Please park in the Omni parking deck. Parking exit tickets will be given at the Registration table, which you will need if you are leaving early. Once on the main floor of the Omni, walk toward the Banquet area to register and have breakfast.
Erica Sims has worked in the non-profit management, affordable housing development, and community organizing fields for over 18 years. Her focus has been social and economic justice through housing and economic development. Ms. Sims has held private sector, nonprofit, and government... Read More →
Thursday March 13, 2025 9:15am - 9:30am EDT
The Omni Charlottesville212 Ridge McIntire Rd, Charlottesville, VA 22903
In breakout room 1. Jonathan Knopf will explore strategies for addressing affordable housing challenges within a Dillon rule state, where local governments have limited authority, but can exercise powers explicitly granted by the state. Jovan Burton will share insights on making progress in decision-making processes. This session will provide practical approaches to overcoming legal and political barriers in affordable housing efforts, offering valuable lessons for advocates and policymakers alike.
Jonathan is the Executive Director for Programs at HousingForward Virginia, where he leads housing research and education efforts across the Commonwealth. He regularly helps local officials, practitioners, and advocates find solutions to their housing challenges by telling stories... Read More →
Jovan Burton is the Executive Director for the Partnership for Housing Affordability, a nonprofit focused on creating greater access to housing opportunity through policy, research, and collaboration. In this role, Mr. Burton works with local governments, developers, community groups... Read More →
Thursday March 13, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
Breakout Room A
Join for-profit affordable housing developers as they share key strategies for making affordable housing projects feasible, even in expensive markets. The discussion will cover how developers manage project timelines, build financial reserves, and utilize tax credits to support their developments. Attendees will also gain insights into the operational side, including management practices that help sustain affordable housing over the long term.
A founding member and owner of SCG Development and its affiliated company Stratford Capital Group (the “Company”), Steve is responsible for the management and oversight of the Company’s property development activities. Committed to developing high quality affordable and workforce... Read More →
William Park is the President of Pinnacle Construction & Development Corp., a Charlottesville-based commercial construction firm specializing in multi-family, historic adaptive reuse, mixed-use, and commercial projects. He also manages Bluestone Land, L.L.C., focusing on tax credit... Read More →
Thursday March 13, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
Breakout Room B
How can we dialogue better to find solutions to our housing needs? Four community members from our region who hold a variety of viewpoints related to affordable housing will engage in a panel discussion about strategies and solutions, based on their varying experiences. The goal of this conversation is to model listening and calm dialogue, and to be able to hear the reasoned concepts behind each stance, ultimately to improve our ability to work together to create a community that is livable and inviting for all residents.
Frank Dukes works as a mediator and facilitator of equitable collaboration processes addressing community and the natural and built environments. He has lived in Central Virginia since 1973.
Chris Fairchild grew up in Fluvanna, raised his family and started National Filter Service there and is the current chair of the Fluvanna County Board of Supervisors. Chris’ primary focus in his service on the Board of Supervisors is the preservation of Fluvanna’s rural chara... Read More →
A seven-year Planning Commissioner, Julian Bivins has a diversified professional background including UVA administration, international business and econometrics. A graduate of UVA Law, and a resident of Albemarle County for over 35 years, he has broad leadership experience in philanthropy... Read More →
Sunshine Mathon is the Executive Director of Piedmont Housing Alliance in Charlottesville, VA. Committed to supporting deeply equitable and sustainable affordable communities, he has led the development of over 1,200 healthy, efficient homes in Texas and Virginia. As a nationally-recognized... Read More →
Thursday March 13, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am EDT
Breakout Room C
Monique was appointed Chief of Programs in April 2024. She previously served as Managing Director of Community Outreach, where she was responsible for fostering relationships with housing service providers and grant assistance programs across the Commonwealth. Monique’s lived experience... Read More →
Thursday March 13, 2025 11:50am - 12:00pm EDT
Banquet Room
Erica Sims has worked in the non-profit management, affordable housing development, and community organizing fields for over 18 years. Her focus has been social and economic justice through housing and economic development. Ms. Sims has held private sector, nonprofit, and government... Read More →
Thursday March 13, 2025 12:00pm - 12:30pm EDT
Banquet Room
Learn how a team from Henrico County successfully partnered with the Economic Development Authority (EDA) and private consultants to purchase and improve an affordable housing development. This session will highlight the collaborative efforts between public and private sectors to enhance affordable housing and revitalize the community and maintain quality affordable homes. Attendees will gain insights into the process, challenges, and successes of this partnership model, offering valuable lessons for those looking to replicate similar initiatives in their own communities.
Director of Community Revitalization, Henrico County
Eric Leabough began his career in government in the late 1990’s working for a local government, a redevelopment and housing authority, and the Commonwealth of Virginia.A Henrico County resident, Mr. Leabough was appointed to the Henrico County Planning Commission in January 2012... Read More →
Deputy County Manager for Community Affairs, Henrico County
Ms. Monica L. Smith-Callahan joined Henrico as deputy county manager for community affairs in February 2020, coming to the county from the Virginia Department of Education, where she worked as assistant superintendent of policy, equity and communication. Her prior career includes... Read More →
Join Rocky Piro for an insightful discussion on how comprehensive planning can position localities for success in creating and sustaining affordable housing. Rocky Piro, co-author of The Comprehensive Plan: Sustainable, Resilient, and Equitable Communities for the 21st Century, will share key strategies for integrating affordable housing into long-term community planning. This session will provide practical approaches to building sustainable, resilient, and equitable communities, emphasizing the critical role of comprehensive planning in addressing housing challenges for the future.
Rocky Piro is a recently retired urban planner and professor. He served as Director of the Colorado Center for Sustainable Urbanism at the University of Colorado Denver. He also worked as Associate Research Professor at CU’s College of Architecture and Planning. Previously he was... Read More →
Attendees will learn how Prince George’s developed new tools to protect older units in high-growth areas, transforming them into long-term affordable housing. Rodgers will also discuss the role of government in ensuring equitable access to housing, linking economic development with affordable housing as a key part of community growth and sustainability.
Angie Rodgers is the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Economic Development in the Office of Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks. She provides leadership and oversight to 10 County-chartered, quasi- and independent agencies focused on business development... Read More →
Experts from HDAdvisors and other counties, land trusts and land banks will discuss a range of tools for preserving and creating affordable housing. This session will explore when and how to use these tools effectively, offering practical guidance on leveraging them to address housing challenges in various markets.
Flora Valdes-Dapena is a Junior Associate at HDAdvisors, where she has worked since 2019. She works with HDA's long-term clients, including HousingForward Virginia and the Maggie Walker Community Land Trust, to manage communications and assist with special programs and projects like... Read More →
Candice is the Director of Homeownership for Maggie Walker Community Land Trust. In her current role, she works with prospective homeowners in attaining their dream of homeownership. She is also a social worker and therapist having extensive experience with families experiencing low... Read More →
John Harbin is the Executive Director of the Chesapeake Land Bank Authority where he leads the Authority's initiatives to address vacant, abandoned, and tax-delinquent properties in the City of Chesapeake, Virginia. John has over 10 years of planning and development experience in... Read More →
Discover how Harrisonburg, driven by a compassionate community and people-centered leadership, is launching the Navigation Center—a public-private partnership offering emergency shelter and essential services for unhoused adults. This session will highlight how community leaders and local government have developed effective partnerships, emphasizing the role of low-barrier, year-round emergency shelter in achieving better permanent housing outcomes. Learn how these initiatives are crucial in the Housing First model and can serve as a model for other communities to address gaps in their housing systems.
Amy Snider was appointed Deputy City Manager for the City of Harrisonburg in November 2023. Prior to her appointment, Amy served as the Assistant to the City Manager since January 2019. In her role as Deputy City Manager Amy oversees the departments of Public Works, Public Utilities... Read More →
Mayor Deanna (Dee-na) Reed was sworn into office for Harrisonburg City Council onJanuary 3, 2017, and then selected by her fellow council members as mayor. Becomingmayor (of her hometown) in Harrisonburg made her the first African American femalemayor in Harrisonburg’s history.Mayor... Read More →
Shannon Porter is the Executive Director of Mercy House, Inc., a homeless services agency and family shelter in Harrisonburg, Virginia, with over 25 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, specializing in housing and homelessness. Before joining Mercy House in 2014, he led one... Read More →
Nate Riddle (He/Him) currently serves as the Executive Director of Open Doors in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Open Doors is the area's trusted low-barrier provider of safe shelter for the unhoused, as well as compassionate support and access to services for all in the community. The organization... Read More →
Hope Rutter will moderate a panel that will explore critical strategies for preserving communities and preventing displacement. Key topics include heirs' property and addressing vacancies, tenant opportunity to purchase initiatives, and tools that help protect community stability. The discussion will also delve into the preservation of Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) properties, highlighting recent changes in LIHTC regulations and their impact on affordable housing. Attendees will gain insights into how these tools can be leveraged to maintain community cohesion and ensure long-term housing affordability.
Kristopher co-directs LISC Family Wealth Creation Program +and Creative Placekeeping efforts to advance economic growth in urban core neighborhoods. He has over 25 years of experience in philanthropy, public sector and neighborhood revitalization. Currently, he serves as a technical... Read More →
Isabel McLain is the Director of Policy and Advocacy at the Virginia Housing Alliance (VHA), a statewide nonprofit advocating to address homelessness and increase access to affordable housing. Prior to VHA, Isabel worked as the Research and Policy Analyst for Housing Opportunities... Read More →
Hope Rutter has over 17 years in affordable housing and is passionate about helping all obtain affordable, safe housing. She has experience in property and asset management, Tax Credit allocation, HCVP, LIHTC compliance, and Multifamily servicing. She is currently the Director of... Read More →
