MRBs and Other Federal Homeownership Programs
All times Eastern. Agenda subject to change.
Speakers are published as they are confirmed.
UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, SESSIONS ARE OPEN TO ALL ATTENDEES REGISTERED FOR THE MRBs MODULE.
Wednesday Jan 15
WEDNESDAY SESSIONS OPEN ONLY TO HFA AND ASSOCIATE MEMBERS REGISTERED FOR THE MRBs MODULE.
Badge Pick-Up & Registration
HFA and Associate members only. All other registrants may pick up their badges Thursday morning, January 16, beginning at 7:45 am.
Zeffert's Java Joint Open
Sponsored by: 
COMMUNITY MEET-UP
OPEN ONLY TO HFA AND ASSOCIATE MEMBERS REGISTERED FOR THE MRBs MODULE.
Loan Servicing
Kick off the Institute with your HFA colleagues with an open discussion of the critical issues affecting HFA servicing operations, including portfolio performance, loss mitigation, federal program compliance, vendor and property management, and audits.
DISCUSSION LEADER
Kathryn Newton, Director, Loan Servicing | Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency
Break
Sponsored by:
COMMUNITY MEET-UP
OPEN ONLY TO HFA AND ASSOCIATE MEMBERS REGISTERED FOR THE MRBs MODULE.
Homeownership
Kick off the Institute with your HFA colleagues with an open discussion of the critical issues impacting HFA affordable homeownership programs, including working with real estate agents and lenders, federal program compliance, down payment assistance, developments with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and new business opportunities.
DISCUSSION LEADERS
Justin Hylbert, Business Development and Loan Origination Manager | West Virginia Housing Development Fund
Thomas Pearson, Director of Homeownership | Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority
Break
COMMUNITY MEET-UP
OPEN ONLY TO HFA AND ASSOCIATE MEMBERS REGISTERED FOR THE MRBs MODULE.
Homeownership & Loan Servicing (continued)
DISCUSSION LEADERS
Justin Hylbert, Business Development and Loan Origination Manager | West Virginia Housing Development Fund
Kathryn Newton, Director, Loan Servicing | Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency
Thomas Pearson, Director of Homeownership | Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority
Thursday Jan 16
Badge Pick-Up & Registration
Continental Breakfast
Economic and Washington Briefing
A distinguished economist shares their insights into housing and economic trends for 2025 and beyond. Washington housing policy insiders discuss what to expect from the new administration and Congress.
DISCUSSION LEADER
Garth Rieman, Director of Housing Advocacy and Strategic Initiatives | National Council of State Housing Agencies
SPEAKERS
David Dworkin, President and Chief Executive Officer | National Housing Conference
Michael Fratantoni, Chief Economist and Senior Vice President, Research and Industry Technology | Mortgage Bankers Association
Bryan Greene, Vice President, Policy Advocacy | National Association of REALTORS®
Russell McIntyre, Senior Policy Analyst | CoreLogic
Break
Bond and Capital Market Updates for 2025
Leading industry experts offer insights on the state of the housing market, what it means for affordable homeownership lending, and the latest trends in housing bonds and mortgage securities.
DISCUSSION LEADER
David Sullivan, Managing Director, Bond Finance | Georgia Department of Community Affairs/Georgia Housing and Finance Authority
SPEAKERS
Michael Koessel, Director | BofA Securities
Ferdinand Perrault, Vice President and Senior Credit Officer | Moody’s Ratings
Rebecca Reape, Managing Director | Wells Fargo Securities
Aulii Taitano, Executive Director | Morgan Stanley
Networking Lunch
Seated lunch served 12:00 – 1:00 pm.
Zeffert's Java Joint Open
Sponsored by:
CONCURRENT SESSIONS
MRBs 101
Learn about the most significant financing vehicle state HFAs use to finance affordable mortgage loans. Seasoned professionals cover the ins and outs of mortgage revenue bonds, including terminology, eligibility requirements, bond issuance players, documentation, operations, and deal structuring.
DISCUSSION LEADER
Valenthia Doolin, Homeownership Director | Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency
SPEAKERS
Shirley Flores, Director | S&P Global Ratings
Nicholas Koontz, Partner | Hawkins Delafield & Wood LLP
Benjamin Madorsky, President | cfX Incorporated
Alex Vlamis, Vice President, Public Finance | Barclays
The Latest from FHA, USDA, VA, and CFPB
Servicing policymakers from the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Veterans Administration provide updates on their servicing regulations and handbook. An official from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau discusses the bureau’s latest regulatory efforts and what to expect in the future.
DISCUSSION LEADER
Pamela Holmes, Director of Homeownership Servicing | Virginia Housing
SPEAKERS
Rita Falcioni, Central Office Loan Management Supervisor | U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Richard Kane, Deputy Director, Single-Family Guaranteed Loan Program | U.S. Department of Agriculture
Julie Shaffer, Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary for Single Family Housing | U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Beth Spring, Senior Manager | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Break
Sponsored by:
CONCURRENT SESSIONS
Bankruptcy 101
What are a mortgage servicer’s options and obligations when a borrower declares bankruptcy? An industry veteran delves into the details of bankruptcy declarations, how you can help these homeowners, and your options as a mortgage servicer.
TRAINER
Hilary Bonial, Managing Director | Bonial & Associates, P.C.
Liquidity for Mortgage Programs
Learn how current market conditions are driving mortgage liquidity strategies. Explore how HFAs can use different executions, including the to-be-announced market and cash window, to finance their affordable homeownership loans.
DISCUSSION LEADER
Brett Warner, Chief Financial Officer | North Carolina Housing Finance Agency
SPEAKERS
Mike Awadis, Senior Managing Director | Hilltop Securities Inc.
Ansel Caine, President | Caine Mitter & Associates Incorporated
Elizabeth Vernon, Senior Vice President, Capital Markets | Lakeview Loan Servicing, LLC
Break
CONCURRENT SESSIONS
Alternative Homeownership Program Structures
Discover opportunities beyond the traditional 30-year fixed-rate mortgage to reach new home buyers. Explore the benefits and challenges of community land trusts, share of appreciation programs, and manufactured housing programs from Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and a leading affordable housing lender.
DISCUSSION LEADER
Michael Urban, Managing Director of Homeownership | Virginia Housing
SPEAKERS
Zach Ragland, Advisor, Affordable Lending Account Team | Fannie Mae
Dennis Smith, Affordable Lending Manager, Senior | Freddie Mac
Erin Watts, Vice President, Product Strategy | Guild Mortgage Company
Best Practices for Defaulted Loans and Foreclosures
Explore strategies you can employ to minimize agency losses when homeowners can no longer afford to stay in their homes. Learn from industry experts about FHA’s Claims Without Conveyance of Title program including First Chance foreclosure and Second Chance post-foreclosure auction requirements, as well as what to do and how and when to do it.
DISCUSSION LEADER
Breezie Williams, Assistant Vice President, Mortgage Servicing | Utah Housing Corporation
SPEAKERS
Jose Aguilar, Vice President, Portfolio Management | Auction.com
Lisa Lee, Chief Marketing Officer | McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce, LLC
Elsa Lewis, Vice President, Strategic Partnerships and Business Development | Auction.com
MRBs and Section 8 Happy Hour
Expand your network as you reunite with old friends and make new ones among your peers in the affordable housing community.
Sponsored by: 
Friday Jan 17
Continental Breakfast
Badge Pick-Up & Registration
Strategies for Sustainable Homeownership
A successful homeownership program helps working families both attain and sustain homeownership. Learn more about how our nation’s aging housing stock challenges lower-income homeowners and how you can help families succeed and build wealth through housing counseling and education.
DISCUSSION LEADER
Stockton Williams, Executive Director | National Council of State Housing Agencies
SPEAKERS
Simone Griffin Taylor, Executive Vice President, Managing Director | HomeFree-USA
Mark Kresowik, Senior Policy Director | American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
Michael Neal, Senior Fellow | Urban Institute
Break
CONCURRENT SESSIONS
Mortgage Insurance and Credit Enhancement 101
This session offers in-depth training on the A-to-Zs of private mortgage insurance. Learn the difference between mortgage insurance and mortgage guarantees and about other tools to minimize losses to your affordable homeownership programs.
DISCUSSION LEADER
Tikisha Wilson, Director of Single Family Programs | District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency
SPEAKERS
Damian Busch, Senior Vice President | Jefferies LLC
Sarah Grabarz, Senior Account Manager | MGIC
Servicing Sand Traps
Servicing mortgage loans is all about the details. Dealing with insurance claims processing, natural disasters, and escrow calculations can make you feel like your program is stuck in the rough. Industry experts offer coaching on the latest strategies for approaching these issues and propelling your program back onto the fairway.
DISCUSSION LEADER
Heather Johnson, Assistant Director of Mortgage Loan Servicing | Tennessee Housing Development Agency
SPEAKERS
Sidra Goldwater, Advisor, Disaster Recovery and Rebuilding | Fannie Mae
Carrie Jackson, Director Servicing Innovation and Engagement | Freddie Mac
Rachel Kelley, Director of Operations | DLS Servicing Consultants, LLC
