Fahe’s 45^th Annual Meeting: Housing Can’t Wait

The Fahe 2025 Annual Meeting took place September 30–October 2 (with an optional pre-Conference day on September 29) at the Meadowview Conference Center in Kingsport, Tennessee.

The year’s theme, Housing Can’t Wait, underscores our shared urgency and commitment to meeting the region’s housing needs—together.

Pre-Conference: Monday, September 29

12–5 PM

Achieve Our Mission Assembly – at MeadowView

Volunteer at ASP’s Appalachian Highlands Center – 4523 Bristol Highway, Johnson City, TN 37601
RSVP

Tuesday, September 30

10:30 AM

Meadowview Foyer

Member Registration/Check-in begins

12 PM

Cattails Ballroom

Lunch

12:45–2:15 PM

Cattails Ballroom

Member Meeting

1:30 PM

Guest Check-In Begins

2:15–2:30 PM

Break

2:30–2:40 PM

Cattails Ballroom

Welcome to Tennessee & Tri-Cities Area & Conference Overview

• Jackie Mayo, Fahe Board Chair, HomeSource east tennessee
• Maggie Riden, Fahe
• Vonda Poynter, Fahe

2:45–3:00 PM

Cattails Ballroom

Where We’ve Been & Where We’re Going: Taking on the Big Challenge Now

Fahe’s story is one of rising to the occasion—whether scaling up housing production or unlocking the power of our network through efforts like the Berea Performance Compacts. Time and again, we’ve proven there’s strength in numbers. Now, with the housing crisis demanding bold leadership, we ask: If not us, who? This is our moment to lead with confidence and commitment. We’re not backing down, we’re stepping up to meet the Big Challenge head-on!

• Jim King, Fahe
• Sara Morgan, Fahe

3–3:45 PM

Cattails Ballroom

Where We Are Today: Caucus Impact, Progress, And Strategies for the Big Challenge

Caucus leaders will kick things off by highlighting how far we’ve come, sharing stories of housing successes, community wins, and real impact from the past five years. Then, we’ll dive into the unique strengths each group brings and how we can tap into that expertise to meet the moment together as we harness the power of our network.

• Carol Clarke, NHS-Birmingham, AL
• Angie Allen, Highlands Housing, KY
• Maria Catron, Oak Ridge Housing Authority, TN
• Lynn Pannell, Beyond Housing, VA
• Kevin Jones, Religious Coalition for Community Renewal (RCCR), WV

3:45–4:45 PM

Cattails Ballroom

Beyond a Home: The Broader Economic Impact of Fahe Members’ Work

Housing is more than a roof. It’s an economic engine for community prosperity. Join Fahe’s Camila Moreno and WVU’s Daniel Eades as they reveal key insights from our Economic Impact Report. We’ll explore how housing production drives lasting local, state, and regional economic growth—and why investing in Member capacity is catalytic beyond a single project or address. Let’s rethink what housing really delivers.

• Daniel Eades, West Virginia University
• Camila Moreno, Fahe

4:45–5 PM

Wednesday Preview

• Jim King, Fahe

6–6:45 PM

Cattails Ballroom Foyer

Opening Reception

6:45–8:30 PM

Cattails Ballroom

Dinner & Keynote Speakers

• Jackie Mayo, Fahe Board Chair, HomeSource east tennessee
• Dana Bezerra, CREO
• Jeff Mosley, Capital Impact Partners

Wednesday, October 1

7:30–9 AM

Grand Salon

Networking Breakfast

9–9:15 AM

Cattails Ballroom

Kick off the Day

• Jackie Mayo, Fahe Board Chair, HomeSource east tennessee

9:15–10:15 AM

Cattails Ballroom

Learning in the Aftermath: Disaster Recovery in Central Appalachia

One year after Hurricane Helene, we’ll hear directly from Members who stepped up in the face of crisis. What have we learned? Why is innovation essential in disaster recovery? And how can we strengthen our collective cross-network response? This is the space to share strategies, spark ideas, and build stronger partnerships to respond when communities need us most.

• Pam Johnson, Fahe
• Seth Long, HOMES, Inc.
• Melisa Winburn, Appalachia Service Project
• Randy Welch, SERCAP

10:15–10:45 AM

Cattails Ballroom Foyer

Break

10:45–11:45 AM

Cattails Ballroom

Bigger Impact Through Flexible Funding, Creativity and Capacity

Fahe Members bring creativity, expertise, and resourcefulness to their work every day to solve big challenges with a deep commitment to community. This session will spotlight how Members are innovating and breaking new ground as they build capacity, develop solutions and turn vision into action. With the right resources, there’s no limit to what we can achieve together!

• Maggie Riden, Fahe
• Traviss Witt, Fahe

12 PM

Grand Salon

Lunch

1–2:45 PM

Cattails Ballroom

Member Innovation and Opportunity: Stories from the Field

Fahe Members are on the frontlines of change—finding ways to innovate, seize opportunities, and tackle challenges in their communities. In this showcase, up to five Members will share with us to highlight the diverse, powerful work happening across our network. Expect big ideas, honest insights, and plenty of inspiration!

• Jim King, Fahe
• Tom Manning-Beavin, Frontier Housing
• Lindy Turner, Clinch-Powell RC&D
• Tim Thrasher, CAPNA
• Krystal Gibbons, TCAC

2:45–3 PM

Cattails Ballroom

Member Survey is HERE!

January Advisors Introduction

• Divia Kallattil, January Advisors

3–3:30 PM

Cattails Ballroom Foyer

Break

3:30–5 PM

Cattails Ballroom & 1st Floor Breakout Rooms

Communities of Practice: What We’ve Learned and How We Are Taking Action

Let’s get to work! We’ll break out into practice groups—single-family, multi-family, community services, financial services and others—to reflect on what is working, what’s not, and where we go next. We will hear updates since our Spring Retreat, share progress and explore how Fahe and Members will work together collectively. This is collaboration in action, and it’s how we’ll tackle the Big Challenge together.

• Maggie Riden, Fahe

5–5:15 PM

Cattails Ballroom

Recap of Today and Thursday Preview

• Jim King, Fahe
• Sara Morgan, Fahe

6–7 PM

Inside and Outside Areas Adjacent to the Fire Pit (Cattails Foyer/Ballroom if raining)

Reception and Special Announcement

7 PM

Outside Common Area Adjacent to the Fire Pit Area (Cattails Foyer/Ballroom if raining)

Dinner and Fahe Awards

Thursday, October 2

7–9 AM

Grand Salon

Networking Breakfast and Checkout before we start!

9–10:30 AM

Cattails Ballroom

The Road Ahead: How Fahe and Our Partners Will Meet the Challenge

We’ve heard how Members are growing their capacity and innovating for greater impact, they have big goals and so does Fahe. This session we share how Fahe is evolving through new operations, business lines, and partnerships to support the network. We will hear from a panel of funders, policymakers, and private sector partners about why they believe in Fahe’s work and why they are investing in the momentum of Housing Can’t Wait. We’ll close with a conversation on how we can move forward, united and energized.

• Jim King, Fahe

Panel

• Sara Morgan, Fahe
• Ralph Perrey, THDA
• David Lipsetz, Housing Assistance Council
• Myron S. Lewis, Elliot County Judge (Video)
• Christine Looney, Ford Foundation
• Lee Anne Adams, NeighborWorks America
• Megan Teare, Wells Fargo
• Bleik Pickett, James Graham Brown Foundation
• Jake Powell, Community Housing Partners

10:30–11:30 AM

Cattails Ballroom

The Future of the Field—Leadership, Fresh Perspective, Bold Ideas

We will meet a panel of emerging leaders shaping the future of housing and community development. They’ll share what brought them to this work, what inspires them, and
what they believe it’ll take to make lasting change. We’ll also unpack insights to be gained from our network survey and explore how we can build stronger partnerships, fill service gaps, and shape strategies that move us forward.

• Vonda Poynter, Fahe
• Jordan Stidham, Open Door Community
• Chris Mullett, Garrett County CAC
• Emily Chase, Kingsport Housing & Redevelopment Authority 

11:30 AM–12 PM

Cattails Ballroom

Housing Can’t Wait: Closing Remarks

• Jim King, Fahe

12 PM

Cattails Ballroom Foyer

Boxed Lunches

Jim King

CEO, Fahe

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 previously served alongside executive leadership at Fannie Mae as part of advisory boards and as board chair to Opportunity Finance Network (OFN), the leading membership of Community Development Financial Institutions nationally. Currently he is serving on several boards such as the Heron Foundation, First Citizens Bank, and Truist Bank. 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. Bringing over $5 billion in impact that has benefitted nearly 1.15 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

President, Fahe

Sara Morgan has dedicated over 30 years to strengthening the economic resilience of Appalachia. As an expert in housing finance, infrastructure, community facilities, nonprofit management, and community development, she has played a pivotal role in expanding opportunities for the region. 

Sara was promoted to President of Fahe in March 2023 after more than two decades with the organization. In this role, she oversees Fahe’s strategic direction, network collaboration, and financial growth. Under her leadership, Fahe has continued its trajectory of impact and innovation, securing two successful CDFI Bond Guarantee program applications and driving over $173 million in annual direct investments. 

Her leadership has positioned Fahe at the forefront of affordable housing finance, making it the first nonprofit in the country approved to launch a Regional Broker Network, the nation’s highest-performing USDA 502 Direct Intermediary, and a seller/servicer for both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Sara also played a key role in the development of Fahe’s Housing Equity Funds, further advancing sustainable housing solutions across the region. 

She is a 2012 graduate of Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government Achieving Excellence program and holds a B.A. in Mathematics from Berea College. She is a certified CDBG grant administrator and serves on the boards of Housing Partnership Network, Invest Appalachia, and the Homeownership Council of America, as well as the Freddie Mac Affordable Housing Advisory Council, the Fannie Mae Rural Duty to Serve Advisory Council, the Ohio Capital Finance Corporate Advisory Board, and the Steering Committee of Homeownership Alliance. 

Maggie Riden

Executive Vice President of External Affairs, Fahe

Maggie joined Fahe in 2022 and currently serves as the Executive Vice President of External Affairs. Maggie is a lifelong advocate who believes firmly in community-driven change to policy and practice. Her advocacy and government affairs work has spanned issues ranging from child welfare and education to workforce development and housing & homelessness.

She designed and executed one of the first Homeless Youth Counts in America, “From the Streets to Stability.” Her work in Tennessee and Kentucky has been featured at national conferences with OFN and NADO, and her leadership has contributed to well over $6 billion in new state and federal funding to under-invested communities.

Maggie is an expert facilitator, able to move diverse groups toward collective goals, shared strategies, and effective campaigns. In her current role, Maggie oversees Fahe’s State and Federal Advocacy Teams, the Fahe Membership Department, and our Development Team.

She received a BA in Political Science from the University of Massachusetts and a minor in International Relations from Mt. Holyoke College, graduating with honors. She completed her graduate degree, an MA in Law and Diplomacy, at the Fletcher School of International Relations at Tufts University.

In her personal life, Maggie loves to travel, is an avid reader, exceptional cook, and a semi-successful gardener. Originally from the tiny village of Huntington, VT, she currently lives in Nashville, TN with her partner, their young son, and an energetic Muppet-dog named Lily.

Pam Johnson

Senior Vice President of Partnerships & Programs, Fahe

Pam Johnson is the Senior VP of Partnerships & Programs at Fahe. With nearly 30 years of experience in affordable housing and community development, Pam Johnson is a recognized leader in building strategic partnerships and advancing solutions across the Appalachian region. She specializes in helping small cities, municipalities, and nonprofits access essential funding, including CDBG, USDA Rural Development programs, Disaster Recovery funding, CDBG-CV, KHC HOME/AHTF, the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, and foundation grants. At Fahe, she has led major strategic initiatives, helped develop multiple business lines, and secured millions in funding for the region. Pam currently oversees Fahe’s Programs and Disaster Resilience Teams, designing targeted initiatives and cultivating impactful partnerships to strengthen resources and build resilience in underserved areas. She is a certified Kentucky CDBG Grant Administrator and has completed SBP’s CDBG-DR Leader Practitioner Course and CDBG-DR Training. She is a 2018 graduate of Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government’s Achieving Excellence program.

Vonda Poynter

Senior Vice President of Membership, Fahe

Vonda has been with Fahe since July, 2006, and continues to use her affordable housing and community development experience spanning over 40 years. As Senior Vice President of Membership as Fahe has grown, focus is to strengthen the Fahe Network by connecting our 50+ Members to each other and to Fahe’s expertise and services with collaboration and engagement. Community Development was the right career path for Vonda. Vonda is active in her local community and will often be found playing with her granddaughters.

Joshua Stewart

Director of Federal Policy & Advocacy, Fahe

Joshua Stewart works as Director of Federal Policy & Advocacy at Fahe to help the Membership have their voices heard in Washington, D.C., as we all act together to build prosperity throughout Appalachia. He has more than ten years of experience analyzing and changing federal policy to ensure that our national response to poverty, housing issues, homelessness, and community/economic development works in all places, for all people.

Joshua joined Fahe in 2019, and prior to that was with the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV) from 2013 to 2019. His portfolio there included congressional and governmental relations, policy development, and advocacy-focused communications. The common theme of his career has been the drive to educate: to inform Congress and other policy-makers of the reality of the situation in the field, to insert experts from community into national policy discussions, and to highlight for policy-makers that there are bipartisan solutions to seemingly intractable social problems.

Prior to his time at NCHV, Joshua conducted historical research on social support structures, poverty, and homelessness in 19th and 20th century New England. Other of his published works focus on veteran’s issues, memorialization, and social theory more broadly. He received his M.A. in Historical Archaeology from the University of Massachusetts Boston in 2013, and his B.A. in Anthropology from Gettysburg College in 2011.

Traviss Witt

Advancement Director for Membership, Fahe

Traviss Witt is the Advancement Director for Membership at Fahe. 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.

Camila Moreno

Senior Research Associate, Fahe

Camila Moreno is a Senior Research Associate at Fahe. She graduated with a M.A. in Geography & Planning, from Appalachian State University. Camila has worked in the nonprofit sector in rural Appalachia for 4 years, specializing in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to support rural development and evidence-based ​narratives.

Lee Anne Adams

Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, NeighborWorks America

Lee Anne Adams is Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for NeighborWorks America providing leadership and oversight to a multidisciplinary team focused on equipping NeighborWorks organizations to meet the changing needs of their communities and providing best in class professional learning to the broader community development field.  Lee Anne has successfully led enterprise-wide initiatives at NeighborWorks America, including the implementation of a $100 million federally appropriated grant program to support housing stability and a $120+ million competitive grant program designed to address the impacts of the 2008 financial crisis.

With a career dedicated to strengthening communities, Lee Anne is especially proud of her decades long work to elevate indigenous and rural communities. In addition to NeighborWorks America, Lee Anne previously worked for the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, the World Bank, and the U.S. Peace Corps.  She currently serves as the Board Chair of Unity Health Care, the largest federally qualified health center in the District of Columbia, and as a member of the Community Advisory Forum for Fifth Third Bank.

Angie Allen

President, Highlands Housing Corporation, Kentucky

Angie Allen is President of Highlands Housing Corporation and a 40-year veteran of the real estate, finance, and lending industry. She leads the organization with a focus on expanding access to safe, affordable housing and believes homeownership is a cornerstone of independence and financial security. Under her leadership, Highlands Housing empowers families—particularly those from historically underserved communities—to build stronger connections to their neighborhoods. Angie holds professional certifications in residential lending, HUD housing counseling, and USDA loan packaging, and is dedicated to ensuring equal opportunities for homeownership for all.

Dana Bezerra

Regional President, Americas, CREO

Dana joined the CREO team as Regional President Americas in May 2024. CREO is a community of climate led sustainable investors, predominately single family offices and institutional asset owners, who in aggregate steward more than $1T AUM.

For the 18 months before joining CREO, Dana worked alongside three founders (the Chairman EMEA private equity for Bain, Senior Partner Actis, Managing Partner and Executive Committee Simpson Thacher) to build and launch Greater Share.  Greater Share is an innovative philanthropic investment company harnessing the expertise of the world’s top performing private equity funds and high impact NGOs to solve complex global challenges together.

For the nearly two decades prior to Greater Share, Dana served multiple roles within the Heron Foundation, including the last several years as President.  She played a key role in rotating the foundation’s entire portfolio (across all asset classes and grants) to better reflect Heron’s mission. She became responsible for sourcing and underwriting deals, identifying and developing relationships across a spectrum of investors, syndicating capital when possible, and cultivating opportunities to deploy the full range of Heron’s philanthropic and market-rate toolkit.

Always committed to systems change, Dana has been active in the leadership of several organizations, including two privately held investment firms as well as the Milken Institute’s Center for Financial Markets, Duke University’s Fuqua CASE i3 Advisors and as a frequent guest lecturer at the Tamer Center for Social Enterprise at Columbia University and as part of Harvard’s Advanced Leadership Initiative designed to unleash the potential of experienced leaders to help solve society’s most pressing challenges.  

Maria Catron

Executive Director, Oak Ridge Housing Authority, Tennessee

Maria Catron has built an impressive career in the public housing/affordable housing sector over the past two decades. Her diverse experience, ranging from multi-family and commercial redevelopment to community programs and services, demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of the industry’s complexities. As the Executive Director of the Oak Ridge Housing Authority since 2019, she brings leadership and vision to her role.

Catron’s commitment to advancing affordable housing extends beyond her professional responsibilities. She actively participates in various boards at local, regional, and state levels, emphasizing her dedication to community service and advocacy for housing issues. Holding positions such as President for the Tennessee Association for Housing & Redevelopment Authorities (THARA) and Tennessee Caucus Chair for Fahe underscores her influence and contributions within the field.

Furthermore, Catron’s involvement in local initiatives, such as Leadership Oak Ridge 2020 and board service with organizations like The Rotary Club of Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Fund for Community Excellence, and the United Way of Anderson County, highlights her commitment to making a positive impact within the Oak Ridge community. Her multifaceted engagement demonstrates a holistic approach to addressing housing challenges and fostering community development.

Born in Brooklyn, NY and raised in Rogersville/Tri-Cities of East Tennessee, Maria has a cultural flair that is uniquely her own. Currently, she resides in Oak Ridge with her husband, Darryl and 2 of their 6 children, Braden and Nevaeh. She enjoys reading, gardening, and racing cars in her spare time.

Emily Chase

Grants & Redevelopment Manager, Kingsport Housing and Redevelopment Authority, Tennessee

Emily Chase has dedicated her career to affordable housing, beginning her work in Colorado with the rural Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO), Community Resources and Housing Development Corporation. Since 2016, she has been with the Kingsport Housing and Redevelopment Authority, where she initially served as an Intake Specialist. In 2022, she assumed the role of Grants and Redevelopment Manager. Emily is passionate about leveraging grant funding to bring meaningful resources and support to low-income families. Her work is driven by a commitment to strengthening communities and improving quality of life for residents. Outside of her professional role, Emily enjoys creating sculptural art, painting, and spending time on the water.

Carol Clarke

Chief Executive Officer, Neighborhood Housing Services, Alabama

Carol E. Clarke is the Chief Executive Officer of Neighborhood Housing Services of Birmingham (NHSB), bringing decades of public and private sector experience to family stabilization and affordable housing work. She began her career in energy engineering, served in the Birmingham Mayor’s Office as Director of Capital Projects and later, Director of Economic Development, and held community development roles in banking (Regions, IBERIABANK). Most recently she served as general manager of Southside Development Company, where she led planning and predevelopment for the 22-acre Southtown Court redevelopment. Clarke is active on local and national boards and committees and has been publicly recognized for her long-term community leadership.

Daniel Eades

Associate Professor and state specialist with West Virginia University Extension

Daniel Eades is an Associate Professor and state specialist with West Virginia University Extension, working in the areas of rural economics and rural development.

Krystal Gibbons

Executive Director, Tennessee’s Community Assistance Corporation

Krystal Gibbons is the Executive Director of Tennessee’s Community Assistance Corporation, a nonprofit dedicated to creating affordable housing opportunities and strengthening communities.  She joined the nonprofit sector over 10 years ago and brought with her 15 years of commercial real estate and lending knowledge, Krystal has guided organizations through strategic growth, program innovation, and sustainable capacity building.

Under her leadership, TCAC has expanded services to reach 10 municipalities, secured millions in grant support, and forged partnerships with local and state agencies to advance long-term community impact.   Krystal is known for her collaborative approach, commitment to underserved communities, and ability to bring together diverse stakeholders to address complex social challenges.  Krystal has demonstrated excellent multi-tasking and organizational skills through developing a rental program to create a pathway to homeownership.  The new expanded services for renters will include financial literacy, credit repair, and down payment assistance, to help families transition into affordable homeownership.

Prior to her role at TCAC, Krystal served as Executive Director at Jefferson County Habitat for Humanity, where she achieved Community Housing Development designation for the organization, doubled earned revenue, and increased housing and rehab families served by 75%. She holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Management from Tusculum College and is a licensed Tennessee Mortgage Loan Originator that is an USDA Section 502 Direct Certified Loan Packager.  She serves on the TN Affordable Housing Coalition Board of Directors.    

Passionate about building stronger, more equitable communities, Krystal continues to advocate for policies and programs that empower families and create pathways to stability and success.

Kevin Jones

Executive Director, Religious Coalition for Community Renewal, West Virginia 

Kevin Jones, MA, has served as Executive Director of the Religious Coalition for Community Renewal (RCCR) since August 2019. Based in Charleston, WV, RCCR provides affordable housing services across a six-county region, including homeless services, recovery housing for men, pre-purchase housing counseling, rental housing for low- to moderate-income families, and single-family homeownership opportunities. The organization also operates a satellite homeownership office in Huntington. Kevin holds a master’s degree in leadership and is deeply committed to community development and housing equity. He currently serves as the West Virginia Caucus Chair.

Divia Kallattil

Data Scientist, January Advisors 

Divia Kallattil is a Data Scientist at January Advisors, a data science and technology consulting firm. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from UNC Chapel Hill and a master’s degree in Public Health from UT Austin. At January Advisors, Divia works with an amazing team that uses data to implement meaningful solutions for communities across the United States. 

David Lipsetz

President & CEO, Housing Assistance Council (HAC)

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. 

Seth Long

Executive Director, Housing Oriented Ministries Established for Service, Inc. (HOMES, Inc.), Kentucky

Seth Long has been the Executive Director of Housing Oriented Ministries Established for Service, Inc. (HOMES, Inc.) in Letcher County, Kentucky, since 2008. Originally from southeastern Pennsylvania, Seth and his wife moved to Kentucky in 1991 to volunteer with HOMES, Inc. They decided to stick around. Under his leadership, HOMES, Inc. has developed 275 homebuyer opportunities, completed numerous rehab projects, and created over 62 affordable, energy-efficient rentals units.

Seth is committed to thinking about opportunities which focus on housing and the important role that housing plays as an element of a healthy community. In recent years, he has started a social enterprise focused on solar evaluation/design/installation for businesses and residences in Eastern Kentucky to enhance sustainability. Outside of his role at HOMES, Seth and his family own and operate SouthDown Farm in Letcher county, where they produce Kentucky Maple Syrup.

Christine Looney

Deputy Director of Mission Investments, Ford Foundation

Christine Looney serves as the Ford Foundation’s deputy director of Mission Investments. In this role, she leads investments under the Foundation’s two mission investment funds – a $350 million program-related investment fund and a $1 billion mission-related investment fund. She supported Ford’s strategic planning efforts to develop a new line of work on impact investing as well as the approval of the $1 billion mission-related investment fund.

Christine has an MBA in finance and management from New York University’s Stern School of Business, a certificate in Leadership Development from Harvard Business School, and a bachelor’s degree in economics from College of the Holy Cross. She is on the board of Mission Investors Exchange, the sustainable advisory board for Glenmede, the LP advisory board for Impact Capital Managers, and serves on several private investment fund advisory committees. She is a long-standing Big Sister in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program.

Tom Manning-Beavin

President & CEO, Frontier Housing, Kentucky 

Tom Manning-Beavin is the President and CEO of Frontier Housing. 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 a Board Member of Invest Appalachia.

Jackie Mayo

President & CEO, HomeSource East Tennessee (HSet)

Jackie Mayo is the President and CEO of Knox Housing Partnership, Inc., doing business as HomeSource East Tennessee (HSet), a community development nonprofit and charter member of NeighborWorks America. Since 2005, she has led HSet in its mission to provide affordable homeownership and rental opportunities, housing counseling, financial capability coaching, and real estate brokerage services across Knox and surrounding East Tennessee counties.

In addition to her leadership at HSet, Jackie serves as the Principal Real Estate Broker for Tennessee Valley Realty, LLC—a social enterprise that supports Knox Housing Partnership’s initiatives. She also oversees Knoxville Aging in Place, a second social enterprise focused on enabling older adults to live safely and comfortably in their homes.

Jackie holds multiple professional certifications, including:

• Accredited Financial Counselor®
• Certified Money Coach®
• Certified HUD Housing Counselor
• Money Habitudes Ambassador
• Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS)
• Certified Environmental Access Consultant (CEAC)

Her commitment to community development extends to her board service. She is the Chair of Fahe’s Board of Directors and an Executive Board Member of Tennessee’s Community Assistance Corporation.

Jackie is a graduate of the University of Tennessee–Knoxville and Leadership Knoxville. She also holds an Executive Education Certificate from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government through the NeighborWorks Achieving Excellence Program and completed the Consortium of Social Enterprise Effectiveness program at UT–Knoxville.

Jeff Mosley

Director & National Program Lead of National Real Estate Program, Momentus Capital

Jeff Mosley is the director and national program lead for Momentus Capital’s national real estate programs, including the Developers capacity building Initiative, EDI. The national CDFI’s EDI is focused on growing the capacity of emerging real estate developers to vision and undertake development projects in their communities, fostering opportunities for residential and commercial space and intergenerational wealth accumulation. Jeff is responsible for bringing the CDFI’s EDI to new markets across the country. He also oversees their four-year $30mm Growing Housing Developers program supporting the sustained growth of established developers located across the U.S. Jeff has over 30 years of experience in financing affordable housing, organizational capacity building, and housing policy.   

Jeff has also worked with government agencies and not-for-profit organizations in New Zealand in 2018-19 as an Ian Axford Policy Fellow and Fulbright Specialist where he provided guidance on the country’s affordable housing crisis. Prior to that he directed the Housing Assistance Council’s training and technical assistance engagements to rural and Native American communities. Previously Jeff served as a Senior Program Director with the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) National Rural Program.

He is also on the board of two CDFIs, Fahe (Kentucky) and Genesis Community Loan Fund (Maine).  Jeff received his Master of Science in Urban Affairs and Policy Analysis at the New School University and his Bachelor of Arts in Policy Studies and Political Science from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University.

Chris Mullet

President & CEO, Garrett County Community Action Committee, Maryland

Chris Mullett serves as President and CEO of the Garrett County Community Action Committee (GCCAC), where he leads a staff of 165 who advance community development, economic opportunity, and social equity in Garrett County Maryland. With a deep commitment to collaborative leadership, Chris works closely with regional partners and state agencies to address housing issues, aging, nutrition, HeadStart, homelessness, and other vital issues. His work reflects a strong dedication to empowering underserved populations and fostering sustainable local economies.

Lynn Pannell

Resident Services Director, Bristol Redevelopment and Housing Authority, Virginia

Lynn Pannell is a native of Eastern North Carolina but has lived in Bristol VA since the summer of 1999.  A former schoolteacher, she has been in the world of Social Work for more than 25 years.  Lynn began working with the Bristol Redevelopment and Housing Authority (now Beyond Housing) in April of 2006 where she was the Family Self Sufficiency Coordinator.  Now, as the Resident Services Director, she supervises that program along with other self-sufficiency and enrichment programs through the EnVision Center.  Lynn is the mother of two adult children and  Mawmaw to the three most adorable grandchildren in the world!!

Ralph Perrey

Executive Director, Tennessee Housing Development Agency

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 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; significantly increase support for affordable housing development; and base THDA staff regionally to better interact with partners across the state. 

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

Bleik Pickett

Program Director & Secretary, James Graham Brown Foundation

Bleik serves as Program Director and Secretary with the James Graham Brown Foundation. As Program Director, Bleik manages JGBF’s Impact Team, encompassing programs, grants management, and learning and evaluation. Bleik is directly responsible for the Foundation’s grantmaking portfolios for Education, and Community and Economic Development. He also oversees the Brown Fellows Program, a mentored scholarship program in partnership with Centre College and the University of Louisville.

Bleik has over 25 years of experience in philanthropy. Before joining the Foundation’s staff in 2017, he served in senior roles with the University of Kentucky, the National Science Teachers Association, Meridian International Center, and the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization. Bleik earned a B.A. from the University of Pittsburgh and an M.A. from the University of Kentucky’s Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce.

Bleik serves on the Steering Committee of Grantmakers for Education’s Postsecondary Access and Attainment Impact Group.

Jake Powell

Director of Homeownership, Community Housing Partners (CHP), Virginia

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 joined CHP in 2015, after spending 10 years in Banking and Finance. 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 Second Vice Chair of the Executive Committee.

Jordan Stidham

Executive Director, Open Door Community, Virginia 

Jordan Stidham is the Executive Director of Open Door Community, formerly HOPE Inc., where he leads the organization’s mission-driven work in housing, food, and community development. A graduate of Radford University with both a BBA in Accounting and an MBA, Jordan began his career as an auditor in public education and financial institutions before transitioning into nonprofit financial operations with Community Housing Partners.

Over five years at Community Housing Partners, he gained extensive experience in nonprofit finance, which led him to join HOPE Inc. as Director of Finance. Following the retirement of HOPE’s longtime Executive Director, Jordan was promoted to the leadership role, where he has guided the organization through major initiatives—including cloud-based system upgrades, the integration of AI into financial operations, and the launch of new community programs. Under his leadership, Open Door Community (HOPE) also successfully completed a merger with Mountain Community Action Program, expanding its impact across the region.

Jordan is passionate about leveraging innovation and strong financial stewardship to strengthen nonprofit sustainability and better serve local communities.

Megan Teare

Managing Director of Community Lending and Investment Group, Wells Fargo

Megan Teare has been working in the community development field for over 25 years. She is currently a managing director with the Wells Fargo Community Lending and Investment group where she manages the program that provides enterprise-level capital to community development financial institutions (CDFIs), minority depository institutions (MDIs), and nonprofit housing developers. Megan also serves as a board member of Neighborworks Capital Corporation, Fund Community Institute, and Nexus Community Partners. Before joining Wells Fargo, she served as senior loan officer at the McAuley Institute and as a consultant to non-profit housing developers. She has an undergraduate degree in architectural history from Wesleyan University and a master’s degree in urban planning from the University of Virginia.

Tim Thrasher

CEO, Community Action Partnership of North Alabama, Inc. (CAPNA)

Tim Thrasher serves the Community Action Partnership of North Alabama, Inc. (CAPNA) as the CEO. In his role, he serves the Board of Directors and leads the 550-plus employees by framing a vision, a set of values and a culture that supports organizational growth and fulfills the mission of providing opportunities for those individuals, families, agencies and communities in need. He is truly grateful and values the dedicated leaders, staff, partners and stakeholders who strive to make Alabama and its communities better.

Lindy Turner

Executive Director, Clinch Powell RC&D, Tennessee

Lindy Turner serves as Executive Director of Clinch Powell RC&D, where she has guided housing, lending, and community programs since 2011. A founder of the organization and a longtime rural leader, she is committed to building opportunity and stability for families while advancing development throughout Tennessee.

Randy Welch

Advocacy & Community Outreach Lead/Training Coordinator, Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project, Inc. (SERCAP), Virginia

Randy Welch is currently the Advocacy and Community Outreach Lead/Training Coordinator. Previously Randy was the State Manager of the North Carolina SERCAP office. He has over thirty years of experience in the operation and management of municipal water and wastewater systems. Welch’s experience ranges from operations to top level management. Currently he works with small, rural systems throughout the state lending his knowledge to ensure financial viability and a high success rate of obtaining loans and grants for improvements. The experience comes from providing rate studies, financial reporting and forecasting, and building strong economic development opportunities. Welch spent ten years operating several water and wastewater systems along with managing systems for twenty years. In addition to working with municipal systems, Welch has extensive experience working with individual needs and economic development. He received a degree in Municipal and County Administration from the University of North Carolina along with major coursework in Business Administration.

Melisa Winburn

President & CEO, Appalachia Service Project (ASP)

Melisa Winburn is the President and CEO of Appalachia Service Project (ASP), a mission-driven organization with a 55-year legacy of making homes warmer, safer, and drier for families across Central Appalachia. She first joined ASP as a youth volunteer in 1997, sparking a lifelong commitment to combining faith-driven service with the urgent need for safe housing. With a degree in Building Construction Management from the University of Florida and a Master of Christian Practice from Duke Divinity School, Melisa has dedicated her career to home repair, new construction, and community development—co-founding Rebuilding Together North Central Florida and later serving in ASP leadership for more than a decade.

Since becoming CEO in March 2024, Melisa has advanced ASP’s impact by strengthening construction standards, expanding partnerships, and leading disaster recovery efforts. In the wake of Hurricane Helene, she mobilized ASP to commit to repairing and rebuilding homes for more than 200 families across East Tennessee, Virginia, and Western North Carolina. A licensed General Contractor and active member of several housing and builder coalitions, Melisa continues to guide ASP as a cornerstone of hope and transformation for families and volunteers alike.