CHAPA’s 2025 Housing Summit

Speaker: Secretary Ed Augustus, Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (HLC)

Speaker: Rachel Heller, Chief Executive Office, Citizens’ Housing & Planning Association (CHAPA)

• Panel 1: Modular Momentum: Positioning Massachusetts as a Leader in Housing
  Innovation
  Massachusetts has a unique opportunity to lead the nation in modular housing innovation. This panel will explore the economic development potential of positioning the state as a hub for modular construction—from job creation and supply chain growth to housing production at scale. Panelists will discuss real-world examples, the broader economic implications, and how we can integrate modular into the Commonwealth’s economic development strategy. What will it take to create the environment for this vision to become reality?
  • Moderator: Glynn Lloyd, Executive Director, Nectar Community Investments
  • Keith Fairey, President and CEO, Way Finders
  • Lizzi Weyant, Acting Executive Director, Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC)
• Panel 2: Designing for Certainty: Building Local Housing Processes that Work –
  Brainstorming Session
  Municipalities play a pivotal role in enabling housing production, but what does an ideal local development process truly look like? This panel will explore how cities and towns can design predictable, transparent systems that empower both communities and developers. We’ll examine best practices from municipalities like Concord, Newton, and Acton, and discuss how tools like CPA (Community Preservation Act) funding can be leveraged effectively. Key questions include: What do developers need to see in local processes and resources? How can policy be used to ensure both community benefit and development feasibility?
  • Facilitator: Dana LeWinter, Chief of Public and Community Engagement, Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP)
  • Jenny Raitt, Executive Director, Northern Middlesex Council of Governments
  • Kenan Bigby, President, BLD Properties LLC
• Panel 3: Land Reimagined: Rezoning, Infill, and the Future of Affordable Housing
  in Massachusetts
  Massachusetts faces a land use opportunity—and a challenge. This panel will explore how smart rezoning, infill development, and strategic land reuse can dramatically increase housing capacity across the Commonwealth. From transforming vacant parcels to repurposing state-owned land for residential use, panelists will dive into the tools and policies that can unlock new housing opportunities. What bold steps can the state and municipalities take to align land use with our housing goals?
• Panel 4: Building Green in Lean Times: Advancing Climate Goals in Affordable Housing
  • Lauren Baumann, Director of Sustainability and Climate Initiatives, Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP)
  • Emily Jones, Deputy Director, LISC Massachusetts
  • Maggie Super Church, Director of Policies and Programs, Massachusetts Community Climate Bank (MCCB)

• Panel 1: Modular Revolution: Scaling Affordable Housing Production in New
  England
  Modular construction is transforming how we deliver affordable housing—but how do we move from talk to action? This panel dives into real-world case studies of rental and homeownership developments that have successfully used volumetric modular construction to scale production across New England. Panelists will share lessons learned, strategies for integrating modular into projects, and how their teams overcame inertia to build smarter, faster, and more affordably.
  • Rodger Brown, Managing Director, Real Estate Development, Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH)
• Panel 2: Tapping Into Potential: Infrastructure Solutions for Housing Development
  A lack of water and wastewater infrastructure remains one of the most significant—and solvable—barriers to housing production in Massachusetts. This panel will explore key recommendations from the state’s Unlocking Housing Production report, including innovative financing mechanisms, private system subsidies, and developer-led sewer extensions. Panelists will discuss how to align environmental standards with smart growth and explore bold new funding models that can unlock stalled developments. Join us for a practical conversation about how Massachusetts can modernize infrastructure policy to enable both housing growth and environmental stewardship.
  • Moderator: Clark Ziegler, Executive Director, Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP)
• Panel 3: From One-Off to Scalable: Unlocking Innovative Financing for Housing Production
  How can we transform breakthrough “unicorn” housing projects into scalable, repeatable models—especially for mission-driven and non-profit developers? This panel will explore cutting-edge financing tools that reduce costs, increase feasibility, and accelerate housing production. Through real-world case studies, panelists will highlight the creative financial structures that made high-impact developments possible. This interactive session invites attendees to collaboratively identify barriers and brainstorm bold changes needed in our financing systems. Come ready to challenge assumptions and co-create the future of housing finance in Massachusetts.

• Building the Pipeline – Training the Next Generation of Skilled Workers
  With an aging construction workforce and growing housing demand, the need to train and empower the next generation of skilled workers has never been more urgent. This panel will focus on building strong, inclusive workforce systems, especially for builders of color. Panelists will explore strategies to create accessible pathways into the trades, strengthen training infrastructure, and ensure that the future of construction is diverse, local, and ready to meet the moment.
  • Moderator: André Barbour, Diversity and Inclusion Director, NEI General Contracting
  • Nate Bae Kupel, Managing Director of Youth Programs, Just A Start
  • Chrissy Lynch, President, Massachusetts American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO)

• Exclusive naming rights (e.g., “Presented by [Sponsor Name]”)
• Premier logo placement on all event materials, website, and signage
• Speaking opportunity during the event
• Featured in press releases and social media announcements
• VIP seating for key stakeholders
• Opportunity to distribute promotional materials at the event
• 25 complimentary event tickets

• Logo placement on website, event signage, and promotional materials
• Recognition in media coverage and social media posts
• Special acknowledgement during the event program
• VIP seating for key stakeholders
• Opportunity to distribute promotional materials at the event
• 20 complimentary event tickets
  

• Logo included in marketing materials and event program
• Recognition on social media website
• Reserved seating at the event
• Opportunity to distribute promotional materials at the event
• 15 complimentary event tickets

• Name and logo included on the event website and event materials
• Recognition in pre-event emails and social media
• Opportunity to distribute promotional materials at the event
• 10 complimentary tickets for the event

• Logo included on the event website and event materials
• Social media recognition
• 5 complimentary event tickets

• Logo listed at event presentation and website
• Social media recognition
• 3 complimentary event tickets