All times Eastern. Agenda subject to change.

Unless otherwise noted, sessions are open to all attendees registered for the MRBs 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

1:15 pm – 2:15 pm

COMMUNITY MEET-UP | Loan Servicing

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

Kick off the Institute with your HFA peers in 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 LEADERS
Josh Barraza, Default Manager | Utah Housing Corporation
Richelle Zimmerman, Manager of Default Servicing | Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency

2:15 pm – 2:45 pm 

Break

2:45 pm – 3:45 pm

COMMUNITY MEET-UP | Homeownership

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

Kick off the Institute with your HFA peers in 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
Lindsay Hall, Chief Operating Officer of Single Family Programs | Tennessee Housing Development Agency
Carrie Hamaker, Single Family Administrator | Alabama Housing Finance Authority

3:45 pm – 4:15 pm 

Break

4:15 pm – 5:15 pm

PLENARY SESSION

A Conversation with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

Leaders from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac review their 2025 affordable homeownership initiatives and share highlights from their Affordable Housing Goals and Duty to Serve efforts for the coming year and beyond.

DISCUSSION LEADER
Rosemarie Sabatino, Senior Homeownership Policy Specialist | National Council of State Housing Agencies

SPEAKERS
Nena Dial, Interim Vice President, Single-Family Affordable Lending | Freddie Mac
Yannick Diouf, Business Manager, Single Family Market Engagement | Fannie Mae

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

PLENARY SESSION

Federal Housing Policy Updates

Federal agency leaders have been invited to discuss how the government shutdown impacted their single-family homeownership programs and provide updates on their 2026 regulatory priorities and how they may affect HFA homeownership programs.

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

SPEAKERS
Matthew Jones, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Single Family Housing | U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Gregory Keith, Senior Vice President for Enterprise Risk and Chief Risk Officer | Ginnie Mae

10:15 am – 10:45 am

Break

10:45 am – 12:00 pm

PLENARY SESSION

Capital and Bond Markets Landscape

Leading HFA partners share their bond issuance and capital markets access success stories from 2025 and their plans for 2026. Hear about the economic trends that may affect HFAs and their programs and how to prepare for what’s coming.

DISCUSSION LEADER
Thomas Pearson, Executive Director | Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority

SPEAKERS
Nicholas Fluehr, Managing Director | Wells Fargo Securities
Ferdinand Perrault, Vice President and Senior Credit Officer | Moody's Ratings
Aulii Taitano, Executive Director | Morgan Stanley
Elizabeth Vernon, Senior Vice President, Capital Markets | Lakeview Loan Servicing, LLC

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

CONCURRENT SESSIONS

Federal Loan Servicing Updates

Key federal officials who oversee mortgage loan servicing policy for the Federal Housing Administration and U.S. Department of Agriculture offer a recap their 2025 policy changes and a look ahead at policy priorities on the horizon.

DISCUSSION LEADER
Pamela Holmes, Director of Homeownership Servicing | Virginia Housing

SPEAKERS
Katrina Durbak, Housing Program Officer, Office of Single Family Asset Management | U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Richard Kane, Acting Director, Guaranteed Loan Division | U.S. Department of Agriculture

MRBs 101

With mortgage revenue bonds accounting for two-thirds of HFA production, now is the perfect time for a refresher on MRB basics. Industry experts offer a tutorial on income and property eligibility requirements, bond issuance and structuring, compliance monitoring, and rating agency roles.

DISCUSSION LEADER
David Sullivan, Managing Director, Homeownership Finance | Georgia Department of Community Affairs/Georgia Housing and Finance Authority

SPEAKERS
Musharrof Ahmed, Senior Analyst | S&P Global Ratings
Charles Karimbakas, Managing Director | cfX Incorporated
Nicholas Koontz, Partner | Hawkins Delafield & Wood LLP
Brendan Watson, Vice President | Barclays

2:15 pm – 2:45 pm 

Break

2:45 pm – 3:45 pm

CONCURRENT SESSIONS

Loan Funding Strategies

Learn how current market conditions drive which loan funding strategies are likely to succeed. Delve into the details on taxable bonds and non-MRB sources and discuss how to identify the best execution to fit your needs in the market. 

DISCUSSION LEADER
Thomas Haffey, Secondary Marketing Manager | Colorado Housing and Finance Authority

SPEAKERS
Mike Awadis, Senior Managing Director/Co-Head of HFA TBA | Hilltop Securities Inc.
Jack Ballou, Municipal Advisor | Caine Mitter & Associates Incorporated
Michael Koessel, Director | BofA Securities

Strategies for Addressing Seriously Delinquent Borrowers, Part 1

A mortgage servicing professional discusses innovative ways to reach delinquent homeowners with critical information about their loss mitigation options. Discover how new reporting tools make it easier to communicate mortgage payment implications while helping servicers navigate potential compliance risks.

SPEAKER
Donna Schmidt, President and Chief Executive Officer | DLS Servicing Consultants, LLC

3:45 pm – 4:15 pm 

Break

4:15 pm – 5:15 pm

CONCURRENT SESSIONS

Strategies for Addressing Seriously Delinquent Borrowers, Part 2

As the costs of owning a home increase, homeowners need more help than ever to understand what their options are. Gain new insights on strategies to empower borrowers who can no longer afford homeownership to transition from their current situations.

DISCUSSION LEADER
Rosemarie Sabatino, Senior Homeownership Policy Specialist | National Council of State Housing Agencies

SPEAKERS
David Berenbaum, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Housing Counseling | U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Daren Blomquist, Vice President of Market Economics | Auction.com
Ryan Foxx, Senior Vice President of Default Administration | LoanCare

Structuring Innovative DPA Programs

Down payment assistance is increasingly important to enable first-time homeownership. Industry leaders discuss how state HFAs can fund and structure DPA programs and use technology to reach even more home buyers.

DISCUSSION LEADER
Carmellita Turner, Business Development and Outreach Manager | District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency

SPEAKERS
Damian Busch, Senior Vice President | Jefferies LLC
Jason Connolly, President | HOTB Software Solutions
Sonia Joyner, Director of Home Ownership Programs | North Carolina Housing Finance Agency
Michael Neal, Senior Fellow | Urban Institute

5:15 pm – 6:15 pm 

MRBs and Section 8 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

Shared Equity Purchase Models to Increase Homeownership

Learn how to create and operationalize shared equity models, such as community land trusts, and how they differ from fee simple ownership. Explore the implications for mortgage loan approvals, documentation, and loss mitigation. 

DISCUSSION LEADER
Dan McMahon, Director, Home Finance | Colorado Housing and Finance Authority

SPEAKERS
Greg McDonald, Advisor | Fannie Mae
Jake Naugle, Director of Homeownership Lending | Virginia Housing
Doug Ryan, Vice President of Housing Policy | Grounded Solutions Network

10:00 am – 10:30 am 

Break

10:30 am – 12:00 pm

PLENARY SESSION

Supply, Supply, Supply: Approaches for Addressing the Market’s Thorniest Issue

Explore HFA programs facilitating increased affordable housing production. Discuss the HFA role in financing infrastructure to jumpstart housing construction; acquisition, development, construction lending; construction-to-permanent loan products; and encouraging innovative building techniques.

DISCUSSION LEADER
Patricia Harriman, Director of Homeownership | MaineHousing

SPEAKERS
Aron Chilewich, Program Manager for Manufactured Housing Initiatives | New York State Homes and Community Renewal
Steve Clements, Director of Single Family Programs | South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority
Dottie Sheppick, Founder | Specialty Mortgage Product Solutions, LLC
Cassandra Skidanov, Senior Manager, Single-Family Affordable Lending | Freddie Mac