Brett Bolton

Congressional Roundtable: Development Finance Priorities on Capitol Hill
Tuesday, April 7, 1:30 - 2:30 PM

Vice President of Federal Legislative & Regulatory Policy
Bond Dealers of America

Brett Bolton is the Vice President of Federal Legislative and Regulatory Policy at the Bond Dealers of America where he is responsible for analyzing federal legislative and regulatory policy and staffs the Municipal Bond Division and the Fixed Income Legal and Compliance Committee.
Prior to joining BDA, Mr. Bolton was a Principal Associate of Federal Advocacy at the National League of Cities (NLC) where he lobbied on state and local tax and finance and intergovernmental relations at the federal level. Prior to NLC, Mr. Bolton served as the Deputy Director of Federal Affairs for the State of Florida’s Washington, D.C. office. Prior to his lobbying work, Mr. Bolton served on Capitol Hill in the office of U.S. Representative Steve Southerland. He earned a Bachelors degree from Samford University and a Masters degree from the Florida State University’s Askew School of Public Administration and Policy.

Jeanne Milliken Bonds

Opening Session: Navigating the Federal Crosscurrents of 2026
Tuesday, April 7, 11:00 - 12:00 PM

Senior Executive & Director
National League of Cities

Jeanne Milliken Bonds is the Senior Executive at the National League of Cities, leading technical assistance and the NLC University. She is an adjunct professor at UNC Chapel Hill in Public Policy and the Kenan-Flagler Business School teaching Impact Investment. Jeanne is the former Senior Executive and Director of Community and Economic Development at US Treasury and the former leader of Regional Community Development for the Federal Reserve.  

Jeanne previously worked for the N.C. Courts as a special assistant and Deputy Director to the Chief Justice and the N.C. Rural Economic Development Center where she focused on community and economic development initiatives across North Carolina. She also served as an elected official on a town council in N.C., including Mayor Pro Tem and Mayor. She has a B.A. in Economics and a M.P.A. (concentration in public policy) from the University of N.C. at Chapel Hill. In 1997, she was North Carolina’s recipient of the Henry Toll Fellowship from the Council of State Governments.

Jeanne is the Chair of the Board for the South Carolina Community Capital Alliance, a CDFI; and, serves on the board of the Cape Fear Collective, a data science and impact investing nonprofit, in her hometown of Wilmington, North Carolina, the board for the Kenan fellows at NC State University, and chairs the Wake County NC affordable housing committee.

Rachel Bridenstine

The Impact of New Markets Tax Credits Permanency
Tuesday, April 7, 2:30 - 3:30 PM

President
Development Finance Authority of Summit County

Rachel Bridenstine manages two mission driven 501(c)(3) organizations (staffed and supported by Development Finance Authority of Summit County) that are focused on access to capital for distressed areas and disadvantaged businesses in Northeast Ohio. Through these entities, Rachel manages investments of over $150M, resulting in over a thousand permanent quality jobs to distressed communities. She is responsible for both organizations’ financial and business processes as well as oversees all investments and their outcome tracking, program compliance monitoring, fiscal compliance monitoring and program reporting. She works closely with borrowers, investors, other CDFIs, and government, business, and community agencies. Rachel also prepares and disseminates information and training to communities and businesses – specifically regarding finance tools for Low Income Communities and disadvantaged businesses. She is a frequent speaker for seminars hosted by the Council for Development Finance Agencies, and recently was a consultant and presenter for New Growth Innovation Network who performed research on economic and community development occurring in small and mid-size cities for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Within her tenure, Rachel has worked to structure and manage multiple programs for the Greater Akron Community including: The Akron Community Revitalization Fund, The Minority Contractors Capital Access Program, The Summit County Affordable Housing Trust Fund, and The Akron Resiliency Fund, bringing unique financing tools to Summit County.

Rachel has 10+ years of experience in accounting, community/economic finance (including tax credits, bond financing, small business lending, and other federal funding programs), management, development, and marketing. She has worked in the non-profit sector and other community outreach organizations in the Akron area. Rachel currently serves on the board of the Akron Civic Theatre, The Well CDC, Greater Akron Chamber’s Equity and Inclusion Committee & MBE/WBE Subcommittee, volunteers as a Middlebury Neighborhood Network Member, and Children’s Choir director and musician at her church. She was recently one of the recipients of the 30 for the Future awards through the Greater Akron Chamber.

Rachel graduated from Hiram College with additional coursework completed at The University of Akron and resides in Akron with her family.

Emily Brock

Congressional Roundtable: Development Finance Priorities on Capitol Hill
Tuesday, April 7, 1:30 - 2:30 PM

Director, Federal Liaison Center
Government Finance Officers Association

As Director of GFOA’s Federal Liaison Center, Emily leads coalition and advocacy efforts of the Public Finance Network in Washington DC. Her advocacy includes anticipating and responding to federal legislative and regulatory activities that impact the finance functions of state and local governments and public sector entities including tax reform, municipal securities disclosure and public pension and benefit issues. Emily also serves as staff on GFOA’s Debt Committee, working with committee members to develop best practices that promote sound financial practices for local, state and provincial governments. Prior to joining GFOA, Emily was a commercial bank relationship manager at a large national bank, serving as the sole bank liaison for government and university clients.

Chuck Depew

OZ 2.0 in Practice: Ask-an-Expert OZ Roundtable
Wednesday, April 8, 1:00 - 2:00 PM

Managing Senior Director
Grow America

Chuck Depew is a Senior Director for Grow America, formerly NDC, a national non-profit that provides economic and community development assistance to local governments. For more than 30 years NDC has worked with local jurisdictions on multiple housing and economic development efforts.

Chuck provides technical assistance in project finance, development negotiation and housing finance to communities throughout the Northwest, including Utah and Wyoming and Northern California. In addition, he teaches commercial and housing real estate finance nationwide in NDC’s leading training program. Prior to his tenure at Grow America, Chuck was Deputy Director of the Office of Economic Development for the City of Seattle. He has over 30 years of experience in public finance, housing, economic and community development.

Mr. Depew has a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Planning from the University of California, at Santa Cruz; and a Master’s degree in Urban Planning from the University of Washington.

Kenan Fikri

Breakfast Briefing: Opportunity Zones 2.0 – Legislation, Guidance, and Federal Direction
Wednesday, April 8, 9:00 - 10:00 AM

Senior Fellow
Economic Innovation Group

Kenan Fikri is a Senior Fellow at EIG and a leading scholar in economic geography and development. In his role, Kenan aids the research department in helping policymakers and the public better understand how the U.S. economy is evolving and what it means for people and places. Kenan is a proud alumnus of the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Brookings Institution’s Metropolitan Policy Program, and The World Bank Group. He holds his Master’s degree in Local Economic Development from the London School of Economics and his Bachelor’s in International Relations and Economics at American University.

About EIG:

The Economic Innovation Group is a bipartisan public policy organization ​founded in 2013 and based in Washington, DC, dedicated​ to advancing solutions that forge a more dynamic and entrepreneurial economy throughout the United States. EIG combines innovative research with data-driven advocacy to address America’s most pressing economic challenges, most notably our widening geographic divides. The organization works to advance creative policy proposals that will bring new jobs, investment, and economic growth to U.S. communities.

EIG works closely with policymakers on both sides of the aisle, including in the development of the bipartisan In​vesting in Opportunity Act (IIOA), which was the predecessor legislation to what we now know as Opportunity Zones.

Preston Frick

Small Business Lending & Updates on the State Small Business Credit Initiative
Tuesday, April 7, 3:30 - 4:30 PM

Breakfast Briefing: Opportunity Zones 2.0 – Legislation, Guidance, and Federal Direction
Wednesday, April 8, 9:00 - 10:00 AM

OZ 2.0 in Practice: Ask-an-Expert OZ Roundtable
Wednesday, April 8, 1:00 - 2:00 PM

Manager
Council of Development Finance Agencies

Preston Frick serves as a Manager at the Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA) within the Knowledge and Networks Division. In this role, Preston works to connect development finance professionals in the areas of access to capital, Opportunity Zones, and federal funding opportunities. As a part of this work, he leads CDFA’s Opportunity Zone and access to capital programming as well as CDFA’s FedFund Briefings.

Before joining CDFA, Preston served as a Grants Coordinator for the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC). Preston helped MORPC become an EDA Economic Development District and helped Central Ohio communities apply for federal funding opportunities. His career has focused on community and economic development from an academic and regional planning setting. He obtained a Master of Public Administration from Ohio University's Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service in 2022.

Jon Grosshans

OZ 2.0 in Practice: Ask-an-Expert OZ Roundtable
Wednesday, April 8, 1:00 - 2:00 PM

Senior Advisor
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Jon Grosshans, AICP, serves in in the Administrator’s Office at the US Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, DC on external engagement with other industry sector and government stakeholders. Much of this coordination focuses on recent Executive Orders and strategic initiatives related to tax credits, supply chains, data centers, and infrastructure.

Shay Hawkins

Lunch Keynote: The Federal Vision for Opportunity Zones
Wednesday, April 8, 12:00 - 1:00 PM

Senior Advisor
U.S. Department of Treasury

Shay Hawkins is joining the U.S. Department of the Treasury as Senior Advisor in the Office of Community Development Policy. Most recently, Shay served as Tax Counsel to Senator Tim Scott (R-SC), where he advised on tax and economic policy, including work during the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and the Opportunity Zones provision. Earlier, Shay co-founded the Opportunity Funds Association and served as Deputy Director for Economy and Trade at the America First Policy Institute. He also worked as an investment banker focused on mergers and acquisitions in the technology, media, and telecom sectors. A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Shay earned a B.A. in economics from The Ohio State University, an MBA from Columbia Business School, and a J.D. from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.

Jill Homan

The Technical Playbook for OZ 2.0: Compliance, Structuring, and Reporting
Wednesday, April 8, 11:00 - 12:00 PM

Deputy Director, Trade & Economy Policy, and Campaign Director
American First Policy Institute (AFPI)

Jill Homan is from Clayton, North Carolina and serves as Deputy Director, Trade & Economy Policy, and Campaign Director at AFPI. Over a two-decade career in private equity, Homan has focused on investing in low-income communities, including Opportunity Zones. She is recognized for her expertise in Opportunity Zones and has worked closely with legislative and administrative members to advocate for effective regulations and promote economic development in underserved areas. In addition, Homan’s commitment to community development is evident in her efforts to own, operate, and preserve quality workforce housing.

Before working in economic development and finance, Homan served on Capitol Hill as a legislative assistant and press secretary. She was formerly an elected member of the Republican National Committee, held senior leadership positions with the RNC, and served as a site selection committee member for the 2016 and 2020 Republican National Conventions.

Homan earned her Master of Business Administration and Master of Public Policy degrees from Duke University, where she focused on finance and urban revitalization. She is an Accredited Professional in Leadership Energy and Environmental Design ® and has founded an organization of several hundred women dedicated to helping educate women on investing in institutional real estate. She currently serves on the Economic Investment Committee for the State of North Carolina, the Triangle East Chamber Board of Directors, and its Economic Development Committee.

Peter Johnson

State Perspectives on OZ 2.0 Designation & Pipeline Development
Wednesday, April 8, 10:00 - 11:00 AM

Senior Manager, Tax and Incentive Policy Research
Louisiana Economic Development

Peter Johnson serves as Senior Manager of Tax and Incentive Policy Research at Louisiana Economic Development (LED), where he is a member of the State Economic Competitiveness team. In this role, he leads research and policy analysis efforts to shape and implement forward-looking strategies that strengthen Louisiana’s economic climate. His work supports the development of tax and incentive frameworks designed to attract investment, enhance competitiveness, and drive sustainable economic growth across the state.

Peter has played a key role in advancing initiatives under Louisiana’s 2025 Comprehensive Statewide Strategic Plan, Positioning Louisiana to Win. His efforts include identifying and pursuing federal funding opportunities, promoting cross-agency coordination through a whole-of-government approach, and supporting the development of the High Impact Jobs Program (HIP), the state’s flagship incentive program aimed at accelerating wage growth.

Peter has spearheaded Louisiana’s strategy for Opportunity Zone 2.0, promoting a whole-of-government approach that aligns regional designation strategies with available capital and capacity resources to support long-term community outcomes. In support of this initiative, he has worked closely with state agencies, regional economic development organizations, and community partners across Louisiana to ensure Opportunity Zone 2.0 is fully leveraged as a catalyst for economic growth. To support data-driven decision-making, Peter developed a comprehensive mapping tool that integrates census tract data and community assets to guide tract selection and strategic targeting.

Peter is a certified Economic Development Finance Professional and Housing Development Finance Professional through Grow America, bringing advanced expertise in financing tools and policy design to support community and economic development initiatives. He holds a Master of Community Development Policy and Practice from the University of New Hampshire.

Matt Josephs

The Impact of New Markets Tax Credits Permanency
Tuesday, April 7, 2:30 - 3:30 PM

Senior Vice President for Policy
Local Initiatives Support Corporation

Matt Josephs is the Senior Vice President for Policy for The Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC). LISC is a national non-profit organization that provides financial investments, policy support, and technical and management experience to local community development organizations to help them to transform distressed neighborhoods into healthy and sustainable communities. As the SVP for Policy, Matt is responsible for developing LISC’s federal policy agenda; communicating this agenda to LISC employees, board members, funders, and other stakeholders; and pursuing this agenda through engagement with members of Congress and other Federal officials.

Matt joined LISC in March of 2012 after serving for 13 years at the Treasury Department’s Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund -- most recently as Senior Advisor for Policy, where he was responsible for coordinating policy development and implementation across the CDFI Fund’s programs, as well as planning and implementing new initiatives and interagency partnerships. Matt also served for six years as the Program Manager of the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) Program, which to date has facilitated over $130 billion of private sector investments into businesses and real estate projects in the nations’ most distressed rural and urban communities.

Prior to joining the CDFI Fund, Matt served as professional staff for the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, where his portfolio of issues included public and assisted housing programs, homeless programs, FHA insurance, and HUD reform. Matt also served as a policy analyst with the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s office of Public and Indian Housing.

Matt received a BA in Political Science from Emory University, and a Masters in Public Policy from the University of California at Berkeley.

Armeer Kenchen

Small Business Lending & Updates on the State Small Business Credit Initiative
Tuesday, April 7, 3:30 - 4:30 PM

Executive Vice President, Small Business Capital
North Carolina Rural Center

Armeer Kenchen is the Executive Vice President of Small Business Capital at the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center. In this role, he serves as Executive Director of North Carolina’s State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI), which is a suite of capital support programs that total more than $250 million dollars. He is also Executive Director of CornerSquare Community Capital, an affiliate of the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center, which works across a seventeen-state footprint and has deployed more than $45 million since its founding in 2021. In these roles, he is responsible for managing $350 million in small business and investment capital, with $60 million in annual origination. This capital leverages more than $500 million in debt and equity each year within a network of more than 55 banks in North Carolina and forty CDFI and MDI partners across the country.
 
Armeer has more than twenty-five years of experience working with banks, community development finance institutions, and non-profit and community development organizations. Some additional highlights of his career include experience as a public-school teacher, business consultant, child-care center operator, and affordable housing developer. Prior to joining the NC Rural Center, he was a member of Self-Help’s executive team where he was responsible for developing strategic partnerships and leading implementation of strategic priorities that drove growth and expansion. He has significant experience working with CDFIs, having previously served as Executive Vice President at Self-Help and Chief Executive Officer of Generations Community Credit Union. 

Armeer is active in the community, serving on several boards throughout North Carolina. He has served as Vice-Chair of the Durham City/County Planning Commission, treasurer of Durham Community Land Trustees, and a member of the North Carolina Clean Energy Fund board of directors. He currently serves as a board member of the Camber Foundation and Vital Healthcare Capital (V-Cap).

Frances Kern Mennone

State Perspectives on OZ 2.0 Designation & Pipeline Development
Wednesday, April 8, 10:00 - 11:00 AM

OZ 2.0 in Practice: Ask-an-Expert OZ Roundtable
Wednesday, April 8, 1:00 - 2:00 PM

Managing Director
FBT Gibbons

A seasoned leader with rich experience managing organizational stakeholders, Frances is recognized for strategically building ideas and developments of significance. She has a reputation for solving problems for large-scale projects that are challenging and complex and that involve numerous, often competing interests. She works tirelessly at building relationships and connecting project partners with the right entities to ensure success. Her passion runs deep and defines the way she approaches every project.

Jacen Killebrew

The Impact of New Markets Tax Credits Permanency
Tuesday, April 7, 2:30 - 3:30 PM

Managing Director
CohnReznick LLP

As a member of CohnReznick’s Project Finance and Consulting Group, Jacen Killebrew advises clients on structuring and preparing projections for complex real estate transactions utilizing one, or both, of the NMTC and HTC subsidies. In this role, he also works with investors to prepare financial models for New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) and low-income housing tax credit syndications, helping to ensure  their transaction is structured appropriately to meet short and long term goals.

Jacen has advised developers, investors, consultants, and lenders on multiple transactions throughout the country, including Puerto Rico. He joined the firm 13 years ago, focusing initially on the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) and federal historic tax credit (HTC) industries. Jacen continues to speak to many different stakeholders at NMTC and HTC events across the country.

Jim Lang

The Technical Playbook for OZ 2.0: Compliance, Structuring, and Reporting
Wednesday, April 8, 11:00 - 12:00 PM

Shareholder
Greenberg Traurig, LLP

Jim O. Lang focuses his tax and corporate project finance practice on tax incentive programs, Qualified Opportunity Zone and Qualified Opportunity Fund financing, tax credits, and related state and federal incentive programs. Jim is closing over $15 billion of Qualified Opportunity Funds and ancillary Qualified Opportunity Zone deployment of funds and has closed or is structuring several billion dollars in tax credit incentivized transactions. Jim and his team have accomplished more than 750 QOZ deployments and more than 300 captive QOF formations for high-net-worth individuals and family offices. Jim represents funds, investors, lenders, community development entities, and for-profit and not-for-profit project sponsors in complex transactions where capital stacks require enhancement through incentive financing, including Qualified Opportunity Zone incentives, state and federal new markets tax credits, affordable housing and low-income housing tax credits, historic rehabilitation tax credits, and renewable energy tax credits. He works with funds, investors, lenders, project sponsors, and qualifying businesses to structure these tax incentive programs along with ancillary governmental and non-governmental financing programs, including inbound immigration and Visa investment programs, grants, and taxable and tax-exempt bonds. Jim works with clients on developing creative structures designed to increase benefits and ameliorate risks.

Benjamin Latham

State Perspectives on OZ 2.0 Designation & Pipeline Development
Wednesday, April 8, 10:00 - 11:00 AM

Program Associate
FloridaCommerce

Benjamin Latham has served as Senior Analyst in Business Development since September 2017. His responsibilities include due diligence and evaluating financial and economic impacts of development projects and initiatives and writing recommendations which have helped bring billions of dollars of capital expenditures and thousands of jobs to the state. He has served as the Opportunity Zone lead since 2019. Mr. Latham was previously Director of Equity Research with the Florida State Board of Administration, which directs over $200 billion in pension assets, and prior to that, he served in various investment, finance and strategy roles with Edward Jones and the Arizona Department of Transportation, in aerospace with Rockwell International and McDonnell Douglas, and healthcare with Abbott Laboratories and CIGNA Healthplan. Mr. Latham holds a Master of Science in Finance and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Arizona, the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation from the CFA Institute, and the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designation from the CAIA Association.

Peter Lawrence

Opening Session: Navigating the Federal Crosscurrents of 2026
Tuesday, April 7, 11:00 - 12:00 PM

Chief Public Policy Officer
Novogradac & Company LLP

Peter Lawrence is Chief Public Policy Officer at Novogradac, primarily responsible for leading the organization's Public Policy department. Mr. Lawrence collaborates on the development and execution of Novogradac’s public policy strategy, engaging with a wide range of stakeholders respond to legislative and regulatory developments and provide insights and guidance to leadership on policy matters affecting Novogradac’s main practice areas of affordable housing, community development, historic preservation and renewable energy.

Prior to joining Novogradac, Mr. Lawrence was the senior director of public policy and government affairs for Enterprise Community Partners where he led the execution of Enterprise’s policy and advocacy agenda. While at Enterprise, he helped found the Affordable Rental Housing A.C.T.I.O.N. (A Call to Invest in Our Neighborhoods) Campaign.

He has served on the board of directors of the Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition, as well as the board of directors of the New Markets Tax Credit Coalition. Mr. Lawrence was also previously a legislative and policy associate at the National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA), a housing policy analyst for the Center on Budget Policies and Priorities, a congressional fellow for Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island in his capacity as the Ranking Member of the Senate Housing and Transportation Subcommittee and a presidential management fellow for the Office of Policy Development & Research at the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development.

Emil Liszniansky

OZ 2.0 in Practice: Ask-an-Expert OZ Roundtable
Wednesday, April 8, 1:00 - 2:00 PM

Principal
Envision Group LLC

EMIL LISZNIANSKY, ESQ., AICP, PE | Principal
Emil Liszniansky is a Principal and co-founder at Envision and a certified planner, licensed attorney, and registered engineer. Throughout his 20-year career, Emil has been immersed in a diverse mix of strategicplanning and economic development initiatives including comprehensive plans, infrastructure projects, community revitalization efforts, project development finance, and funding pursuits. Emil brings a unique perspective to the strategic planning process ashis technical background allows him to identify creative, yet feasible solutions, while his legal training allows him to successfully navigate complex contractual and regulatory issues. An experienced grant writer and funding strategist, Emil has helped Envisionclients to secure over $80 Million in funding assistance since 2016.

Catherine Lyons

Breakfast Briefing: Opportunity Zones 2.0 – Legislation, Guidance, and Federal Direction
Wednesday, April 8, 9:00 - 10:00 AM

OZ 2.0 in Practice: Ask-an-Expert OZ Roundtable
Wednesday, April 8, 1:00 - 2:00 PM

Senior Director of Policy and Coalitions
Economic Innovation Group

Catherine Lyons is the Senior Director of Policy and Coalitions at the Economic Innovation Group, a bipartisan research and policy organization dedicated to creating a more dynamic and inclusive U.S. economy. Catherine leads the organization's government affairs work, focused on implementing and enhancing Opportunity Zones, restricting the use of noncompete agreements for all workers, creating more pathways for high-skilled immigration, and establishing new retirement savings vehicles for workers. In previous positions, Catherine worked on federal immigration reform as well as a variety of state and local policies across California, and served as an AmeriCorps member in New Orleans shortly after Hurricane Katrina. She holds a Master's of Public Policy from the Georgetown McCourt School of Public Policy, and Bachelor's degrees in International Relations and Journalism from the University of Southern California.

Daniel Marsh

Opening Session: Navigating the Federal Crosscurrents of 2026
Tuesday, April 7, 11:00 - 12:00 PM

President & CEO
Grow America

Daniel Marsh was elevated to President and CEO of Grow America, formerly National Development Council (NDC), in January 2017. His work in the field of economic and community development has spanned 35 years in the public, private and non-profit sectors and includes all aspects of business finance and real estate development. He oversees every aspect of Grow America’s staff and operations across the US, including technical assistance and training, community development financing, small business lending, and affordable housing. Prior to becoming President and CEO, Marsh also served as a Regional Director and Senior Manager and is credited with creating Grow America’s nationally recognized nonprofit P3 program using tax-exempt financing for social infrastructure development.

Before joining Grow America, Marsh served in a number of positions for the City of Newburgh, New York, rising to become the Executive Director of Newburgh’s Office of Economic Development, carrying out a revitalization program that secured more than $100 million in investment. During that same time, he was the founding director of the Newburgh Local Development Corporation and Executive Director of the City’s Industrial Development Agency, overseeing both the financing and development of key commercial and industrial real estate projects, and created New York State’s first Small Issue Industrial Revenue Bond Pool.
 
Marsh graduated from Hartwick College with a Bachelor’s in Urban Affairs. He also attended the Harvard Graduate School of Design.

Michael Matthews

Opening Session: Navigating the Federal Crosscurrents of 2026
Tuesday, April 7, 11:00 - 12:00 PM

Director of Government Relations
National Association of Development Organizations

Michael Matthews is the Director of Government Relations for the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO), where he leads congressional and executive branch outreach, coalition building, and advocacy on behalf of more than 500 regional development organizations nationwide. With over a decade of experience, he advances federal policies that promote regional community development, economic competitiveness, and rural growth.
 
Before NADO, Michael served as Legislative Director for Community, Economic & Workforce Development at the National Association of Counties (NACo), and earlier held policy roles at the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) and the Office of Congressman Anthony G. Brown (D-Md.). He holds a B.S. in Political Science from Salisbury University and an M.P.A. from Wilmington University. A Delaware native, he resides in Lake Ridge, Virginia, with his wife and daughter.

Andy Nakahata

Small Business Lending & Updates on the State Small Business Credit Initiative
Tuesday, April 7, 3:30 - 4:30 PM

CEO/Executive Director
CA IBank

Andrew “Andy” Nakahata was appointed as the Executive Director of the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (IBank), effective October 2025. He served as Chief Deputy Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer at IBank from March through September 2025. Prior to joining IBank, Nakahata was Director and Western Region Head of Public Finance at TD Securities LLC from 2024 to 2025. Nakahata was Managing Director and Regional Head of Public Finance for the West Region at UBS Financial Services Inc. from 2017 to 2024. He was Managing Director and Head of the West Region at the National Public Finance Guarantee Corporation from 2015 to 2017. Nakahata was Director and Co-Head of the Higher Education Group at Citigroup from 2010 to 2015. He was an Executive Director at J.P. Morgan from 2009 to 2010. Nakahata was Vice President of Public Sector and Infrastructure Banking at Goldman Sachs & Co. from 1994 to 2010. He is Treasurer of the Board of Trustees at San Francisco University High School and member of the Board of Directors of Asian Americans in Public Finance. Nakahata earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Yale University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Wesleyan University.

Gianluca Nigro

Congressional Roundtable: Development Finance Priorities on Capitol Hill
Tuesday, April 7, 1:30 - 2:30 PM

Deputy Chief of Staff & LD
Office of Rep Boyle (D-PA)

Gianluca Nigro serves as the Deputy Chief of Staff & Legislative Director for Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02), who is the Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee and Member of the House Ways and Means Committee. Gianluca handles Taxation, Foreign Policy, and National Security matters for the Congressman. Gianluca began working for Congressman Boyle as a Staff Assistant in 2019. Prior to his role as Deputy Chief of Staff & Legislative Director, he served as the Member Services Director of the House Budget Committee.

Ben Page

Lunch Keynote: The Federal Administration’s Focus on Economic Development
Tuesday, April 7, 12:00 - 1:15 PM

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic Development and Chief Operating Officer
U.S. Economic Development Administration

Mr. Page is the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic Development and Chief Operating Officer for EDA. In this capacity, Mr. Page is the senior career executive at the bureau responsible for overseeing operations and strategic planning to ensure the bureau delivers on its mission. Prior to his time at EDA, Mr. Page served in a variety of senior roles across the Department of Commerce, working to develop strategies and align outcomes to achieve policy goals.

Immediately prior to joining EDA, Mr. Page served as a Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Commerce to coordinate cross-department efforts to stand up and implement new large-scale programming resulting from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the CHIPS and Science Act. Mr. Page also previously served as the Census Bureau’s chief financial officer, where he oversaw efforts to secure and execute resources for the 2020 Decennial census and improve the positions of the bureau in the annual financial statement audit.

Brent Parker

The Technical Playbook for OZ 2.0: Compliance, Structuring, and Reporting
Wednesday, April 8, 11:00 - 12:00 PM

OZ 2.0 in Practice: Ask-an-Expert OZ Roundtable
Wednesday, April 8, 1:00 - 2:00 PM

Partner
Novogradac & Company LLP

Brent Parker is a partner in the Long Beach, California, office of Novogradac. Brent is experienced in affordable housing and community development, working with for-profit and nonprofit organizations in a variety of tax incentivized real estate-oriented ventures at both the project and fund levels. He has a particular focus on investments in qualified opportunity funds and the low-income housing tax credit, in addition to serving private equity commercial/market-rate clients. In addition to providing various consulting services, Brent leads extensive tax planning and tax return preparation engagements for a wide variety of clientele and works extensively on financial statement audits, reviews and agreed-upon procedures engagements. In response to growing demand, Brent has become a frequent presenter on panels and workshops in several states on a variety of topics. He is also a contributor to the Novogradac Journal of Tax Credits and Tax Credit Tuesday podcast and leads professional development efforts on complex taxation concepts. Brent received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Southern California and is a certified public accountant in California.

Michael Phillips

Congressional Roundtable: Development Finance Priorities on Capitol Hill
Tuesday, April 7, 1:30 - 2:30 PM

Director of Public Policy
National Trust Community Investment Corporation

As Director of Public Policy, Mike Phillips specializes in garnering and organizing local, national, and federal advocacy initiatives. He works to secure congressional support for enhancement legislation relating to the Historic Tax Credit (HTC), New Market Tax Credit, and other community development incentives. Mike is a nationally recognized leader in advising advocates on delivering timely communication and key information to congressional offices on behalf of the HTC. He helps advocates plan and coordinate in-district/state site visits with members of Congress and orchestrates DC lobby days on behalf of the Historic Tax Credit Coalition.

Before joining NTCIC in 2012, Mike was the President of Phillips Associates, Inc., a consulting firm specializing in representing national non-profits, for-profit industries, and national governing bodies in sports. Additionally, he served as a conservation consultant on transportation and historic preservation issues.

Mike began his public policy career with the National Recreation and Park Association, where he successfully lobbied Congress for nine years on issues such as annual appropriations and permanent funding measures for public lands, urban parks, wildlife, historic preservation, and proposed reinvestment in Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) federal energy revenues.

Michael earned a Bachelor of Science from Old Dominion University and undertook graduate studies in American Politics and Comparative Politics at George Mason University. He is a former Advisory Board Member to George Mason University’s School of Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies and a former Advocacy Advisor to the U.S. Tennis Association. Mike volunteers with Fairfax County (VA) Park Authority and was previously recognized by the City of Norfolk (VA) as one of the City’s “Most Outstanding Volunteers.” He is active with local and national youth leadership organizations and ministries, and he is a licensed youth soccer coach and trainer.

Lamont Price

State Perspectives on OZ 2.0 Designation & Pipeline Development
Wednesday, April 8, 10:00 - 11:00 AM

Innovation Director
Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development

Lamont is the Innovation Director with the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD).  TNECD is the arm of state government charged with business retention and recruitment, assisting communities in being prepared for economic development opportunities, managing state and federal programs that provide development resources, and forming strategic partnerships inside and outside state government. His focus is entrepreneurship and innovation.  He has experience with public-private venture capital programs, served on the entrepreneurship subcommittee of Tennessee’s Rural Task Force, and works on place based initiatives to assist small, rural, and distressed communities in economic and community growth.  He is the liaison for LaunchTN, a public-private entity focused on entrepreneurship, SBIR/STTR, and access to capital.  He also is working on Opportunity Zone related projects for the department and the Economic Gardening Pilot Program for small businesses.  
 Prior to joining TNECD, Lamont’s previous experience includes six years with the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury as a performance auditor. As an auditor, Lamont assessed state agency statutory mandates, the efficiency and effectiveness of management’s organization and use of resources, recommendations for managerial or legislative action, and provided relevant programmatic and financial data.  He is a graduate of Western Kentucky University with a Bachelor’s and Master’s of Science in Healthcare Administration, with a minor in Business.

Bob Rapoza

The Impact of New Markets Tax Credits Permanency
Tuesday, April 7, 2:30 - 3:30 PM

President and Founder
Rapoza Associates

Bob Rapoza has over four decades’ experience as a professional lobbyist and is an expert on the federal budget and appropriations process, with special expertise in federal housing and community development policy. Bob has been responsible for numerous legislative accomplishments, including sustaining federal rural housing and community development programs, establishing the Intermediary Re-lending Program at the Agriculture Department, increasing funding for community development programs at the Department of Health and Human Services, promoting the creation of a YouthBuild program at the Department of Housing and Urban Development and, most recently, successfully steering the New Markets Tax Credit program to enactment and implementation. Bob first became involved with housing and community development issues while serving with the Massachusetts Department of Community Affairs. After moving to Washington, D.C., he held executive positions with the Rural Housing Alliance, the National Rural Housing Coalition (which he continues to serve as executive secretary and legislative director), and the Rural Coalition before establishing Rapoza Associates in 1984. A graduate of Boston College and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Bob has served on the boards of several housing and community development organizations and has been profiled in the Washington Post, the authoritative Beacham’s Guide to Key Lobbyists, and The Hill’s 2018 and 2019 Top Lobbyists Lists.

Quinn Ritchie

Congressional Roundtable: Development Finance Priorities on Capitol Hill
Tuesday, April 7, 1:30 - 2:30 PM

Chief of Staff for Representative Mike Kelly
U.S. Representative Mike Kelly

Quinn Ritchie serves as the Chief of Staff for Congressman Mike Kelly (R-PA), managing the office’s legislative team and leading his work on the House Ways and Means Committee. Quinn specializes in tax and trade policy for his boss, who sits as Chairman of the Tax Subcommittee. Prior to joining Congressman Kelly’s office, Quinn worked on Congressional campaigns throughout the country. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Rhodes College and is originally from Baltimore, Maryland.

Toby Rittner

Lunch Keynote: The Federal Administration’s Focus on Economic Development
Tuesday, April 7, 12:00 - 1:15 PM

President & CEO
Council of Development Finance Agencies

Toby Rittner is the President & CEO of Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA), a national association dedicated to the advancement of development finance concerns and interests. CDFA is comprised of the nation’s leading and most knowledgeable members of the development finance community representing hundreds of public, private and non-profit development finance agencies. Mr. Rittner runs the day-to-day operations of the Council including the organization’s various educational, advocacy, research, resources, and networking initiatives. He also serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the CDFA Foundation.

Rittner is one of the most vocal and recognized leaders of the development finance industry nationwide and has advised local, state, and federal leaders, including Presidents Biden and Obama, on economic development finance policy. Through his leadership and guidance, CDFA was successful in preserving private activity bonds and other critical development finance tools during the 2017 tax reform deliberations and has had numerous pieces of legislation introduced in the United States Congress. In 2021, Rittner successfully led a national effort to reauthorize and fund the $10B State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) program as part of the American Rescue Plan Act. He has written and crafted dozens of strategic finance plans for development finance agencies and advised communities throughout the world on development finance approaches.

Rittner focuses on sustainable finance with an emphasis on infrastructure, clean energy, food systems, small business, and innovations in the development finance industry to drive sustainable outcomes. He has written extensively about impact ready initiatives that leverage and engage capital in ways that drive local sustainability in business and industry and the environment and economy.

Rittner is a frequent speaker at local, state, and national conferences and events focused on economic development finance. He has been featured in The Bond Buyer, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, NPR and other national media publications concerning the advancement of development finance tools. He is the author of CDFA's highly acclaimed Practitioner's Guide to Economic Development Finance and co-author of CDFA's Unlocking Capital: A Handbook for Becoming a High Performing Development Finance Agency.

Rittner is an adjunct faculty member at The Ohio State University and Carnegie Mellon University. He is also a Development Finance Certified Professional (DFCP) and has completed the prestigious Oxford University Sustainable Finance Foundation Course.

Mr. Rittner previously served on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Financial Advisory Board and is a member of the Advisory Board for the National Community Fund I. Mr. Rittner holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Master's of City and Regional Planning degree from The Ohio State University. Mr. Rittner was awarded the Ohio State University College of Engineering Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2016.

David Rixter

Small Business Lending & Updates on the State Small Business Credit Initiative
Tuesday, April 7, 3:30 - 4:30 PM

Chief Executive Officer
MStreetX

David Rixter, CEO and Co-Founder of MStreetX, a placed-based FinTech Platform that aims to democratize access to capital resources to all communities. Prior to MStreetX, David created Once United Globe and HCR Consulting LLC and focused his efforts to impact marginalized communities by touting the value proposition of adopting emerging technologies to prepare them for the 4th Industrial Revolution. From 2011-2017, David worked at the federal government where he managed a $500MM+ national portfolio for the U.S. Department of Treasury's State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI). In his role at Treasury, David led outreach and strategic planning efforts, fostered relationships with state and federal officials, and provided technical assistance to over a third of the United States. A few of David's key successes include developing the first ever Treasury supported Inclusive/Rural Entrepreneurship convenings and peer-to-peer strategy sessions for states to collaborate on successful deployment of federal funds and leading inter-agency discussions to support the efforts. David has 20 years of experience in Community and Economic development, having worked with state, quasi-governmental and the federal government to grow the nation's economy.

David led a team for Treasury's Small Business Lending Fund (SBLF) which created the methodology for evaluating financial institutions and during the Great Recession at Fannie Mae he implemented pricing for Home Affordable Refinance and Jumbo Conforming loans.
David is an Empower advisory board member for Network Kansas - where he actively contributes to the development and launching of programs that ensure minority entrepreneurs have the opportunity to access resources that meet their specific needs.
David lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and two young sons.

Noelle Sheets

The Impact of New Markets Tax Credits Permanency
Tuesday, April 7, 2:30 - 3:30 PM

OZ 2.0 in Practice: Ask-an-Expert OZ Roundtable
Wednesday, April 8, 1:00 - 2:00 PM

Vice President, CDFA and Executive Director, CDFA Foundation
Council of Development Finance Agencies

Noelle Sheets is Vice President overseeing the Knowledge & Networks Division at the Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA), and Executive Director of the CDFA Foundation. She plays a pivotal role in shaping CDFA's future direction and ensuring the organization remains at the forefront of development finance.

Ms. Sheets came to CDFA in 2019, bringing with her more than 20 years of experience in nonprofit association management gained through positions at SSTI, the National Association of the Remodeling Industry of Central Ohio, and the Girl Scouts of Ohio's Heartland.

As VP of the Knowledge & Networks Division, Ms. Sheets implements strategies to expand, energize, and optimize CDFA’s portfolio of work including the CDFA Training Institute, CDFA Advisory Services, membership, sponsorship, and event activities.

As Executive Director of the CDFA Foundation, Ms. Sheets designs and coordinates the Foundation’s activities, focusing on creating equitable and inclusive opportunities for socially and economically disadvantaged individuals and communities involved in the development finance industry. She is deeply passionate about the Foundation’s mission and actively champions initiatives such as the CDFA Foundation Scholarship Program and the Caren S. Franzini Fellowship Program.

She is skilled at connecting with people authentically and positively, leading to effective collaboration and shared success. Ms. Sheets holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Public Relations from Capital University.

Eric Silva

Congressional Roundtable: Development Finance Priorities on Capitol Hill
Tuesday, April 7, 1:30 - 2:30 PM

CDFA Legislative Representative
North South Government Strategies

Eric Silva serves as CDFA's Legislative Representative in Washington, DC. Eric has been an instrumental part of CDFA's legislative success over the past two decades. Mr. Silva is a founding partner at NSGS. He began his career in Washington as a Fellow with the Congressional Hunger Center and the Corporation For Enterprise Development before serving as an aide to Senator James Jeffords (I-VT) and the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. Prior to founding NSGS, Eric practiced law for more than eight years in the Government and Regulatory Affairs group of Winston & Strawn LLP, a major international law firm.

Mr. Silva has significant experience in a number of policy areas, including tax, agriculture, financial services, health care, energy and the environment, and trade. Mr. Silva has successfully advocated for client interests on some of the most significant legislation of the past decade, including the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act, the Affordable Care Act, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and the 2008 and 2012 Farm Bills.

While practicing law, Mr. Silva served as legal counsel to clients on matters related to the Federal Election Campaign Act, the Lobbying Disclosure Act and congressional and executive branch ethics rules. He also served as in-house counsel to a major law firm Political Action Committee.

Mr. Silva received a B.A. from Boston College and a J.D. from the University of Notre Dame Law School. While at Boston College, he was a member of the University President’s Council on Student Formation and the recipient of the Congressman John Joseph Moakley Award for International Service. In law school, he competed on the Notre Dame International Moot Court Team and represented clients pro bono on a variety of matters through the Notre Dame Legal Aid Clinic.

Eric proudly serves as a Board Director for the Congressional Hunger Center, Boston College Alumni Association, and the Belfast Beltway Boxing Project.

Chris Slevin

Opening Session: Navigating the Federal Crosscurrents of 2026
Tuesday, April 7, 11:00 - 12:00 PM

Principal
Slevin Advisory and Portico Public Policy, LLC

Chris Slevin advises companies, foundations, and nonprofits on the intersection of workforce, trade, and technology issues. He is a senior advisor at The College Board and the NobleReach Foundation, and was also appointed by House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries to the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission. He previously served as Chief of Staff at the U.S. Department of Commerce under Secretary Gina Raimondo where he led Commerce through the agency’s expanded role in technology and national security and managed a nearly ten-fold budget increase through the execution of new legislation, including the CHIPS and Science Act. President Biden had earlier appointed Chris as Deputy Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs, where he focused on passage of bipartisan infrastructure legislation, veterans health legislation, and the CHIPS and Science Act. Earlier he served in the U.S. Senate as a senior policy advisor for Senator Sherrod Brown and Senator Cory Booker. Chris was Vice President for the Economic Innovation Group from 2018-2020.

Shela Tobias-Daniel

Small Business Lending & Updates on the State Small Business Credit Initiative
Tuesday, April 7, 3:30 - 4:30 PM

Executive Director
Capital Programs & Climate Financing Authority

Shela Tobias-Daniel leads three very different programs as the Executive Director of CPCFA: risk management tools for small business lending as well as for zero-emission vehicles and infrastructure for small fleets; issuance of private activity bonds; and grants for community development organizations. The common thread is increasing access to capital, either to improve the growth and success of small business in CA, or to improve effects on climate—and sometimes both as in the CalCAP ZEHD program.

Ms. Tobias-Daniel is a 26-year veteran of state service, having served 25 of those years in the State Treasurer’s Office (STO). She earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of California Santa Cruz, UCSC, and a master’s degree in business administration, MBA, from the Eberhardt School of Business at the University of the Pacific. Ms. Tobias-Daniel was also a Sloan fellow at the State University of New York at Stony Brook as part of the Public Policy and International Affairs program.

Jason Watkins

The Technical Playbook for OZ 2.0: Compliance, Structuring, and Reporting
Wednesday, April 8, 11:00 - 12:00 PM

Partner
Novogradac & Company LLP

Jason Watkins is a partner in the metro Atlanta office of Novogradac, where he specializes in the opportunity zones (OZ) incentive, federal and state new markets tax credits (NMTCs), federal and state historic tax credits, and federal and state renewable energy tax credits. He regularly consults with qualified opportunity funds, developers and investors on properly structuring investments to use available tax credits and other incentives. Watkins joined Novogradac in 2012 and works extensively on financial statement audits, tax return preparation, cost certification audits, OZ and NMTC compliance reporting and consulting services. He also leads the firm’s Opportunity Zones Basics workshops and has been a speaker at the company’s NMTC preconference workshops. He regularly contributes OZ-related articles to the Novogradac Journal of Tax Credits and has a leadership role with the Novogradac-hosted Opportunity Zones Working Group. Watkins received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Kent State University and is licensed in Georgia as a certified public accountant.