SUNDAY, JANUARY 23 8:30-5:30 NAHRO NPDS seminar MONDAY, JANUARY 24 8:00-12:30 NAHRO NPDS seminar 9:00 10:30 Housing & Legislative Committees Commissioners Fundamentals (Day 1) Commissioners Fundamentals (Day 2) CR&D Committee 10:30 12:30 Executive Board Meeting PD & MS Committees 1:30 3:30 Opening General Session: Washington Update & Advocacy 3:45 5:15 Leading High Producing Teams - Developing Employee Potential Security Systems as Part of Strategic Planning & Budgeting 5:30 6:30 Welcoming Reception TUESDAY, JANUARY 25 8:00 4:30 NAHRO NPDS seminar Capital Fund Program (Day 1) breaks, lunches w/conference 8:00 9:00 Continental Breakfast 9:00 6:00 Exhibition TRACKS: MANAGEMENT COMMISSIONERS REGULATORY 9:00-10:30 10:45-12:00 Proper Procedure for Conducting Section 8 Hearings Community Development/ Housing Authority Partnerships Directing the Director: Guide to Successful Relationship Between Commissioners & ED Advocacy for Commissioners 12:00 1:30 LUNCH FHA Insured Loans Implementing Section 3 1:45-3:15 Resident Service Coordinators: Best Practices in Elderly & Family Housing 3:30 4:30 Dealing with Bed Bugs Understanding Your Agency through Financial Reports & HUD Reviews Commissioners Roundtable & Ice Cream Social VMS - HUD's New Tool for Managing Funding & Utilization Tips on Running a Successful FSS Program 5:00 6:00 Exhibitors' Reception WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26 8:30-4:30 NAHRO NPDS seminar Capital Fund Program (Day 2) breaks, lunches w/conference 8:30-9:30 Breakfast Buffet 9:00 11:00 HUD Office of Public Housing Update
2011 MID-WINTER CONFERENCE Sunday, January 23 8:30 AM 5:30 PM Commissioner s Fundamentals Day 1 (1.5 day seminar) 8:00 AM CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST Monday, January 24 8:00 AM 12:30 PM Commissioner s Fundamentals Day 2 8:30 AM CONFERENCE REGISTRATION 9:00-10:15 AM COMMITTEE MEETINGS Professional Development & Member Services Committees Housing Committee Legislative Network Community Revitalization & Development Committee 10:30 AM EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING [Lunch on your own] 1:30 2:15 PM 1. Opening General Session Welcoming Remarks: Stephen O Rourke, NERC President and Executive Director of Providence (RI) Housing Authority; Jim Inglis, Past President of NAHRO and Director of Livonia (MI) Housing Commission Invited Guest Speaker: Richard Blumenthal, U.S. Senator (CT) 2:15 3:30 PM 2. Washington Update Via live web cast from Washington, DC, NAHRO staff will give a preview of what direction the 112 th Congress might take and what legislation NAHRO is tracking. Panelists will also provide some insight on what things might look like down the road at HUD and with the Administration. There will be time for Q&A during and after the presentation. Presenters: John Bohm, Senior Director - Congressional Relations, Public Affairs and Field Operations, NAHRO; Jeff Falcusan, Director of Policy and Program Development, NAHRO 3:45-5:15 PM 3. Leading High Producing Teams Whether your housing organization is large or small; high performer or troubled; sailing along or stuck in the mud; you as the leader improve it by developing each of your employees to reach their full potential. An organization cannot increase its productivity but its people can! Learn how one high performing housing authority continues to excel in all areas of its operations by applying time tested leadership principles and concepts.
Presenter: Frederick C. Lamont, Executive Director, Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara 4. Security Systems as Part of Strategic Planning & Budgeting This session will provide an overview of current funding opportunities, and security technologies and issues facing public housing authorities and what you can do to ensure that your housing authority is protected. Examples of current security systems will be demonstrated as well as potential funding sources. Presenters: Steve O Rourke, Executive Director, Providence (RI) H.A.; Adam C. Thermos LL.B., MA, Ph.D. 5:30 6:30 PM WELCOMING RECEPTION SPONSORED BY: MassNAHRO Insurance Group, Inc. [Dinner on your own] Tuesday, January 25 8:00 AM 4:30 PM Capital Fund Program Day 1 (2 day seminar) 8:00 AM CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST 8:30 AM CONFERENCE REGISTRATION 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM EXHIBITION OPEN Exhibitors are available to discuss their products and services. 9:00-10:30 AM CONCURRENT SESSIONS 5. Conducting Section 8 Hearings When certain conduct forces a housing authority to terminate a participant s Housing Choice Voucher, a host of federal laws apply to protect the participant. A housing authority s failure to comply with these laws could lead to drawn-out litigation and substantial monetary penalties against the authority. In this seminar, Attorney Ronald M. LaRocca will discuss the legal principles and policies that underlie Housing Choice Voucher terminations. He will provide practical advice on the steps housing authorities must take to avoid litigation and financial exposure. Housing authority officials will learn about constitutional due process, HUD regulations, hearing guidelines, and participant rights. Utilizing this information, they will also be given a road map for proper termination procedure that will protect their housing authorities and assist them in maintaining a financially-sound environment. Presenter: Attorney Ronald LaRocca, LaPlante Sowa Goldman, Providence, RI 6. Directing the Director: A Guide to a Successful Relationship between the Board and the Executive Director How is your relationship with your Executive Director and Board? This session will focus on the relationship between Commissioners and Executive Directors, as well as explain the Board s role as a leader, critic and supporter. Participants will also learn how to build, lead and work with their teams. Discussion to include best Board practices, monitoring vacancies, encouraging modernization, Section 8 utilization, and resident programs. Moderator: Steve Merritt, Norwood (MA) Housing Authority
Presenters: Richard Leco, Commissioner, North Attleboro (MA) Housing Authority 7. FHA Insured Loans How to use the Federal Housing Administration s (FHA) insured loan programs as an acquisition, refinancing and development tool. Presenters: Wayne Jean, Founder & CEO, Bedford Lending; Lewis Knapp, Managing Director, Bedford Lending; HUD Representative TBA 10:30 AM COFFEE BREAK Visit with the exhibitors - you may find the product you ve been looking for. 10:45-12:00 PM CONCURRENT SESSIONS 8. Community Development/Housing Authority Partnerships The City of Malden, MA has developed a good relationship between its Housing and Redevelopment Authorities for the betterment of the community. While the Housing Authority has converted state built projects to federal units, the Redevelopment Authority has offered funding to help de-lead state built units. Two expiring use developments built with HUD 202 funding are being overhauled using CDBG and HOME funding from the Authority knowing that in one case the HA will become the eventual owner and in the other, the HA will provide a significant number of project-based Section 8 vouchers. The Redevelopment Authority has applied for and received numerous lead-paint abatement grants from HUD s Office of Healthy Homes. This funding can and will be used in part to assist in the de-leading of HA units. A representative section of the Redevelopment Authority s lead-paint abatement grant application will be provided to workshop participants to assist them in applying to future NOFAs. Moderator: Stephen Wishoski, Executive Director, Malden Redevelopment Authority. Panelists: Stephen Finn, Executive Director, Malden Housing Authority, Ron Grasso, MRA Director of Neighborhood Revitalization; Peter Garbati, MRA Programs Coordinator. 9. Advocacy for Commissioners 10. Section 3 Success Stories Experiences from three (3) housing authorities in their Section 3 compliance efforts will be discussed in an interactive forum. Panel members will address Section 3 policies and procedures; Section 3 training initiatives; and meeting Section 3 goals and objectives through construction contracting. Panel members: Dan McDonald, Deputy Executive Director, Fall River Housing Authority; Matt Pesce, Principal, Facility Strategies Group; and Bernie Stewart, Principal BC Stewart & Associates. 12:15 1:30 PM LUNCH SPONSORED BY: TD Bank 1:45-3:15 PM CONCURRENT SESSIONS 11. Resident Service Coordinators Best Practices in Elderly & Family Resident Programs Resident Service Coordinators from agencies across New England will share their experiences with successful programs and services provided to both their elderly and family populations. Examples of real situations will be presented as well as descriptions of outreach programs and publications utilized by RSCs that can be replicated at your agency. Moderator: Steve Merritt, Executive Director, Norwood (MA) Housing Authority Panelists: Pamela Chubet, Resident Service Coordinator, Norwood (MA) Housing Authority; Rita Maccini, Holyoke (MA) Housing Authority; Providence RSC 12. Understanding Your Agency through its Financial Reports & HUD Reviews
Do Commissioners really understand what is involved in audits and how to avoid fraud? This session will explain scores and ratings such as Public Housing Assessment Systems (PHAS) and Section 8 Management Assessment Program (SEMAP). Commissioners will be given the opportunity to explore annual plans, budgets and other financial statements. Presenters: Jack Sullivan, Ed Schwartz and Tom Guzzi, Partners, Sullivan, Schwartz & Guzzi 13. A New Tool for Managing Funding & Utilization in the HCV Program In support of the HUD national and regional goal of increasing voucher utilization, HUD staff will present and demonstrate a tool that will enable PHAs to stabilize utilization presently and into the future. Avoid the roller coaster and get into the optimization zone. Presenters: Bob Cwieka, Deputy Director, Office of Public Housing, HUD Boston; Maura O Brien, Public Housing Revitalization Specialist, HUD Boston 3:30-4:30 PM 14. Dealing Effectively with Bed Bug Infestation The blight of bedbugs has infiltrated all housing including that owned by housing authorities. This session will look at PHA efforts at eradication, the procedures proven effective, treatment costs and the important role to be played by the residents in halting the epidemic. Presenter: George Williams, General Manager & Staff Entomologist, Environmental Health Services, Inc. 15. Commissioners Roundtable & Ice Cream Social This informal discussion group led by the NERC Commissioners committee will serve as a forum to exchange ideas, solve common issues, and network with fellow housing officials from around New England. Refreshments will be served. Facilitators: Members of NERC Commissioners Committee - J. William Quirk, Chairman, Warwick (RI) Housing Authority 16. Tips for Running a Successful FSS Program Leased Housing Manager and FSS Coordinator from a large agency will share success stories, sample documents, and tips on how to successfully implement a Family Self-Sufficiency Program and most efficiently use available funding and resources. Presenter :Allyne Pecevich and Cynthia Mcdonough, Brockton (MA) Housing Authority 5:00-6:00 PM RECEPTION WITH EXHIBITORS Last chance to get to know the many suppliers of quality products & services. [Dinner on your own] Wednesday, January 26 8:30 AM 4:30 PM Capital Fund Program Day 2 8:30 9:30 AM BREAKFAST BUFFET 9:00-9:30 AM 16. HUD Public Housing Update: HUD staff from the Boston Regional Office will present the latest information on various public housing and Section 8 topics.
Presenters: Bob Cwieka, Deputy Director, Office of Public Housing, HUD Boston; Jennifer Gottlieb, Hartford Program Center Coordinator