10:00 am - The American Home is the American Dream

Scott Turner, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

The Honorable Scott Turner is the 19th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Previously, he served as Executive Director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council (WHORC). During his tenure, Turner led the interagency Opportunity Zones Initiative working with state, local, tribal, and territorial governments across the country to revitalize economically distressed areas and promote affordable housing, as well as support the creation of new businesses. A lifelong Texan, he also served as an Associate Pastor at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, and represented the 33rd District in the Texas State Legislature from 2013-2017. Prior to his career in public service, Turner played nine seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Washington Redskins, San Diego Chargers, and Denver Broncos.

Tim Scott, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs, United States Senator from South Carolina

Senator Tim Scott is an American businessman and politician serving since 2013 as the United States senator from South Carolina. Tim has been a leader in fighting for opportunity and education for families, defending God-given rights, and advancing safety and security goals at home and abroad. He is the chairman of the United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, which oversees HUD's authorization, legislation, and programs related to housing, urban development, and mass transit. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 to 2013. Prior to his career in public service, he built his own successful small businesses.

Monica De La Cruz, United States Congresswoman Representing the 15th Congressional District of Texas

Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz is the first Hispanic Republican woman to represent the Great State of Texas in Congress. In her first term, she proved to be an effective national leader, passing six key pieces of legislation, including a critical measure targeting fentanyl trafficking—the first bill from her community to be signed into law in nearly 20 years. Monica is a relentless advocate for border security, the preservation of the American Dream, and the protection of seniors' benefits. As a strong supporter of local agriculture, Monica created the South Texas Water Working Group to tackle the region's water challenges and has taken bold steps to hold the Mexican government accountable for its water debt.

Mike Flood, United States Congressman Representing the 1st Congressional District of Nebraska

Congressman Mike Flood was sworn into office on July 12, 2022. In 2005, Mike was elected to represent his hometown and surrounding Madison County in the Nebraska Legislature. In 2007, his colleagues elected him the youngest Speaker of the Legislature in Nebraska history. In June 2022, Mike won a special election to take over Nebraska's 1st District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He currently serves on the Financial Services Committee where he also serves as the Chairman of the Housing and Insurance Subcommittee, a Member of the Financial Institutions Subcommittee, and a Member of the Monetary Policy, Treasury Market Resilience, and Economic Prosperity Task Force. Additionally, he serves as a Member of the House Republican Policy Committee.

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11:00 am - Financing the Future of Affordable Housing

Dennis C. Shea, Executive Vice President, J. Ronald Terwilliger Center for Housing Policy

Mr. Dennis Shea is the Executive Vice President of the J. Ronald Terwilliger Center for Housing Policy. Dennis's past work with the Bipartisan Center includes serving as a consultant to the BPC's blue-ribbon Housing Commission and its Senior Health and Housing Task Force. In these roles, he contributed to two landmark reports, Housing America's Future: New Directions for National Policy and Healthy Aging Begins at Home. During President George W. Bush's administration, Dennis served as assistant secretary for policy development and research at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Immediately prior to joining BPC, Dennis served as deputy U.S. trade representative and U.S. ambassador to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva, Switzerland, where he led an interagency team charged with advancing U.S. interests on issues ranging from trade in goods and services to e-commerce, intellectual property protection, and agriculture. Dennis has a strong record of working with colleagues from both sides of the aisle to achieve positive results.

Jeb Mason, Partner, Mindset

Mr. Jeb Mason is a highly adept policy strategist, sought after for his expertise on housing finance policy, financial regulatory reform, and complex financial market challenges with a nexus to Washington. He has spent the last decade building the firm's diverse and successful advisory practice where he advises mortgage market participants on the policy landscape with an eye toward the technology and regulatory transformation taking place in housing finance markets. Prior to joining Mindset, Jeb served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury and Policy Advisor to Secretary Henry M. Paulson, Jr., where he played a key role in developing the Treasury's views on domestic and international economic policy. Preceding Treasury, Jeb served as Associate Director for Strategic Initiatives at the White House, where he advised senior staff and Cabinet officials on major policy initiatives, including tax reform, healthcare reform, American competitiveness, and trade.

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1:00 pm - Breaking Down Regulatory Barriers

Lesli Gooch, PhD, Chief Executive Officer, Manufactured Housing Institute

Dr. Lesli Gooch is the CEO of the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI), a national trade association representing nearly 90% of manufactured homes produced in the United States. Under her leadership, MHI has made significant strides in advancing legislative priorities, including efforts to update federal housing regulations and construction codes to better reflect modern industry innovations. Lesli has supported bipartisan legislation aimed at reaffirming HUD's regulatory authority over manufactured housing and removing outdated construction mandates that limit industry growth. Lesli also helped establish a new deputy assistant secretary position within HUD dedicated to manufactured housing, elevating the sector's profile alongside single- and multifamily housing. Lesli advocated for expanding the HUD code to include duplexes, broadening affordable housing options. Her advocacy extends to the state level, where she has provided expertise on housing legislation in over a dozen states.

Ryan M. Colker, Executive Director, Energy, Resilience & Innovation, International Code Council (ICC)

Mr. Ryan Colker is the Executive Director, Energy, Resilience & Innovation at the International Code Council and also serves as Executive Director of the Alliance for National & Community Resilience (ANCR), a national coalition working to provide communities with the tools necessary to holistically assess and improve their resilience. Prior to joining ICC, Ryan served as Vice President at the National Institute of Building Sciences where he led efforts to improve the built environment through the collaboration of public and private sector industry stakeholders. Ryan speaks and writes frequently on emerging issues within the built environment including resilience, building performance, and off-site construction. Previously, he served as Manager of Government Affairs for ASHRAE.

Colt Davis, Chief Operating Officer, Clayton Home Building Group

Mr. Colt Davis started working for Clayton in 2003 in a part-time lead generation position while still in college. He joined the company full-time as a marketing analyst in 2005. During that time, he coordinated Clayton's response to FEMA, supplying homes for displaced families. In 2013, he became director of operations for Clayton Supply. He was tasked with helping to grow the young company, which became the materials vendor for Clayton Homes. He served as vice president of operations from 2016 through 2018 and became president of the supply group in 2019 which launched a new cabinet line and a transportation company, Clayton Connect, that delivers Clayton Homes across the country. He became the COO in June 2022.

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2:00 pm - Innovative Construction: Materials, Design, & Development

Brad DeHays, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Connect Housing Blocks

Mr. Brad DeHays is an expert in developing unique projects for the benefit of the surrounding communities. His experience as a lead developer utilizing the tools of government programs includes: Low Income Housing Tax Credits, Federal and State Historic Tax Credits, Conservation Easements, Federal and State New Market Tax Credits, and Job Creation Tax Credits, just to name a few. Connect Realty has been a driver in the development boom in central Ohio by transforming previously neglected spaces into first-class commercial and residential units. Recently, Connect became a mega project recipient in the first Transformational Mixed Use Development round for his Connect Housing Blocks Project in central Ohio. The $100 million project consists of a 630,000 ft modular apartment manufacturing facility and two affordable apartment complexes on-site.

Gene Eidelman, Cofounder, Azure Printed Homes, Inc.

From developing affordable multifamily projects to revolutionizing the construction industry with 3D-printed homes, Mr. Gene Eidelman's journey in real estate is marked by innovation and impact. After immigrating to the United States from Ukraine, Gene quickly made a name for himself, developing over 3,000 condominiums and apartments in Southern California and across the Southeastern United States. His entrepreneurial spirit didn't stop there; he launched two education startups before co-founding Azure Printed Homes in 2022. At Azure, Gene and his team are breaking new ground with a patented 3D printing process that constructs entire structures from recycled polymers. Since May 2023, Azure Printed Homes has been delivering units ranging from emergency housing, backyard studios, and tiny homes for glamping resorts to workforce housing, ADUs, and homes, with a focus on sustainable, affordable housing for all.

Jess Lohse, Executive Director, Structural Building Components Association

Mr. Jess Lohse is a recognized leader and advocate in the structural building components and lumber and building materials (LBM) industries, with a career dedicated to advancing best practices, innovation, and collaboration across the construction supply chain. As the Executive Director of the Structural Building Components Association (SBCA), Jess plays a pivotal role in strengthening the voice of component manufacturers nationwide. He has spearheaded strategic initiatives to elevate industry standards, enhance quality assurance programs, and expand member engagement. His leadership has helped guide SBCA through transformative periods, ensuring the association remains a vital resource for manufacturers, suppliers, and construction professionals. Jess's expertise extends deeply into the component manufacturing industry, where he has worked to promote the use of offsite components, such as roof trusses, floor trusses, and wall panels, to improve construction efficiency and safety.

Chip Devine, Senior Vice President - Pro Sales, Home Depot

Mr. Chip Devine is the senior vice president of Pro sales for The Home Depot. He leads the company's various sales and capabilities teams dedicated to serving professional contractors and national accounts. Chip also oversees the B2B digital experience and strategy for Pros who engage with The Home Depot online. Before joining The Home Depot, Chip spent nearly 30 years at Ferguson, holding various executive roles from SVP of sales, SVP of digital and ecommerce, and VP of multi-channel business services. Chip holds a bachelor's degree in finance from Virginia Tech, is a graduate of the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program, and has completed executive programs at The University of Virginia and IMD Business School. He serves as a board member for Virginia Tech's Pamplin College of Business.

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3:00 pm - A Revitalization Story: Housing and Opportunity Zones

Jill Homan, Deputy Director, Trade & Economy Policy, and Campaign Director, American First Policy Institute

With over a two-decade career in private equity, Ms. Jill 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. Before working in economic development and finance, Jill 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.

Alfonso Costa Jr., Chief Operating Officer, Falcone Group

Mr. Alfonso Costa is responsible for overseeing the development of multifamily apartment communities, leading public-private partnership (P3) opportunities, and executing operational & strategic initiatives for the company. Alfonso previously served in the Federal Government as Deputy Chief of Staff & Opportunity Zones lead for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). As an expert on the bi-partisan Opportunity Zones program, Alfonso held the title of Chairman's delegate and HUD's lead representative on the Federal Government's inter-agency Opportunity and Revitalization Council, and for his efforts has been recognized in the Opportunity Zone Magazine's "Top 25 OZ Influencers" list for both 2020 and 2021.

Ja'Ron Smith, Partner, CGCN

Ja'Ron Smith is a policy expert experienced in advocacy, legislating, and policy strategy and negotiation. He specializes in advising clients on a range of issues including regulatory affairs, economic mobility, social justice, finance, banking, and housing and urban development. Ja'Ron recently served as the Executive Director of the Center for Advancing Opportunity at Thurgood Marshall College Fund, which aims to move people living in fragile communities from promise to prosperity by developing research-based solutions to pressing issues such as education, entrepreneurship, criminal justice, and overall economic conditions.

Prior to CAO, Ja'Ron was working with the Trump Administration as the highest and longest ranking African American advisor, serving in a number of roles. Most recently, he served as Deputy Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy and Deputy Director of the White House Office of American Innovation, where he played a key role in developing the previous domestic policies and has been a driving force in passing legislation aimed at helping the African American community.

Ja'Ron's portfolio during his time at the White House included a wide range of issues, including criminal justice reform, immigration, re-entry, economic revitalization of distressed communities, opportunity zones, infrastructure, trade, economic growth and job creation, and HBCU initiatives. He previously served as a Special Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs and was the President's liaison to the United States House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee, Agriculture Committee, Education and Workforce Committee, Homeland Security Committee, Congressional Black Caucus, and Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Prior to serving as the Special Assistant to the President in the Office of Legislative Affairs, he served as the President's Director of Urban Affairs and Revitalization, where he was a chief policy strategist and manager of HBCU initiatives, crime and reentry, and the White House Faith and Opportunity Initiative. Before the President began his term in office, Ja'Ron also served both Houses of Congress, and played a key role in seeking additional funding for Howard University to mitigate the energy crisis faced by the University in 2018.

Ja'Ron has been a longtime advocate for economic development, crime prevention, entrepreneurship, and workforce development, and was awarded the 2020 Bipartisan Justice Award. He is a graduate of Howard University School of Business and Howard University School of Divinity and is an ordained minister in the Universal Life Church. He also serves as a Senior Fellow with Right on Crime and Founder of Public Safety Solutions for America.