Agenda

Session Description

Strong teams don’t happen by accident—they’re built intentionally, brick by brick. In this interactive session, participants will explore practical strategies to foster unity, trust, and collaboration within housing organizations. The session emphasizes the unique dynamics of housing teams and the vital role each team member plays in creating a strong foundation.

Through real-world scenarios, group activities, and a bit of humor, attendees will learn how to strengthen communication, navigate conflict, and align around shared goals to better serve their communities. Whether you’re laying the first brick or reinforcing an existing structure, this session provides the tools to build a team that stands strong—together.

Panelists:

• Crystal Banks-Mann, training coordinator at Travois

Come one, come all! Join your Travois Asset Management and Compliance team Under the Big Top.

During this interactive pre-conference session, learn how to be a ringleader while juggling all of your compliance obligations.

Afterward, we will have an open Q&A session.

Panelists:

• Led by the Travois Asset Management and Compliance team

Visit the Travois registration desk to check-in and pick up your name tag. Attendees can check in between 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. in the Winter Garden foyer at the Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel, The Depot.

420 S. 1st St, Minneapolis, MN 55401

Our welcome reception, a popular networking event to kick off our conference, will be at the award-winning Indigenous restaurant Owamni created by Sean Sherman, The Sioux Chef.

Located just a three-minute walk from our hotel, the venue features a menu from Native food producers and an outdoor terrace overlooking the river.

We have reserved the entire space to accommodate our conference guests.

Visit the Travois registration desk to check-in and pick up your name tag.

Session Description:

In July, Congress passed a massive reconciliation bill that impacts nearly every aspect of the American economy. This panel will focus on how that bill improved the LIHTC program and made the NMTC permanent. We will also discuss the way forward for reviewing NAHASDA as well as key changes in administration staffing and policy.

Panelists:

• Phil Glynn, president at Travois
• Josh Pitre, government relations director at Big Fire Law & Policy Group LLP

Session Description:

Our housing development team will introduce the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program — specifically focusing on understanding financial considerations. Learn how your Tribal nation can leverage tax credits to build new homes or rehabilitate existing housing. Developments can be tailored to provide housing for people with low incomes or extremely low incomes, families, elders, the workforce, people with special needs, and students. At the same time, you can fund community buildings and amenities to benefit your members.

Panelists:

• Alexandria Murnan, vice president of affordable housing at Travois
• Shabrie Perico, project manager at Travois
• Erinn Roos-Brown, project manager at Travois

15 minute break: Stretch your legs, refill your coffee, visit sponsors  – or do all three!

Session Description:

Learn how two tribal entities with unique structures, experiences, and geographies are creating transformative affordable housing solutions.

Sharie Benson of Yavapai-Apache Nation Tribal Housing (YANTH) has helped advance ten LIHTC projects by navigating the complexities of Tribal government. Darcy Padilla, executive director of the Hoopa Valley Housing Authority (HVHA), is guiding her team’s first LIHTC project, a 25-unit elder housing community in remote Northern California.

The session highlights different but equally impactful approaches tribal communities are using to address housing needs.

Panelists:

• Trent Rogers, director of housing development at Travois
• Meaghan Hosterman, project manager at Travois
• Sharie Benson, executive director at Yavapai-Apache Tribal Housing
• Darcy Padilla, executive director at Hoopa Valley Housing Authority

Session Description:

Gain a better understanding of LIHTC requirements, including asset management, leasing, reporting, and continuous compliance during this session. Our panelists will share their main challenges, and we will offer solutions and guidance.

Travois Asset Management and Compliance will discuss real-life scenarios with professionals from three different Tribally Designated Housing Entities.

Panelists:

• Delfina Ortiz, senior compliance specialist at Travois
• Kristen Wamego, asset manager at Travois
• Stella Harvey, LIHTC specialist at Tohono O’odham Ki:Ki Association
• Roxanne Neal, chief financial officer at Tohono O’odham Ki:Ki Association
• Esther Howard, housing services coordinator at Leech Lake Housing Authority
• Julie Stately, tax credit manager at Red Lake Reservation Housing Authority
• Kelly Hill, tax credit compliance specialist at Red Lake Reservation Housing Authority

Please be seated by 12:30 p.m. for the keynote speaker, Heid E. Erdrich.

Author of nine books of poetry and prose, Heid E. Erdrich is a curator and teacher. She edited the anthology New Poets of Native Nations and co-edited the newly published Boundless: Abundance in Native American Art and Literature. She served as the inaugural Minneapolis poet laureate, supported by an Academy of American Poets award.

Erdrich held the 2025 James Welch Distinguished Visiting position at the University of Montana Missoula. Her ongoing project, Poetry Service Announcement (PoeS.A.), promotes poetry as public art. She serves her communities through formal and informal mentorship, poetry interventions, and by activating collaborative responses between communities.

Session Description:

Learn about the recent housing developments that three tribes in Nevada have achieved by leveraging a variety of funding sources. The panelists will share lessons learned and experienced advice based on their recent successes throughout the state.

Panelists:

• Abby Day, project manager at Travois
• Elsa Garcia, architect II at Travois
• Kathleen Frazier, executive director at Pyramid Lake Housing Authority
• Jennifer John, housing director at Fallon Paiute Shoshone Tribe
• Jackie Mix, development coordinator at Pyramid Lake Housing Authority
• Martin Montgomery, executive director at Washoe Housing Authority

Session Description:

Running into complex challenges on your current project? You’ll be in good company with this panel of experts as they discuss a wide range of challenges and lessons learned in developing affordable housing in their communities.

Panelists:

• Adam Rose, director of partnerships and growth at Travois
• Michael Heisler, executive director at White Earth Housing Authority
• LS Fields, secretary of Housing at Muscogee (Creek) Nation of Oklahoma
• Ronnie Rogers, acting director of development at Muscogee (Creek) Nation of Oklahoma

Session Description:

Join us as we share the process behind creating a comprehensive strategic development plan for Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures (MLCV), which is developing 270 acres.

This session will explore how our team collaborated with MLCV to evaluate opportunities, identify constraints, and develop a phased approach for future development.

We’ll discuss how the final report provided a clear roadmap, helping MLCV make informed decisions and prioritize investments. Attendees will gain valuable insights into effective planning strategies that can transform a vision into an actionable plan for long-term success.

Panelists:

• Rebecca Riden, senior architect at Travois
• Matt Ovel, architectural designer II at Travois
• Beth Gruber, interim chief of staff at Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures

We invite conference attendees to a complimentary headshot photo opportunity provided by Travois. If you would like to participate, please join us in the Rock Island room, where Travois staff members will be available to assist you.

Visit the Travois registration desk to check-in and pick up your name tag.

Session Description:

The New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) is an important tool to fill funding gaps in economic development projects for your community. But how exactly does it work?

In this session, top experts will cover the basics of the program before digging into the technical details you need to know.

Panelists:

• Phil Glynn, president at Travois
• Darryl Jacobs, partner at Ginsberg Jacobs
• Ryan Rieger, partner at Novogradac & Company
• Ingrid VanBiber, shareholder at Polsinelli

15 minute break: Stretch your legs, refill your coffee, visit sponsors – or do all three!

Session Description:

Panelists will discuss a variety of NMTC deals, highlighting the diversity of projects and flexibility of the credit to develop businesses, schools, health care facilities, public infrastructure, and more.

Panelists:

• Michael Bland, director of community investments at Travois
• Bob Crothers, COO/senior lender at Citizen Potawatomi Community Development Corporation
• Karen Williams, consultant at Citizen Potawatomi Community Development Corporation
• Sheila Corbine, founding partner at Big Fire Law & Policy Group LLP
• Drew Hammond, senior vice president/business development officer at U.S. Bancorp Impact Finance

Please join us for the Superhero Awards Ceremony. Congratulations to the 2025 winners! 

Session Description:

Our architectural team will guide you through the typical design process and share strategies for aligning it with Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) and other grant funding cycles.

We will explore the details of a project schedule from initial funding applications to construction completion, highlighting key architectural milestones and potential pitfalls.

Additionally, we will showcase several projects currently in design this year.

Panelists:

• Adam Teefey, director of architecture at Travois
• Laura Herron, architect III at Travois
• Chelsea Powell, architect II at Travois

Session Description:

In this session, learn about adapting traditional materials with a modern twist, exploring the development of a neighborhood aesthetic across different scales.

Alongside representatives from the Pascua Yaqui Tribe’s housing and finance departments, we’ll examine the planning, development, and implementation of a master-planned neighborhood that features single-family homes, townhomes, and multistory apartment buildings, which include units for elders.

Panelists:

• Jerad Jessee, architect III at Travois
• Meaghan Hoserman, project manager at Travois
• Ricardo Vital, executive director of housing at Pascua Yaqui Tribe
• Jason Buckner, executive director of finance at Pascua Yaqui Tribe

Session Description:

Join us for a roundtable discussion with representatives from the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency and equity investors RBC Community Investments and Raymond James Affordable Housing Investments.

We will discuss what to expect and best practices during the compliance period of your LIHTC project. 

Panelists:

• Mike Price, director of asset management and compliance at Travois
• Kari Hutchison, compliance manager at Travois
• Renee Dickinson, multifamily compliance manager at Minnesota Housing Finance Agency
• Tere Hopponen, compliance officer at Minnesota Housing Finance Agency
• Marisa Myhre, compliance officer at Minnesota Housing Finance Agency
• Missy Covington, vice president, compliance at Raymond James Affordable Housing Investments
• Beth Dziak, director – asset management operations at RBC Community Investments