Slater Symposium

Unlearning for Housing Finance Innovation

Thursday, April 9 | 2:00–3:30 PM ET
Virtual Symposium - Complimentary Registration

About the Symposium

The Slater Symposium marks the first joint event hosted by NALHFA and NCSHA, bringing together state and local housing finance agencies for a focused conversation on innovation through unlearning.

Inspired by the legacy of Gene Slater, the Symposium recognizes that HFAs have long succeeded by adapting to change — and that today’s challenges require not just learning something new, but intentionally unlearning assumptions that may no longer serve the mission.

This is a members-only event. If you are interested in membership, please reach out to [email protected].

Symposium Theme

  • What assumptions shaped past success — but may now limit innovation?
  • Where do HFAs need to pause, rethink, and adapt?
  • How can unlearning strengthen long-term sustainability and collaboration?

Agenda Overview (90 Minutes)

Introduction
Purpose and goals • Unlearning • What participants can contribute and gain

Discussion I: Key Lessons from Past Success in Obtaining Federal Resources
Panelists:
Stockton Williams, Executive Director | National Council of State Housing Agencies
Jonathan Paine, Executive Director | National Association of Local Housing Finance Agencies
Gene Slater, Founder and Principal | CSG Advisors

  • Lessons from securing major federal housing finance resources
  • What worked, what didn’t, and why
  • How past efforts shape new opportunities

Discussion II: Unlearning for Building HFA Sustainability
Panelists: 
Thomas Bryan, Executive Director & CEO | Colorado Housing and Finance Authority
Christopher E. Donald, Executive Director/CEO | District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency
Jennifer Ho, Commissioner, Minnesota Housing and Board Chair | National Council of State Housing Agencies
Grace Ruiz-Stepter, Director, Housing and Community Development Department | City of Anaheim
Juan Salgado, Chief Executive Officer | Phoenix Industrial Development Authority

Moderator: 
Gene Slater, Founder and Principal | CSG Advisors

  • Financial sustainability and long-term capacity
  • Challenging assumptions that limited progress
  • Working with staff, boards, and stakeholders

Open Discussion & Wrap-Up
Participant reflection • Implications for HFA innovation

What Participants Will Gain

  • Practical insights from state and local housing finance leaders
  • Space for honest reflection on institutional change
  • Shared language around “unlearning” as an innovation tool
  • Connections that support collaboration and future action

Speakers

Thomas Bryan
Executive Director & CEO
Colorado Housing and Finance Authority

Thomas Bryan leads CHFA’s operations and long-term strategy, ensuring the organization’s financial strength and mission effectiveness.

Prior to his appointment in 2025, he served as CHFA’s Chief Financial Officer and held finance leadership roles in local government and banking.

Thomas is a CPA, Certified Public Funds Investment Manager, and a ten-time recipient of the GFOA Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting.

Christopher E. Donald Executive Director/CEO District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency

Christopher E. Donald was sworn-in as the Executive Director/CEO of the District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency (DCHFA) in March 2021. Mr. Donald served the Agency as the Interim and Acting Executive Director/CEO from January 2020-March 2021. He is responsible for the overall supervision, coordination, and strategic direction of the District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency. Mr. Donald joined the Agency in October 2016 as the Senior Vice President of Multifamily Lending and Neighborhood Investments where he served as part of DCHFA’s senior management team. His primary responsibility was to manage the day-to-day operations of the Multifamily Lending and Neighborhood Investments department and assist the Executive Director & CEO with the development of multifamily programs, products, polices and strategic planning.

Jennifer Ho
Commissioner, Minnesota Housing Board Chair, National Council of State Housing Agencies

Jennifer Leimaile Ho is the seventh Commissioner of Minnesota Housing, appointed by Governor Tim Walz in January 2019 and reappointed in 2023.

She has worked to end homelessness since 1999, focusing on the intersection of health and housing through leadership roles at HUD and the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness.

Commissioner Ho helped launch the Mayors Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness and currently serves as Board Chair of NCSHA and the Melville Charitable Trust.

  Jonathan Paine

Executive Director, National Association of Local Housing Finance Agencies

Becoming Executive Director of NALHFA in 2018, Jonathan Paine is an experienced association leader with a proven track record of advancing missions and driving impact across multiple industries. Jonathan brings more than 20 years of expertise in association management, guiding organizations through strategic growth, member engagement and evolving regulatory, legislative and business landscapes. 

Juan Salgado
Chief Executive Officer | Phoenix Industrial Development Authority

  

Gene Slater
Founder & Principal
CSG Advisors

Gene Slater is the founding principal of CSG Advisors, one of the nation’s leading financial advisors for affordable housing and development. For almost 50 years, he has specialized in overall financial sustainability strategies for public agencies; local, state and national efforts to increase long-term affordability; and major public-private development projects.

He has been a national leader in structuring single-family bonds and homeownership programs. Gene helped design many innovative down-payment assistance programs, including public shared appreciation programs for San Francisco, Alameda County and California Dream for All. 

Grace Ruiz-Stepter
Director, Housing and Community Development Department | City of Anaheim

Grace Ruiz-Stepter is a seasoned housing and community development leader with more than 30 years of experience advancing affordable housing, neighborhood revitalization, and homelessness response initiatives. She currently serves as Director of Housing and Community Development for the City of Anaheim and as Executive Director of the Anaheim Housing Authority, where she oversees a comprehensive portfolio of local, state, and federally funded programs designed to strengthen communities and expand housing opportunities.

  Stockton Williams

Executive Director, National Council of State Housing Agencies

Stockton Williams was appointed Executive Director of NCSHA in March 2018 and leads the organization’s advocacy and efforts to strengthen the role of state HFAs nationwide.

He has held senior leadership roles across the private, public, and nonprofit sectors throughout a career dedicated to expanding housing opportunity.