AGENDA

Tuesday, October 29

8:00 – 9:00 a.m.

Conference Registration & Breakfast

Bring suggested food items to the Fall Management Conference & Expo. Donations this year will benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank of the Lehigh Valley and Northeast Pennsylvania. View the suggested donation list here. View the holiday version here.


9:15 – 10:30 a.m.

Four Concurrent Sessions

  • Regulatory & Compliance Track
    A HOTMA Discussion with PHFA and DSHA Agency Reps
    Speakers: Lisa Santiago, TCS, Housing Management Representative II, PA Housing Finance Agency; and Allan Passwaters, Housing Compliance Manager, Delaware State Housing Authority
    Join us for a Q&A style session to hear from the agencies reviewing your files and their take on HOTMA’s application and implementation. Come ready with any and all questions to ensure you are ready to take on HOTMA!
    Handout #1 | Handout #2

  • Residential & Social Services Track
    Supporting Survivors through Housing Challenges
    Speakers: Elaine Ansah, Policy Coordinator, Delaware Coalition Against DV and Nick Beard, Domestic Violence - Community Health Worker Project Manager, Delaware Coalition Against DV
    Housing is a domestic violence issue. Domestic violence is one of the leading causes of homelessness and survivors often become homeless at the end of an abusive relationship. It is essential that housing workers are able to offer a trauma informed approach to domestic violence survivors and to understand their obligations when dealing with a domestic violence situation. This session will help housing workers feel more confident supporting survivors, making referrals for survivors and helping them navigate their housing issues.

  • Core Essentials Track
    Hiring & Retaining Staff - Roundtable Panel
    Speakers: Denise L. Neale, Vice President, Director of Property Management, Arbor Management, LLC; Angela Biggs, HR Director, Ingerman; Jonathan S. Gershen, President, Moderate Income Management Company Inc.
    In this session, we will discuss best practices for recruiting, hiring, and retaining staff. Through an open forum format, attendees will be able to ask question of the panel on recruiting, hiring, and retaining employees.

  • Maintenance Track
    From Policy to Practice: Securing Affordable Housing for All
    Speaker: James Fitzgerald, Director of Security, Arbor Management, LLC
    This session explores the journey from the development of security policies to their practical implementation. It covers the critical steps and strategies needed to ensure that affordable housing initiatives are effectively translated into secure communities. Participants will gain insights into the roles each of you play, the challenges faced during implementation, and innovative approaches to overcoming these obstacles. The session aims to equip attendees with the knowledge and tools necessary to advocate for and contribute to the creation of safe, inclusive, affordable housing.


10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Four Concurrent Sessions

  • Regulatory & Compliance Track
    HUD Updates
    Speakers: Alexis Dockery, Senior Account Executive, U.S. Dept. of HUD
    HUD reps will be providing general updates and cover HOTMA, NSPIRE, the PA and DE portfolios and general asset management updates.

  • Resident & Social Services Track
    Property Managers & Service Coordinators Working Together for a Stronger Community
    Speaker: Tylin Colston, Housing Services Representative, PA Housing Finance Agency
    In this session we will discuss the definition of service coordination, including the roles and responsibilities of the property manager and service coordinator. Attendees will gain a better understanding of boundaries and where these duties overlap as well as tips on how to develop a stronger working relationship.

  • Core Essentials Track
    Mid-Level Leadership/Taking Ownership of Your Property
    Speakers: Representatives from Federation Housing, Inc. Jane Lahage, Director of Operations; Megan McGinty, Compliance Manager; Alex Simon, Facilities Manager
    Join us as we discuss tips for leadership in property management. As a property manager, your job is to oversee everything that goes on in managing a property.  It takes a leader to manage all aspects effectively.  As a leader, you work hard to motivate your staff, keep your residents happy, ensure the property looks good, and the project remains in compliance.  Taking ownership means being accountable for the actions you take and decisions you make as the manager and caring about the outcomes.  It’s important to continuously assess yourself, learn your strengths and weaknesses, and work toward becoming a better leader.
    Sponsored by Federation Housing

  • Maintenance Track
    Disaster Planning & Winter Preparedness, Including Frozen Pipes
    Speakers: Andrew Goldberg, Founder & CEO of RestoreCore and SecureCore, and Alan Rosenberg, VP of Corporate Accounts, RestoreCore
    Our "Disaster Planning and Winter Preparedness" training offers essential tools for winter readiness. Addressing the reality of most disaster plans and the unique challenges of winter, this session covers the do's and don'ts of effective planning. Key topics include the eight crucial elements every plan needs and seasonal risk assessment. Gain practical tips for tuning up winter plans, fall clean-up, and preparing supplies and equipment to ensure readiness for the colder months.


12:15 – 2:00 p.m.

Lunch with Awards Presentation


2:15 – 3:30 p.m.

THREE Concurrent Sessions

  • Regulatory & Compliance Track
    Clean Compliance
    Speakers: Representatives from Ingerman. Christine Kidd, Senior HUD Manager/Compliance Specialist III; Kim Stalworth, Compliance Specialist; Aja Parks, Compliance Specialist
    During the presentation, we will emphasize the importance of maintaining impeccable compliance records to meet investor, state agency, and funding source expectations. We will also cover comprehensive and clean compliance practices in property management.
    Download the presentation

  • Resident & Social Services Track
    Community Programs & Services for Older Adults
    Speaker: Nora Angelucci, Deputy Administrator, Office of Senior Services, Department of Health and Human Services Montgomery County, PA
    An overview of services and support available through the local county Aging offices. Learn what supports are out there to allow seniors to continue to live safely in their homes within their familiar communities.

  • Core Essentials & Maintenance Track
    Conflict Resolution
    Speaker: Denise L. Neale, Vice President, Director of Property Management, Arbor Management, LLC
    In this class, participants learn effective communication techniques, negotiation skills, and strategies to resolve conflicts peacefully. Topics may include mediation, active listening, empathy, and collaborative problem-solving. Participants will gain valuable tools for navigating conflicts in personal, professional, and community settings.


3:30 – 3:45 p.m.

Afternoon Break


3:45 – 5:00 p.m.

General Session

The Time is Now to Have a Conversation About Mental Health
Presented by NJ Mental Health Players
Lynette Sheard,
Director, NJ Mental Health Players
Donniee Barnes, Coordinator of the NJ Mental Health Players
Janet Berkowitz, Director of Creative Crisis Care, NJ Mental Health Players
Laverne S. Williams, Founder of the PEWS Program- Promoting Emotional Wellness and Spirituality, NJ Mental Health Players
Come hear from the nationally award-winning NJ Mental Health Players (NJMHP); the longest-running community education program of its type based in New Jersey. The mission of the NJMHP’s is to utilize improv, art, interactive role-play, and scenarios to increase education and awareness, decrease stigma and break the silence often associated with mental illness, addiction, and seeking mental health care. This interactive presentation will focus on Affordable Housing hot button topics such as hoarding, employee mental health, how to handle a resident with mental illness and more!


5:00 – 7:30 p.m.

Vendor Expo with hors d’oeuvres


8:00 – 10:00 p.m.

Networking Reception


Wednesday, October 30

9:00 – 10:15 a.m.

Networking Breakfast & NAHMA Presentations


10:30 – 11:45 a.m.

General Session

Fair Housing: Understanding the Life of a Fair Housing Complaint, from Start to Finish
Speakers: Tracey Goldstein, Esq., Goldstein Kelin, LLC; Jeffery Perlman, CPCU, CBIZ Insurance; Deborah Gershen, COO Moderate Income Management Co., Inc.
Navigating the world of housing can sometimes lead to challenges, especially when it comes to ensuring fair treatment. The session will help you understand the steps involved in filing a complaint, which can help create a fairer housing market for all.  If someone believes they have been discriminated against, understanding the life of a fair housing complaint, from start to finish can help you avoid a costly mistake. We will discuss the 8 steps of a fair housing suit with three professionals intimately involved in making certain you as a housing provider are aware of how a complaint can take shape.  These 8 steps are:  Recognizing Discrimination, Filing the Complaint Initial Review, Investigation, Conciliation, Determination, Legal Proceedings and Resolution.

Handout 1
Filing of a Claim Flowchart
Filing of a Claim Flowchart 2
Charge of Discrimination 1
Charge of Discrimination 2


11:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Conference ends with drawing for the grand prize

Raffle ticket given with the return of the conference survey


Presentations are presented as topics for discussion and informational purposes only. Each speaker(s) prepares their own presentation and materials, and these presentations and materials may not express the opinions, thoughts, and/or ideologies of PennDel AHMA directly but those of the individual presenter(s).