Meet the Speakers

Bill Bergiadis is founder and CEO of The Walls of Troy, makers of a panelized housing construction system for extremely resilient, more affordable homes.

Soon after college, Bill began his career in construction under the tutelage of legendary real-estate developer William Tishman, spearheading residential projects in the glamorous Hollywood Hills. A foray into design of theater acoustics lead Bill into decades of acoustic work constructing soundstages and numerous public safety projects.

It was on a trip to Europe that Bill discovered the sturdy wood-wool/Portland cement acoustic panels he was importing were used there (in thicker iterations) as primary construction elements. Now, for the first time in North America, Bill is manufacturing these panels at his Brunswick, GA facility.

Using ingenious Structulink technology to connect these panels, the first showcase home is currently under construction in Muskogee, Oklahoma—the heart of tornado country.

Bill resides in Jacksonville, Florida with his wife, Lori, and with their three adult children living nearby.

As President and CEO, Ms. Romero provides executive direction for True Ground Housing Partners. She oversaw the creation of True Ground’s current strategic plan for 2023 to 2027 and is responsible for its implementation.

Ms. Romero supervised the organization’s strategic rebranding initiative in 2024, highlighting its evolution into a regional provider of affordable housing and resident services. She has also prioritized capacity building to match real estate portfolio growth. True Ground’s portfolio includes over $1 billion in assets and 25 affordable apartment communities in five jurisdictions across the DC region totaling 3,200+ apartments.

True Ground provides housing for over 6,000 individuals and families. Recent real estate milestones include the delivery of Wholey Legacy Homes (Arlington, VA), Riggs Crossing Senior Residences (Washington, DC), and Ilda’s Overlook Senior Residences (Fairfax, VA). Ms. Romero also oversees three high-impact projects under construction: The Sweeney (formerly Crystal House), which will create 432 apartments in Arlington and The Exchange at Spring Hill Station, which will create 516 apartments in Tysons Corner, in addition to The Linden Senior Residences, True Ground’s fourth age-restricted community for older adults and second in Loudoun County.

True Ground’s pipeline includes an additional 1,800+ units in predevelopment across the DC region. Under Ms. Romero’s leadership, True Ground has received prestigious awards for its innovative contributions to affordable housing, including Affordable Housing Finance’s ranking of the Top 50 Affordable Developers of 2023, and the best-in- class credential for its resident services program, The Certified Organization for Resident Engagement and Services (CORES).

She has supervised award-winning developments with creative models that can be replicated across the nation including Lucille & Bruce Terwilliger Place, in partnership with American Legion Post 139, and Unity Homes at Ballston, a mixed-use project created through a partnership with Central United Methodist Church. Before she became CEO, Ms. Romero led True Ground’s Real Estate Development team for a decade. Under her management, True Ground created and preserved more than 1,800 new affordable housing units in Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Montgomery counties.

Bishop Claude Alexander has dedicated over four decades to Christian ministry and community leadership. After accepting his call to ministry at age 17, he completed a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Morehouse College (1985), a Master of Divinity from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (1988), and a Doctor of Ministry from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (2004).
For nearly 30+ years, Bishop Alexander has served as Senior Pastor of The Park Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, transforming it from a single local congregation of around 600 members into a global ministry with thousands of followers and multiple locations with international outreach. Under his leadership, the church also developed The Park Expo and Conference Center and the Park International Trade Hub, serving as centers for community engagement, economic development, and leadership enrichment.

Bishop Alexander is widely recognized as a civic and community leader in Charlotte and beyond. He has partnered with government and civic officials on critical local issues and served on boards such as Charlotte Center City Partners, United Way, Arts & Science Council, NAACP Educational Committee, and Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts & Culture. He currently holds leadership roles with organizations like Christianity Today, Mission America Coalition, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Council for Christian Colleges & Universities, and Wycliffe Bible Translators USA.

Colleen Green was appointed Director of the DC Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) on January 3, 2023.

Prior to her appointment, Ms. Green was the Vice President of Business Development and Strategic Initiatives at CORE DC and Managing Partner for Ashleys Builders.

Ms. Green has extensive experience in finance, real estate, advisory services, operations, strategic planning, and business development. Throughout her career, Ms. Green has developed over 2000 units of housing and overseen the acquisitions and dispositions for a $60 million national real estate investment fund.

Prior to her role as Vice President of Business Development and Strategic Initiatives, Ms. Green managed CORE’s business portfolio which included community reentry, homeless shelters, and transitional housing for marginalized communities.

In addition, Ms. Green has previously worked at several prolific financial institutions, operated her own property management and construction management firm, and served as Chief of Staff for the Department of Housing and Community Development.

Ms. Green received a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Science in Real Estate from New York University.

David Wilts is a leading expert in innovative real estate development, advising cities, institutions, and organizations on how to design future-enabled developments which leverage technology, data, and global best practices. His work integrates urban planning, data-driven development, sustainability, and long-range strategic thinking. He is widely recognized for bringing clarity, structure, and innovation to complex planning environments and helping organizations to build regardless of traditional market barriers.

Senior Policy analyst for the J. Ronald Terwilliger Center for Housing Policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center

Emma Waters is a senior policy analyst for the J. Ronald Terwilliger Center for Housing Policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center, where her work focuses on the intersection of property insurance and housing affordability, among other topics. Prior to her work on federal housing policy, she served as the project manager for BPC’s Energy Program and as a workforce development case manager at a nonprofit organization. Waters received her master’s degree in public administration from George Washington University and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Furman University.

Ed Delany is a Senior Director and Senior Capital Officer for CapitalOne’s Community Finance Group. He is responsible for Capital One’sloan and investment originations in support of community development in the Mid-Atlantic region. He hasexperience in FHA, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and life insurance company loan originations, with aconcentration in multifamily finance and the use of Low Income Housing Tax Credits, Historic Tax Creditsand tax exempt bond financing vehicles.Ed has over 35 years of real estate banking experience. Before joining Capital One in 2010, he wasRegional Manager for Union Bank of California’s Community Development Finance group and opened thatbank’s first CDF office outside of California in 2005.Ed is a former President of the Board of Directors and current member of the Board of Trustees of NewHope Housing and former member of the Board of the Housing Association of Nonprofit Developers(HAND) and the Maryland Affordable Housing Coalition (MAHC).He holds a BA in English Literature from the University of Dallas and has pursued post graduate studies inReal Estate Finance at the George Washington University.

The same issues that motivate Alyia as an elected official—health, housing, education, public safety, and the economic, social, and physical vitality of cities—have motivated her professional career as a public health strategist and city planner. She has worked on hunger policy at D.C. Hunger Solutions and health issues at the National League of Cities, managed an affordable housing investment program at the Center for Community Investment, and was most recently a Senior Program Officer at the Melville Charitable Trust, a national philanthropic organization devoted to ending homelessness.

Currently, Alyia runs her own consulting business, CitiesRX, which focuses on building physical, social, and economic health through community partnerships. Alyia graduated from Vanderbilt University, where she majored in medicine, health, and society.

She earned a master’s degree in public health at the University of Pittsburgh and further honed her policy chops with a master’s in urban planning at Georgetown and a Professional Certificate in Municipal Finance from the University of Chicago.

Eugene H. Dibble IV (Gene) is the driving force behind the Faith Opportunity Zone Initiative (FOZI), which aims to mobilize catalytic capital to empower faith-based organizations to become community developers. His leadership in this initiative reflects his commitment to unlocking new models for economic mobility, community revitalization, and social impact through strategic partnerships and innovative solutions.

Gene is also an accomplished entrepreneur and strategic advisor with extensive experience in impact investing and digital transformation. As Founder and Chief Impact Officer of Uncommon Impact Studio, he leads a strategy and investment firm that leverages innovation for societal impact across financial services, housing, education, agriculture, and clean energy sectors. His expertise in digital transformation and sustainable growth has made him a valued partner to entrepreneurs and organizations driving transformative change. As a partner at View Park Capital, Gene specializes in investment opportunities in sports and entertainment, while his board position at Thread Bank, a fast-growing, technology-enabled community bank, demonstrates his commitment to innovative financial solutions.

His career encompasses both entrepreneurial initiatives and executive leadership roles in public and private organizations, with a particular focus on empowering entrepreneurs of color and women-led businesses.

A Duke University graduate, Gene’s strategic approach to finding the intersection of community and commerce has established him as a leading voice in impact investing and sustainable business development.

A tenacious fighter for families, communities, and health equity, is the first African American woman to serve as the Mayor of Alexandria. She was elected in 2024 and is dedicated to building a healthier, more prosperous Alexandria for all. 

The same issues that motivate Alyia as an elected official—health, housing, education, public safety, and the economic, social, and physical vitality of cities—have motivated her professional career as a public health strategist and city planner. She has worked on hunger policy at D.C. Hunger Solutions and health issues at the National League of Cities, managed an affordable housing investment program at the Center for Community Investment, and was most recently a Senior Program Officer at the Melville Charitable Trust, a national philanthropic organization devoted to ending homelessness.

Currently, Alyia runs her own consulting business, CitiesRX, which focuses on building physical, social, and economic health through community partnerships. Alyia graduated from Vanderbilt University, where she majored in medicine, health, and society.

She earned a master’s degree in public health at the University of Pittsburgh and further honed her policy chops with a master’s in urban planning at Georgetown and a Professional Certificate in Municipal Finance from the University of Chicago.

The Rev. James Clark III is managing director of Mission Real Estate Development for Trinity Church Wall  Street Philanthropies where he leads a global initiative to identify and help churches discern, plan, and develop income-generating real estate projects that create sustainable financial capacity for ministry and a direct social impact in the communities they serve. He has 38 years of business experience encompassing commercial real estate investment, finance, development, portfolio management, leasing, and investment banking. He founded EnTrust Realty Advisors, one of the few black-owned institutional commercial real estate transaction advisory firms in the U.S. and has completed over $5.0 billion of 
transactions and managed $1.0 billion of assets and portfolio properties. Rev. James serves on the clergy staff at the Cathedral of Grace St John AME Church in Aurora, Illinois and serves on several boards 
including Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston IL; Wheaton Bank and Trust, an affiliate of Wintrust Bank in Chicago; and Jackson Park Hospital & Medical Center on the south side of Chicago. Rev. Clark earned a Master of Divinity degree from Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary, an MBA from 
Columbia University, a BS from New York University’s Stern School of Business, and a Certificate from the Leadership Institute at Harvard Divinity School. He has received numerous awards and recognition 
including being inducted into the Midwest Real Estate News’ Hall of Fame in 2016.

John is the Executive Vice President of Global Network Advancement and Operations at United Way Worldwide (UWW), integrating decades of nonprofit leadership experience to guide U.S. and International Network teams in implementing strategies, tools, and resources to support local United Ways. In collaboration with the senior leadership team, John’s focus is driving outcomes for Network Resilience, Community Impact Solutions, Strategic Insights and Operations, and international work streams.

Before joining UWW, John served as the Chief Operating Officer at Results for Development, where he was instrumental in helping this international nonprofit work across sectors to create strong systems that support healthy, educated people. Before that, John worked at Save the Children U.S., a nonprofit championing children’s rights in 100 countries, and held multiple roles, including Associate Vice President for U.S. Programs, Head of Strategy & Planning, and Senior Director of Global Sponsorship Operations.

John earned his bachelor’s degree from Cornell University and a master’s degree from Lesley University.

Johnathan Sublet is a visionary nonprofit and community development leader whose work spans holistic neighborhood transformation, affordable housing, health and wellness services, education, and spiritual leadership. As Founder and Executive Director of SENT Inc., a mission‑driven organization based in Topeka, he has guided transformational initiatives that have served thousands of individuals through mental health services, housing projects, workforce programs, and community outreach. Under his leadership, SENT Inc. has experienced significant organizational growth — with projected revenue increasing from $500,000 in 2022 to $2.5 million in 2025 — and has been recognized with honors such as the 2024 Topeka Center for Justice and Peace Organization of the Year Award and acknowledgment as one of 30 grassroots leaders in health equity by the Kansas Health Foundation.

Sublet has led key SENT projects from their inception, including the launch of SENT Prep Academy (2021), Mental Health Services (2022), the Southside Filling Station (2023), and the Southside Wellness Clinic (2025), as well as the Fremont Hill Development (2025) and expansion of workforce initiatives for at‑risk populations. He also spearheaded the completion of 29 affordable housing units and the first new homes in the Hi‑Crest neighborhood in more than 60 years.

In addition to his nonprofit leadership, Sublet serves as Lead Servant Pastor at Fellowship Hi‑Crest Church, where he provides spiritual leadership, oversees a multicultural ministry team, and supports community outreach and discipleship programs. His earlier professional life included a successful career as a chemical engineer for Fortune 100 companies before transitioning full‑time into ministry and community development work.

Judith Cabelli is a passionate leader committed to advancing housing affordability, social justice and racial equity. She is motivated by fairness and equity for all and the belief that access to food, housing and health care are human rights. She currently serves as the Vice President of Real Estate Development for Wesley Housing where she is responsible for comprehensive outreach to generate new development opportunities for Wesley Housing, including acquisition, renovation, and land development for new construction of affordable residential housing. She guides the Real Estate Development Department operations and leads the team of real estate development project managers and associates.

Prior to this position she served as the Director of Real Estate Development at Wesley Housing and the Director of the Affordable Housing Development Division of the Fairfax County Department of Housing and Community Development, where she worked to support the County’s goals to preserve, expand and facilitate affordable housing opportunities for two years. She was trained and served as an Equity Ambassador for the Department as part of the One Fairfax Racial and Social Equity policy and County initiative. Before her role with the County, she worked for Wesley Housing for ten years where her last position was Senior Real Estate Development Project Manager. In that role she handled day-to-day project management and project team leadership for affordable housing new construction and preservation real estate development projects throughout the region. Before joining the Wesley Housing team, Ms. Cabelli served as the Associate Development Project Manager/Relocation Specialist for The Community Builders in Washington, DC. Additionally, she served as a Capital City Fellow with the DC Department of Housing and Community Development. 

Ms. Cabelli earned the National Development Council’s Housing Development Finance Professional certification and attended the International Right of Way Association’s 501 Residential Relocation Assistance training course. She has participated in numerous racial equity training opportunities including Act for Alexandria’s Racial Equity Learning Lab facilitated by Service Never Sleeps. Ms. Cabelli holds a Master of Public Administration with a Concentration in Nonprofit Management from George Mason University and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice with a minor in Spanish from the University of Maryland.

Ms. Kuhns currently leads the efforts of Vandalia Heritage Foundation and Vandalia Redevelopment Corporation, sister non-profit organizations dedicated to economic revitalization through the built environment. Since their inception in 1998, she has managed the successful completion of more than fifty impactful projects, ranging from small community improvements and plans to restoring landmark historic properties, and developing large R&D and manufacturing facilities on behalf of other non-profits. Formerly managing director of a versatile real estate firm that championed public-private partnerships, she served two terms on the Governor’s Council for Community & Economic Development.