance at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA.

Matt Rayburn
Deputy Executive Director and Chief Real Estate Development Officer | Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority

Matt Rayburn joined the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) in 2007 and currently serves as Deputy Executive Director and Chief Real Estate Development Officer. In this role, he serves on IHCDA’s executive leadership team and oversees the agency’s Real Estate Development department which handles administration of capital funding and rental assistance programs including the Low-income Housing Tax Credit, Multifamily Tax-Exempt Bonds, Tax Credit Assistance Program, Indiana Affordable and Workforce Housing Tax Credit, HOME Investment Partnerships Program, HOME-ARP, National Housing Trust Fund, Indiana Affordable Housing and Community Development Fund, Ramp Up Indiana, Housing Choice Vouchers and related voucher programs, Section 811 Project Rental Assistance, and Section 8 Performance Based Contract Administration programs as well as planning and training for the Indiana Supportive Housing Institute and other supportive housing initiatives. He is also the lead for IHCDA disaster recovery and is designated as the State of Indiana’s Disaster Housing Manager responsible for working with the Indiana Department of Homeland Security on planning and recovery efforts.

James Tassos
Deputy Director of Tax Policy and Strategic Initiatives | National Council of State Housing Agencies

James Tassos represents the interests of state housing finance agencies with the U.S. Congress, the Department of the Treasury, and the affordable housing industry. His primary focus is developing best practices, regulatory policy, and legislative initiatives to strengthen the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program. Earlier in his career, he worked for an urban planning and development firm in North Carolina and as an affordable housing consultant focusing on green building and sustainable development issues. James holds a master’s degree in city and regional planning from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a bachelor’s degree in architecture and building science from Clemson University.

Susan Westbrook
Manager of Rental Asset Management and Compliance | North Carolina Housing Finance Agency

Susan M. Westbrook has certifications in several affordable housing programs and currently specializes in the Low Income Housing Tax Credit and HOME programs. She has 30 years experience in compliance monitoring, asset management, and property accounting. Her experience includes: monitoring for compliance with governmental regulations and loan requirements, training staff and the general public in various affordable housing programs, reviewing financial statements and budgets, and reviewing requests for loan modifications. Prior to entering the affordable housing field, Mrs. Westbrook has over 7 years experience in income tax consulting, income tax training and accounting.

Heather Spray
Development Officer, Multifamily Finance | Illinois Housing Development Authority