Southern Virginia Regional Housing Summit 2025

The Southern Virginia Regional Housing Summit serves as a dynamic platform for six thriving localities to showcase the latest breakthroughs in residential housing development. Whether you’re seeking urban sophistication, suburban charm, or a blend of both, our summit will unveil a diverse range of housing options designed to cater to every type and price point. Additionally, this event offers a unique chance for participating communities to communicate their housing preferences, ensuring that the developments align seamlessly with local desires.

If you’re a developer, builder, contractor, home renovator, financial institution representative, architect, or a local community advocate within the residential developer/building/construction sector, this summit is tailor-made for you.

Our mission is clear: to ignite a spark of innovation and progress within the residential housing landscape. The summit’s overarching goal is to stimulate the creation of new residential housing projects. By bringing together professionals from various sectors, we aim to foster collaborations that transcend boundaries and envision new possibilities. Together, we can pave the way for a brighter, more dynamic housing future in Southern Virginia.

8:30 AM Registration, Continental Breakfast, & Networking

9:00 AM Welcome & Opening Remarks

• Welcome & Introduction and Information about Virginia Housing: Chris McNamara, Strategic Housing Officer, VA Housing

9:15 AM Update to SOVA Housing Strategies

• Information about the Lester Group & Introduction of Speaker – The Lester Group
• Presentation: Ken Danter, CEO, Economic Development Strategies, LLC

9:40 AM The Housing Market in Virginia/Southern Virginia

• Information about IALR & Introduction of Speaker
• Presentation: Sejal Naik, Deputy Chief Economist, Virginia Association of Realtors

10:00 AM Break

10:15 AM Regional Opportunities for Development

• Each locality within the region will highlight a targeted property and the type of development they would like to see on the site.

10:15 AM Update on Regional Growth - Linda Green, Executive Director of the Southern Virginia Regional Alliance

10:25 AM City of Danville – Susan McCulloch, Division Director of Housing & Development

10:35 AM Halifax County

10:45 AM Martinsville

10:55 AM Patrick County – James Houchins, Director of Economic Development and Tourism

11:05 AM Henry County

11:15 AM Pittsylvania County

11:25 AM Questions & Answers

11:30 AM Success Stories: Housing Growth Across the Region

• Introduction:
• Presentations:
• Danville
• Halifax
• Henry County
• Martinsville
• Patrick
• Pittsylvania

12:25 PM Break for Lunch

12:55 PM Luncheon

1:00 PM Keynote Speaker

• Presentation about Dewberry and Introduction of Keynote Speaker: Presenting Sponsor
• Title of Presentation, Speaker: Tammy Neale, CEO of Virginia Housing

1:35 PM Break

1:50 PM Financial Resources Panel

• Introduction:
• State: Update the WHIP Program- Chris McNamara, Title, VA Housing
• Regional: Joy Wood, Title, - New employment
• Regional: Cindy Green, Title, LOCUS
• First National Bank
• Financial Institution

2:50 PM Q&A with Localities

3:00 PM Closing Remarks –Presenting Sponsor, Company

3:10 PM Exhibit Hall

3:30 PM Close Exhibit Hall

Tammy Neale, CEO, Virginia Housing

Tammy Neale has served as Virginia Housing’s CEO since being appointed by the Board of Commissioners in March 2024. She is responsible for Virginia Housing’s daily operations as well as the implementation of our Strategic Plan. A longtime executive at Virginia Housing, she has played a key role in shaping Virginia Housing’s strategic direction and executing its vision and priorities for the development of affordable housing across the Commonwealth of Virginia. Before becoming CEO, she served as Chief of Programs, overseeing homeownership, rental, community outreach and federal programs. Her tenure also includes serving in senior leadership roles such as Chief of Staff, Managing Director of Human Resources and Managing Director of Talent Development and Learning. Today, she serves on several boards focused on increasing economic and housing opportunities, including the Virginia Chamber of Commerce and The National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA). She is a graduate of the University of Richmond.

For more information about the Southern Virginia Regional Housing Summit, contact the City of Danville's Community Development Department, Housing and Development Division, 434-799-5260.

Cancellation and Refund Policy: Written notice must be received for a full or partial refund to [email protected]. Full refunds will be issued before October 1, 2025, minus a $25 cancellation processing fee.

Hotel Reservations – The Bee Hotel – room block will be in effect until September 9. Call (434-234-9440) and guests can reference the group name and dates that they need to book.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, 150 Slayton Avenue, Danville, United States