Derrick Belgarde, Executive Director, Chief Seattle Club: An enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians of Oregon, and also Chippewa-Cree from Rocky Boy Montana, Derrick serves on the board of Capitol Hill Housing, Downtown Emergency Service Center, Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness, and the Washington State Affordable Housing Advisory Board. He completed his undergraduate in Public Affairs Magna Cum Laude and went on to complete his Master’s in Public Administration, both at Seattle University. He is a proud father of three and is married to the wonderful Lua Belgarde.

Laura Benjamin, AICP, Principal Planner, Puget Sound Regional Council - Growth Management Division: Laura's work addresses regional growth management and land use policy, housing and housing affordability, equitable transit-oriented development, and implementation through local plans. the Puget Sound Regional Council is the metropolitan planning organization that develops policies and coordinates decisions about regional growth, transportation and economic development planning within King, Pierce, Snohomish and Kitsap counties.

Andrew Bjorn, AICP, Ph.D., Senior Associate, Berk Consulting: Andrew has a background in urban land economics and development planning. He has expertise in civil engineering and policy development and has worked with communities and organizations across western Canada and the Pacific Northwest. He created the Housing Market Policy Dashboard to support the analysis of policy scenarios for the City of Tacoma Affordable Housing Action Strategy, coordinated the development of GIS models for the Snohomish County Southwest Urban Growth Area (SWUGA) Boundary Planning Study, and was the lead policy analyst for the Edmonds Housing Strategy. He has extensive experience in growth planning and management and has worked with clients to address a range of complex urban and regional planning issues. Prior to joining BERK, Andrew served as a Senior Planner/Economist for a consulting firm in Calgary, Alberta working on regional planning and policy development. He was also an instructor at the Department of Urban Design and Planning at the University of Washington and the Universitetet for miljø- og biovitenskap in Ås, Norway.

Alex Brennan, Executive Director, Futurewise: Since becoming Executive Director in 2019, Alex has built new successful campaigns to address climate change, habitat and farmland protection, and housing affordability in state and local planning. He previously spent 8 years as an organizer and planner at a community-based affordable housing provider in Seattle. Prior to that, he worked as a real estate and economic development consultant. He holds a Master’s in City Planning from the University of California, Berkeley.

Steve Butler, Planning and Policy Manager, MRSC: Steve conducts research and provides planning advice to cities, towns, and counties throughout Washington. He has been involved in most aspects of community planning, both in the public and private sectors, in the states of Washington, Oregon, Maine and Wisconsin. Steve has been the President of both the American Planning Association–Washington Chapter (APA-WA) and the Maine Association of Planners. He is a co-chair of the APA-WA’s “Youth in Planning” Task Force. Steve was a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners’ (AICP) Ethics Committee from 2011-2020 and and also served on the AICP Code Update Task Force. In 2008, he was inducted into AICP’s College of Fellows. Steve received a M.S. in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a B.A. in Sociology from St. Lawrence University (Canton, NY).

Ann Campbell, Inaugural Managing Director, Washington State Department of Commerce - Homeownerhip Unit: Ann has more than 15 years’ experience working with a broad array of tribal nations, local governments, nonprofit organizations, and community groups who make Washington state the best place to work and play. Her efforts have assisted communities throughout the state to establish a strong foundation for healthy families and economies by ensuring clean drinking water, appropriate waste handling, and affordable housing. Ann is a native Washingtonian who dearly loves all aspects of our state: from the dense cities to the high deserts, to the Sasquatch haunted forests. When not working to support Washington citizens, Ann will be found indulging in her love of the outdoors. Ann lives in Union with her husband and three dogs.

Jonathan Carollo, MSW, Housing Capacity Program Manager, Washington Department of Social and Health Services - Aging and Long Term Support Administration: Jonathan has worked in social services for over 30 years, 18 years of which have been serving individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Jonathan has provided direct service as well as managing/directing transitional housing, Permeant Supportive Housing, Rapid Re-housing and Fund Raising.

Kimberly Castle, B.A., CPC, Permanent Supportive Housing Program Manager/Trainer, Washington State Health Care Authority’s Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery, serving Western Washington: Kimberly delivers technical assistance and training to help agencies provide quality Supportive Housing services to fidelity and Supportive Housing as a Medicaid reimbursable service. Kimberly’s passion is care coordination and serving individuals holistically from unhoused to finding a home in their community. Ms. Castle brings an understanding of not only the issues that face individuals with behavioral health challenges but an overall understanding of the various systems that may be involved in that person’s life. A Washington native, Kimberly began her journey as a certified peer counselor in 2011 when she was employed as a Permanent Supportive Housing Recovery Coach for the Permanent Options for Recovery Centered Housing pilot program. She went on to become a peer case manager and an outreach specialist for the Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness program for two years before moving into her current role. Kimberly earned her bachelor’s degree in social science from Washington State University.

Honorable Frank Chopp,  Washington State Representative - 43rd District: Frank Chopp was born and raised in East Bremerton. His father worked in the shipyard and his mom worked in a school cafeteria. He graduated with honors from the University of Washington in 1975 and started work as a community organizer with a passion for social justice. He worked as a director for the Cascade Community Center and the Pike Market Senior Center before becoming the Executive Director of the Fremont Public Association (FPA). Now known as Solid Ground, the FPA provided community services, including a food bank, employment programs, and several housing projects. It offered 30 different programs that helped more than 30k households each year. Frank was elected to the House of Representatives in 1994 and became co-Speaker of the House in 1999 and Speaker in 2002. As Speaker, Frank committed himself to “Working Togethre for One Washington.” The agenda included policies that reflected the priorities of the people – a strong public education system, economic opportunity, health care for all, good-paying jobs, and the social safety net. In April of 2019, Frank stepped aside as Speaker to focus on the very issues that brought him to the legislature in the first place: affordable housing, economic and social justice, and health care, including for those with mental illness. He continues to have lots of ideas with a lot of energy, to serve the people.

Amy Clark, Account Manager, RALLY: A seasoned communications strategist, Amy brings her expertise in earned media, message development and digital strategy to her work motivating people from all walks of life to care — and to take action. With a passion for authentic storytelling in her work supporting advocates for education equity, affordable housing, walkable communities and economic justice, Amy believes deeply that lasting change is possible when impacted people take the lead in advocating for their own futures. Amy stays connected to her community as a volunteer with local nonprofits and loves to get her steps in during election season registering voters and getting out the vote.

Jessica Clawson, Partner, McCullough Hill Leary, PS: Jessica works with private developers on land use and permitting issues throughout the state of Washington, with a specific focus on complex projects within complicated urban jurisdictions. Her depth of contacts in many jurisdictions allow for efficient and successful client engagements. She makes it her job to know all the right people. Her experience with clients has resulted in the permitting of tens of thousands of multifamily units, several million square feet of Class A office, and thousands of hotel rooms.

Jacques Colon, Strategic Manager, City of Tacoma: Jacques works in support of Tacoma 2025, a community-informed strategic vision and framework for Tacoma’s future. In order to achieve the vision of Tacoma 2025, he helps lead the City Council Priorities process and initiatives including the Affordable Housing Action Strategy, the Equity Index, and the Tacoma Anchor Institutions Network.

Ian Davie, Chief Operating Officer, Home Forward: Ian is Chief Operating Officer at Home Forward where he works with teams deploying housing services in pursuit of anti-racist policies and outcomes. At Home Forward, Ian supports rent assistance, homelessness initiatives, property management, and asset management. Ian’s housing stability work is informed by an upbringing in rural Oregon, college in Los Angeles, and a dozen years of real life education in New York City. During those years, his focus on tenant rights, eviction prevention, housing system reform, and anti-racism policy work expanded as a poverty law attorney and Deputy Director of Housing at Bronx Legal Services. Ian and his partner returned to Oregon in 2016, welcomed babies in 2018 and 2019, and still sneak in bike rides, jogs, and scooter parties under the supervision and direction of two little ones.

Joel DuChesne, Co-founder, Community Boss: Starting off as Parking Boss, his company began offering parking management solutions to the multifamily industry in 2011. They help communities manage shared spaces, including parking, amenities, and more by focusing on fairness and availability.

Breanne Durham, Main Street Director, Washington Trust for Historic Preservation: Breanne supports Main Street, a statewide network of communities working to build vitality in their downtown districts using the Main Street Approach®. In addition to supporting to local Main Street programs across the state, Breanne currently serves as a member of Main Street America’s Leadership Advisory Council and Washington SBDC’s Advisory Council. A native of Eastern Washington, Breanne grew up in Clarkston and is a graduate of Whitworth University in Spokane. Prior to working for the Washington Trust in 2015, Breanne spent five years as the Executive Director of Beautiful Downtown Lewiston, one of Idaho’s first designated Main Street programs.

Megan Duvall, Historic Preservation Officer, City of Spokane: Prior to taking on her current role in Spokane in 2014, she spent nearly fifteen years as the Certified Local Government Coordinator and the Survey Program Manager for the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation in Olympia, Washington. She spent two years as the Executive Director of the Enumclaw Downtown Partnership, a Main Street Program, before taking the position with DAHP. A native of Spokane, she graduated with a Fine Arts undergraduate degree from Washington State University and studied historic preservation at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia where she earned an MFA in Historic Preservation.

Teena Ellison, Director of Housing Services, Compass Housing Alliance: Teena has been in the housing and supportive service industry since 1994. Prior to that, she worked in social services in residential treatment and as a school counselor. Being part of housing and services has been a professional fit, to meet basic human needs and then provide the rest alongside the resident to empower and encourage over long periods of time, has proven to be effective. It has always been such an honor and privilege that others have invited me into their life's journey.

Dan Emmanuel, Senior Research Analyst, at the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC): Dan has worked at NLIHC since 2013. Aside from NLIHC’s annual reports on housing needs, much of Dan’s work centers on the National Housing Preservation Database (NHPD). Dan’s most recent NHPD projects have focused on emerging preservation challenges and data issues in the LIHTC program. He is currently working on a project examining the utilization of tenant-based rental assistance in tax credit housing

Ceil Erickson, Director-Nonprofit Relations, Seattle Foundation: Ceil has over 25 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, where she has worked with a broad range of organizations and community initiatives and developed a wealth of community knowledge. Prior to joining the Seattle Foundation, Ceil worked in fundraising and marketing for Planned Parenthood and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. She has been active in philanthropy at the national level, serving on a number of committees for the Council on Foundations and ProNet, an affinity group of the Council of Foundations. She has dedicated her professional life to identifying and responding to the most challenging issues facing the Greater Seattle region. Ceil is a graduate of Leadership Tomorrow. She earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Mary Washington College. 

Tawnie Fransen, Deputy Director of Asset Management, Compass Housing Alliance: Tawnie is passionate about affordable housing and is a Housing Credit Certified Professional, certified in Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, Public Housing Management, Project-Based Voucher Management and Blended-Occupancy Management. She believes housing is a human right and that service-enriched housing is essential in addressing chronic homelessness. She has one daughter, and in her spare time loves to see live music, follow politics, and go on hikes with her family.

Spencer Gardner, Planning Director, City of Spokane: Spencer recently started as the Planning Director for the City of Spokane. Before that, he worked as a consultant on planning and engineering projects for communities of varying sizes around the country. Spencer earned a Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Wisconsin and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Brigham Young University. He spent the past dozen years working for two private planning and design firms working on a variety of planning efforts. His role includes providing strategic leadership and support to Planning Services while overseeing growth management and comprehensive planning.

Jennifer Gregerson, Special Projects Manager, City of Everett: Jennifer focuses on housing development and policy. A University of Washington Master’s of Urban Planning graduate, she comes to the City with a background of eight years of service as Mayor of neighboring Mukilteo. Jennifer is focused on Everett’s vision to be fiercely pro-housing. Jennifer serves on the Domestic Violence Services of Snohomish County and is the past chair of the Snohomish County Alliance for Housing Affordability

Leslie Anne Grove, Executive Director, Northwest Meditation Center: Leslie attended Gonzaga University and graduated from Central Washington State College (now, University), Ellensburg, WA, (B.A. in Music Education, Hon., 1970). She pursued graduate study at Gonzaga in education, philosophy and law, receiving her JD from G.U. Law School in 1985. Her mediation training includes Community Boards of Spokane, Mediation Consortium of Washington, Conflict Resolution Service, Northwest Arbitration and Mediation Service, and Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University. Leslie practices primarily facilitative mediation and teaches conflict resolution skills. As an adjunct, she has taught Mediation Theory and Practice at Gonzaga University School of Law. She is a board member of Washington Mediation Association, recording secretary of Resolution Washington, and is currently executive director of Northwest Mediation Center (NMC), a non-profit dispute resolution center in Spokane. NMC is one of 21 dispute resolution centers in Washington offering the Eviction Resolution Pilot Program.

Khalil Halim, Executive Director, Second Chance, Inc.: Khalil s an ex-Army veteran who has dedicated his life to service. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Information Systems Management and graduated Summa Cum Laude. Prior to Second Chance, Khalil served as the Deputy Director for It Takes a Village for 12 years and was on the Second Chance Board of Directors for seven years. Khalil also served on the Mayor’s Office of HIV Resources Planning Council - Denver, and as the Chair of Priorities Setting and Allocation Committee. He was appointed by the Governor of Colorado to the Colorado HIV/AIDS Prevention Program Grant Review Committee, where he implemented and oversaw one of Aurora’s Homeless Prevention and Rapid Rehousing Project, as well provided one-on-one counseling and group level intervention counseling at It Takes a Village. Somehow, Khalil still finds the time to earn an iconic urban name in the DJ game. 

Linda Hall, General Organization Support and Eastgate Campus Center Project, Congregations for the Homeless: Linda has over 20 years of experience in nonprofit leadership positions, including providing owner/sponsor representation and support for complex real estate development projects that incorporate affordable housing components. In her position, she facilitated the collaboration among multiple agencies that resulted in the Eastgate Housing Campus, which will provide a range of housing and services on ten acres. Since 2015, she also has supported organizations in transition through her work as a consultant with Loveall Price & Associates. She was the lead consultant supporting the Together Center staff and board to lay the groundwork for their campus transformation – an ambitious redevelopment that required a multiagency partnership to incorporate the desired community and services spaces and affordable housing. Linda is a Steering Committee member for the Eastside Housing Roundtable and is an active member of the Eastside Affordable Housing Coalition.

Muammar Hermanstyne, Real Estate Project Manager, Africatown Plaza: Muammar is currently working on the 132-unit Africatown Plaza project in Seattle, WA that is being developed in conjunction with Africatown Community Land Trust (aka ACLT) and Capitol Hill Housing. Prior to this role, Muammar worked directly with Capitol Hill Housing in Seattle on a HUD Section 8 recapitalization strategy. Muammar previously worked with Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corporation as a Senior Project Manager, as well as on state and local financing submissions. Prior to that, he worked with the City of Boston at the Department of Neighborhood Development as an NSP 2 Program Specialist, working in a project management capacity to underwrite loans, provide technical assistance to owners and banks and to act as a direct interface between banks, real estate brokers and construction professionals to aid in the completion of homeownership initiatives under the auspices of the City of Boston.

Laura Hodgson, Senior Planner, Washington State Department of Commerce - Growth Management Services: Laura currently manages development of guidance for communities implementing House Bill 1220, which changes the way communities plan for housing to better accommodate housing needs of individuals from all economic segments of the state. Previously, Laura oversaw the $5M HB 1923 Increasing Residential Building Capacity grant program administered by Commerce. Prior to starting work at Commerce in January 2020, she worked for a county planning department in Maryland and did consulting work in transportation and urban planning. Laura has a Bachelor’s of Architecture and a Master’s in Urban and Regional Planning from Virginia Tech.

Matt Hoffman, Senior Planner, Maul Foster & Alongi, Inc.: Matt has over 15 years of experience advising public and private clients on real estate matters related to land use planning, development economics, and real estate strategy. Combined with this expertise, his technical dexterity, environmental science background, public finance, and public engagement experience are instrumental to providing actionable guidance on predevelopment feasibility and alternatives analysis, market analysis, economic development and marketing strategy, and acquisitions and dispositions. Matt has honed niche specialization of developing web-based platforms that integrate divergent but related data to inform decisions and communications. For ten years before joining MFA, Matt worked as a senior project manager at Heartland, LLC, a Seattle-based real estate advisory firm.

Whitney Joy Howard, Statewide Supportive Housing Lead, Aging and Long-Term Support Administration: Whitney has a decade of experience working in Permanent Supportive Housing on the east and west coasts; from direct service with Pathways to Housing DC and DESC to Director of Training for North America with Pathways to Housing National. She is a Vulnerability Assessment Tool (VAT) trainer and has provided VAT trainings to Housing First agencies across Canada. She brings this background into her current work with ALTSA to bridge the housing and long-term care worlds to assist communities work smarter not harder. She also uses humor and cupcakes to this end. Whitney Joy has a passion for true community integration and social inclusion. She holds a Masters of Social Work with a concentration in social justice and change from The Catholic University of America and a B.A. in Political Science from American University.

Jody Hunter, Compliance Manager, HNN Communities: Jody has over 17 years of multifamily housing experience, including 15 years focused on Section 42 Tax Credit housing. She is highly proficient at analyzing, researching, and collaborating with others to overcome complex problems and achieve top results. Jody relies on her extensive knowledge of the tax credit program to effectively lead the Compliance Department’s robust training program. She displays a strong personal commitment to success and the company’s mission. Jody holds several industry credentials including a Specialist in Housing Credit Management (SHCM), Housing Credit Certified Professional (HCCP), and Novagradac Property Compliance Certification (NPCC). Jody enjoys camping and spending time with friends and family.

Joel Ing, Principle, Edge Developers: Joel has been a specialist in community development for over thirty years, managing a wide range of projects throughout the Northwest. He has expertise in both private and public financing structures including regulations associated with affordable housing funding, and Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits.  He is a primary contact in negotiations with property owners, funders, lenders, and investors, and is responsible for the financial feasibility analysis of development opportunities. This includes managing new project opportunities, negotiating property acquisition terms, structuring development budgets, formulating partnership documents, and overseeing the due diligence leading to financial closings. Joel has a long history of assisting non-profit and government organizations in fulfilling their missions through publicly financed projects. He previously worked as a public finance banker and municipal credit analyst. Joel takes pride in remaining active in the community he was raised in, and has served on numerous boards and volunteered for various causes. He serves on the King County Housing Development Consortium Board, and is a Governor appointee to the Washington State Public Stadium Authority.  He formerly served on the Washington State Affordable Housing Advisory Board.

Megan Johnston, Association Manager, Resolution Washington: Megan is a professional with over 14 years of program and people management experience in nonprofit setting working with local, state and federal government agencies and other community stakeholders. She began as a Program Manager then was promoted to Executive Director, where she stabilized a financially troubled organization by cutting costs, improving staffing quality and teamwork, and developing new partnerships and a new program. Megan is an experienced facilitator, trainer, and consultant who adapts smoothly to accomplish goals when faced with challenges. After nine years as Executive Director, she is seeking new opportunities for meaningful work to implement lessons in partnership and program development while re-locating to the Pacific Northwest.

Grace Kim, Founding Principal, Schemata Workshop: Grace began her architectural career in Chicago before returning home to Seattle. She is a consensus builder, helping her clients and project stakeholders envision how a completed project will be experienced. Grace is also a compassionate listener and sensitive designer, paying attention to both the present and future needs of her clients. She is the author of The Survival Guide to Architectural Internship and Career Development, and in 2008, she was recipient of the National AIA Young Architect Award. Grace spoke in Vancouver at TED 2017 on the topic of cohousing. For four years, Grace served on the board of the Cohousing Association of the US. She is also a founding member of Capitol Hill Urban Cohousing. Grace is currently a commissioner of the Seattle Planning Commission and serves on the Board of Directors for the Housing Development Consortium – an advocacy group for the affordable housing industry. Grace is frequently presenting at national conferences on the topics of mentorship, cohousing, and alternative housing models for seniors and those with disabilities.

Honorable Patty Kuderer, Senator, 48th Legislative District: Senator Patty Kuderer, 48th Legislative District, D-Bellevue, is a mom, attorney, and long-time community advocate. She was first appointed to the House of Representatives in September of 2015 and won her first election to retain the seat the following year. In January 2017, Patty was again unanimously appointed by the King County Council to fill the vacant Senate seat in the 48th Legislative District. She now represents her constituents as their first female state Senator. Selected by her colleagues to chair the Senate Housing & Local Government Committee, Kuderer is eager to bring new, diverse voices to the table as the Legislature looks to continue tackling the statewide crisis of housing instability. In addition to her new role as chair, Kuderer serves as vice chair of the State Government & Elections Committee, and as a member of the Law & Justice and Rules committees. While in the House, Patty successfully passed legislation aimed at streamlining Washington’s legal system and making government more efficient. During her tenure in the Senate, she has been a champion for voting rights and access, greater representation for women, common sense gun legislation, reforming our health care system and ensuring that housing is affordable and accessible. Patty has lived in the Pacific Northwest for over two decades and has worked in the community as a volunteer throughout the Bellevue School District and for numerous non-profits including The Peace Alliance, NARAL Pro-Choice Washington, Virtues Children Nepal, Chrysalis domestic violence legal clinic, and Minnesota International Health Volunteers. She was co-president of the Chinook Middle School PTSA from 2003 to 2006 and was awarded the “Golden Acorn” for her service. She also chaired the Sacred Heart Social Concerns Commission and organized the church’s participation in Congregations for the Homeless. Patty has broad legal experience as a trial attorney in municipal and private practice. She used her knowledge as a former prosecutor and city attorney to help individuals in employment discrimination cases and those injured by texting, drunk, or other negligent drivers. She is an advocate for open government, becoming well-versed in public records laws when working as a city attorney, an area she continues to work on in the Senate. She has argued before the Minnesota Appellate and State Supreme Courts numerous times. Patty grew up in a small town in southern Minnesota and is one of nine children (yes, nine). Her dad was an attorney and her mom a homemaker. Both valued education and encouraged her and her siblings to save money to go to college. They also paid them not to smoke, and seven of the nine were paid (including Patty). Patty obtained a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Minnesota and received her law degree from William Mitchell College of Law, attending the night program so she could work during the day.

Hassan Latif, Executive Director Second Chance Center, Inc.: Hassan conducts mentoring and reentry training for government and non-profit service providers nationally, facilitates transition planning sessions in Colorado Department of Corrections facilities statewide, and authored the book Never Going Back: 7 Steps to Staying Out of Prison, along with corresponding curriculum. Hassan serves on the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition’s Board of Directors. Likewise, he holds a seat on the Colorado Commission on Juvenile Justice Reentry Reform and Mental Health Disorders in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice Systems Task Forces and is the Colorado Association of Addictions Professionals 2018 “Excellence in Leadership” award recipient. In November 2019, Governor Polis appointed him to the Executive Clemency Advisory Board.

Zoe LeBeau, CEO, BeauxSimone Consulting: . Zoe brings over 25 years of hands-on and direct experience in all aspects of housing, service development and implementation. In her 25-year career, Zoe has worked on over 2,000 units of housing that range from transitional, permanent supportive, multi-family affordable and homeownership. Zoe has developed multiple programs including the Women In Construction Training Project, which trains low-income women and men of color to build homeless housing and helps them get jobs in the construction field. Zoe plays a national role in public policy work to secure more funding for supportive housing. She recently was a leading force behind a pilot project to bring new operating and services dollars to Indian Country to help house homeless veterans (HUD Tribal VASH). Zoe is also a nationally recognized trainer and expert on supportive housing in tribal communities and is regularly asked to speak at national conferences and events. Recently, Zoe was the keynote speaker at the National American Indian Housing Council’s annual legal symposium as well as at the Colorado National Association of Housing Authorities. 

Brian Lloyd, Executive Director, Beacon Development: Brian has developed 40+ projects worth more than $500 million while at Beacon. He has primary responsibility for all third-party consulting projects and client relationships. As part of the Leadership Team, he jointly manages the overall development pipeline for all Beacon projects including supervising housing developers, development assistants, and construction managers. Brian has worked with most affordable housing funding source, public and private, in Washington state: Historic and Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, taxable and tax-exempt bank loans, bridge funding, construction loans, and City, County and State funding. Prior to Beacon, Brian served as Vice President for Community Development Banking at Bank of America in Seattle, and as Project Manager for EAH Housing, one of the San Francisco Bay area’s largest non-profit housing developers. Brian currently serves on the Board of the Housing Development Consortium and served as the President of the Board from 2017 – 2018.  From 2007 to 2014 he served on the Board of Capitol Hill Housing in Seattle. He holds a BA in History and Global Studies from Pacific Lutheran University and a Master’s in Public Policy from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. 

Alison Lorig, Senior Vice President of Development, BRIDGE Housing: Alison oversees the company’s real estate development activities in the Greater Seattle Area. She was previously President and co-owner of Lorig Associates, a Seattle-based real estate development company, and Lorig Management Services, a property and asset management company specializing in urban infill and mixed-use projects. She was responsible for corporate oversight of all development and management projects totaling over $500 million in project costs from predevelopment to stabilization. Alison delivered more than 650 units of affordable housing for local nonprofits. She holds a B.S. and M.E. in Civil Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a Certificate of Real Estate from the University of Washington. She is a member of the Urban Land Institute Northwest Affordable and Workforce Housing Product Council and co-chairs the Housing Development Consortium’s Transit Oriented Development Taskforce.

Samya Lutz, AICP, Housing and Services Program Manager, City of Bellingham: Samya has spent the past 20+ years focused on community development issues with a varied background that includes nonprofit affordable housing leadership, long-range planning, oil and gas pipeline safety advocacy, agricultural land preservation, local food systems support, and small farming. Her current role includes affordable housing policy and budget management for the City of Bellingham, WA (~95,000 residents) as its Housing and Services Program Manager, supporting about $9 million in annual housing and services contract obligations from local and federal sources, including the Bellingham Housing Levy. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Western Washington University, and a master’s in urban planning from the University of British Columbia. Samya enjoys working with community members to support local government engagement and efforts to remedy issues of inequity and disproportionality. She lives on Lummi Island with her husband and teenage sons.

Honorable Nicole Macri, Representative, 43rd Legislative District: Representative Nicole Macri was elected to the Washington House of Representatives in 2016, and represents the 43rd legislative district of Washington, which includes the Seattle neighborhoods of Downtown, First Hill, Capitol Hill, Madison Valley, Madison Park, Montlake, University District, Ravenna, Wallingford, Fremont and Phinney Ridge. She serves as vice chair of the Appropriations Committee and is a member of the Health Care & Wellness Committee. She is also co-chair of the Washington State LGBTQ Caucus. Nicole has more than 20 years of experience championing progressive causes on issues around affordable housing, homelessness, human services, behavioral health, and health care, including reproductive and abortion care. She has been at the forefront of the Housing First movement nationally and is a recognized leader in practical and effective strategies that end the homelessness of people living with serious disabilities. Outside the Legislature, Nicole is the Deputy Director for the Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC) in Seattle, where she has worked since 2002. She has championed Seattle’s Housing Levy and was appointed by the City Council to serve successive terms as a member of the Housing Levy Oversight Committee. In 2014, she received an Emerging Leader Award from the Housing Development Consortium of Seattle/King County for her outstanding work in the field of affordable housing, and recently received the 2017 Inclusion Award from the Seattle Commission for People with Disabilities for her work towards improving the lives of disabled Seattleites. Nicole was selected by the Milbank Memorial Fund and the Reforming State Group to participate in the 2017-18 Emerging Leaders Program, which brings together legislators and other statewide leaders from across the nation to strengthen their skills in effective health policy formation and implementation. She was then named a Milbank Memorial Fund Fellow for 2021-22. Macri was named one of Seattle’s Most Influential People by Seattle Magazine in 2019, and one of the 100 most influential people in Seattle in 2021 by Seattle Met. Nicole holds Bachelor of Arts from Rutgers University and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Washington and completed a Certificate in Executive Leadership at Seattle University’s Albers School of Business. She lives with her partner, Deb Cayz, in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle.

Patience Malaba, Executive Director, Housing Development Consortium: Patience leads the association in a shared effort to increase access to affordable housing. She is recognized for her leadership in addressing the intersecting crises of affordable housing, racial equity, and climate change and is the 2020 Bullitt Foundation Environmental Fellowship awardee. A commitment to environmental and economic justice and her passion for an equitable society led her directly to the affordable housing sector. Prior to this role, she served as HDC’s Director of Government Relations and Policy. Previous positions include work with Seattle for Everyone, a broad coalition that was central to the success of Seattle’s Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda (HALA), Futurewise, and the Services Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 6. Patience co-chairs the Eastside Housing Roundtable, co-chairs Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC)’s Regional TOD Advisory Committee, Chairs the Seattle Planning Commission Housing and Neighborhoods Committee, and serves on the PSRC Growth Management Policy Board. She serves on the board of directors of the Transportation Choices Coalition and is a member of Sound Communities. Her appointments include the City of Seattle’s Redistricting Commission and Washington State Department of Commerce Homeownership Disparities Workgroup. Patience holds a Master of Public Administration from Seattle University, an Organizational Leadership Certificate from George Mason University, and a BA in International Development from Lupane State University in Zimbabwe. 

Jonnie Matson, Housing Program Manager Lead, Aging and Long-Term Support Administration, Washington Department of Social and Health Services: Jonnie has been with the state of Washington going on 5 years, working to create housing opportunities for seniors and people with a disabilities transitioning from institutional settings into independent living in the community. Her teams work also includes developing a variety of affordable housing options for individuals already in the community who are in need of long-term care services but are experiencing homelessness or at risk. Previous to this position she worked as a Area Agency on Aging long-term care case manager and also in the world of housing and services for individuals/families experiencing homelessness.

Marty Miller, Executive Director, Office of Rural and Farmworker Housing (ORFH): Marty has been a valuable member of ORFH since 1993 and became ORFH’s Executive Director in 2004 after serving as the Director of Housing Development. He has directly participated in the development of hundreds of units of affordable housing in rural Washington State serving thousands of farmworkers and other low-income residents. Marty is a strong advocate at the federal, state, and local level and works to bring positive change to policy issues affecting farmworkers and their families. Marty serves on the Executive Committee of the National Farmworker Director’s Association and is on the Board of the National Rural Housing Coalition, as well as the Rural Community Assistance Corporation. He holds a Master of Science in Economic Development from Eastern University and a BA from Whitworth University.

Emily Northrup, Grants Administrator, Homeownership Division, Washington State Housing Finance Commission: Emily manages programs that support housing counseling services, pre-purchase education, foreclosure prevention, and mortgage assistance to homeowners across the state. Before joining the Commission, she worked in non-profits for almost a decade, most recently directing programs for people experiencing homelessness as they transitioned into supported and permanent housing. Emily is passionate about using data to increase equity in homeownership.

Melodie Pazolt, Managing Director, Office of Apple Health and Homes/Permanent Supportive Housing: Melodie has

over 35 years' experience in community rehabilitation with both people with behavioral health issues and people with developmental disabilities. She has operated 20 independent grants/contracts in conjunction with direct services to consumers of mental health services, in addition to managing the activities of a core mental health funded employment program. She was the Associate Director of the Columbia River Mental Health Services, supervising over 30 full time staff.  Programs included supported employment programs, welfare to work programs, vocational rehabilitation and workforce development activities for individuals with mental health, substance use disorders, developmental disabilities and physical disabilities. In addition, she managed multiple federal grants serving youth and adults with disabilities, as well as individual who are homeless. Prior to her position at the Health Care Authority, she worked for the Clark County Department of Community Services as the Consumer and Stakeholder Affairs Manager. Melodie brings an understanding of not only the issues that face individuals with behavioral health challenges but an overall understanding of the various systems that may be involved in that person’s life.

Christopher Persons, Chief Executive Officer, Community Roots Housing: Christopher has led Community Roots Housing since 2007 and has more than three decades of senior nonprofit leadership experience. Prior to joining Community Roots Housing, he was the executive director of Inspiration Corporation, a homeless and housing services agency in Chicago. Under his leadership, it grew from a neighborhood agency to a city-wide, award-winning corporation. Chris guided the organization through two mergers, started a housing program, and opened a restaurant that doubled as a job training and employment center. He also led the organization through significant transition and growth and has overseen the development of several award-winning properties including 12th Avenue Arts, Liberty Bank Building, the Jefferson, and Station House. In 2010, he oversaw the creation of the Community Roots Housing Foundation, and in 2012 he oversaw the creation of the Capitol Hill EcoDistrict, which leads the community’s efforts around resilience and equity. Chris has provided leadership on many external community boards and currently serves on the boards of the Housing Partnership Network and Seattle Crescent Collaborative.

Honorable Strom Peterson, Representative, 21st Legislative District: Representative Strom Peterson represents the 21st Legislative District, which includes neighborhoods in Edmonds, Everett, Lynnwood, and Mukilteo. He began his first term in Olympia in January 2015. Strom serves as the Chair of the Housing, Human Services and Veterans Committee, and as a member of the Capital budget and Civil Rights & Judiciary Committees. Strom formerly owned the Cheesemonger’s Table, a cheese shop and café in Edmonds. As a small business owner, he saw firsthand the benefits a living wage and smart infrastructure investments can have for a community. Strom served on the Edmonds City Council for six years prior to his election to the legislature, where he served on the Public Safety and Economic Development Committees. He was, and remains, a strong advocate for protection of our environment and our state’s natural resources. Strom’s community involvement includes supporting and volunteering for the Edmonds Center for the Arts, his local Rotary, Chamber Board, the Edmonds Community College Boots to Books program, and the Edmonds Veteran’s Plaza. Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Strom received his B.A. in English from the University of New Mexico. He has lived in Edmonds since 2001, where he resides with his wife, Maria Montalvo, and their dog Lulu.

Danielle Pittman, Property Management, Mercy Housing Northwest: Danielle has worked in Property Management and affordable housing for the last 15 years spending the last 8 years with Mercy Housing Northwest.  Together in partnership with Resident Service Mercy Housing has put a special emphasis on housing stability over the last 5 years.  Danielle has worked on rolling out and implementing new policies and procedures focusing on housing stability specifically in the Seattle area.

J.J. Powell, Project Manager, Walsh Construction: J.J. received a master's degree in Construction Management and a Master of Architecture from the University of Washington (UW). His course of study in construction management focused on BIM and digital simulation tools and he has worked with our BIM models developed for the UW's Poplar, Alder and New Lander Halls. While at UW, he completed three graduate research assistantships exploring the application of BIM in the building industry. BIM tools increased construction efficiency at Poplar, Alder and Lander Halls by helping solve design problems long before field work commenced. J.J. will be dedicated to the planning and construction effort to employ these new processes to the Owner’s advantage.

Mary M. Reinbold, AICP, Senior Planner, Washington State Department of Commerce: Mary works on the Growth Management Services Housing Program team. She is an AICP certified planner who earned her master’s in Urban and Regional Planning at Eastern Washington University. Her focus is on the multifamily property tax exemption (MFTE) and helping communities across the state implement and manage their MFTE programs. Mary also works on the transit-oriented development implementation grant program and provides technical assistance on development and zoning codes which regulate the special housing types in HB 1220 sections 3-5. These specialty areas capitalize on her past experience working in emergency shelters, permanent supportive housing programs, and various non-profits in the Spokane area. Mary also serves on the Board of Directors for the Planning Association of Washington providing educational opportunities.

Shawn Scott, GACA, Project Manager, Rafn Company: Shawn is a Project Manager with 16 years of construction management experience and an additional 6 year background in facilities management. He came to Rafn with a broad range of industry experience in both publicly and privately funded development including complex multi-family, mixed-use, and commercial projects. He is dedicated, loyal, responsible, versatile, and accountable with strong work values and ethics. Shawn is extremely successful at developing and maintaining subcontractor relationships, and fostering trust to mobilize small and large groups to reach project goals. All this leads to an excellent track record in planning, scheduling, coordinating, and managing activities for construction projects with budgets ranging from $5m to $65m.

Jessie Simpson, Government Relations and Policy Manager, Housing Development Consortium: Jesse is passionate about affordable housing and works to advance transformative funding and land use policies. Before joining HDC, Jesse worked as a Policy Analyst and Executive Assistant at Bellwether Housing. He grew up in West Seattle and graduated from Lewis and Clark College, majoring in environmental studies with a focus on urban planning, transit-oriented development, and gentrification. Jesse spends his free time walking and biking around Seattle, traveling around to other cities, exploring local arts, playing chess, and building community.

Mark Shelburne, Housing policy Consultant, Novogradac and Company LLP: Mark is based in Raleigh, N.C., and works nationally. His work includes consulting with state agencies, local governments, equity providers, lenders, attorneys and developers on topics including allocation, compliance, HOME, revitalization, supportive housing and tax-exempt bonds. Mr. Shelburne is widely regarded as a top expert on these topics and frequently presents on them to statewide and national audiences. He also develops educational/training material and writes for various publications. Shelburne previously served as director of the Office of Housing Finance and Development at the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, counsel and policy coordinator at the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency and as a housing policy consultant for Novogradac. In these three capacities, Shelburne has revised and/or implemented 32 qualified allocation plans in 14 states, testified before Congress, provided resources to create more than 25,000 affordable rental homes, and led work resulting in four national awards. Before that, Mr. Shelburne was the general counsel of a LIHTC equity investor and an attorney in private practice. He has degrees in law, planning, and public policy from the University at North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Thomas Stagg, Partner, Novogradac and Company, LLP: Thomas specializes in audit and tax services for real estate transactions. He is experienced in auditing affordable housing developments and specializes in the low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC), and federal governmental auditing requirements, including for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, United States Department of Agriculture Rural Housing and NAHASDA. He has extensive experience with LIHTC deal structuring, including assisting developers and investors navigating acquisition/rehabilitation developments and Year-15 disposition issues. In addition, Thomas has assisted many clients in applying for and obtaining the LIHTC. He has extensive experience in performing LIHTC property compliance testing. He regularly contributes articles to the Novogradac Journal of Tax Credits and serves as an editor on the Novogradac Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Handbook, Novogradac Tax-Exempt Bond Handbook and Novogradac LIHTC Property Management Handbook. Thomas frequently speaks at industry events, as well as Novogradac’s affordable housing conferences and webinars. He works with real estate firms and fund organizers that are working on opportunity zones funds and investments. Thomas received his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Brigham Young University. He is licensed in California and Washington as a certified public accountant.

Mike Stanger, Senior Planner, A Regional Coalition for Housing: Mike provides demographic and housing analyses for both long-range planning and to monitor performance of affordable housing programs. Previously, Mike was a Senior Planner/Demographer at Snohomish County and Assistant City Manager at Allen, Texas.  He has a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Kansas and studied urban design and planning at the University of Washington.

Ben Stuckart, Executive Director, Spokane Low Income Housing Consortium: Ben was born and raised in Spokane and has two degrees from Gonzaga.  He is currently the Executive Director of the Spokane Low Income Housing Consortium.  Prior to that he served as the Spokane City Council President from 2012-2019.  

Katie Symons, CFO, BeauxSimone Consulting: Katie brings a diverse past to this work, having worked in K-12 and higher education, the non-profit and for-profit sectors and with local and state governments for close to twenty years. She brings a deep appreciation for community engagement and inclusiveness when approaching work in affordable housing and homelessness. Katie served two years as the Program Manager for Denver’s Road Home, the City’s homeless plan, where she oversaw emergency shelter and street outreach efforts, coordinated nine Project Homeless Connect events and managed community engagement with various neighborhoods. Katie then consulted with Governor Hickenlooper’s Office of Community Partnerships, leading a statewide effort to help communities assess the needs of their most vulnerable and at-risk populations around the state of Colorado. This work led to the development of strategies for youth, families and veterans experiencing homelessness as part of the national 100,000 Homes Campaign and ultimately was a stepping stone for the work Katie does now. Katie has worked on multiple strategic plans and “needs assessments” and likes to help communities think strategically about the big picture, while also celebrating short-term “wins”. She enjoys bringing people together to figure out innovative approaches to housing projects, while keeping an eye toward the details and numbers in any given project. Katie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Languages & Literature (Spanish) from Whitman College and a Master’s degree in Higher Education with a concentration in Leadership and Organizational Change from the University of Denver. While pursuing her master’s, Katie worked at DU in the Center for Community Engagement & Service Learning as well as with the Social Justice Living & Learning Community. Her experiences with young people constantly inform her work in community development. 

Emily Thompson, Partner, GMD Development: Emily has an expertise that spans the spectrum of real estate development having worked with non-profits, for-profits, and market rate developers on commercial and residential projects for the last 18 years. For the last ten years she has been a partner a GMD Development, a mission oriented private company specializing in the development of affordable and workforce housing. Emily has worked on the preservation and development of affordable housing across the Pacific Northwest, and she currently has approximately 500 units of new housing in the Seattle area under planning and construction. Throughout Emily’s career in affordable housing, she has consistently demonstrated her commitment to the community with the development high quality housing to help address the housing crisis. Emily is involved in the Housing Development Consortium of King County as the co-chair of the Tax Credit Affinity Group, and is a past co-chair of the Affordable and Workforce Housing product council with ULI Northwest. She attended the Master’s Degree Program in Urban Planning, and holds a Bachelor’s Degree, from the University of Washington in Seattle.

Nicholas Vann, Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer, Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation: Nicholas also serves as the Executive Sponsor for the Business Resource Group serving Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander state employees. He is deeply immersed in conversations and initiatives to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in both state government and in the historic preservation field. As a licensed architect, he has thoroughly enjoyed working in an advisory role on hundreds of historic rehabilitation projects throughout Washington. He previously worked in the private sector in New Orleans, where he earned master’s degrees in both Architecture and Preservation Studies from Tulane University. He currently oversees several preservation program areas and serves on several policy committees relating to underrepresented communities, building codes, and seismic vulnerability of historic structures.

Lisa Vatske, Director of the Multifamily Housing and Community Facilities Division, Washington State Housing Finance Commission: Lisa joined the Commission in 2014 and has over 30 years of experience in housing, community and economic development finance and programs, holding various positions within the Washington State Department of Commerce, over an 18-year period, with over 6 years as Managing Director of the Washington State Housing Trust Fund. In addition, Lisa held positions in the Washington State Employment Security Department, as well as the Department of Social and Health Services. She was instrumental in the start-up and financing for Fish Brewing Company, producing Fish Tale Ales and served as their Chief Financial Officer. She is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, with a BBA in Business Finance.

Stephanie Velasco, Communications and External Relations Manager, Office of Housing, City of Seattle: In prior roles at the Office of Housing, Stephanie has managed department-wide communications and external relations, coordinated the implementation of the Mandatory Housing Affordability program, and advised on the creation of new policies that support affordable housing throughout the city. Stephanie serves as a board member for the Housing Development Consortium of Seattle-King County, and she works part-time as a content creator focused on introducing city planning concepts to people of all ages, particularly youth.

Samantha Whitley, Housing Programs Manager, City of Vancouver: Samantha became the Housing Programs Manager for the City of Vancouver in November 2021. Prior to working for the City, she worked for Clark County for 20 years as part of the Community Action, Housing and Development unit. Throughout her career, Samantha has been involved with managing community development, affordable housing and safety net services using federal, state and local funding sources. She has a degree in Management and Business Information Systems from George Fox University.

Keri Williams, Nonprofit and Community Outreach Lead, Washington State Housing Finance Commission: With over a decade of experience in the affordable housing industry as well as many years of community engagement, nonprofit board service, and public participation processes, Keri focuses on increasing involvement and amplifying the voices of community members in the development process. After her graduate studies in City + Metropolitan Planning at the University of Utah, she joined the Pacific Northwest team at Enterprise Community Partners, providing capacity building assistance to dozens of nonprofit affordable housing developers in Washington and Oregon.  She lives in Seattle where she enjoys empty nesting as her two adult sons pursue their dreams.

Maiko Winkler-Chin, Director, Office of Housing, City of Seattle: As Director, Maiko leads the Office of Housing (OH) in its efforts to create and preserve affordable rental and homeownership opportunities, craft policies and programs that advance racial equity and housing justice and support low-income homeowners. Before coming to OH, Maiko was Executive Director of the Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation and Development Authority where she advocated for those who live, work, and frequent the Chinatown International District, helping create hundreds of new affordable homes throughout the neighborhood. Maiko was a founding member of Puget Sound Regional Council’s HUD Sustainable Communities Regional Equity Network, co-chaired the Urban Land Institute’s Center for Sustainable Leadership, and served as board member of the Housing Development Consortium. In 2020 she received the Women of Valor Award from Senator Maria Cantwell, and in 2021 named one of the "100 Most Influential People in Seattle" by Seattle Met. 

Tony Yuchasz, policy advisor, lobbyist, and community organizer: Tony provides strategic consulting to nonprofit organizations and agencies on issues impacting affordable housing. Tony spent 17 years in elective politics, including 15 years at Executive Director of the House Democratic Campaign Committee – the campaign arm of the Washington State House Democratic Caucus and then Speaker Frank Chopp. With extensive legislative and political experience, expertise, and relationships inside and outside of state, county, and city governments, Tony collaborates on a broad variety of affordable housing issues, creates coalitions, and builds strong relationships with policy makers, staff, agencies, and stakeholders in support of client objectives. Tony graduated Magna Cum Laude from Seattle University, with a degree in public administration, and spent 10 years in the Boys and Girls Club Movement. He lives in north Seattle with his wife and 14-year-old son.