As we gather for our 44^th Annual Meeting: Building Our Future, Fahe is rising to tackle the housing crisis in Appalachia.

Grounded by our Strategic Plan and our Four Corners theory of change, Fahe remains focused on increasing Money, Capacity, Narrative, and People as the key strategies to building thriving Appalachian communities.

What’s new is that we’ve been talking with each other about how to approach the housing shortage and sharing ideas throughout the summer. We’ve discussed the issue in Member caucus meetings, in our Four Corners Working Groups, and in one-on-one conversations with our partners. We’ve been posting perspectives from our Members on the Fahe blog. And we continue sharing our vision for what needs to happen over the next five years with funders, investors, and policymakers.

We will spend valuable time together here in Roanoke, VA for the next few days, and we hope this meeting will inspire and energize everyone. Our plenaries and breakout sessions are curated to keep the momentum going. We will explore new business models, learn fresh data insights, consider exciting advocacy approaches, get a current view of available resources, and discuss how we can extend our reach with new and deepening partnerships.

We know that a home is at the center of everything for our families. Let’s not wait for a better future, let’s make it happen!

Monday, September 9

10:30 AM

Crystal Foyer

Check-in for Fahe Members

12 PM

Crystal Ballroom, Buffet in Foyer

Lunch

1 PM

Member Meeting Call to Order

5 PM

Member Meeting Conclusion

6–6:45 PM

Conference Center Foyer/Adjoining Courtyard

Opening Reception

6:45–8:30 PM

Crystal Ballroom

Dinner with Honored Guests and Keynote Speaker

• Bryan Phipps, People, Inc.

• Tammy Neale, Virginia Housing 

• Susan Dewey, Virginia Housing, Retired

• Terrance Jackson, Barter Theatre

Tuesday, September 10

7:30–9 AM

Crystal Ballroom

Networking Breakfast

9–9:15 AM

Crystal Ballroom

Welcome and Conference Overview

• Hope Cupit, SERCAP

9:15–10:15 AM

Rising to Meet the Housing Crisis: A Fireside Chat

• Trey Kay, West Virginia Public Broadcasting
• Jim King, Fahe

Join us for a dynamic fireside chat between Trey Kay, of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, and Fahe’s Jim King to hear how Fahe is spearheading innovative solutions and keeping up with what we know works to tackle our region’s housing shortage. Discover what has inspired us to step up to do more and how we’re rising to the challenge.

10:15–10:30 AM

Break

10:30–10:45 AM

A Moment with USDA

• Basil Gooden, USDA

10:45–11:45 AM

Fresh Insights from the Latest Housing Data: A Data-Driven Discussion

• Lance George, HAC

• Mel Jones, Virginia Tech Center for Housing Research

• Adrienne Smith, OFN

• Trey Kay, West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Get ready to dive deep into the numbers that are shaping the future of housing!  This lively panel discussion featuring industry data experts and facilitated by Trey Kay, West Virginia Public Broadcasting, will unveil the latest data trends, what they mean for our communities, and what potential solutions would influence the housing crisis. This is your opportunity to get ahead of the curve with actionable insights!

12 PM

Crystal Ballroom

Lunch

1–2 PM

Breakouts

• Show Me Your Message, I’ll Show You Mine with Maggie Riden and Lina Page, Fahe (Monroe Room)

• Focus on Data with Katy Stigers, Fahe; Kristie Lowry, CHP; Adrienne Smith, OFN;
  Kristina Rowles, ASP (Wilson Room)

2–3 PM

Crystal Ballroom

Member Approaches: Spotlight on Local Leadership

• Tom Manning-Beavin, Frontier Housing

• Nick Mitchell-Bennett, cdcb

• Jake Powell, Community Housing Partners

• Sherry Trent, Eastern Eight

Be inspired by our vibrant panel discussion with four extraordinary local leaders. Each Member will share their powerful stories, innovative strategies, and hands-on experiences in advancing housing solutions. Hear how they are making a real difference in our communities!

3–3:15 PM

Break

3:15–4:15 PM

Breakouts

• Shared Equity Journey with Jake Powell, Community Housing Partners (Monroe Room)

• Grow Your Foundation Engagement Muscles with Jeneene Estridge and Aaron Phelps, Fahe (Wilson Room)

4:15–5:30 PM

Crystal Ballroom

Capital Ideas and Opportunities: Igniting Innovation

• Donna Gambrell, Appalachian Community Capital

• Patrick Kelley, Housing Partnership Network

• Jim Peffley, NeighborWorks Capital

• Dave Clark, Woodlands Development & Lending

Join Donna Gambrell, President and CEO of Appalachia Community Capital, for an invigorating panel discussion that will explore groundbreaking capital ideas and uncover unprecedented opportunities to help drive transformative change in the housing sector. Don’t miss this chance to engage with the innovators shaping our future!

6–6:45 PM

Garden Courtyard (Rain = Crystal Ballroom)

Reception

6:45–8 PM

Garden Courtyard (Rain = Crystal Ballroom)

Dinner

Wednesday, September 11

7–8:30 AM

Regency Room

Networking Breakfast and Checkout Before We Start!

8:30–9:30 AM

Crystal Ballroom

The Road Ahead: Housing and Community Transformation

• Jim King, Fahe

• David Lipsetz, Housing Assistance Council

• Sara Morgan, Fahe

• Ralph Perrey, Tennessee Housing Development Agency

Join us for a captivating panel discussion featuring industry visionaries and led by the insightful Sara Morgan, President of Fahe. This plenary will offer invaluable perspectives on the future of housing and community transformation. Prepare for an enlightening exchange of ideas!

9:30–10 AM

Fahe Awards

10–10:15 AM

Break

10:15–11:30 AM

Let’s Do More Together: Generating Greater Network Impact

• Maggie Riden, Fahe
• Traviss Witt, Fahe

Dive into this interactive working session with Advocacy and Membership where we will facilitate energetic small group discussions. Focused on exploring new business lines and strategic alignment, this session is all about amplifying our collective efforts to achieve greater impact. Come ready to brainstorm and collaborate!

11:30–12:00 PM

Building Our Future: Closing Remarks

• Jim King, Fahe

Don’t miss Jim King’s stirring closing remarks as he reflects on our past successes and looks ahead with renewed vision. With a focus on the innovation, drive, and determination of our local leaders, Jim as Fahe CEO will set the stage for an ambitious future filled with promise and possibility.

12 PM

Boxes in Foyer, Dining in Crystal Ballroom

Boxed Lunch

Jim King

Jim King serves as the CEO of Fahe—a nationally recognized membership of 50+ community-based organizations serving Appalachia. For more than 3 decades, he has worked to advance opportunity for people and communities primarily in Appalachia. Mr. King has experience across all aspects of community development and finance. A national leader in the field he is a regular speaker at national and regional conferences and his advice is sought by policy makers and financial industry leaders.  He has served alongside executive leadership at Truist Bank, First Citizens Bank and Fannie Mae as part of advisory boards. He has served as board chair to Opportunity Finance Network (OFN), the leading membership of Community Development Financial Institutions nationally.  He has been a contributor to numerous books and publications including “Forces for Good”, “Wealth Creation” and “Appalachia Revisited. He is a recipient of a fellowship from the Ford Foundation, the Nation NeighborWorks Association Lifetime Achievement award and the National Housing Conference Visionary Award. 

Under King’s leadership Fahe pioneered a collaborative model, bringing scale and performance to nonprofits servicing rural and remote communities. Brining over $4.5 billion in impact that has benefitted nearly 1 million people in one of the economically challenged regions of our country.  He is an alumnus of the Harvard Business School’s three-year owner/president management (OPM) program. He holds an MBA degree from Eastern University, a BA from Bluffton University.

Sara Morgan

Sara Morgan has worked for over 25 years to improve the economic strength of Appalachia. She is an expert in financing housing, infrastructure, community facilities, nonprofits, public-private partnerships, and community development. As President of Fahe, Ms. Morgan oversees senior management, resource development for the corporation, and serves as the lead resource development expert for several multi-state and national organizations, including Partners for Rural Transformation, and Invest Appalachia. She led a successful application to the CDFI Bond Guarantee program, resulting in $60M coming to Appalachia and raised $50M from the USDA Community Facilities Relending Program for communities of persistent poverty. Under her leadership, Fahe became one of just a handful of CDFIs to achieve Seller-Servicer designations from two government sponsored enterprises (GSEs). With her guidance, Fahe is also the first nonprofit in the country to be approved to launch a Regional Broker Network, and became a USDA 502 Direct Intermediary that brings over $115M in new mortgages to Appalachia annually.

Maggie Riden

Maggie is a life long advocate with a passion for social justice and community led change. Her policy advocacy work has spanned issues ranging from child welfare and education, to workforce development and housing & homelessness.  Cumulatively, her direct advocacy work has contributed to over $6 billion in new funding to vulnerable communities. As the Senior Vice President of Advocacy, Maggie leads Fahe’s Federal, Regional and State Advocacy focused on advancing housing access and community development investments in Central Appalachia. Maggie authored one of the first robust studies of youth homelessness, publishing “From the Streets to Stability: A Study of Youth Homelessness in Washington, DC“. She holds degrees from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Mt. Holyoke College and The Fletcher School at Tufts University. Originally from the deep woods of Huntington, Vermont; Maggie now lives in Nashville with her husband, son & dog. When not working, she’s found chasing her kiddo, devouring books, experimenting in the kitchen or attempting to keep her garden alive.

Traviss Witt

Traviss joined Fahe’s team in 2023 and brings over 10 years of experience in non-profit program planning, evaluation, and implementation. He contributes to Fahe’s work to build Thriving Appalachian Communities by exploring strategies to advance Fahe’s mission through new programmatic opportunities that leverage Fahe’s expertise. Traviss has multi-faceted experience in program planning, project management, and policy development. He has worked with Federal, State and local and private funders to bring quality programming to the Appalachian region. Outside of the office, Traviss would likely be found at a national or state park in his camper. In addition to his work at Fahe, Traviss has served as part-time faculty at Eastern Kentucky University in the Sociology department since 2017.

Terrance Jackson

Born and raised in sunny Sarasota, Florida, Terrance Jackson knew from an early age that he wanted to tell stories. Terrance earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Acting from the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida. He has worked professionally as an actor at Georgia Shakespeare and Hanger Theatre, to name a few but he calls Barter Theatre his theatrical home. At Barter, Terrance is the Director of Outreach and the Black Stories Black Voices project where he leads programming such as Barter Connects, a series of post-show discussions designed to connect audiences with Barter’s plays on a deeper level and SHINE: Illuminating Black Stories, an annual event celebrating Black playwrights and Black Appalachian stories. Previously, Terrance was seen acting on Barter’s stages in Skeleton Crew, To Kill a Mockingbird and Miracle on 34th Street.

Basil Gooden

Dr. Basil I. Gooden was confirmed by the United States Senate to serve as Under Secretary for Rural Development on Monday, February 26, 2024. 
 
Prior to his confirmation as Under Secretary, Gooden served as Director of State Operations for Rural Development. In this role, he led and supported USDA’s team of 47 Rural Development State Directors who extend USDA’s state-level leadership and help ensure the department’s investments reach all rural communities. From 2016–2018, he served as the 3rd Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry for the Commonwealth of Virginia. Prior to that, Dr. Gooden served as the Virginia State Director for Rural Development at USDA. He has previously held roles as the Chief Deputy Director of the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, as a Cooperative Extension Specialist at Virginia Tech, and as a Farm Service Agency County Committee member. Dr. Gooden holds a bachelor’s degree from Virginia Tech, a master’s degree in social work from Syracuse University, and a master’s degree in Public Health and a Ph.D. in Social Work from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is a native of Buckingham County, Virginia, where he and his family still own and operate a cattle farm. 

Bryan Phipps

Bryan Phipps is the President and CEO of People Incorporated of Virginia. He has over 23 years of experience working in nonprofit development and management and is a Certified Community Action Professional.

As President and CEO, Phipps acts as a liaison between the agency and legislative partners, local government, funders, organizational partners, and the National Community Action Network. He oversees a staff of nearly 300 and budget of over $34 million while providing leadership and staff support to the agency’s Board of Directors.

Phipps has nearly 20 years of experience at People Incorporated with previous roles that include Senior Vice President and Vice President and Chief Development Officer. He has worked to increase the availability of investment capital and services to low-income communities and was instrumental in the development of the agency’s New Markets Tax Credit program. His specialties include raising and deploying investor capital, project development, program compliance and community outreach for a variety of community economic development and strategic initiatives. He currently serves as the Vice-Chair of the Virginia Community Action Partnership. He also serves on multiple boards, including HousingForward Virginia, the New Rivers/Mount Rogers Workforce Development Board, the Virginia Housing Rental Housing Advisory Council, and the GO Virginia Region 1 Council. Phipps resides in southwest Virginia with his wife, Bella, and their three daughters.

Trey Kay

Trey Kay is creator of the award-winning Us & Them podcast, which is produced by West Virginia Public Broadcasting and distributed by PRX. For years, he’s reported on culture war battles in America. In 2009, he produced the radio documentary “The Great Textbook War,” which was honored with Peabody, Murrow, and duPont-Columbia Awards. In 2013, he produced “The Long Game: Texas’ Ongoing Battle for the Direction of the Classroom,” which he researched as a Spencer Fellow for Education Reporting at the Columbia School of Journalism. In 2005, he shared in another Peabody for his contribution to Studio 360’s “American Icons: Moby Dick.” He’s produced for This American Life, The New Yorker Radio Hour, Marketplace, American RadioWorks, Morning Edition and PBS Frontline. Kay has taught at the Columbia School of Journalism, Marist College and at the State University of New York at New Paltz.  He splits his time living in New York’s Hudson Valley and the Kanawha Valley of West Virginia.

Hope Florence Cupit

Hope Florence Cupit is the CEO of Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project, Inc. (SERCAP), an organization recognized worldwide for its significant contributions to water and wastewater infrastructure, as well as economic development strategies. Under her leadership, SERCAP has expanded its services to seven states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, continually improving operations and securing resources to deliver exceptional services to the communities it serves.

Mrs. Cupit holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a major in Accounting from James Madison University and an MBA in Accounting from the University of Phoenix. She is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and serves as a Professor at Virginia Western Community College, where she has taught Financial Accounting for over a decade.

Mrs. Cupit began her journey at SERCAP in 2007 as the Controller and quickly rose through the ranks to become Vice President/Deputy CEO. In 2009, she was appointed President & CEO. With over 26 years of experience in community economic development, Mrs. Cupit has played a pivotal role in the continued growth of SERCAP, ensuring that the organization remains a leader in providing technical assistance and advice to rural communities seeking to improve their infrastructure.

Beyond her professional achievements, Mrs. Cupit is deeply committed to her community. She has served on various committees and boards, including:

• United Way of Roanoke Valley – Community Investment Team
• Virginia Society of CPAs (VSCPA)
  • Ethics Committee
  • Diversity Committee
  • DEI Committee
  • Public Task Force Committee
  • Government Task Force Committee
  • Non-Profit Committee
• Virginia Community Action Partnership (VACAP)
  • Chair of Training Committee
  • Chair of Finance Committee
• Virginia Water Advisory Committee
• Virginia Mining Study Committee
• Roanoke Chamber of Commerce Legislative Committee
• Roanoke Valley Family Services (Audit Committee)

She has also served on the Board of Directors for several organizations:

• Virginia Air Quality Control Board (Appointed by Governor Northam, term ended 2024)
• Virginia African American Advisory Board (Appointed by Governor Northam, term ended 2024)
• National Rural Community Assistance Project, Inc. (Board Chair, Vice President, & Treasurer)
• Council for Rural Virginia (Appointed by Governor McAuliffe, term ended 2022)
• VSCPA Board of Directors (Term ended June 2021)
• Council for Community Services (Roanoke Valley) (Treasurer, Term ended 2013)
• Virginia Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Program (Appointed by Governor Bob McDonnell, Term ended 2013)
• Roanoke Valley Family Services, Inc. (Term ended 2013)
• Girl Scouts of America (Treasurer, Term ended 2011)
• Legacy Museum (Term ended 2010)
• Lynchburg Literacy Council (Term ended 2010)
• Roanoke Literacy Council (Term ended 2008)

Mrs. Cupit’s dedication to improving the infrastructure of small rural communities is unwavering. She is passionate about working closely with these communities, learning firsthand about the challenges they face, and advocating on their behalf to create a better future.

Donna Gambrell

As President & CEO of Appalachian Community Capital, Donna J. Gambrell is responsible for attracting and directing investments to Community Development Financial Institutions (or CDFIs) and other mission-driven lenders in Appalachia. These lenders, in turn, use the investments to make loans to small business owners, including to minority- and women-owned businesses in underserved communities throughout the region.

Since 2015, when it first began lending, ACC has leveraged $41.5 million and deployed $32.6 million in loans to ACC members. The members, in turn, have leveraged this capital 5 times or more the amount of their original loans. In 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that it had selected ACC to receive a $500,000.00 grant as part of its Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, which is focused on the hardest hot communities in the country.

Ms. Gambrell is a member of several CDFI boards: Opportunity Finance Network, Raza Development Fund, Fahe, and Southern Bancorp. She also serves as board chair for the African American Alliance of CDFI CEOs, a nonprofit organization with over 80 members committed to closing the racial wealth gap in the United States. She received a Bachelor of Science degree from Towson State University (Maryland) and a Master of Science degree from New York University (New York).

Susan Dewey

Susan F. Dewey served as the Chief Executive Officer of Virginia Housing for almost 25 years, since the Board of Commissioners of Virginia Housing appointed her, effective June 15, 1999, until she retired on December 31, 2023.  Prior to this, Susan served for three years as a Virginia Housing Commissioner. 

As the Chief Executive Officer of Virginia Housing, Susan directed all operations of Virginia Housing, a multibillion-dollar, self-supporting public-private partnership that is responsible for addressing the statewide housing affordability needs of low and moderate-income Virginians. Virginia Housing provides a variety of rental and homeownership lending and grant programs, and free homeownership education.  Virginia Housing also administers the federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program and a statewide Housing Choice Voucher Program.

Susan currently serves on: the Federal Home Bank Atlanta Board of Directors; the Board of Vibrant Communities Drive Change (VCDC); HousingForward Virginia (Past President); the National Housing Conference (NHC) National Advisory Council; member of the Virginia Chamber Foundation Advisory Board and Virginia Chamber Board of Directors, and co-chair of the Blueprint Executive Committee on Housing; Virginia Commonwealth University Real Estate Circle of Excellence (Past President and Conference Committee); the Venture Richmond Board; the William and Mary Real Estate Foundation Board (Secretary).

Susan’s previous affiliations include the Board of Housing and Community Development, Advisory Board of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta; the Fannie Mae Housing Impact Advisory Council; the Board of the Virginia Foundation for Housing Preservation; the Affordable Housing Magazine Editorial Board; the National Association of Realtors Housing Opportunity Advisory Board; the Excellence in Virginia Government Awards Steering Committee; the Statewide Transportation Analysis and Recommendation Task Force; the Institute of Internal Auditors (Board of Directors); the National Association of State Treasurers (Past Treasurer), the Virginia Executive Institute Alumni Association (Past President), and membership in several professional and community organizations; the Virginia Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Local Advisory Committee; the Board of the Virginia Council on Economic Education (Past Chairman, Program Committee Chair; Development Committee member); the Board of the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development; the National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA) (Past President, Board of Directors, and Task Force on Homeownership).

Susan is a C.P.A. and received a B.B.A and M.B.A. from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. 

Ralph Perrey

Ralph Perrey is the Executive Director of the Tennessee Housing Development Agency.  Appointed in November 2012 following nine years’ service on THDA’s Board of Directors, he is now the longest serving executive director in the agency’s history.

His tenure as THDA’s Executive Director has seen the agency revamp its mortgage products and down payment assistance program; establish its own loan servicing division; and base THDA staff regionally to better interact with partners across the state. 

Perrey serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Council of State Housing Agencies.  He also serves on the Executive Committee of the Board of Governors of the National Housing Conference, the nation’s oldest housing advocacy organization. 

Tammy Neale

Tammy Neale serves as CEO of Virginia Housing, after being appointed by Virginia Housing’s Board of Commissioners on March 18, 2024.

Born in El Paso, Texas during her father’s military tours, Neale has worked for Virginia Housing for 39 of the organization’s 52 years, helping Virginians attain quality, affordable housing. She began her career with Virginia Housing in 1985 as a post-closing paralegal.

Most recently, she served as Chief of Programs since 2021, overseeing homeownership, rental, community outreach and federal programs. From 2018 to 2021, Tammy served as Chief of Staff, where she continued her work in enterprise-wide planning, organizational development, and diversity and inclusion initiatives. From 2006 to 2018, she served as the Chief Learning Officer and the Managing Director of Organizational Development & Learning, leading professional development, change in management, succession management and associate engagement.

Earlier in her career, she held a variety of leadership roles, including Managing Director of Human Resources, Strategic Planning Leader, Quality Improvement Coordinator and others. In her new role, Tammy will provide strategic leadership and vision for the development of affordable housing across the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Leading a team of more than 500 associates, she also will be responsible for maintaining a highly productive and motivating work environment, achieving strategic business goals, maintaining a strong mission focus, and delivering housing solutions to community and governmental partners.

In addition, to leading daily operations, she will ensure the organization continues its focus on its four strategic 2025 priorities to:

• Address state housing needs by partnering with the Housing Delivery Network.
• Address the unmet rental needs of low-income and critical needs populations.
• Strengthen homeownership for first-time homebuyers in Virginia.
• Deliver superior, long-term financial operational performance to strengthen achievement of the mission.

Tammy brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that influence her views on the importance of equitable, sustainable housing and strategic planning, in addition to inclusivity and diversity in the workplace.

Growing up as the daughter of an Army colonel, she was exposed to people of all backgrounds and cultures, and she saw how housing around the world comes in many shapes and forms, as well as with many barriers. These influences have sharpened her focus on access, affordability and helping to shape communities, with a firm belief that a home gives all Virginians a sense of purpose and place.

Tammy says she loves working at Virginia Housing because of the positive work culture and forward-focused mission that align with her own values.

Active in the community, Tammy serves on several boards focused on increasing economic and housing opportunities including the:

• Board of the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development
• Board of HousingForward Virginia
• National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA), member
• National Housing Conference, member
• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Local Advisory Committee for both Hampton Roads and the Virginia offices
• Virginia Council on Economic Education

She is a graduate of the University of Richmond and has earned the designation of Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD) from the Association for Talent Development.

When not at work, Tammy enjoys cooking, reading, genealogy and mindfulness activities such as meditation and yoga. She enjoys spending time with her husband and blended family, including three children — a bonus daughter, daughter and son — and two grandsons.

Nick Mitchell-Bennett

Nick Mitchell-Bennett is the Chief Executive Officer of cdcb and the Administrator of the RGV Multibank CDFI headquartered in Brownsville, Texas. Prior to taking the position of ED in 2008, Nick served in multiple positions within the organization. During his tenure he has led the cdcb team, in the development of over 3,000 affordable homes, raise over $75 million in public and private grant funds and deployed over $100 million in private lending capital and equity. In his role as Administrator, Nick led the RGVMB to be the first CDFI to join the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas creating the CASALoan product. In 2011, the RGVMB launched the Community Loan Center, a small dollar alternative to payday lending product. The RGVMB has franchised the CLC model into twenty-two (22) markets across the country, allowing the entire CLC franchise network of lenders to originate over $60 million and conduct over 58,000 transaction. 

Nick has a BA from Tabor College, MS Degree from Eastern University, a Housing Development Finance Professional certification and has completed The Achieving Excellence program at Harvard JFK School. In 2015 Nick was recognized with the Texas Houser of the Year Award.

Jeneene Estridge

Ms. Estridge joined Fahe’s team in 2007 and brings over 20 years of experience in the development field—17 in the housing sector—combined with three decades of service on various boards and committees across the region and nation. She contributes to Fahe’s work to build Thriving Appalachian Communities by developing strategies for development, research, and communications, with an eye toward new and innovative approaches, and helping audiences understand, align with, and support Fahe’s expertise, growth, and impact. Ms. Estridge has in-depth knowledge of fundraising, proposal writing, program reporting, program development and evaluation, relationship management, case building, strategic planning, and public relations.

When not helping finance experts and community leaders articulate their expertise, strategies, and impact, Ms. Estridge voraciously reads, cooks, sings, and makes mischief with her family, friends, and Boston terrier Boo in Berea, Kentucky.

Dave Clark

Dave is the Director of Woodlands Development Group, a Community Development Corporation, and Woodlands Community Lenders, a certified Community Development Financial Institution. He manages programs related to new housing development and housing rehabilitation, downtown redevelopment, community facilities and planning, and small business lending. Dave is currently an Emerson Collective Fellow, serves on the boards of CommunityWorks in WV and the WV Land Trust, and is a member of the Green Bank for Rural America Steering Committee.  

Tom Manning-Beavin

In an affordable housing career spanning over 30 years, Tom Manning-Beavin has worked in some of the hardest to serve rural communities in America, many of them in central Appalachia. Tom has worked for housing development and financial services organizations at the local, regional and national level, and has managed residential construction, originated mortgage loans, underwritten commercial loans, managed grant programs, handled the asset management of a multifamily portfolio, and led organizations to dynamic growth in housing production. Tom started his career with the Appalachia Service Project, then worked for the Housing Assistance Council in both Washington, DC and Albuquerque, NM.  He returned to Appalachia as the Director of Lending for Fahe, then ran a nonprofit in Ann Arbor Michigan, and then was the CFO of Kentucky Mountain Housing Development Corporation.  Before joining Frontier Housing in 2018 he was Director of Housing at Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation in London, KY.  Tom holds a BA from Earlham College, and has completed the Achieving Excellence executive education curriculum at the Kennedy School of Executive Education at Harvard University.  Tom is also the Treasurer of the Board of the Housing Assistance Council.

Kristie Lowry

Kristie Lowry leads the Business Intelligence work at Community Housing Partners (CHP)—a nonprofit organization providing quality-built, responsibly managed, service-enriched homes for low-income individuals and families across the southeast and mid-Atlantic. Kristie and her team are responsible for various aspects of CHP’s data collection, management, reporting, and evaluation/analysis including survey deployment and analysis, energy and water monitoring, ad hoc multifamily property reports, and measurement of the organization’s progress in achieving strategic plan goals. As part of CHP’s Strategic Operations division, Kristie works to foster cross-departmental collaboration and conversation through data as they pertain to organizational reporting, analysis, and outcomes.

A graduate of Western Kentucky University (WKU), Kristie has completed graduate coursework in both Nonprofit Administration and Library Science at WKU and at Drexel University and was a member of the 2020 cohort for the NeighborWorks Tableau Fellowship—a program that helped accelerate CHP’s organizational data journey. 

Jake Powell

Jake Powell is Director of Homeownership for Community Housing Partners (CHP). In this role, he guides the overall direction and strategy of CHP’s single-family business lines. These teams include Housing Counseling & Education, Realty, Lending, and Development. Jake holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics, as well as a master’s degree in Business Administration, from Virginia Tech.

Jake joined the Fahe Board of Directors in 2019, where he currently serves as Chair of the Finance Committee and Vice Chair of the Executive Committee.

David Lipsetz

David Lipsetz is the President & CEO of the Housing Assistance Council (HAC), a national nonprofit that has been helping build homes and communities in rural America since 1971. With staff located throughout the United States and an office in Washington, DC, HAC assists community-based nonprofits, local governments, and private organizations to develop owner-occupied homes, rental housing, community facilities and more. HAC’s mission is to improve conditions for the rural poor, with an emphasis on the poorest of the poor in the most rural places. David earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Michigan State University, and Master’s degrees in both Sociology and City and Regional Planning from the Ohio State University. He currently resides in Washington, DC with his wife and kids. 

Jim Peffley

Jim has over 30 years of experience in community development, affordable housing, and impact investing. His work spans all areas of lending (including community development, single-family, multifamily, and commercial), LIHTC syndication, loan securitization, secondary market transactions, and bond finance. He has an extensive track record that includes work in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors at Cinnaire, Delaware Community Investment Corporation, Fannie Mae, and Delaware State Housing Authority.

Jim is responsible for implementing NeighborWorks Capital’s current strategic plan. He oversees capital raising, risk management, communications, and relationship management for the organization.

Jim has held board positions at the National Association of State and Local Equity Funds, Delaware Housing Coalition, Housing Alliance Delaware, Urban Bike Project, and Community Service Building Corporation. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Delaware with graduate studies in Public Administration and Business Administration.

Lance George

Lance is the Director of Research and Information at the Housing Assistance Council (HAC). With more than 25 years of experience at HAC, Lance leads the organization’s research, data, and information efforts.Lance works at the intersection of housing, research, and policy to help those who have quality and safe homes, better understand and act for those who do not. Lance’s research encompasses a wide array of issues and topics related to rural housing and rural America.

A displaced Kentuckian, who currently splits his time between Washington DC and Minnesota, Lance embodies the adage, “Northern Charm and Southern Efficiency.”

Mel Jones

Mel Jones is a Research Scientist and Associate Director of the Virginia Center for Housing Research at Virginia Tech. Mel leads housing studies and housing research in Virginia and across the country. She specializes in quantitative analysis and data driven policy connecting housing to broad issues including economic and community development, individual economic opportunity, and well-being. Mel’s expertise is demonstrated in her recent work: the West Piedmont Planning District Commission Regional Housing Study, the Virginia Beach Housing Affordability Study, and the City of Bluefield, WV Housing Study and Implementation Plan. Mel earned a BS in Economics and a BA in International Service from American University as well as an MS in Applied Economics and a Master of Urban Affairs and Planning from Virginia Tech.

Patrick Kelley

Patrick Kelley is Vice President of Capital Solutions at the Housing Partnership Network. In this role, Patrick seeks to mobilize scaled investment capital for both existing and emergent HPN social enterprises, HP Ventures, and the greater HPN membership with a current focus on building decarbonization resources and property acquisitions. Previously, Patrick led the creation of the Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter at Habitat for Humanity International, which catalyzed private sector and investment driven innovation in housing. While at the Terwilliger Center, Patrick led the creation of the MicroBuild Fund with investment partners Omidyar Network, MetLife, and the US Development Finance Corporation (DFC) as well as the creation of the Shelter Venture Fund to make investments in early-stage companies driving innovation in residential real estate, affordable housing, and sustainable construction like 3D printing construction technology, Web3 land titling, IoT solutions for home services, and a tech platform connecting builders to suppliers and financing. Terwilliger Center initiatives catalyzed over $15 Billion of investment in housing access and affordability. Prior to the Terwilliger Center Patrick was Executive Director of Urwego Bank, one of the largest financial institutions in Rwanda for housing and small business lending.  Patrick is a CPA and a graduate of both the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs and the Gies School of Business at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He teaches a course on social enterprise and inclusive markets at Emory University in Atlanta.  

Adrienne Smith

Adrienne Smith, Senior Vice President, Research, joined Opportunity Finance Network in 2022 and leads the organization’s research strategy and agenda. In addition to leading OFN’s research team, she partners with external researchers and serves on the Research Advisory Board and Executive Committee of the CDFI Research Consortium. Since joining OFN, she has worked to convene, collaborate with, and build the field of researchers at OFN member CDFIs. Prior to OFN, Dr. Smith was a Senior Associate in Abt Associates’ Social and Economic Policy division, where she directed and contributed to large, multi-year research projects and program evaluations for funders in the U.S. government and foundations. These projects spanned diverse policy areas and issues such as community development, housing, workforce training, and other policies and programs aimed at advancing economic mobility. She also co-led Abt’s Housing, Communities, and Asset-Building market center. Before Abt, Adrienne was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Tennessee. She conducted research and taught courses on U.S. politics and policymaking, public policy processes, urban, local, and state politics, and race, ethnicity, and politics. Dr. Smith holds an M.A. and Ph.D. in Political Science from Emory University and a B.A. in Government in Politics and a B.A. in Art History from the University of Maryland College Park. She was the 2012 recipient of the Urban Affairs Association’s emerging scholar award.

Sherry Trent

Sherry Trent has been at the helm of Eastern Eight Community Development for the past six years, leading initiatives that enhance affordable housing opportunities and community development in the region. With over 30 years of experience in affordable housing and lending, Sherry is dedicated to addressing the needs of underserved communities. She is a proud graduate of East Tennessee State University and has been a resident of Bristol, VA, for nearly 30 years, where she actively contributes to community development and advocacy efforts. Under her leadership, Eastern Eight CDC strives to improve the quality of life for individuals and families throughout the area.

Parking

Overnight

Valet Overnight: $28

Self-Parking Overnight: $18

Daily

Valet Daily: $15 Daily   

Self-Parking Daily:
0–30 mins: Free
30 mins–2 hr: $6
2+ hr–All Day: $12

Self-parking shuttle service operates seven days a week: 8 am–11:30 am and 3 pm–7:30 pm. The shuttle runs continuously during these hours between the self-parking lot and the main entrance. You can drop your bags at the front and then go to park. Just plan a little extra time to get back to the hotel from the self-park which is not immediately adjacent to the hotel.

If you are flying in: The hotel does offer a complimentary airport shuttle. Attendees are asked to use the comp hotel phone found in baggage claim or call the hotel direct on landing at (866) 594-4722. Shuttles run every 15–20 mins from 5:15 am–11:45 pm 

Expected Weather in Roanoke

It should be high 40s at night; high 70s during the day; mostly sunny. Check your weather app for the latest weather!

Dress Code

Business Casual