Section 8 and Other Federally Assisted Multifamily Housing
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 SECTION 8 MODULE.
Wednesday Jan 15
Badge Pick-Up and Registration
Zeffert's Java Joint Open
Sponsored by: 
Multifamily Programs Update
Senior officials present the latest information about the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s multifamily housing programs, including project-based rental assistance contract administration procurement, National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE), Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act (HOTMA), management and occupancy reviews, the new Green and Resilient Retrofit Program, other energy and climate resilience programs, Section 811 project rental assistance contracts, Section 8bb contract transfers, and Federal Housing Administration-Housing Finance Agency Risk-Sharing.
SPEAKERS
Robert Iber, Senior Advisor, Multifamily Housing Finance, Management and Disposition | U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Jennifer Larson | U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Break
JOINT CONCURRENT SESSIONS | Section 8 and Housing Credit Modules
Building for the 21st Century
Explore new development and construction technologies designed in response to the significant impact on affordable housing of recent natural disasters and extreme weather events. Learn about advanced climate resiliency options to fortify against catastrophic wind and hail events, lower energy costs, withstand power outages, and mitigate risks in insurance coverage and costs.
DISCUSSION LEADER
Claudia O’Grady, Vice President, Multifamily Finance and Development | Utah Housing Corporation
SPEAKERS
Alison Duncan, Loan Officer | Housing Assistance Council
Laurie Schoeman, Climate and Housing Advisor | Biden-Harris Administration
Lauren Westmoreland, Vice President, Energy and Sustainability | Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future
Physical Inspections Under the NSPIRE Protocol
Gain a better understanding of the National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate protocol, including the timeline for implementation, new scoring procedures, application of the standard in developments with multiple subsidies, and coordination with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s physical inspection alignment initiative.
DISCUSSION LEADER
Susan Westbrook, Manager of Rental Assets | North Carolina Housing Finance Agency
SPEAKERS
Cliff Kornegay, Director of the National Standards for Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE) Standards Division, Real Estate Assessment Center (REAC) | U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Ryan Lafollette, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary, Real Estate Assessment Center | U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Scott Precourt, Managing Partner | US Housing Consultants
Jeffrey Promnitz, Chief Executive Officer | Zeffert & Associates, Inc.
Thursday Jan 16
Badge Pick-Up & Registration
Continental Breakfast
JOINT CONCURRENT SESSIONS | Section 8 and Housing Credit Modules
Multifamily Finance Forum
Federal agency officials and affordable housing industry experts discuss financial structuring and underwriting strategies for various multifamily finance tools, including HUD’s Rental Assistance Demonstration program, the Federal Housing Administration/Federal Financing Bank risk-sharing initiative, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s new authority to decouple rental assistance from direct loans, and other multifamily debt products.
DISCUSSION LEADER
Steve Johnson, Chief Operating Officer | Colorado Housing and Finance Authority
SPEAKERS
Tom Davis, Director, Office of Recapitalization | U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Larry Flood, Senior Advisor, Multifamily Housing Programs | U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Daniel Rogers, Director, Production and Preservation | U.S. Department of Agriculture
HOTMA Implementation Strategies
Explore principal provisions of the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act and its impact on multifamily compliance, including significant changes in the rules for calculating tenant income and assets, the timeline for implementation, and an analysis of how the various requirements apply in Housing Credit properties with project-based rental assistance and other multiple-subsidy developments.
DISCUSSION LEADER
Jillian Toole, Senior Policy and Strategy Manager | Georgia Department of Community Affairs/Georgia Housing and Finance Authority
SPEAKERS
Wendy Fitzhugh, Vice President, HUD Programs | National Center for Housing Management
Amanda Gross, Vice President of Compliance Services | US Housing Consultants
Ronnette Jameson-Smith, Senior Trainer | Zeffert & Associates, Inc.
Scott Michael Dunn, CEO/Principal | Costello Compliance
Break
JOINT SESSION | Section 8 and Housing Credit Modules
Multifamily Performance Trends
Discuss new industry data on multifamily property performance and how it may impact the asset management and operations of existing deals as well as the financial structuring and underwriting of future developments. Explore trends in rent growth, lease-up and occupancy rates, insurance costs, operating expenses, and other performance benchmarks.
DISCUSSION LEADER
Matt Rayburn, Deputy Executive Director and Chief Real Estate Development Officer | Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority
SPEAKERS
Jeff Adler, Vice President | Yardi
Jeffrey Connolly, Senior Vice President, Asset Management | Enterprise Housing Credit Investments
Alex Melikan, Director, Investment Management | MRI Software/TCAM
Andrea Ponsor, President and Chief Executive Officer | Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future
Networking Lunch
Seated lunch served 12:00 – 1:00 pm.
Zeffert's Java Joint Open
Sponsored by:
Industry Outlook
Industry leaders and NCSHA partners offer their perspectives and insights on what to expect in 2025 from the new administration and Congress, including federal funding for Section 8, HUD’s project-based contract administration (PBCA) program, other HUD multifamily programs, regulatory relief, property management, and preservation.
DISCUSSION LEADER
Robert Henson, Senior Housing Policy Specialist | National Council of State Housing Agencies
SPEAKERS
Althea Arnold, Senior Vice President, Policy | Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future
Larry Keys, Vice President of Government Affairs | National Affordable Housing Management Association
Mark Kudlowitz, Senior Policy Director | Local Initiatives Support Corporation
Break
Sponsored by:
PBCA Rebid Possibilities
Discuss the latest developments on HUD’s possible rebid of Section 8 project-based rental assistance contracts, including the possibility of cooperative agreements or annual contributions contracts, alternatives to traditional procurement, recent and likely congressional action, and how HFAs can get ready for what may come next.
DISCUSSION LEADER
Cassie Gordon, Manager, Federal Rental Assistance Programs | Minnesota Housing
SPEAKERS
Orlando Cabrera, Partner | Arnall Golden Gregory LLP
Ethan Handelman, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Multifamily Housing Programs | U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Garth Rieman, Director of Housing Advocacy and Strategic Initiatives | National Council of State Housing Agencies
Break
Tackling New Contract Administration Challenges
Discuss hot topics in subsidized housing compliance and contract administration, including management and occupancy reviews, contract renewals, rent adjustments, PBCAs’ role in Family Self-Sufficiency programs in HUD-assisted properties, and Tenant Rental Assistance Certification System (TRACS). Discuss how to work with HUD, managers, owners, tenant associations, advocates, and other stakeholders to preserve existing affordable housing and ensure rental assistance contracts are properly administered.
DISCUSSION LEADER
Courtney Thompson-George, Senior PBCA Finance Officer | Kansas Housing Resources Corporation
SPEAKERS
Michael Cummings, Vice President | Southwest Housing Compliance Corporation
Kelly Garver, PBCA Program Compliance Manager | Quadel
Greg Wicklund, Vice President of PBCA Programs | Du & Associates, Inc.
Section 8 and MRBs 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
Transferring RAD Properties to the PBRA Portfolio
Learn how agencies are transitioning public housing units to the project-based rental assistance (PBRA) program under the rental assistance demonstration (RAD) program. Understand the differences between public housing and PBRA and between PBRA and RAD PBRA related to income calculation and verifications, leases, and other important topics.
TRAINERS
Heather Sievers, Trainer and Consultant | Nan McKay & Associates, Inc.
Break
COMMUNITY MEET-UP
OPEN ONLY TO HFA AND ASSOCIATE MEMBERS REGISTERED FOR THE SECTION 8 MODULE.
Contract Administration
Don’t miss this opportunity to talk openly with your state HFA colleagues about what you have heard during the Institute and the issues on your mind. Get answers to your pressing questions and exchange best practices on procurement, contract administration, HUD compliance reviews, asset management, compliance monitoring, and more.
DISCUSSION LEADER
Linda Demmi, Manager of Contract Administration | Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency
Jeanette Spurgin, Deputy Director | Kansas Housing Resources Corporation
