Thank you for joining us at the 2025 Minnesota NAHRO Annual Conference!
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the 2025 Minnesota NAHRO Annual Conference in beautiful Duluth, MN! Your engagement, questions, and energy helped make this gathering of housing and community development professionals truly meaningful. We hope you left with new insights, fresh connections, and renewed inspiration for your work ahead.
We’d love your feedback! Please take a few moments to complete the 2025 Minnesota NAHRO Annual Conference evaluation. Your input helps us improve future events and ensure we’re meeting your needs. Thank you for helping us make each year better than the last!
Session Materials
We will be uploading session materials HERE as we receive them from our speakers & presenters!
HR Update – Including Paid Leave
– Justin Terch, Managing Partner, Terch & Associates Consulting LLC
Rehab Panel
-Karly Meixel, Housing and Rehab Specialist at Swift County HRA, and Janelle Bennett, Rehab Coordinator at Douglas County HRA
– Rehab Track
Session Description
Hear from a panel of “seasoned” rehab coordinators and specialists on a discussion of some practical tips new rehabbers (and experienced alike) might be able to take with them in the field. Time for Q&A as well. This session will be a safe place for those newer in the rehab field to learn and grow.
HCV File Management: The Basics – From Intake to Ongoing Occupancy & HCV File Mangement: Common Errors & Quality Control
– Corina Serrano, HCV Programs Director, St. Paul PHA, and Lisa Hohenstein, Housing Assistance Programs Director, Dakota County CDA
CR&D Tours with the HRA of Duluth, MN
– Jill Keppers, Executive Director at the HRA of Duluth, MN & Jacob Morgan, Director of Real Estate and Rehabilitation at the HRA of Duluth, MN
Session Materials
Procurement – 40 Things You May Not Know About Housing Agency Procurement (But Really Need To) (1 of 2)
– Michael S. Gifford, C.P.M., CPSD
Session Description
Part 1 of 2 – An interactive review of 40 very important HUD-mandated requirements pertaining to purchasing and contracts. Topics that will be addressed include: Informal Quotes (QSPs); Formal Bids (IFBs) and Proposals (RFPs/RFQs); Advertisements; Specifications; Independent Cost Estimates and Cost Price Analysis; Non-competitive Justifications; Piggyback Justifications; Contracts and Contract Administration; and much more! We will talk about procurements and contracts for supplies, equipment, and both maintenance and professional services. This session includes a worksheet and forms. This session will also include brief presentations pertaining to recent revision to Section 3, BABA, and the new allowable Micro Threshold of $50,000.
MDH RRP Authorization & Electronic Signatures
– Dan Miller, Industrial Hygienist with the Minnesota Department of Health, Asbestos/Lead Compliance Unit and Steve Macgregor, Housing Rehab Coordinator with the Minnesota Valley Action Council
– Rehab Track
Session Description
The first portion of this session will be presented by Dan Miller, Industrial Hygienist with the Minnesota Department of Health, Asbestos/Lead Compliance Unit. Dan will present a review of existing renovation, repair, and paint regulations and the transition to state authorization. Following Dan, we will hear from Steve Macgregor, Housing Rehab Coordinator with the Minnesota Valley Action Council, who will share about E-Signatures – the benefits, how and when to use them, along with the required documentation.
What’s New With POHP?
– Susan Bergmann and Janine Langsjoen of Minnesota Housing, Preservation Programs
Session Materials
Procurement – 40 Things You May Not Know About Housing Agency Procurement (But Really Need To) (2 of 2)
– Michael S. Gifford, C.P.M., CPSD
Session Description
Part 2 of 2 – An interactive review of 40 very important HUD-mandated requirements pertaining to purchasing and contracts. Topics that will be addressed include: Informal Quotes (QSPs); Formal Bids (IFBs) and Proposals (RFPs/RFQs); Advertisements; Specifications; Independent Cost Estimates and Cost Price Analysis; Non-competitive Justifications; Piggyback Justifications; Contracts and Contract Administration; and much more! We will talk about procurements and contracts for supplies, equipment, and both maintenance and professional services. This session includes a worksheet and forms. This session will also include brief presentations pertaining to recent revision to Section 3, BABA, and the new allowable Micro Threshold of $50,000.
Monthly Financial Statement with Hawkins Ash
– Angie Campbell, Partner, Hawkins Ash CPAs
Rehab Inspections
– Mark Hanson, Housing Rehabilitation Coordinator at the Dakota County CDA, and John Schommer, Rehab & Maintenance Director at the Brainerd HRA
– Rehab Track
Session Description
This session will cover the onsite physical inspection of a unit for single family rehabilitation.
Shortfall Roundtable
Session Description
A roundtable discussion related specifically to shortfall. Bring your best practices and hear what others plan to do surrounding shortfall in these times of funding uncertainty.
Procurement – Quotes and Bids and Proposals, Oh My! (Important Similarities and Differences)
– Michael S. Gifford, C.P.M., CPSD
Session Materials
Year End Basics for Financial Statements with Hawkins Ash
– Angie Campbell, Partner, Hawkins Ash CPAs
Session Materials
Are You Ready for HCV NSPIRE Implementation?
– Emajean Hanson-Ford, Katelyn Kotek, and Sandy Otto from the Douglas County HRA
Procurement – Independent Cost Estimates (ICE) – Cost Price Analysis (CPA): Why We Do Them and How They Benefit Us
– Michael S. Gifford, C.P.M., CPSD
Session Materials
You’ve Been Selected to Administer Bring It Home, Now What?
– Dani Salus, Manager of Rental Assistance at Minnesota Housing
Session Materials
Rehab Track – Spec Writing in Single Family Rehab
– Mark Hanson, Housing Rehabilitation Coordinator, Dakota County CA
– Rehab Track
Session Description
This session will cover spec writing as a skill and how it is invaluable even in a time of spec writing software. A focus will be placed on understanding what is in the spec and its overall place in the rehab process.
Procurement – How to Formulate a Construction Bid (Effective and Efficient Techniques You Might Not Know)
– Michael S. Gifford, C.P.M., CPSD
Session Description
HUD Requires housing agencies to most typically utilize the Invitation for Bids (IFB) competitive solicitation process when retaining contractors for construction. IFBs require the housing agency to issue a Design Specification and complete award to the responsive and responsible bidder that submits the lowest realistic cost. This session will focus on the IFB format, including a number of HUD-required forms that most housing agencies may not be aware of.
2025 VAWA Updates
– Brandon Engblom, General Counsel, HRA of Duluth, MN
Procurement – HUD-Compliant Best Value Services Procurements: Focus on an Annual Audit Services RFP
-Michael S. Gifford, C.P.M., CPSD
Session Description
HUD allows (and encourages) housing agencies to utilize the Request for Proposals (RFP) competitive solicitation process when retaining contractors for professional services. RFPs are Best Value in that the housing agency is able to consider qualifications as well as cost in determining the awardee. This session will focus on a Legal Services contract, including access to sample forms.
Bring It Home Roundtable
Session Description
This will be an opportunity to connect with other agencies and discuss strategies for implementing the Bring It Home program. Learn from fellow PHAs and HCV administrators about their plans for the application process, tenant engagement, and leveraging community partnerships. Bring your experiences, questions, and collaborate on real-world solutions. Take away valuable insights and resource connections to hit the ground running post roll-out.
Ask the Attorney with Mary Dobbins – HCV Program Focus
Rehab Roundtable – Form Focus
– Rehab Track
Session Description
Update from Washington, D.C. – Public Housing Focus
– Tushar Gurjal, NAHRO Senior Policy Advisor
Session Materials
Ask the Attorney with Mary Dobbins – Public Housing Focus
Session Description
Join attorney Mary Dobbins for an interactive Q&A session focused on the legal issues facing Public Housing. From lease enforcement and grievance procedures to admissions, evictions, and HUD compliance, bring your real-world questions and gain valuable legal insight.
Rehab Roundtable – General Discussion
– Rehab Track
Session Description
Update from Washington, D.C. – HCV Program Focus
– Tushar Gurjal, NAHRO Senior Policy Advisor
Session Materials
Vendor List
We look forward to seeing these vendors at Minnesota NAHRO’s 2025 Annual Conference.
Brady Martz & Associates P.C.
Cavanaugh & Company, PLLC
Finn Daniels Architects
HAI Group
Hawkins Ash
Housing Agency Retirement Trust
HousingLink
Hunt Electric Corporation
Junge’s Flooring
MINNCOR Industries
Minnesota Housing Finance Agency
MKC, Inc.
NAHRO
Nan McKay & Associates
PERIS Foundation Storytelling Project
Section 8 Associates, LLC
Terracon Consultants, Inc.
Event Sponsors
Elite Sponsors
Platinum Sponsors
Diamond Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
2025 Annual Conference Wi-Fi Sponsor
Silver Sponsors
Bronze Sponsors
Latest News
New Report: Rental Assistance Keeps Over 100,000 Minnesotans Housed — Cuts Threaten Stability
More than 100,000 households across Minnesota — including seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, and working families — rely on federal rental assistance to stay in their homes and connected to their communities. MHP and Minnesota NAHRO’s report breaks down who...
Housing Matters! Is Your Model Lease Up To Date?
Our next "Housing Matters!" call will take place at 10am on July 24th. Presenter will be Brandon Engblom, General Counsel at the HRA of Duluth, MN. Brandon will cover how the model HUD lease and state lease requirements work (and don't work) together. These calls are...
HOTMA: An In-Depth Review of Programmatic Changes Training
The Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act (HOTMA) introduces significant changes to Public Housing and Housing Choice Voucher programs. To ensure compliance and operational readiness, Minnesota NAHRO is offering a comprehensive two-day training session on...