Graham Allison
Opportunity Zones: New Developments, Tract Selection, and Leveraging Bonds
Thursday, May 14, 1:00 - 2:30 PM
CEO and Founder
Opportunity Zone Development Group
Graham Allison is CEO and Founder of Opportunity Zone Development Group (OZDG), an opportunity zone (OZ) consulting and minority-owned development firm in Columbus, Ohio. Established in 2018 to take full advantage of the capital benefits and community improvement mission of Opportunity Zones, while guiding investment into ESG partnerships throughout the United States.
Graham is one of the most sought-after opportunity zone consultants in the country, having guided 200+ investors totaling hundreds of millions of dollars in capital gains investment, as well as numerous business owners and fund managers on how to achieve their opportunity zone goals. Passionate about economic and community development, Graham excels in creating public-private partnerships for community-backed developments that traditional approaches had failed to move forward. In all he has managed more than $2B in projects, including mixed-use residential and commercial, headquarters expansions, manufacturing, distribution centers, and facilities for R&D and advanced energy.
As Fund Manager, Graham has managed multi-million-dollar OZ equity fundraising and compliance for QOFs and QOZBs in several verticals including medical office and surgery centers, multi-family, mixed-use and adaptive reuse real estate projects, as well as renewable energy, non-profit partnerships and film production.
Graham received a Bachelor of Arts of Degree from Ohio Wesleyan University, where he learned his love for community service, and a Master of Business Administration Degree from Franklin University. A proud father of four, Graham and his wife Skylar and their children live in Columbus.
Jimmy Atkinson
Opportunity Zones: Tract Nomination Updates, and Strategies to Connect with Fund Managers
Thursday, July 16, 1:00 - 2:30 PM
Founder & CEO
OpportunityZones.com
Jimmy Atkinson is founder of OpportunityZones.com, the world’s leading authority on Opportunity Zone investing since 2018. Since the program’s inception, Jimmy has been closely involved in the evolution of Opportunity Zones, helping thousands of investors better understand the policy, the mechanics, and the real-world execution of OZ investments. Jimmy also hosts The Opportunity Zones Podcast, the #1 show in the industry. Click below to follow the show.
Robert Carrillo
Opportunity Zones: What’s New, What Matters, and How Public-Private Partnerships Drive Investment
Thursday, March 12, 1:00 - 2:30 PM
Founder & President
Carrillo Group CANY | LaunchPad Collective, Inc.
Robert Carrillo is Founder and President of LaunchPad Collective and Carrillo Group CANY (CGX), where he leads land acquisition, entitlement, and mixed-use development in San Bernardino’s Opportunity Zone corridors. With a background in institutional finance, Robert brings capital markets discipline to real estate and community development. His work focuses on identifying and acquiring undervalued land, securing entitlements, and structuring projects that integrate housing, small business space, and workforce pathways. He has convened and now leads a coalition of ten partner organizations aligned around LaunchPad’s community-rooted development model - bringing together workforce institutions, small business advocates, healthcare partners, and housing stakeholders to advance coordinated, place-based investment. LaunchPad represents the convergence of his experience across finance, development, and coalition-building. The team recently launched its first Opportunity Zone fund to support equity capitalization of a corridor-based mixed-use development in San Bernardino. Robert approaches Opportunity Zones as an implementation tool - emphasizing execution, cross-sector alignment, and long-term stewardship over theory.
Robert Carrillo is an Afro-Latino real estate developer, community development practitioner, and Founder and President of LaunchPad Collective, a nonprofit advancing mixed-use development as a platform for economic mobility in historically underinvested communities.
With more than 27 years of experience spanning New York City, Maryland, and California, Carrillo’s career has included real estate investment banking, brokerage, affordable housing, property management, and development. Today, his work is centered in San Bernardino, where LaunchPad is developing housing alongside entrepreneurship, workforce development, education, healthy food access, and other community-serving infrastructure.
Carrillo’s work is grounded in a belief that Latino communities should not simply be recipients of investment, but participants in shaping, financing, developing, and ultimately benefiting from the growth of their neighborhoods. Through LaunchPad, he is exploring how community development finance can be structured to build local assets, expand economic opportunity, and create pathways to long-term community wealth.
Blake Christian
Opportunity Zones: Key Updates for 2027 and Business Support Strategies
Wednesday, December 16, 1:00 - 2:30 PM
Partner
Holthouse Carlin & Van Trigt LLP
Blake brings over 45 years of experience providing tax consulting and compliance services to clients that include multinational, publicly-traded corporations and closely held owner-managed businesses. Throughout his entire career, Blake has specialized in federal, state, and local tax incentive programs. Blake is leading the firm’s efforts in providing tax consulting services for Qualified Opportunity Zones (OZ). Blake and the HCVT OZ Team have formed over 250 Qualified Opportunity Funds (QOF) and over 250 Qualified Opportunity Zone Businesses (QOZB). They have also advised hundreds of other investors and professionals regarding the complexities of formation, operation, semi-annual testing, and restructuring of QOFs and QOZBs.
As a thought leader, Blake has been interviewed by New York Time, Bloomberg, US News and World Reports and other national publications providing insights into this powerful yet complex tax incentive program and has authored several articles and HCVT Tax Alerts about OZ and QOFs. Blake has developed unique insights into OZ strategies for real estate developers and investors, as well as for operating business start-ups and expansions. In addition to tax incentive consulting, Blake provides partnership and individual tax planning and compliance services. His broad industry experience includes manufacturing and distribution, service companies, restaurant, shipping and transportation, energy, and healthcare.
Blake joined HCVT to open the firm’s Long Beach office over 33 years ago and opened the firm’s Park City, Utah office in 2014, Salt Lake City in 2023 and Lehi in 2026. Blake has served in leadership positions on numerous community boards including the Utah Association of CPAs Annual Planning Committee, Long Beach Community Foundation as Vice-Chair, Cal State Long Beach Ukleja Center for Ethical Leadership Governing Council, and the Long Beach Rotary where he served as president. Blake was also an active member of the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and served as chairperson. Blake was named one of the Top 10 California Accounting Professionals in 2015 and 2014. The Long Beach Chamber of Commerce awarded Blake the 2016 Community Spirit Award for his economic development work and leadership in the California Enterprise Zone program. He was named a Top 25 National OZ Influencer and a Top 25 OZ Tax Specialist three years in a row (2021-2023) by OpportunityZone.com.
Blake is a frequent contributor to leading industry-related publications. TaxConnections.com named Blake one of the Top 50 Tax Bloggers in the US. Blake has been a contributing columnist for the AICPA CPA Insider, a past columnist for the AICPA Corporate Tax Insider Newsletter, and a regular contributor to the Long Beach Business Journal as well as numerous other publications. He has lectured at a number of universities, including the University of Southern California (MBT Program) and California State University Long Beach (Annual Tax Conference), BYU, and the University of Utah, as well as various business and tax forums throughout the country. Blake has also been a technical resource for many news organizations, including USA Today, Los Angeles Times, Press-Telegram, KTLA News, Park City TV, KNX NewsRadio, and KFI Radio KPCW.
Blake began his career at KPMG LLP and was admitted to its partnership in 1991. Blake holds a Master’s of Taxation from the University of Southern California, a bachelor’s degree in accounting, and a minor in finance from California State University, Long Beach.
Stacy Cumberbatch
Opportunity Zones: Key Updates for 2027 and Business Support Strategies
Wednesday, December 16, 1:00 - 2:30 PM
Managing Director
Blended Impact
Stacy Cumberbatch is the Founder and Managing Director of Blended Impact, a Southern California based civic innovation lab founded in 2019. Leading partnerships with cities, nonprofits, and private investors nationally, the team has unlocked over $255M in public and private capital for economic development in emerging tech hubs.
Previously she served as a FUSE Executive Fellow and Executive in Residence with the County of Riverside Office of Economic Development. There she partnered on developing and launching the Opportunity Zone strategy for the county across multiple cities and unincorporated areas. She also currently serves as a Strategic Advisor for Accelerator for America, a nonprofit, nonpartisan "Do tank" led by an advisory council of mayors and other elected officials across the country.
Earlier in her career, she served as a Principal at a seed-stage venture capital fund and accelerator program, co-launching the Los Angeles office where over $4.5M was invested in early-stage companies during her three year tenure. Prior, she had over twelve years of corporate and consumer real estate finance experience at institutions including First Republic Bank, Colony Capital, and Bank of America underwriting over $1.7B in real estate loan transactions.
Stacy is a graduate of the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and holds a Masters of Science in Entrepreneurship & Innovation from the University of Southern California.
Preston Frick
Opportunity Zones: New Developments, Tract Selection, and Leveraging Bonds
Thursday, May 14, 1:00 - 2:30 PM
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.
A.J. Herrmann
Opportunity Zones: Tract Nomination Updates, and Strategies to Connect with Fund Managers
Thursday, July 16, 1:00 - 2:30 PM
Director of Policy and Program Innovation
Accelerator for America
A.J. Herrmann is the Director of Policy and Program Innovation at Accelerator for America, where he helps city leaders across the country develop effective policies and strategies to promote inclusive economic development and leads AFA’s Kansas City focused regional work.
Before joining the Accelerator team, A.J. was Director of Policy for Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas. In that role, he led legislative efforts to establish and fund the city's first Affordable Housing Trust Fund, become the first major city in the country to launch Zero Fare Transit, and managed the city's economic and health response to COVID-19.
Prior to his time at City Hall, he was a Senior Program Officer at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, where he managed the Kauffman Indicators of Entrepreneurship, a suite of data tools and visualizations focused on entrepreneurship and business growth, as well as a $5 million grant portfolio focused on entrepreneurship research and policy. AJ also has extensive experience as a policy-focused research consultant and has advised federal agencies, non-profits, and advocacy organizations with program evaluation, implementation, and strategic planning efforts.
A.J. is committed to civic engagement and social justice in the Kansas City community and serves on the boards of University Health, the Kansas City Affordable Housing Trust Fund, Greenlight Fund - Kansas City, and Youth Guidance KC, among others.
A.J. earned a Masters in Public Policy from the University of California-Berkeley and a BA in History from Colby College.
.png)
Jill Homan
Opportunity Zones: Tract Selection Trends, and Using Incentives with Opportunity Zone Investments
Thursday, September 10, 1:00 - 2:30 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.
Frances Kern Mennone
Opportunity Zones: Tract Nomination Updates, and Strategies to Connect with Fund Managers
Thursday, July 16, 1:00 - 2:30 PM
Managing Director
FBT Gibbons
As a Managing Director at FBT Gibbons' Industry Consultants and Advisors, Frances is a strategic architect of transformational public-private partnerships who builds a financial and strategic roadmap from concept through capital stack to completion. She is recognized for her ability to take new projects from nascent concepts into successful realities and add measurable value to the communities and organizations she serves.
Frances is a national authority on Opportunity Zones and one of the most sought-after voices on the 2026 designation process. A frequent speaker on OZ policy and practice, she is known for translating a complex and fast-moving program into terms investors, developers, and communities can act on. She advises clients and communities on OZ 2.0 designation strategy and is building the Heartland OZ Fund.
Frances is adept at connecting stakeholders, negotiating competing interests, and identifying funding resources that others miss. She navigates federal and state funding mechanisms including competitive grant programs, appropriations, and programmatic funding. She actively advocates for state and federal bills that advance economic development and infrastructure funding, including working with the Ohio River Way to advance the pending Ohio River Restoration Act.
Her work unlocking stalled mall demolition projects has led to the nickname "Dead Mall Slayer" — she secured state demolition funding for Forest Fair and Westland malls through strategic structuring that maximized public investment and minimized client out-of-pocket costs.
Frances has extensive experience with federal competitive grant programs, Opportunity Zones, New Markets Tax Credits, Historic Tax Credits, Low Income Housing Tax Credits, Property Assessed Clean Energy (CPACE), and other innovative funding mechanisms for complex public-private partnerships.
Emil Liszniansky
Introduction to Opportunity Zones
Thursday, January 15, 1:00 - 2:30 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
Opportunity Zones: What’s New, What Matters, and How Public-Private Partnerships Drive Investment
Thursday, March 12, 1:00 - 2:30 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.
Brady Meixell
Opportunity Zones: Tract Selection Trends, and Using Incentives with Opportunity Zone Investments
Thursday, September 10, 1:00 - 2:30 PM
Senior Research Analyst
Urban Institute
Brady Meixell is a senior research associate in the Housing and Communities Division at the Urban Institute. His work focuses on community and economic development, small businesses, place-based interventions, land use, and financing.
Meixell previously worked at the Southwest Brooklyn Industrial Development Corporation, where he provided technical assistance to small businesses and worked on industrial policy and planning issues in New York City. He holds a BA in public policy from the College of William & Mary and an MS in urban planning from Columbia University.
Jennifer Syx
Introduction to Opportunity Zones
Thursday, January 15, 1:00 - 2:30 PM
Director of Economic Development
Envision Group LLC
JENNIFER SYX | Director of Economic Development
Jennifer Syx is Envision’s Director of Economic Development and has over 20 years of experience in the private, non-profit and public sectors. She works with communities and companies on strategic economicdevelopment initiatives including site selection, business attraction strategies and recruitment, and incentive packages. Jennifer has secured over $253 Million in financial incentives and funding assistance for corporate and municipal clients. Jennifer holdsa B.S. Marketing from Kent State University. Her project experience includes master planning; land acquisition, site assembly and readiness; brownfield redevelopment; grant and incentive procurement; market analysis; and economic impact statements.
Jason Watkins
Opportunity Zones: Key Updates for 2027 and Business Support Strategies
Wednesday, December 16, 1:00 - 2:30 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.