All times Eastern. Agenda subject to change.

Unless otherwise noted, sessions are open to all attendees registered for the Section 8 module.

Wednesday, January 14

12:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Badge Pick-Up and Registration

12:30 pm – 4:15 pm

Zeffert's Java Joint Open

2:45 pm – 3:45 pm 

COMMUNITY MEET-UP | Contract Administration

Open only to HFA and Associate members registered for the Section 8 module.

Don’t miss this opportunity to talk openly with your state HFA colleagues about your common contract administration challenges and concerns. Get answers to your pressing questions and exchange best practices on procurement, contract administration, HUD compliance reviews, asset management, compliance monitoring, and more.

DISCUSSION LEADERS
Daniel Buyer, Vice President/Assistant Commissioner, Rental Assistance Programs | New York State Homes and Community Renewal
Alyson Fleming, Section 8 Director | Iowa Finance Authority

3:45 pm – 4:15 pm 

Break

4:15 pm – 5:15 pm

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 (RAD), the FHA/FFB risk-sharing initiative, USDA’s new authority to decouple rental assistance from direct loans, and other multifamily debt products.

DISCUSSION LEADER
Brian Sullivan, Chief Programs Officer | Iowa Finance Authority

SPEAKERS
Jacqueline Arnold, Senior Production Specialist, Office of Multifamily Production | U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Tom Davis, Director, Office of Recapitalization | U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Zachary Skochko, Senior Production Specialist and MAP Guide Lead, Office of Multifamily Production | U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Karissa Stiers, Multifamily Housing Deputy Administrator | U.S. Department of Agriculture 

Proactive Physical Inspections

Explore the latest physical inspection strategies to streamline compliance site visits and noncompliance reporting. Understand implementation of HUD’s National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE) and how they are impacting compliance in multiple subsidy developments. Discuss best practices to identify fair housing and accessibility violations and to provide reasonable accommodation.

DISCUSSION LEADER
Joe Prichard, Managing Director of Multifamily Asset Compliance | Kentucky Housing Corporation

SPEAKERS
Michael Bauer, Field Director of Construction Quality Assurance | Zeffert & Associates, Inc.
Andrew Bowden, Chief Operating Officer | Spectrum Compliance
Wendy Fitzhugh, Vice President, HUD Programs | National Center for Housing Management

Thursday, January 15

7:45 am – 5:00 pm 

Badge Pick-Up and Registration

8:00 am – 8:55 am

Continental Breakfast

9:00 am – 10:15 am

JOINT CONCURRENT SESSIONS | Section 8 and Housing Credit Modules

Implementing HOTMA Compliance Requirements

Survey the status of HOTMA implementation and its impact on affordable properties with multiple subsidies. Review changes in tenant income calculation rules, income exclusions, treatment of student financial assistance, new asset calculation requirements, and self-certification rules.  

TRAINER
Steven Rosenblatt, Owner | Spectrum Seminars

Multifamily Preservation Strategies

Explore solutions to preservation challenges as affordability restrictions expire and multifamily developments in the Housing Credit, HUD, and USDA portfolios face other threats. Discuss strategies to assess the likelihood of expiring affordability, identify capital needs, optimize recapitalization financing, and manage the legal and financial structuring challenges involved in preserving at-risk properties.

DISCUSSION LEADER
Marisa Button, Managing Director of Strategic Initiatives | Florida Housing Finance Corporation

SPEAKERS
Priya Jayachandran, Chief Executive Officer | National Housing Trust
Jennifer Larson, Director of the Multifamily Office of Asset Management and Portfolio Oversight | U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
James Lehnhoff, Assistant Commissioner, Multifamily | Minnesota Housing
Mark Migliacci, Vice President, Structured Finance | National Equity Fund, Inc.

10:15 am – 10:45 am

Break

10:45 am – 12:00 pm

PLENARY SESSION

Multifamily Performance Trends

Gain a better understanding of 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.
This session will be held jointly with the Housing Credit Module.

DISCUSSION LEADER
Brian Miller, Director, Asset Management | Colorado Housing and Finance Authority

SPEAKERS
Jeff Adler, Vice President, Yardi Matrix | Yardi Systems Inc.
Andrea Ponsor, Chief Operating Officer | National Housing Trust
Regan St. Pierre, Director, Tax Credit Investment Services | CohnReznick LLP
Michael Rossi, Managing Director | Enterprise Housing Credit Investments

12:00 pm – 1:15 pm

Networking Lunch

Plated meal service ends at 12:45 pm.

12:30 pm – 4:15 pm

Zeffert's Java Joint Open

1:15 pm – 2:15 pm

PLENARY SESSION

HUD and Industry Outlook

A HUD representative will discuss the administration’s latest rental assistance contract administration program and oversight activities and plans for 2026. Industry leaders and NCSHA partners will offer their perspectives and insights on what to expect in 2026 from the administration and Congress, including the impact of the federal government shutdown and staffing reductions, the possibility of a future shutdown, Section 8 funding and policy updates, and potential changes to other HUD multifamily programs.

DISCUSSION LEADER
Garth Rieman, Director of Housing Advocacy and Strategic Initiatives | National Council of State Housing Agencies

SPEAKERS
Mark Dominick, Deputy Director, Office of Asset Management | U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Larry Keys, Jr., Vice President of Government Affairs | National Affordable Housing Management Association
Eric Oberdorfer, Director of Congressional Relations | National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials

2:15 pm – 2:45 pm 

Break

2:45 pm – 3:45 pm

PLENARY SESSION

A New Era in Fair Housing Compliance, Part 1

During this two-part session, learn about recent developments in fair housing compliance, how to avoid potential pitfalls, and legal risks amid rapidly changing federal guidance. Gain a better understanding of the effects of recent regulatory and subregulatory actions, including HUD notices and executive orders, as well as the underlying statutory framework that governs fair housing.

TRAINERS
Wendy Fitzhugh, Vice President, HUD Programs | National Center for Housing Management
Amanda Gross, Vice President of Compliance | US Housing Consultants

3:45 pm – 4:15 pm 

Break

4:15 pm – 5:15 pm

PLENARY SESSION

A New Era in Fair Housing Compliance, Part 2

Refer to the session description under Part 1.

TRAINERS
Wendy Fitzhugh, Vice President, HUD Programs | National Center for Housing Management
Amanda Gross, Vice President of Compliance | US Housing Consultants

5:15 pm – 6:15 pm 

Section 8 and MRBs Happy Hour Sponsored by HDS Companies

Expand your network as you connect with old friends and make new ones among your peers in the affordable housing community.

Friday, January 16

8:00 am – 8:55 am 

Continental Breakfast

8:30 am – 12:00 pm 

Badge Pick-Up and Registration

9:00 am – 10:00 am

PLENARY SESSION

Contract Administration Concepts and Practices, Part 1

During this two-part session, expert trainers cover important aspects of Section 8 contract administration, including managing housing assistance payment contracts, preparing management and occupancy reviews, tenant selection and income verification, RAD project-based assistance, and HUD’s Tenant Rental Assistance Certification System (TRACS).

TRAINERS
Sheryl Putnam, Senior Director of Professional Services | Nan McKay & Associates, Inc.
Heather Sievers, Senior Trainer and Consultant | Nan McKay & Associates, Inc.

10:00 am – 10:30 am 

Break

10:30 am – 12:00 pm

PLENARY SESSION

Contract Administration Concepts and Practices, Part 2

Refer to the session description under Part 1.

TRAINERS
Sheryl Putnam, Senior Director of Professional Services | Nan McKay & Associates, Inc.
Heather Sievers, Senior Trainer and Consultant | Nan McKay & Associates, Inc.