GICH Retreat Presentations

Spring Retreat 2025 - Cartersville 

• GICH Community Reports
• LIHTC 101 (Kim Golden, DCA)
• Awarding Your Letter of Support (Mandy Young, City of Americus)
• Community Development Block Grant Program (Malisa Thompson, DCA)
• Community HOME Investment Program (Chris Hurley, DCA)
• Home Builders Association of Georgia (Cindy Morley & Austin Hackney, HBAG)
• Housing 101 (Mathew Forshee, Georgia Power)
• Neighborhood Revitalization with a Purpose (Katie Delp, Purpose Built Communities)
• Code Enforcement: City of Gainseville (Jessica Tullar & Jeff Bull, City of Gainseville)
• Faith-Based Housing Strategies (Wesley Myrick, Georgia Interfaith Policy Center)
• Connecting Classroom to Community (Stephen Ramos, UGA)
• GICH 2024 Annual Report Review (Jermaine Durham, UGA)
• Partnerships for Community Change (Carol Hatch, Calhoun Housing Authority)
• Thinking Beyond Housing: Georgia Conservancy (Katherine Moore & Luben Raytchev, Georgia Conservancy) 
• Zoning for Housing Affordability (Sara Beresford, MicroLife Institute)
• Leveraging Public Housing Authorities (Kim Walker & Michelle Haynes, Griffin Housing Authority) 

Fall Retreat 2024 - Athens 

• GICH Community Reports 
• Housing Assessments (Kim Skobba & Jerry Shannon, UGA)
• Incorporating Homeownership: Georgia Dream Program (Tracey Turman, DCA)
• The Art of Grant Writing (Laura Mathis, Middle Geogia Regional Commission)
  • Grant Resources Handout
• Economics of Affordable Housing (Mathew Forshee, Georgia Power)
• Economic Placemaking Collaborative (Sadie Krawczky, GMA)
• Leveraging Housing Studies (Luben Raytchev, Georgia Conservancy & Geoff Koski, KBA)
• Archway Connected Resilient Community Program (Brittany Standifer, UGA)
• DCA Hosuing Choice Voucher Program (John Stovall & Marie Sullivan, DCA)
• Georgia Housing Legislation Update (Ryan Evans, DCA)
• Rural Workforce Housing (Rusty Haygood, DCA)
• Land Banking 101 (Chris Norman, Metro Atlanta Land Bank)  

Spring Retreat 2024 - Tifton

• Sophomore and Junior Reports
• CDBG (Malisa Thompson, DCA)
• CHIP (Chris Hurley, DCA)
• LIHTC (Mitch Kelly, DCA)
• Gainesville - Alumni Report (Jessica Tuller, City of Gainesville)
• Housing the Homeless in Georgia (Josh Gray, LaDrina Jones, DCA)
• Housing 101 (Matt Forshee, Georgia Power)
• Innovative Solutions for Rural Housing (Ron Calhoun, Ahayah Community Development Corporation)
• Supportive Housing 101 (John Stovall, DCA)
• Rural Workforce Housing Initiative
• Understanding Housing Data (Kim Skobba, UGA)
• Neighborhood Revitalization and Heirs' Property (Jermaine Durham, UGA)
• Awarding Your LIHTC Support Letter (Mandy Young, Americus)

Fall Retreat 2023 - Athens

• Freshman Reports
• Sophomore Reports
• Junior Reports
• Housing Assessments 101 (Jerry Shannon)
• Incorporating Homeownership: The Georgia Dream Program (Tracey Truman)
• Housing Connections: Linking Housing & Childcare (Joe Fretwell)
• GMA Economic Placemaking Collaborative (Cindy Eidson)
• Understanding Housing Markets: Georgia Tech Economic Development Research Program (Alan Durham, Betsy McGriff, Grace Barrett)
• Land Trusts and Affordable Housing (Heather Benham)
• Inclusionary Zoning (Matthew Hall, Kelly Girtz, Tim Denson)
• Georgia Housing Legislation Update (Ryan Evans)
• Land Banking 101 (Chris Norman)
• Preparing To Be an Alumni: Review of DCA Alumni Certification (Austin Chancy)
• GICH Senior Year (Austin Chancy)

Spring Retreat 2023 - Cartersville

• Community HOME Investment Program (DaTonya Lewis)
• Housing Tax Credit 101 (Melissa Florkowski)
• Short Term Rental Properties (Craig McLean)
• Land Banks and Community Redevelopment (Odetta MacLeish-White)
• Components of Neighborhood Revitalization (Nate Crawford, Sam Craig)
• HOME-ARP Allocation Plan (Kelly Evans)
• Financing Housing Developments (Rick Parker)
• Strategies for Missing Middle Housing (Sara Beresford)
• Introduction to MicroLife Institute (Will Johnston)
• State Law Tools for Code Enforcement (Brandon Bowen)
• Alumni Certification Overview (Craig McLean)
• Sophomore Reports
• Junior Reports
• Photographs

Fall Retreat 2022 - Tifton

• Housing 101 and Overcoming Resistance (Jenny Robbin)
• Building Resiliency Connected Resilient Communities Program (Standifer and Elliot)
• Landbanking 101 (Chris Norman)
• NIMBY Panel
• The PlanFirst Program (Ebony Simpson)
• Thinking Beyond Housing Georgia Economic Placemaking Collaboratives (Sadie Krawzcky)
• Freshmen Report Backs (Baldwin County, Gilmore County, Rabun County, Towns County)
• Freshman Report Backs (Chattooga)
• Sophomore Report Backs (Calhoun, East Point, Jonesboro)
• Junior Report Backs (Adel, Statesboro)
• Photographs

Spring Retreat 2022 - Cartersville

• CDBG - Glenn Misner, DCA
• CHIP DaTonya Lewis, DCA
• LIHTC Meagan Cutler, DCA
• American Rescue Plan Update on Housing Development Funds & Georgia Housing Needs Assessment - Samanta Carvalho, DCA
• Sophomore Reports
• DCA Rental Assistance Program 
• Junior Reports
• Awarding Your LIHTC Support Letter - Jermaine Durham, UGA | Mandy Young, Americus Sumter County
• A Conversation on Land Banking from the Center for Community Progress Odetta MacLeish-White, Center for Community Progress
• Alumni Report Back from Bartow County on Chadwick Development Project Patrick Nelson, Bartow County | Edrick Harris, Prestwick Companies
• Heirs Property - Tiffany Reed & Wanda Strickland, Georgia Heirs Property Law Center

Fall Retreat 2021 - Athens (Hybrid)

• First Day Welcome
• Freshmen Reports (Power-Point)(Recording)
• Sophomore Reports (Power-Point)(Recording)
• Junior Reports (Power-Point)(Recording)
• Understanding Fair Housing (Power-Point)(Recording)
• Incorporating Homeownership: Georgia Dream Program (Power-Point)(Recording)
• DCA Housing Resources: Overview and American Rescue Plan (Power-Point)(Recording)
• Historic Preservation: DCA African American Heritage Programs (Power-Point)(Recording)
• Graduation Luncheon (Recording)
• USDA Rural Development: Section 502 Direct Loan Program (Power-Point)(Recording)
• The Color of Law: A Discussion with Richard Rothstein (Recording)
• Maintaining Your Housing Team 2020 Repeat (Recording)
• Land Banking 101 (Power-Point)(Recording)
• Preparing to Be an Alumni: Review of DCA Alumni Certification (Power-Point)(Recording)

Spring Retreat 2021 - Virtual

• DCA Housing Programs Overview (Power-Point) (Recording)
• Additional Solutions for Increased Housing Choice and Affordability (Power-Point) (Recording)
• Tools for Local Government: Housing Development Finance (Power-Point) (Recording)
• Rebuilding Your Housing Team (Power-Point) (Recording)
• Sophomore Report Backs (Power-Point) (Recording)
• Eviction and Tenants Rights (Power-Point) (Recording)
• Thinking Beyond Housing (Power-Point) (Recording)
• Housing Assessments (Power-Point) (Recording)
• Junior Report-Backs (Power-Point) (Recording)
• Alumni Feedback Session (Power-Point) (Recording)
• Land and Opportunity: Heirs Property and Select Topics in Housing Equity (Power-Point) (Recording)
• Land and Opportunity: Breakout Session (Recording)
• Understanding Housing Data (Power-Point) (Recording)
• Being Successful with LIHTC (Power-Point) (Recording)
• Funding and Fighting Homelessness (Power-Point) (Recording)
• Alumni Report Backs (Power-Point) (Recording)
• Leveraging Small Scale Development (Power-Point) (Recording)
• Strategies for Code Enforcement (Power-Point) (Recording)

Fall Retreat 2020 - Virtual

• Community Mobilization: Garnering Public Support (Power-Point) (Recording)
• Grant Writing: Strategies for CDBG & CHIP (Power-Point) (Recording)
• Advanced Land Banking (Power-Point) (Recording)
• Re-Establishing a GICH Housing Team (Power-Point) (Recording)
• Freshman Reports (Power-Point) (Recording)
• Collaboration During Crisis: Addressing Housing Issues (Power-Point) (Recording)
• Addressing Heirs Property (Power-Point) (Recording)
• Understanding Georgia's Blight Tax (Power-Point) (Recording)
• Alumni Feedback Session (Power-Point) (Recording)
• Graduation Ceremony (Power-Point) (Recording)
• Sophomore Reports (Power-Point) (Recording)
• Alumni Report (Power-Point) (Recording)
• Land Banks 101 (Power-Point) (Recording)
• Developing Communities Through Homeownership (Power-Point) (Recording)
• Learning from Alumni: Maintaining your Housing Team (Power-Point) (Recording)
• Junior Reports (Power-Point) (Recording)
• DCA Georgia Dream Program (Power-Point) (Recording)

Current Team Leader Conversations

COVID-19 Impacts June 3, 2020 Recording

Fall Retreat 2019 - Douglasville 

• Community Mobilization - Jermaine Durham, UGA
• Grant Writing Strategies for CHIP - Samanta Carvalho, DCA
• Grant Writing Strategies for CDBG - Glenn Misner, DCA
• - Delene Porter, Georgia Heirs Property Law Center
• Being Succesful with LIHTC - Grace Graszer & Jack Popper, DCA
• Developing Community through Homeownership - Cynthia Harrison, DCA
• Introduction to Land Banks - Chris Norman, Atlanta Land Bank Authority
• Advanced Land Banks Strategies - Chris Norman, Atlanta Land Bank Authority
• Strategies for Plan Implementation - Jordan Shoemaker, NEGRC
• Successful Alumni/ City of Cedartown - Jordan Hubbard
• Successful Alumni/ City of Madison - Monica Callahan
• Successful Alumni/ City of Monroe - Sadie Krawczyk
• Successful Alumni/ Athens-Clarke County - Rick Parker
• City of Douglasville Update - Patrice Williams

Spring Retreat 2019 - Valdosta

• Tangled Title and Your Town: How Heirs Property Affects Housing and Blight in Georgia - Alexandria Arnold & Teresa Moore, Georgia Heirs Property Law Center

Fall Retreat 2018 - Athens

• DCA Housing Tools - Samanta Carvalho, Cynthia Harrison, Glenn Misner, Joe Fretwell
• Heirs Property - Delen Porter, Skipper Stipemaas
• Keep Georgia Beautiful - Natalie Johnston-Russell
• Code Enforcement - Jim Elliot, Tiffany Walraven, Jordan Hubbard

• Understanding GICH Alumni Certification - Joe Fretwell, Samanta Carvalho

• Infill Housing Strategies - Kathleen Matthews

• Land Banks - Chris Norman

Pine Mountain Retreat - Spring 2018

• Working with Developers: An Example from the City of Greensboro - Nathan McGarity, Mary Leila Lofts Developer
  & Cail Hammons, Community Development Director, City of Greensboro
• Conducting Housing Assesments - Tiffany Walraven, Councilmember, City of Pembroke & Jerry Shannon, Assistant Professor, UGA.
• A Case in Winning Community Support: City of Monroe - Sadie Krawczyk, Economic Development Specialist, City of Monroe
  & Donna Peters, Director, Walton Barrow Board of Realtors
• Veterans Housing - Jenifer Turner-Reid, Deputy Network Homeless Coordinator, Department of Veterans Affairs
• Blight Tax Ordinance - Ted Baggett, Associate Director, CVIOG, UGA
• Addressing Blight Through Heirs Property - Veronica McClendon, Staff Attorney, Georgia Heirs Property Law Center
• Homeless Prevention/Transitional Housing - David Whisnant, Office of Homeless & Special Needs Housing Director, DCA
• Law Enforcement and Building Community - Daniel Ferrone, Chief & Tony Lattimor, Chaplain/Community Service Officer
  Town of Pine Mountain Police Department

Athens Retreat - September 19-21, 2017

• Code Enforcement Tools - Brandon Bowen, Jenkins & Bowen, P.C.
• Code Enforcement Best Practices - Jerry Coalson & Trinetta Skinner, City of Waynesboro
• Redevelopment Tools - Kirby Glaze, Public-Private Partnership Project Management, Inc (4PM)
• Hearth & Home: A GICH Team's Take Away on Community Housing - Monica Callahan, City of Madison
• Neighborhood Revitalization - Carmen Chubb, Department of Community Affairs
• Neighborhood Revitalization: Housing Data Trends & the Need for Mixed-Income Solutions - Ann Carpenter, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
• Affordable Housing Program - ShaDonte Dozier, Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta
• Georgia Dream - Cynthia Harrison, Department of Community Affairs
• Housing Tax Credits - Kimberley Allonce, Department of Community Affairs
• CDBG - Malisa Thompson, Department of Community Affairs
• CHIP - Samanta Carvalho, Department of Community Affairs
• Coordinated Entry 101 - Rebecca Hickom, Department of Community Affairs
• GICH Alumni Certification

Albany Retreat - February 20-23, 2017

• Speaker contact list 
• Facilitator contact list
• Planning committee contact list
• Reach, Refresh, Revitalize- Debbie Philips, The Quadrillion 
• Conducting Housing Assessments - Tiffany Walraven, City of Pembroke 
• Conducting Housing Assessments - Jerry Shannon, University of Georgia
• Examples and Best Practices for Land Bank Authorities - Chris Norman, Georgia Association of Land Bank Authorities
• Legal Tools for Addressing Housing Issues - Nathan Davis, City of Albany
• Heirs Property - Scott Pippin, CVIOG University of Georgia
• Housing Tax Credits - Grace Baranowski, Department of Community Affairs
• CDBG - Glenn Misner, Department of Community Affairs
• CHIP - Samanta Carvalho, Department of Community Affairs
• Working with Developers - Dan McCarthy, Albany Housing Authority
• Working with Developers, Lessons Learned from Successful Tax Credit Developments - Kimberley Allonce, Department of Community Affairs
• Energy Efficiency - Robert Reed, Southface Energy Institute
• Tiny Houses and Accessory Dwelling Units - Robert Reed, Southface Energy Institute 
• Best Practices for Implementing Home Buyer Programs - Janet Joiner, City of Vienna
• Homeless and Special Needs Programs - Dave Whisnant, Department of Community Affairs
• Housing Tax Credit, QAP 2017 update - Grace Baranowski, Department of Community Affairs
• GICH Participating Alumni Certification - Wesley Brooks, Department of Community Affairs
• Albany bus tour - Kerrie Davis, City of Albany

Gainesville Retreat September 20-22, 2016 

• Speaker and facilitator contact list
• Tools for Code Enforcement - Brandon Bowen, Jenkins & Bowen, P.C.
• Redevelopment & Condemnation - Ted Baggett & Scott Pippin, CVIOG UGA
• Best Practices in Code Enforcement - Howard Gibson, City of Rome/Floyd County
• Housing Tax Credits and GICH - Philip Gilman, Department of Community Affairs
• Housing Tax Credit Examples - Phil Searles, Beverly J Searles Foundation
• Neighborhood and Community Revitalization: Combining CDBG and CHIP - Barbara Bacon, City of Washington
• City of Gainesville Bus Tour - Jessica Tullar & Chris Davis, City of Gainesville
• Community Development Block Grant - Glenn Misner, Department of Community Affairs
• Community HOME Investment Program (CHIP) - Samanta Carvalho, Department of Community Affairs
• City of Gainesville Community Development, Housing Programs - Theresa Dyer, City of Gainesville
• Gainesville City School/City of Gainesville partnership - Darrell Lucas, Gainesville City Schools
• Georgia Dream Homeownership Program - Cynthia Harrison, Department of Community Affairs

Dublin Retreat February 22-25, 2016 

• Speaker and facilitator contact list
• Conducting Housing Assessments - Tiffany Walraven, City of Pembroke
• Unlocking Heir Property - Skipper StipeMaas, Georgia Heirs Property Law Center
• Best Practices for Demolition - Cam Jordan, City of Fitzgerald
• Legal Issues for Rental Property - Jim Elliott, City of Warner Robins
• Housing Trends for an Aging Population 2016 - Mike Notartomaso, American Association of Retirement Communities
• Take It Back - Chief Tim Chatman, City of Dublin
• Visit-ability - Marty Collier, Statewide Independent Living Council of Georgia
• Commuity (HOME) Investment Program - Samanta Carvalho, Georgia Department of Community Affairs
• Housing Tax Credits and GICH - Philip Gilman, Georgia Department of Community Affairs
• DCA 2016 Housing Credit GICH Q&A

Tifton Retreat September 22-24, 2015

• Speaker contact list

  Tools for Code Enforcement- Brandon Bowen, Jenkins & Olson, P.C. 
  Best Practices in Code Enforcement - Alton West, City of LaGrange 
  Best Practices in Code Enforcement - Howard Gibson, City of Rome 
  Downtown Housing - Charlotte Christian, City of Thomasville  
  Downtown Housing  - Shelly Berryhill, City of Hawkinsville 
  Best Practices in Implementing CDBG and CHIP Activities - Glenn Misner & Beth Spears
  City of Tifton Housing Tour - Dave Hetzel 
  Redevelopment and Condemnation - Kirby Glaze, 4 PM, Inc.
  Examples and Best Practices for Land Bank Authorities - Alison Souther GoldeyMacon-Bibb County LBA 

Macon Retreat February 23-26, 2015

• Speaker contact list
• Setting Your Community Vision - Bruce Gerwig, Macon Housing Authority
• Conducting Housing Assessments - Tiffany Walraven, City of Pembroke
• Conducting Housing Assessments - Linda Grijalva, Central Savannah River Area Regional Commission
• Developing Housing: A Builder's Perspective - Rick Porter, Richport Properties, Inc
• Legal Tools for Addressing Housing Issues - Jim Elliott, City of Warner Robins
• Housing Demolition - Cam Jordan
• Working with Volunteers - Debra Rollins, Rebuilding Macon
• LIHTC Program Overview/GICH Team Leader and Contact Update Form - Philip Gilman, DCA
• Maintaining a GICH Program - Steve Dempsey, UGA

• Implications of the US Department of Justice Settlements on Housing Porgrams - Don Watt, DCA

Valdosta Retreat September 23-25, 2014

• Tools for Code Enforcement - Brandon L. Bowen (Webinar)
• Advanced Code Enforcement Issues - City of Tifton
• Advanced Code Enforcement Issues - City of Valdosta
• Blight after Kelo, Redevelopment and Condemnation - Kirby Glaze, 4 PM
• Creative Housing Solutions - Rick Parker, Athens Housing Authority
• Examples and Best Practices of Land Bank Authorities - Chris Norman, Atlanta Fulton County LBA & Norman Michael, Augusta LBA
• City of Valdosta bus tour
• Developing affordable rental housing - Rhett Holmes, IDP Housing
• Developing affordable rental housing LIHTC - Fenice Taylory, DCA
• Developing Affordable partnerships and utilizing resources - Norwich Commons, Bill Gross, W.H. Gross Construction 

Douglasville Retreat February 24-27, 2014

• Speaker contact list
• Setting Your Community Vision - Nancy Welsh, Builders of Hope
• Conducting Housing Assessments (Lithonia) - Deborah Jackson, City of Lithonia and Marisa Ghani, Atlanta Regional Commission
• Lithonia Housing Inventory Evaluation Form - Atlanta Regional Commission
• Conducting Housing Assessments (Pembroke) - Tiffany Walraven, City of Pembroke
• Legal Issues Dealing with Rental Property - Bill Berryman, Athens-Clarke County
• Developing Housing - Rick Porter, Richport Properties
• Volunteer Programs (Toccoa) - Connie Tabor, City of Toccoa
• Volunteer Programs (The Extra Mile) - John Turner, GA Commission for Service and Volunteerism
• Maintaining a GICH Program - Dennis Epps, CVIOG University of Georgia
• Work Plan Development - Jessica Reynolds, DCA
• Living in Downtowns - Jessica Reynolds, DCA

Rome Retreat - September 10-12, 2013

• Save the date flyer with hotel information
• Freshmen Draft Agenda
• Sophomore Draft Agenda
• Junior Draft Agenda
• Alumni Draft Agenda

Lake Blackshear Retreat February 25-28, 2013 

• Speaker contact list
• Community Vision - Mara Register, City of Valdosta
• VISTA Program - Candice Gunn, DCA
• Conducting Housing Assessments - Scott Allison & Ed DiTommaso, City of Garden City
• Housing Assessment Survey questionnaire - City of Garden City
• Heir Property - Crystal Baker, Georgia Appleseed
• Heir Property, Uniform Partitions Law - Crystal Baker, Georgia Appleseed
• Heir Property Thomasville - Charlotte Christian, City of Thomasville
• Low-income Housing Tax Credit Program - Joe Collums, DCA
• Energy Efficiency - Robert Reed, Southface
• Cordele Bus Tour - Susan Leger-Boike, Cordele Housing Authority

Cartersville Retreat September 11-13, 2012

• Tools for Code Enforcement - Bradon Bowen
• Code Enforcement - City of Lagrange
• Code Enforcement - City of Rome
• Blight After "Kelo" - Kirby Glaze
• Georgia Land Bank Authorities - Sara Toering & Mara Register
• Rental Housing Development - Regina Celestin
• Housing Tax Credits - Joe Collums
• Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta - Joel Brockmann
• Appalachian Housing Counseling Agency - Patricia Sullivan
• Maintaining a GICH team/program - Dennis Epps
• Maintaining a GICH team/program - Bekki Fox (Housing is for Everyone: The Rome-Floyd Plan for Quality Community Housing)

Previous Retreat Presentations by Topic