

ABOUT THE EVENT
The Illinois Housing Council (IHC) is proud to present the 2022 Illinois Affordable Housing Forum!
IHC is a non-profit, state-wide membership organization, created to promote the stabilization of communities through the production and preservation of affordable housing. IHC serves as a resource for information, education, and networking opportunities for our members from across all sectors of the industry. On an annual basis IHC hosts a statewide affordable housing conference, the Illinois Affordable Housing Forum. The Forum provides an opportunity for hundreds of industry leaders from across Illinois to come together to share ideas, discuss best practices and make new connections.
Building off the success of past conferences and adapting to the changing environment, in 2022 IHC will be presenting a hybrid conference with educational sessions streamed online and one day of in-person activities and networking available for a limited number of attendees. Virtual sessions will be held for all attendees March 22-24, 2022. In-person conference activities will take place at the Chicago Cultural Center on March 31st with plenary sessions and special speaker presentations live-streamed online for attendees that are more comfortable with a fully virtual conference.
We hope you will join us for the 2022 Illinois Affordable Housing Forum and celebrate IHC’s 20th anniversary at the Forum with an extra special Reception and Annual Meeting.
Click here to learn more about the Illinois Housing Council.
Schedule
All sessions will be virtual
9:00 am
9:00 am
- 12:00 pm
LIHTC 201 Training l CM 3
During this session, you will gain insight on common but complex issues that may arise in affordable housing transactions, including: (i) valuation and structuring issues for related party transfers/year 15 resyndication, (ii) structuring local, state and federal subordinate debt and rental subsidies, (iii) application and administration of the Average Income Test, and (iv) other unique issues and legislative updates. Participants are encouraged to engage in a discussion with counsel engaged exclusively in affordable housing and community development, working with both developers and investors both locally and across the country, as issues are presented through a case study.
Bennett Applegate, Jr.
Attorney
Applegate & Thorne-Thomsen
I joined Applegate & Thorne-Thomsen in 2017. Prior to joining the firm, my professional experience spanned the public, private, and non-profit sectors, with a focus on public and affordable housing.
My housing experience includes working at Edgemere Consulting Corporation, where I advised public agencies, primarily large public housing authorities, on the design and administration of the Public Housing Program (PH), the Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP), and related programs. I have significant experience with HUD’s Moving to Work Program, the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative, and ongoing PH and HCVP compliance. Other relevant housing experience includes working at Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership administering the HCVP for a caseload of 400 clients and interning at Business and Professional People for the Public Interest to research and design potential financing and land acquisition strategies for the recently created Cook County Land Bank Authority.
Glenn Graff
Attorney
Applegate & Thorne-Thomsen
I joined Applegate & Thorne-Thomsen in 2001. I am the chair of the Firm’s Tax Group and concentrate my practice on the following areas: the development of real estate with the low-income housing tax credit, the historic rehabilitation tax credit, the investment tax credit for renewable energy property, as well as the Illinois affordable housing tax credit; the taxation of partnerships and LLCs; and the taxation of not-for-profit organizations. I represent syndicators, developers, investors, lenders and nonprofit organizations in structuring tax-advantaged transactions.
I have also acted as an expert witness relating to tax credit transactions. I have represented clients in tax disputes before the IRS, the United States Tax Court and local tax authorities, with an emphasis on valuation issues.
Kim Lawson
Attorney
Applegate & Thorne-Thomsen
I have experience in real estate transactions, representing investors, developers, and managers in real property sales and acquisitions, real estate development, partnership syndication, financing and the negotiation of industrial and commercial leases.
My practice is focused on affordable housing development. I represent non-profit and for profit developers and national investors involved in the development of affordable multi-family housing projects that utilize federal and state low income housing tax credits, tax-exempt bonds, state and federal historic credits, rental subsidies, HUD-insured loans, and other governmental programs, including FHLB grants and HOME Loans.
Warren Wenzloff
Attorney
Applegate & Thorne-Thomsen
A founding member of Applegate & Thorne-Thomsen, I concentrate my real estate practice in affordable housing development and finance. I have extensive experience representing developers, investors, PHA’s and lenders in the acquisition, financing and development of affordable multifamily housing, supportive living and historic projects that utilize federal and state low-income housing and historic tax credits, rental subsidies and multi-tiered private and governmental loan, tax-exempt bond, FHA-insured loan and grant programs. My practice also involves working with skilled nursing facility owners and operators in conjunction with the HUD 232 loan program and other financing associated with such facilities, as well as commercial real estate owners and developers on a wide variety of industrial, retail, warehouse and mixed-use developments. I value a team approach to representation of our clients in order to provide them with a wide range of expertise delivered in an efficient manner.
I have served on the boards of local charitable organizations whose purpose is to foster the preservation and development of affordable housing and community development in and around the Chicagoland area. I continue to participate as a panelist and moderator at seminars and continuing legal education programs sponsored by national and regional organizations engaged in the business of affordable housing.
Hosted By:

1:00 pm
1:00 pm
- 2:30 pm
Session 1: Innovative Debt Financing Options l CM 1.5
This panel of lenders will provide the latest updates on innovative products to address Illinois’ affordable housing challenges. Attendees will gain insight on a variety of financing tools, tips for accessing these resources and information to help plan the best financing strategy for your next deal.
Sam Adams
Managing Director
KeyBanc Capital Markets
Sam Adams is a Managing Director in KeyBanc Capital Markets’ Public Finance Group, based in Columbus, Ohio. He joined Key in 2016, and prior to his time at Key, Sam worked for PNC Capital Markets. Mr. Adams has experience structuring debt solutions for Public Housing Authorities, Affordable & Social Housing Developers, and Commercial Real Estate Developers. Sam has recently worked on bond transactions for the Housing Authority of the County of King (WA), the Seattle Housing Authority, Vancouver Housing Authority and the Housing Authority of Snohomish County (WA), Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (OH), Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority (OH), Housing Catalyst (CO) and Denver Housing Authority (CO). Since joining Key, he has been the lead banker structuring more than $2 Billion of financing for his clients, including rated and unrated transactions in both the public and private market. Financings have included General Revenue bonds for PHAs, project-supported project debt, financings supported by FNMA, GNMA or other credit enhancements as well as a variety of creative financings to meet the requirements of project and client needs. Sam was named a Rising Star for 2021 by the Bond Buyer. Sam has an undergraduate degree from Northwestern University, where he majored in Economics. Additionally, he earned his J.D. at Ohio State University and in 2008 passed the bar examination in the State of Ohio. He also earned his M.B.A. at Ohio State’s Fisher College of Business in 2011. He holds Series 63, 79, 50 and Series 7 licenses.
Lindsey Haines
Senior Vice President, Real Estate Development
Full Circle Communities, Inc.
As Senior Vice President of Real Estate Development at Full Circle Communities, Inc. Lindsey is responsible for crafting and implementing the organization’s development and growth strategies. She oversees all department staff in their work with service providers and community partners to generate new development opportunities. In her time with Full Circle, Lindsey has overseen the development of more than 800 units of affordable and supportive housing in the midwest. Prior to joining Full Circle, Lindsey worked with several non-profit organizations on housing and community development issues. She completed her Masters of Urban Planning and Policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago and holds a Bachelors degree from Illinois Wesleyan University. She lives in Chicago and serves on the board of directors for the Northwest Side Community Development Corporation.
Wendell Harris
Vice President of Lending Operations
Chicago Community Loan Fund
Wendell Harris has over 20 years of commercial real estate, property management, and banking experience. He was promoted to Vice President of Lending Operations in March 2019, after serving as Director of Lending Operations following a brief tenure as Senior Loan/Program Officer for CCLF.
In the past five years, he has underwritten investments at CCLF that leveraged over $443.3 million in real estate transactions that strengthen lower-wealth communities. He has held various positions in Treasury Management, Retail Management, Business Banking, and Commercial Real Estate at leading financial institutions such as Northern Trust, LaSalle Bank N.A., Charter One, GE Capital, and Urban Partnership Bank. He also worked for Midway Broadcasting (WVON radio) in Marketing and Sales.
Wendell holds a Master of Business Administration degree with a certificate in Financial Analysis from the Keller Graduate School of Management. He also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management with an emphasis in Accounting from Northern Illinois University. Wendell enjoys spending time with family, has a passion for classic cars, has volunteered as an Assistant Boys Basketball Coach for Morgan Park High School and Fenger High School in Chicago, and looks forward to coaching again in the future.
Allison M. Porter-Bell
Director
BMO Harris Bank
Allison Porter-Bell has been a member of BMO’s Community Development team as a Relationship Manager for the past 16 years focusing on the creation and preservation of affordable housing by providing flexible and innovative debt solutions to meet developer’s financial needs across a diverse range of property types, and through multiple real estate cycles. She has been in banking for several years with experience working in various areas including retail and wealth management.
Allison has served on the boards of several chambers and community organizations and currently sits on the board of the Greater Chatham Initiative, the NHS Redevelopment Board and the Illinois Housing Council. She earned a BA and MA from Chicago State University.
Mark Ragsdale
Senior Vice President
PNC Real Estate
Mark Ragsdale has over 33 years of experience in the multifamily affordable housing finance industry and is a key member of PNC Real Estate’s affordable housing team. He specializes in using agency finance products, including Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and FHA loan programs. Ragsdale offers a significant depth of knowledge in tax exempt bond transactions using HUD, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac bond executions. He also has a long history using the Agency finance programs for 9% LIHTC developments and Year 15 opportunities. He is especially well versed in 4% Bond Executions, Preservation/Section 8 redevelopments, RAD transactions, and multi-layered LIHTC executions. Ragsdale has worked with many national and local housing developers and owners as well as housing agencies, housing authorities, nonprofits and resident associations to assist in the development or redevelopment of affordable housing units. Throughout his career he has successfully combined Agency lending products with other financing vehicles for affordable housing transactions. He is a strong supporter of affordable housing ownership, development, and preservation nationwide.
Jack Wambach
Assistant Director
IHDA
Jack joined the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) in 2018 and currently leads its multifamily lending and tax-exempt bond programs. Prior to IHDA, Jack was a management consultant at Huron Consulting Group. He discovered his passion for affordable housing as a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity Chicago working in the West Pullman neighborhood.
Sponsored By:

3:00 pm
3:00 pm
- 4:30 pm
Session 2: Climate Resilience in Affordable Housing l CM 1.5
Climate change is here. While energy efficiency measures are a proven path to resilience, we can’t stop there. Join this panel of experts as they discuss the policy and financial context around building resilience in affordable housing. Panelists will provide insights into how green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) can create meaningful benefits for both the site and the tenants, share examples of affordable housing projects that have successfully integrated GSI, and offer practical tips on how to cost-effectively incorporate it into development projects. Attendees will also learn about an evolving model that provides single points of contact for affordable multifamily and naturally occurring single family owners to access deep retrofits for resilience.
Nicole Chavas
President & Chief Operating Officer
Greenprint Partners
Nicole leads operations and strategy at Greenprint Partners, an award-winning planning, design, and engineering firm that delivers inspired green infrastructure solutions. Her success rallying capital, talent, and partnerships around nature-based solutions to enhance affordable housing, schools, and more draws on a decade advocating for ESG solutions in investment management and real estate. She received her BBA from University of Wisconsin and MBA from Kellogg School of Management
Andrew Geer
Principal & Owner
Blue Eddy Community Advisors LLC
Andrew is the Principal and Owner of Blue Eddy Community Advisors LLC, a community development consulting firm working with nonprofit and mission driven for-profit organizations to align capital and create sustainable, resilient and healthy communities. Prior to launching Blue Eddy Community Advisors in 2021, Andrew was the Vice President and Market Leader for the Chicago office of Enterprise Community Partners. He also previously served as Executive Director of Heartland Housing and oversaw the development of 1,500 units of affordable and supportive housing. Andrew currently services on the boards of the Illinois Housing Council, Chicago Low-Income Housing Trust Fund, and Cook County Economic Development Advisory Committee.
Alex Heidtke
Project Manager
Greenprint Partners (WBE, B-Corp)
Alex is committed to helping her clients get the most good out of green infrastructure with Greenprint, an award-winning planning, design, and engineering firm. Over the course of eight years as a site development engineer, she’s earned the trust of dozens of commercial, municipal, and institutional clients across the Midwest, by managing site and stormwater design to meet and exceed code requirements. Alex holds a BA in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois, and is a registered PE.
Laurie Schoeman
National Director - Resilience and Disaster Recovery
Enterprise Community Partners
Laurie Schoeman M.U.P. Leads Enterprise’s efforts to preserve and protect affordable housing across the nation from the risks and impacts of natural hazards and a changing climate. Her team assists CDCs, cities, states and the federal government in a wide range of communities across the nation to develop housing that can sustain impacts of natural hazards and incorporate innovative resiliency ideas, technical assistance, and advocacy support into post-event reconstruction of communities. Laurie has led leading edge policy packages including passage of the nation’s first utility-sponsored environmental justice "do no harm" mandate and climate adaptation policies in New York City. She is the Co-Chair of the NYState Climate Adaptation Plan Buildings Plan and currently advises a range of agencies/organizations on housing resilience, adaptation and mitigation including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), International Code Council (ICC), Institute for Building Technology and Safety (IBTS), US Department of Energy (USDOE) and US Department of Housing Urban Development (HUD). She is the co- facilitator of the Resilience 21 coalition of 50+ resilience and adaptation practitioners across the nation helping to shape federal resilience programs and policies.
Drew Williams-Clark
Director of Equitable and Sustainable Communities
Metropolitan Planning Council
Drew Williams-Clark joined MPC in February of 2022 as Director of Equitable and Sustainable communities. He is a passionate advocate for advancing racial equity in the pursuit of community development and climate resilience. Drew positions himself as a technical ally to frontline organizations. He brings expertise in climate action planning, water resilience, green infrastructure, development finance, fair and affordable housing policy, and equitable community partnerships.
Before coming to MPC, Drew led efforts to end urban flooding, equitably finance water infrastructure, and retrofit affordable housing for climate change at the Center for Neighborhood Technology. He has also worked at the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning and the Village of Oak Park. Drew lives with his wife, two sons, bicycle, and fishing tackle in Oak Park, IL.
Sponsored By:

All sessions will be virtual
10:00 am
10:00 am
- 11:30 am
Session 3: Identifying, Creating and Fostering Successful Development Partnerships l CM 1.5
With an emphasis on how to bring more minority developers into the affordable housing industry, join us as we discuss considerations during the partnership courtship, exploring the potential roles of the primary developer and emerging developer and resources available to promote a successful long-term partnership. Our panelists will discuss establishing mutually beneficial development partnerships, how to mitigate barriers to entry for developers of color and so much more to ensure long-term success and more equitable opportunities.
Phillip L Beckham III
Managing Partner
P3 Markets, LLC
Phillip L. Beckham III is a transformative leader and business executive dedicating 25 years of his career serving the City of Chicago in the areas of transportation,real estate and economic development, business consulting, and nonprofit management.
Mr. Beckham currently serves as Principal of real estate development firm Public Private Partnerships (P3) Markets to create transformational wealth-building and prosperity for low to moderate communities. P3 Market’s unique model focuses on generating risk-adjusted risk-adjusted ROIs and maximizing community impact one investment at a time. Current projects with P3 Markets include:
● 43 Green: a mixed-use apartment and retail project located in the historic Bronzeville community.
● Xquina Cafe: a new cafe community hub and incubator co-working space in Little Village
In addition to P3 Markets, Mr. Beckham runs the Mid-South Business Association and Resource Center (MSBARC), an economic development consulting firm, providing strategic support and services for businesses in the Bronzeville neighborhood. As MSBARC’s Executive Director, he has assisted several black-owned businesses in the areas of sales, external affairs, strategic planning, and financial assistance.
Current boards:
Metropolitan Planning Council
Land Use & Planning Committee
ComEd
Community of the Future Advisory Committee Bronzeville Micro Grid
Board of Directors
Evanston Technology Partners Cyber Security Company
Mr. Beckham is a proud father of 3 adult children.
Tania Kadakia
Director of Partnerships and Residential Investments
DL3
Tania is taking the lead in building and implementing DL3’s residential development strategy. She has an extensive background in housing with more than 20 years of development, investment and lending experience. As a former Vice President at BMO Harris Bank, she originated $350 million in debt for affordable housing. Tania was also a client manager at both National Equity Fund and Enterprise Community Investments, closing an additional $500 million in LIHTC syndications. As a developer, Tania successfully structured a $140 million mixed-use and mixed-finance development project. Tania enjoys teaching, mentoring and volunteering, having lectured at the University of Illinois at Chicago and numerous affordable housing industry events, and participates on several boards of directors. Tania completed coursework for a master’s in urban planning and received her undergraduate degree, both from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Matthew Paschall
Senior Associate
Baker Tilly
Matt has been with the firm since 2019. He has more than two years of industry experience. His primary focusses include leading the team’s emerging developer initiative, preparing transaction structures and financial modeling for clients within the affordable housing industry.
Brian Robinson
Senior Vice President, Originations & Capital Markets
National Affordable Housing Trust
With nearly 20 years of prior experience serving the affordable housing industry, Brian specializes in working with investors, lenders, local/state agencies and developers, including for-profit, not-for-profit and public housing agencies. He is well versed in structuring affordable housing transactions, and has a wide range of experience with owners and investors. He has provided his skills to a variety of project types, and has experience in such capacities as affordable housing development, fund management, HFA underwriting, and investment banking.
Prior to joining NAHT, Brian served as Senior Managing Director at Baker Tilly, where he was responsible for offering real estate development consulting services to for-profit and non-profit developers, and public housing authorities.
Brian holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Loyola University of Chicago and a master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Michigan. He served as a volunteer in the U.S. Peace Corps and has been involved with numerous philanthropic organizations, either in a volunteer or Board of Director capacity. He currently serves on the board as Vice-Chair of Capital for Change, a CDFI entity based in Connecticut.
Lydia Smith
Director, Emerging Minority Developer Fund
National Equity Fund, Inc.
Lydia Smith is Director of the Emerging Minority Developer Fund (EMDF) for National Equity Fund, Inc. (NEF). EMDF is a $100M+ investment fund established in 2020 to build the financial capacity and experience of emerging Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) developers to help them overcome high barriers to entry in accessing Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) to develop affordable housing. As the EMDF Director, her work is focused on identifying, nurturing and advocating for minority affordable housing developers, and LIHTC focused businesses owned and/or led by people of color.
Lydia’s affordable housing experience spans a decade working in both the Accounting and Asset Operations departments for NEF. She is passionate about making Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) equity more accessible for minority developers of color. She is committed to growing awareness about EMDF and driving education on the need for forward-thinking resources to support the next generation of developers. For more information about EMDF, visit www.linkedin.com/in/LydiaSmith-NEF-EMDF to send a message.
Sponsored By:

2:00 pm
2:00 pm
- 3:30 pm
Session 4: Deals and Equity Discussion l CM 1.5
Join developers and investors as they engage in a dynamic conversation about potential deal structures while sharing the latest insight on pricing, market conditions and national trends. Peak behind the curtain as panelists react to a variety of project concepts and share feedback that will help developers as they consider their upcoming projects.
Ben Applegate
Attorney
Applegate & Thorne-Thomsen
My current practice involves the representation of profit and non-profit developers, syndicators and direct investors involved with projects utilizing the syndication of low-income housing tax credits. I am a frequent speaker throughout the country on the structuring and negotiation of affordable housing development transactions.
This diverse national practice provides me the unique understanding of and appreciation for the business issues my clients face and the opportunity to be a problem solver as issues arise. I enjoy the role of not only legal technician, but business advisor and counselor.
I am the former managing partner and a founding member of Applegate & Thorne-Thomsen. I have overseen the growth of our firm from a five-attorney firm representing primarily local developers to a nationwide practice representing investors, syndicators, lenders, public housing agencies and service providers in all aspects of housing and community development. I’ve had the pleasure of having leadership roles in several national organizations, including the American Bar Association Forum on Affordable Housing and Community Development and the National Housing and Rehabilitation Association.
Kyle Kochtanek
Business Development Officer
U.S. Bancorp Community Development Corporation
Kyle Kochtanek joined USBCDC in 2011 working in project management and business development analyzing, underwriting and closing LIHTC transactions. He currently is responsible for originating LIHTC investment opportunities in the northern Midwest with over $1B of credits sourced to date.
Prior to joining USBCDC, Kyle worked at a private LIHTC developer and syndicator as an asset manager in the tax credit syndication division. Kyle holds an MBA from the Olin School of Business School at Washington University in St. Louis and a degree in finance and banking with an emphasis in real estate from the University of Missouri, where he served on the College of Business Leadership Board.
Michael McGovern
Direct of Finance
Brinshore Development
Michael McGovern is the Director of Finance at Brinshore Development. He coordinates all financial aspects of the developments working with debt and equity providers throughout the lifecycle of the projects. Brinshore Development is an affordable housing developer based in Northbrook which has developed over 11,000 units in 14 states.
Mr. McGovern has over 20 years of community development expertise, focused on affordable housing finance and tax credit equity. He has a Master’s Degree in Urban Planning and Policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the University of Evansville.
Greg Olson
Regional Vice President
Michaels Development Company
As Regional Vice President for the Midwest Region, Greg Olson oversees all of Michaels’ development activities in Chicago, Illinois, and surrounding states. During his 18 years with Michaels, Greg has successfully overseen the construction of nearly 2,000 units of award-winning, mixed-income housing in the Midwest.
Michael Rossi
Senior Director
Enterprise
Mike Rossi originates investments primarily with sponsors based in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and the Dakotas. Since joining Enterprise in 2010, Mike has underwritten and closed over $500 million of Low-Income Housing and Historic Tax Credit equity, creating or preserving nearly 3,400 homes.
Cat Vielma
Director of Acquisitions
Red Stone Equity Partners
Catalina Vielma is a Director of Acquisitions at Red Stone Equity Partners. She originates, underwrites, and closes tax credit transactions across the Pacific Northwest, Rocky Mountains, and Chicagoland. Prior to joining Red Stone, she was at two national syndicators, including the National Equity Fund, the country’s largest non-profit syndicator. She held multiple HUD positions, first at the Chicago Multifamily Production Office, where she oversaw FHA’s tax credit pilot program and subsequently, in HQ’s Office of Recapitalization as a Branch Chief focused on the Rental Assistance Demonstration program. At HUD HQ she provided high-level policy analysis and directed transaction managers underwriting tax credit RAD conversions, including the portfolios of San Francisco, El Paso, and Baltimore. She is a board member of Mercy Community Capital and the Illinois Housing Council. She lives in Evanston, Illinois with her wife, daughter, and goldendoodle.
Sponsored By:

All sessions will be virtual
10:00 am
10:00 am
- 11:30 am
Session 5: Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing Strategies l CM 1.5
Many homes and apartments across Illinois are considered affordable without utilizing any government subsidy. The continued limited supply and extremely strong and growing demand for affordable housing creates an urgent need to preserve and improve naturally occurring affordable housing. Join policy experts and practitioners as they discuss the latest strategies and resources available to preserve this critical part of the housing stock.
Donna Clarke
Chief Operating officer
Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago, Inc.
Donna Clarke joined NHS Chicago as Chief Operating Officer in November 2017. In this role, she has been instrumental in designing programs and driving operational efficiency throughout the entire organization.
Donna has always been attracted to transformative and socially responsible projects. Firmly planted in New York City, Donna moved to El Paso, Texas where she joined the team managing the rehabilitation and revitalization of the city’s entire public housing program through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) initiative.
Donna has also held leadership roles at The Walt Disney Company and Time Warner, primarily in consumer marketing for print media and digital operations. She launched, led, and sunset the revenue operations for CNNMoney.com, a 13-year partnership between Turner Broadcasting and Time Inc.
Ms. Clarke comes to NHS with a strong background in operations and the ability to bring together different lines of business to optimize strategy and impact, along with her substantial experience creating, launching, and incubating new products and programs on a variety of platforms.
She holds a Master of Business Administration from Northwestern University and a bachelor’s degree from Stanford University.
Tony Hernandez
Managing Director, Head of Community Investment
CIBC U.S.
Tony Hernandez, Managing Director and Head of Community Investment joined CIBC in 2014, bringing 20 years of community development finance experience to his role managing the bank’s portfolio of CRA-qualified investments. The portfolio includes investments in Small Business Investment Companies, Community Development Financial Institutions, Low Income Housing Tax Credits and mezzanine investments in affordable housing developments and small businesses. Prior to joining the bank, Tony led the Asset Management Department for the Illinois Housing Development Authority for six years and was Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager for LaSalle Bank’s Community Development department for nine years, managing both lending and investment portfolios. He began his career working for a non-profit community organization that provided financing for small businesses in Chicago. Tony received a Masters of Urban Planning and Policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago and bachelor’s degree from the University of Chicago. Tony resides with his wife and three sons in Chicago.
Rafael Leon
Executive Director
CMHDC
Rafael Leon is the Executive Director of the Chicago Metropolitan Housing Development Corporation, better known as CMHDC, a position he has held since 1996. Under Rafael’s leadership and vision, CMHDC has grown to be a corporation with close to $75 million in assets, two subsidiaries, and more than 700 rental units. CMHDC is an active non-profit housing development agency in Chicago focusing on the preservation of naturally occurring affordable housing (NOAH). In 2017 CMHDC won the Neighborhood Development Award from LISC for its Preservation of Affordable Housing efforts in Albany Park. Previously, Rafael held several positions in the Chicago Department of Planning and Development where he worked in the Finance, the Community Development and the Central Area Divisions. His expertise includes housing, finance, advocacy, community development, public policy and strategic planning.
In addition to his job, Rafael serves on several government, non-profit and for- profit boards, sharing his expertise in finance, government regulations, real estate, community development, and corporate governance.
Rafael holds a bachelor’s degree in City and Regional Planning and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the Illinois Institute of Technology. He also holds a Certificate from the Executive Advanced Management Development Program (AMDP) in Real Estate from Harvard University, and a Certificate from the Executive Education Program in Board Governance from the University of Notre Dame, Chicago Campus.
Steve Thomas
Development & Acquisitions
5T Management Inc
Steve Thomas oversees the acquisition and preservation of naturally occurring affordable housing (NOAH) at 5T Management. Since 2004 he has spearheaded the renovation of 2500+ units of market rate and subsidized apartment homes throughout the south side of Chicago. Mr. Thomas is a founding member of the South Side Community Investors Association, serves on the leadership committee of The Preservation Compact, and a member of HUD's Region V Affordable Housing Task Force.
Stacie Young
President and CEO
Community Investment Corporation
Stacie Young is President and CEO of Community Investment Corporation, a non-profit CDFI lender providing financing to preserve affordable rental housing in Chicago area neighborhoods; including $1.5 billion to preserve 63,000 affordable units since 1984. Prior to becoming CEO, Young was Director of The Preservation Compact, a policy collaborative to drive affordable rental preservation strategies. Activities included creating a $34 million mezzanine debt fund for high cost markets; convening an intergovernmental group to preserve 6,200 units; driving building code relief; creating a $48 million loan pool for 1-4 unit buildings, and crafting a new $5 million CDFI 1-4s partnership. Young also worked for DePaul University; the City of Chicago’s Office of the Mayor, and Diversity Inc., a fair housing organization. She completed her undergraduate degree at Northwestern University, and received her master’s degree from the Harris School at the University of Chicago.
Sponsored By:

In-person at the Chicago Cultural Center & Virtual Livestream
Attendance at the in-person events requires purchase of a premium registration ticket and RSVP is required. Attendees will be required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination. More information is here. All in-person sessions will be livestreamed online for those who purchased a basic ticket.
12:00 pm
12:00 pm
- 12:30 pm
Lunch & IHC Annual Meeting
Join the Illinois Housing Council for a special 20th anniversary annual membership meeting where we will reflect on our organization’s accomplishments and share our priorities for the future. Members will also have an opportunity to vote on IHC’s 2022-2023 Board of Directors slate. Members and non-members are welcome to attend this special celebratory annual meeting.
Sponsored By:

12:30 pm
12:30 pm
- 2:00 pm
Federal Policy Roundtable l CM 1
This power panel of national experts will break down the federal policy landscape for affordable housing. Join us for an engaging discussion that will cover the latest legislative advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill to innovative strategies on the horizon to address our nation’s housing crisis.
Nick Brunick
Attorney
Applegate & Thorne-Thomsen
I practice law at Applegate because it gives me the opportunity to make the world more like it should be. Every day, I am blessed to come to work with other like-minded professionals who are passionate about making a difference. We use our knowledge in corporate, real estate, financing, zoning, and tax law to effectively mix private enterprise, social vision, and public policy to create transformative projects.
I represent developers (both for-profit and not-for-profit) who are using a variety of financing sources to build or rehab housing, to launch new businesses, or to create schools, health centers, grocery stores, early childhood centers, manufacturing facilities, or other enterprises or institutions that are needed for healthy and competitive communities. I also represent lenders who are bringing capital to underserved communities, creating innovative loan funds, and providing financing for affordable housing and small businesses. From supportive housing for homeless veterans to affordable apartments for working-class families, our clients address the full spectrum of affordable housing needs in every kind of community and housing market.
In addition to structuring creative real estate projects, I enjoy serving as general counsel to a number of community development corporations (CDCs), housing developers, and CDFI lenders advising them on broader strategic and corporate issues. And I enjoy spending significant time advocating and building support for affordable housing and for efforts to create jobs and opportunity in urban, suburban and rural communities.
David Gasson
Principal/Executive Director
MG Housing Strategies/Housing Advisory Group
David cofounded MG Housing Strategies in early 2021 to advocate full-time on housing issues. David brings a unique set of skills and experience to our nation’s capital on behalf of affordable housing and MGHS clients. The goal of MGHS is to expand the support for our clients affordable housing legislative agenda and foster the coalitions that are necessary to move that agenda to successful outcomes. David’s responsibilities include representing MGHS’s clients housing, tax and regulatory agendas before the administration and Congress in Washington, DC. He regularly meets with administration officials, legislative leaders, and senior legislative staff. He also briefs clients on the legislative and political landscape.
David has served as the Executive Director of the Housing Advisory Group, since 1995. The Housing Advisory Group was established to educate state and federal officials on housing programs and to formulate policies leading to the expansion of affordable housing production. David is an original member of the Affordable Housing ACTION Campaign, where he sits on the steering committee. David is a member of the Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition and the National Leased Housing Association. He works closely with the Council of State Housing Associations on policy and national advocacy. David regularly consults with Members of Congress and congressional staff on policies affecting affordable housing. He is a sought-after speaker at national conferences, industry gatherings, state association meetings and with investor groups across the country. David began his career in Washington working for Representative Richard Gephardt (D-MO) and Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell (D-ME). David serves on the Board of Directors of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library Foundation, the Community Advisory Board of WBUR, Boston’s NPR news station and as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Alliance of Business Leadership.
Beth Mullen
Partner
CohnReznick LLP
Beth Mullen, CPA, is the National Director of the Firm’s Affordable Housing Industry Practice and a member of the Project Finance and Consulting team. She has more than 30 years of experience providing consulting, tax, and accounting services to real estate owners, developers and investors. A significant portion of Beth’s time is devoted to helping clients to facilitate transactions by structuring public/private partnerships that are financed in part by Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, the federal and state historic tax credit programs, opportunity zone equity, the federal New Markets Tax Credit Program, and energy tax credits.
Beth teaches internal and external courses on these tax programs and has published articles in numerous trade publications. Her extensive knowledge of partnership tax law has been invaluable in resolving allocation, at-risk, exit tax, residual value, and other common partnership problems.
Education
• Harvard University: Bachelor of Science, Economics, cum laude
Professional Affiliations
• American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
• Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants
• California Society of Certified Public Accountants
Tony Pickett
Chief Executive Officer
Grounded Solutions Network
Tony Pickett is Chief Executive Officer of Grounded Solutions Network, a national nonprofit organization with over 200 members. Working together with local community leaders, Grounded Solutions advances its mission to cultivate communities — equitable, inclusive and rich in opportunity — by implementing affordable housing solutions that last for generations. Tony’s over 35 years of professional community development experience includes successful permanently affordable shared equity housing development and thought leadership; promoting inclusive housing policies and expanding the use of community land trusts for racial equity impact.
Under Tony’s leadership Grounded Solutions has launched multiple successful national programmatic initiatives, including a multi-city land bank/land trust partnership (“Catalytic Land Cohort”), an inclusive policy focused multi-city cohort (“ForEveryoneHome”) and an exciting 10-year expansion vision for “Lasting Affordability in Housing Now” to achieve 1 million homes.
Kristin Siglin
Vice President of Policy and Partnerships
National Community Stabilization Trust
Kristin Siglin serves as Vice President for Policy and Partnerships at the National Community Stabilization Trust. In this role, she leads NCST’s policy advocacy to help communities address blight and high rates of vacant, abandoned and distressed properties. She also manages the Homeownership Alliance, a policy advocacy collaborative of nonprofit developers and lenders. The mission of the Homeownership Alliance is to increase access to homeownership in order to narrow America’s racial wealth gap, improve access to long-term affordable housing, and to revitalize communities without gentrification.
Akilah Watkins
President / CEO
Center for Community Progress
Dr. Akilah Watkins is President and CEO for the Center for Community Progress (Community Progress), America’s nonprofit leader for turning “Vacant Spaces into Vibrant Places.”
As 25-year national thought leader, conference speaker, and nonprofit executive, her career’s work has focused on helping people, communities, and local/federal government drive impactful reform for key issues including land banking, property vacancy, childhood obesity, community health, and economic development. Dr. Watkins' leadership on diversity, inclusion, racial equity, and community development have helped hundreds of communities.
Today, Dr. Watkins' work as an equity advocate includes leading work in more than 300 communities in 48 states at Community Progress. Collaboratively, Community Progress works to grow strong, equitable communities where vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated properties are transformed into assets for neighbors and neighborhoods.
3:00 pm
3:00 pm
- 4:30 pm
State Plenary Session: Dialogue with Local Leaders l CM 1.5
State and city public officials will provide an update on their priorities for addressing the affordable housing needs of Illinois communities. With an eye toward the future, speakers will discuss the ongoing effects of the pandemic, opportunities for collaboration and the potential impact of new resources.
Beth Demes
Executive Director
Alden Foundation
Alden Foundation is a 25-year-old non-profit housing developer and operator, specializing in affordable senior housing. Under Ms. Demes’s leadership, Alden Foundation has developed and operates more than 1000 units of affordable senior housing in 14 developments throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. Ms. Demes has more than 35 years of experience in affordable housing finance, development and management. Among her previous positions, Ms. Demes directed the asset management operation of a national tax credit investment company and has consulted and advised clients on structuring the financing and management of affordable housing developments. Her experience also includes commercial real estate lending and economic development. Ms. Demes is the outgoing president of the Illinois Housing Council board of directors, an organization in which she has been very active since its early days.
Kristin Faust
Executive Director
Illinois Housing Development Authority
In 2019, Director Kristin Faust was appointed Executive Director of the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA), bringing more than 30 years of affordable housing industry experience to the Authority. As the state’s chief affordable housing official, Executive Director Faust provides leadership in state housing policy to advance IHDA’s mission of financing the creation and preservation of affordable housing throughout Illinois. She is also a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago Community Investment Advisory Council where she advises the FHLBC on ways in which it can better carry out its housing finance and community investment missions in Illinois. Prior to joining IHDA, Executive Director Faust served as President of Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago (NHS), a community development organization committed to helping homeowners and strengthening neighborhoods. Before joining NHS, Executive Director Faust was Chief Credit Officer and Director of Lending & Network Services at Partners for the Common Good. In that role, she was responsible for the growth and oversight of the domestic and international loan portfolio. In addition, Executive Director Faust served as president of the Enterprise Community Loan Fund, one of the largest non-depository community development financial institutions in the
country.
Earlier in her career, Executive Director Faust spent fifteen years in community development banking in Chicago, primarily with LaSalle National Bank, where she started the Community Development Lending Department. Her work in Chicago earned her distinction in Crain’s Chicago Business “Forty Under 40” list. Ms. Faust is a graduate of Harvard University, where she obtained a Master in City and Regional Planning and Brown University, where she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Philosophy.
Christine Haley
State Homelessness Chief
Illinois Department of Human Services
Christine Haley is the State Homelessness Chief with the Illinois Department of Human Services. As State Homelessness Chief, Christine works across Illinois State Agencies to implement a strategic plan to prevent and end homelessness for Illinois residents. Christine chairs of the Illinois Interagency Task Force on Homelessness and co-chairs the Community Advisory Council on Homelessness. Before joining IDHS, Christine was the Director of Housing for Cook County Health (CCH), one of the nation’s largest public safety-net health systems. She worked across CCH Departments, including behavioral health, correctional health, emergency medicine and CountyCare, to design and implement programming to support patients experiencing homelessness. Together with Housing Forward, she was the clinical administrator of a 19-bed medical respite center in Oak Park. Before joining CCH, Christine worked as an administrator in the housing sector with the Corporation for Supportive Housing, Housing Opportunities for Women and Heartland Alliance. She previously served in health equity positions within the Massachusetts and Cleveland Departments of Public Health. She was the founding Executive Director of the Chicago Torture Justice Center. Christine holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Notre Dame and a Master of Science in Social Administration from Case Western Reserve University. Christine lives in Chicago with her husband Peter and three children.
Marisa Novara
Commissioner
City of Chicago Department of Housing
Marisa Novara was appointed Commissioner of the Department of Housing (DOH) by Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot in June 2019.
As DOH Commissioner, Novara directs the City's efforts to keep Chicago affordable for all income levels through projects and policies that address the needs of tenants, landlords, developers, homeowners and other community stakeholders.
DOH programs, under her direction, support affordable housing construction and rehabilitation projects, provide purchase assistance for first-time homebuyers, enable accessible repairs for seniors, provide grants for home improvement projects, and offer development incentives for the redevelopment of vacant and abandoned buildings. DOH also administers the City's affordability requirement for multi-family construction projects and monitors compliance for all City-assisted affordable housing projects and policies.
Before joining the City, Novara was vice president of the Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC). During her eight-year tenure at MPC, Novara designed and managed the Cost of Segregation project, a 2017 study that concluded how decades-old patterns of racial and economic segregation cost the Chicago region an estimated $4.4 billion in additional income each year. She also led the subsequent creation of the region’s first comprehensive guide to a more racially equitable future, among other reports, studies and articles.
Prior to MPC, Novara directed affordable rental and for-sale housing development for Lawndale Christian Development Corp.
Novara has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan in sociology, master’s degree from the University of Chicago’s Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy and Practice, certificate in affordable housing finance, development and management from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and master’s in urban planning from the Istituto Politecnico di Milano in Milan, Italy.
She lives in the Little Italy neighborhood with her family.
Tracey Scott
Chief Executive Officer
Chicago Housing Authority
In 2020, the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) Board appointed Tracey Scott as chief executive officer of the nation’s third largest housing authority, serving 64,000 families in Chicago. Under her leadership, CHA has closed $270 million in public housing rehabilitation projects and new mixed-income developments. With a vision of neighborhood revitalization as a goal, CHA has expanded education and employment services for residents to create more pathways for families to achieve economic independence.
Ms. Scott serves on the board of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities and as President of the Moving to Work Collaborative. Before coming to CHA, Ms. Scott served in leadership positions with the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority, Atlanta Housing, and AT&T. She has served in volunteer leadership roles with Partners for Home Atlanta, the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis’ community advisory board, and Patelco Credit Union.
She holds degrees from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and Emory University.
Diane M. Shelley
HUD Midwest Regional Administrator
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Diane M. Shelley was appointed by President Joe Biden to serve as the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Midwest Regional Administrator. Regional Administrator Shelley is based in Chicago and oversees HUD operations, seven field offices and federal housing assistance throughout the six-state region, which covers Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin. She also is HUD's regional liaison to elected officials, congressional delegations, associations and stakeholders.
As a lifelong social justice advocate working to eliminate poverty and economic insecurity, Shelley joined HUD with a long record of public service. Prior to joining HUD, she served as an elected Illinois state court judge for 15 years, resolving complex business, construction, housing, and employment issues. She conducted more than 100 jury trials and negotiated settlement of many more. The Illinois Supreme Court also appointed Shelley to the Commission on Poverty Elimination and Economic Security. Before serving as a judge, she practiced law for nearly 25 years, beginning her career with grassroots nonprofit organizations and going on to head litigation for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, litigating and managing complex construction disputes and environmental issues.
A Chicago native with roots in the city’s Bronzeville neighborhood, Shelley earned a juris doctorate degree from University of Iowa College of Law and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She is a former president of the Illinois Judges Association, a former chair of the Illinois Judicial Council, and continues as a dedicated member of several bar associations, including the American Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, Chicago Bar Association, Cook County Bar Association and Black Women Lawyers’ Association, and civic organizations.
Sponsored By:

Have Questions? Look Here.
Registration will open in January, 2022. Stay tuned for details.
No. Membership is not required to attend the Forum but it does get you discounts on registration. Visit www.ilhousing.org to learn more about IHC membership.
IHC members must be logged into their account in order to select the member rate for event registrations. If you continue to have trouble, please contact Gwen McCain at [email protected].
All sessions will be available online for live streaming. The in-person events taking place on March 31st will be located at the Chicago Cultural Center at 78 E. Washington St., Chicago, IL 60602. Premium Registration and a COVID-19 vaccination are required to attend the in-person events.
Attendees must purchase a Premium registration ticket to attend the in-person events on March 31st. Complimentary sponsor and member tickets require a RSVP by February 11th. Limited space is available and tickets are not guaranteed. At this time, COVID-19 vaccination will be required to attend the in-person events on March 31st. IHC will closely track public health guidelines and update attendance requirements as needed as the event date approaches.
Registration and sponsorship payments can be made online or by check. If you are paying by check, please note your invoice number in the Memo section.
Make checks payable to:
Illinois Housing Council
310 S. Peoria St. Suite 500
Chicago, IL 60607
All requests for special accommodations should be directed to Gwen McCain at [email protected].
Yes, a complete attendee list will be available to all sponsors and registrants in advance of the event. Please log in using your email address and passcode to access the attendee list. IHC will not charge for access to the attendee list. Please be aware of phishing scams and do not release your personal information to anyone you do not know.
All registered attendees should receive their login credentials by March 18th. Please monitor your email for more information.
At this time, COVID-19 vaccination will be required to attend the in-person events on March 31st. IHC will closely track public health guidelines and update attendance requirements as needed as the event date approaches.
IHC has reserved a hotel block for the in-person attendees at the Renaissance Hotel at 1 West Upper Wacker Drive on March 30th and 31st. Rooms are available for $199 per night. Use this link to reserve a room (https://book.passkey.com/e/50261011) or call the Renaissance at (312) 372-7200.
The Chicago Cultural Center is located at 78 East Washington, Chicago Illinois 60602.
Parking: Nearby parking garages are located at Grant Park North Garage (25 N. Michigan Ave.), Grant Park South Garage (325 S. Michigan Ave.) and Millennium Park Garage & Millennium Lakeside Garage (5 S. Columbus Dr.). Pay in person at each garage location or pre-pay online for discounted parking. Visit www.millenniumgarages.com/rates or call (312) 616-0600 for 24/7 customer service.
Public Transportation:
- From the elevated lines: exit at Washington/Wabash and walk east.
- From the subway: exit at Lake (Red Line) or Washington (Blue Line) and walk east.
- Served by Michigan Avenue buses 3, 4, 19, 20, 26, 60, 66, 124, 143, 147, 151, 157 and Washington St. buses 4, J14, 20, 56, 66, 147.
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