Upcoming EPG Events

Monthly Deal Discussion

Past EPG Events

HUD Staff Spotlight Series #2 - Wednesday, August 27, 2025 at 2:30 pm – 3:15 pm EST via Microsoft Teams

This series will provide opportunities to connect with HUD staff, get to know them better and find out what they like to do outside of the FHA world! 

Guest Panelists: Karen Solt (Senior Closing Coordinator - HUD NE) and Danyal Syed (Program Analyst and Underwriter - HUD NE)

HUD Staff Spotlight Series #1 - Tuesday, July 29, 2025 at 2:30 pm – 3:15 pm EST via Microsoft Teams

This series will provide opportunities to connect with HUD staff, get to know them better and find out what they like to do outside of the FHA world! 

Guest Panelists: Christina Garaffa (Senior Underwriter - HUD NE) and James Shin (Appraiser - HUD NE) 

Back to the Basics Virtual Series - Appraisals & Market Studies - Wednesday, July 23, 2025 at 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm EST via Microsoft Teams

This series will provide opportunities for the emerging to connect with the emerged, and to gain valuable insight on Appraisal and Market Study reviews.

Guest Panelist: Nelson Pratt (Managing Director - Colliers)

Back to the Basics Virtual Series - Phase I ESAs & PCNAs - Thursday, May 22, 2025 at 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm EST via Microsoft Teams

This series will provide opportunities for the emerging to connect with the emerged, and to gain valuable insight on Phase I ESA and PCNA reviews.

Guest Panelist: Staige Miller (Senior Vice President - HUD Environmental Services at AEI Consultants)

ELA Day 2 Networking Lunch - Tuesday, February 25, 2025 at 11:45 am – 12:45 pm EST

Grab your lunch and join us to sit and chat with HUD staff!  We will be discussing various topics that will educate, inform, and provide insight into the HUD review process. This event will give you an opportunity to learn, connect, and socialize with others in the industry. 

ELA EPG Virtual Holiday Happy Hour - Wednesday, December 11, 2024 4:00 PM – 5:30 pm EST via Microsoft Teams

Please join us for a virtual holiday happy hour with ELA’s Emerging Professionals Group! All are welcome, professionals both “emerging” and “emerged”! Throughout the happy hour, we will have games and chances for prizes! So grab your favorite beverage and join us for some fun and a chance to meet other FHA professionals. 

Virtual Speaker Series - Tax Abatements - Thursday, May 2, 2024 at 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm EST via Microsoft Teams

Please join ELA EPG for our Virtual Speaker Series on Tax Abatements! We will explore the following points with industry experts including lenders and HUD: Underwriting state and local tax programs, TIFs, Declining Abatements, and PILOTs, Various payment “tests” (income, percentage of unabated taxes, etc.) 

Guest Panelists: Charley Conkling (SVP & Director of FHA Underwriting - Walker & Dunlop), Terry Wellman - FHA Chief Underwriter for Affordable - Berkadia), & Bart Goldberg (UW Branch Chief - HUD NE)

ELA Day 2 Networking Lunch - Tuesday, February 27, 2024 at 11:45 am – 12:45 pm EST

Grab your lunch and join us to sit and chat with HUD staff!  We will be discussing various topics that will educate, inform, and provide insight into the HUD review process. This event will give you an opportunity to learn, connect, and socialize with others in the industry. 

ELA EPG Virtual Holiday Happy Hour - Tuesday, December 12, 2023 at 4:00 PM EST via Microsoft Teams

Please join us for a virtual holiday happy hour with ELA’s Emerging Professionals Group! All are welcome, professionals both “emerging” and “emerged”! Throughout the happy hour, we will have games and chances for prizes! So grab your favorite beverage and join us for some fun and a chance to meet other FHA professionals. 

Virtual Speaker Series - Thursday, June 8, 2023 at 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm EST via Microsoft Teams

This series will provide opportunities for the emerging to connect with the emerged, and to gain valuable insight and perspective from industry leaders.

Guest Panelist: Kevin Han (Senior Production Specialist – HUD) & Gavin Wilkes (Account Manager – D3G)

2023 Eastern Lenders Association Conference - EPG Breakout Lunch Networking Event 

Networking event during lunch on Day 2 of the 2023 ELA Conference. This event is aimed to connect professionals earlier in their careers to established professionals in the FHA Lending space.

Virtual Happy Hour Thursday, December 8, 2022 at 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm EST via Microsoft Teams

Please join ELA EPG as we reflect on this year's events and look ahead to future endeavors. Festivities will include a Holiday Eye Spy, Name that Holiday Tune, and Quote that Holiday Movie!

Virtual Speaker Series Thursday, September 29, 2022 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm EST via Zoom

This series will provide opportunities for the emerging to connect with the emerged, and to gain valuable insight and perspective from industry leaders.

Guest Panelist: Terry Wellman (Chief Underwriter – Affordable, Berkadia Commercial Mortgage) & Mark Ragsdale (Senior Vice President – Originations, PNC Bank)

EPG Virtual Speaker Series Thursday May 19, 2022 at 5:00 PM EST via Zoom

ELA's Emerging Professionals Group invites you to its first ever Virtual Speaker Series! This series will provide opportunities for the emerging to connect with the emerged, and to gain valuable insight and perspective from industry leaders. The conversation will be followed by a fun round of trivia and a chance to win prizes! 

Guest Panelist: Michael Torreyson (ELA Director at Large & FHA Deputy Chief Underwriter, Lument), Debbie VanHoosen (FHA Chief Underwriter - Multifamily and MBA FHA Committee Vice-Chair, Berkadia), & Susan Monaco (Managing Director/ FHA Chief Underwriter and Vice President of the ELA Board, Dwight Capital)