Federal Policy Plenary

National experts will address current policy and future housing issues and opportunities. Join us for a discussion about the existing state of housing and how we will move forward in this challenging environment.

Panelists:

The Honorable Richard Cordray
Ohio Attorney General

Richard Cordray was elected Ohio Attorney General in November 2008. He previously served as Ohio Treasurer of State, Franklin County Treasurer, State Representative, and as Ohio's first Solicitor General. Cordray's career has been guided by the spirit of community service and the belief that government should strive to make a positive difference in the daily lives of its citizens. As State Representative, he sponsored the Ohio Community Service Education Act. An accomplished lawyer, Cordray has argued six cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and taught constitutional law for 13 years at The Ohio State University's law school. In 2003, he earned the Presidential Service Award from the Ohio Legal Assistance Foundation for his work supporting legal services for the poor, and in 2000 the Human Rights Campaign named him "Humanitarian of the Year" for his efforts to promote tolerance and understanding in our communities. As Ohio Treasurer, Richard Cordray managed the state's investment portfolio of about $18 billion. His commitment to cutting costs, enhancing economic development, and promoting financial security among Ohioans earned national recognition in 2008, including the Excellence in Government Leadership Award from the Association of Government Accountants, and NeighborWorks America's Government Service Award as the foremost national leader in state government for his work on foreclosure prevention. Cordray earned a Master's Degree with first-class honors from Oxford University in England and graduated from the University of Chicago Law School, where he was the editor of the Law Review.

 

Conrad Egan, President and CEO
National Housing Conference

Mr. Egan is the President of the National Housing Conference. He has served the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and NHP Inc., once one of the nation's largest multifamily property owners/managers. He also served as the Executive Director of the Millennial Housing Commission and as the immediate past Chairman of the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority.

 

Judith Kennedy, President and CEO
National Association of Affordable Housing Lenders

Judith Kennedy is the President and CEO of the National Association of Affordable Housing Lenders (NAAHL). Under her leadership, NAAHL has become recognized as the premier authority in the nation's capital on private lending and investing in low- and moderate-income communities. Prior to joining NAAHL, Judy directed Government Relations for two Fortune 100 financial corporations, Sallie Mae (the Student Loan Marketing Association) and Freddie Mac (the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation). Her federal government service included staff positions for: members of the Senate and House Banking Committees; a White House Commission on Housing; and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). She was awarded a Congressional Fellowship by the American Political Science Association, and has an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh and a BS from Duquesne University. Judy presently serves on the Minority Depository Institutions Advisory Committee, the boards of the Center for Community Lending and the National Housing Conference, and as an adviser to The Red Capital Group Hurricane Katrina Fund. She previously served as a member of Fannie Mae's Housing Impact Advisory Council, and on the HUD/U.S. Department of Treasury Predatory Lending Task Force. Prior community service also includes the boards of the Emeritus Foundation, Women in Housing and Finance, the DC Youth Orchestra Foundation, and Women In Community Development.

 

Garth Rieman
Director of Housing Advocacy and Strategic Initiatives
National Council of State Housing Agencies

Garth Rieman is the Director of Housing Advocacy and Strategic Initiatives for the National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA), where he has worked since February of 1993.  He manages NCSHA's legislative and regulatory work on Section 8, the HOME program, FHA, HUD and USDA appropriations, the GSEs, and rural housing.  He also collaborates in NCSHA's advocacy on the housing credit and tax-exempt bond programs. From 1989 to 1993, Garth served as a professional staff member and the Republican staff director for the United States Senate Housing Subcommittee.  He also worked at HUD, the National Association of Realtors, and the U.S. Office of Management and Budget. Garth graduated from Pomona College and received a Master's degree in Public Policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

 

Douglas A. Garver, Executive Director
Ohio Housing Finance Agency

Douglas A. Garver, Executive Director of the Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA), oversees the lead agency for affordable housing in Ohio. OHFA offers many opportunities to help Ohio families obtain affordable, quality housing. The Agency administers a wide range of programs that offer assistance to first-time homebuyers, renters, senior citizens, single parents and other populations with special needs who otherwise might not be able to afford quality housing. Mr. Garver currently serves on the boards of the National Council of State Housing Agencies, National Housing Conference, and the Ohio Statewide Development Corporation. He is also a member of the Fannie Mae National Housing Advisory Council, the Governor's Interagency Council for Homelessness and Affordable Housing, and Ohio's Permanent Supportive Housing Policy Steering Committee. Prior to his appointment at OHFA in February 2004, Mr. Garver served five years as Assistant to the Director and Assistant Director of the Ohio Department of Development. Mr. Garver received a Bachelor of Arts from Mount Union College in Alliance, Ohio with a dual major in Economics and Business Administration. He is certified as an Economic Development Professional by the National Development Council and has attained a Master of City and Regional Planning from The Ohio State University.

 

Moderator:

Hal Keller, President
Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing

Mr. Keller has been with Ohio Capital Corporation since its inception; first as Director of Development and then as President since 1993.  Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing is an independent, nonprofit corporation created by the Ohio Housing Finance Agency in 1989.  Hal oversees all corporate policy and fiscal affairs, including securing corporate investors for Low Income Housing Tax Credit equity funds and coordinating efforts to develop housing projects receiving equity investment from the Ohio Equity Funds.  To date, Ohio Capital Corporation has raised more than $1.5 billion in corporate equity for LIHTC projects involving more than 400 transactions and 20,000 units of affordable housing in Ohio and Kentucky.  OCCH also provides services on a range of affordable housing issues to state and local governments, financial institutions, public housing authorities, as well as local nonprofit and for-profit developers. Hal has been involved in affordable housing for over 30 years as a consultant to state and local government, an administrator of state and local housing programs, and as a neighborhood organizer and tenant advocate.  He holds a Master of Arts degree in both Public Administration and Social Work from The Ohio State University and a Bachelor of Science in Applied Social Science from Case Western Reserve University. Mr. Keller serves on the boards of a variety of organizations including the Columbus/Franklin County Affordable Housing Trust Fund Corporation, Community Shelter Board, YMCA of Central Ohio, Ohio Housing Council, Greater Ohio, National Association of Affordable Housing Lenders, National Housing Conference, and the National Association of State and Local Equity Funds.