We look forward to delivering a valuable conference program with dynamic educational content and ample opportunities to connect with members of the national housing cooperative community!
NAHC 2024 Attendee Brochure Coming Soon
Please note that this schedule is subject to change.
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Registered Cooperative Manager Course, Part 1 / 2*
The National Association of Housing Cooperatives recognizes the importance of Cooperative managers and developed the Registered Cooperative Manager’s designation in 1993. The RCM Program includes specific training for cooperative managers. Part 1 of the RCM class begins on Monday and covers the History of the cooperative movement and begins the business overview of the duties of the cooperative manager.
Trainers: Fred Gibbs, Ralph Marcus, Nicole Redding & Kimalee Williams
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Registered Cooperative Manager Course, Part 2 / 3*
The RCM class continues on Tuesday and concludes the business overview of the cooperative managers’ duties. After the business discussion, the ethics class is held. The ethics class is the third session of the RCM class and also serves as the recertification for RCM’s who have held the designation for three years.
Trainers: Fred Gibbs, Ralph Marcus, Nicole Redding & Kimalee Williams
1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Registered Cooperative Manager Recertification and Ethics Course, Part 3*
The Ethics class discusses the five basic concepts of professional ethics and also details the registered cooperative manager’s code of ethics in their daily management practices.
Trainers: Fred Gibbs, Ralph Marcus, Nicole Redding & Kimalee Williams
11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Conference Registration
1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
NAHC Board of Directors Meeting
5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
First-Time Attendee Orientation
If this is your first NAHC Annual Conference, you won’t want to miss the first-timer orientation. Come and learn a little about what the NAHC Conference has to offer and meet some of your fellow cooperators.
Speaker: Fred Gibbs
6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Opening Reception
8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Conference Registration
8:15 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
Coffee Break sponsored by Marcus Management 
8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Opening General Session & Awards, sponsored by National Cooperative Bank
President Fred Gibbs and Chairman Ralph Marcus welcome attendees and introduce the Award Recipients, and our keynote speaker, Thom Armstrong, Chief Executive Officer of the Co-operative Housing Federation of BC, will present.
NAHC Annual Awards
Cooperative Star of the Year – The Cooperative Star Award, Distinguished Service Award, Ida Curtis Fisher RCM of the Year Award, and The Alfred Reynolds Development and Preservation Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented.
Cooperative Distinguished Service Award – The Distinguished Service Awardrecognizes outstanding service to cooperative housing. It recognizes the achievement and contribution of a cooperative member who assisted a cooperative or association of cooperatives to better serve its members.
Ida Curtis Fisher RCM of the Year Award – The Ida Curtis Fisher Registered Cooperative Manager of the Year Award honors the RCM who has demonstrated outstanding dedication by devoting time, energy and talent to the RCM program and the national cooperative housing industry. The award was established in 2013 in memory of Ida Curtis Fisher, one of the three founding members of the RCM program, and her efforts and devotion to the cooperative housing community.
Author of the Year Award –The author of the year is awarded to an individual in recognition of contributions to NAHC publications through writing, reviewing and editing. Nominations are made by the editor and reviewed by the communications committee.
Alfred Reynolds Development and Preservation Lifetime Achievement Award – The Alfred Reynolds Development and Preservation Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes an individual who is a dedicated, life-long advocate for cooperative housing and shows devotion to the values of NAHC. This individual has demonstrated leadership, talent, and selfless effort to housing cooperatives while creating significant, positive, long-lasting change for cooperative development and preservation.
Jerry Voorhis Award – NAHC’s Board created this lifetime achievement award in memory of its namesake and a man regarded as NAHC’s founding father. The Jerry Voorhis Award is NAHC’s highest honor, recognizing significant leadership in both theory and practice. Jerry Voorhis, a man of impeccable integrity, believed in, and did his best to teach, apply and widen the use of basic cooperative principles.
Roger Willcox President’s Award – The NAHC Roger Willcox President’s Award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to NAHC and the cooperative movement
Keynote Presentation by Thom Armstrong
Regeneration and Growth: A new age of co-op housing in Canada
Co-op housing has a rich history in Canada, but new development stalled early in the 90s while buildings and members grew older. More recently in British Columbia, CHF BC (the province-wide federation of housing co-ops) has pursued an ambitious growth agenda with impressive results. Combining a community land trust model with new investment from all levels of government, CHF BC is developing new co-ops, redeveloping older co-ops, and partnering with the broader non-profit housing sector to expand at an unprecedented pace. Thom Armstrong, CHF BC’s CEO, will share the inspiring story of this new age of co-op housing in Canada.
10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Exhibit Hall Open
10:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Morning Educational Sessions
Marijuana Laws in Cooperatives
Figuring out the rights of Members/Residents to use these products, the right of Members/Residents to be free from these products and whether Cooperatives need to get involved. This workshop will walk you through these issues, particularly considering the recent approval of recreational marijuana in Michigan and Illinois.
Speakers: Valerie Hall & April Knoch
How to Form and Run a Committee
We have a great idea! We need a committee! How to form it! Who does What?
Speaker: Karen Harvey
Housing Co-ops in Canada: a 50-year success story
Join us for the story of housing co-ops in Canada over the last 50 years. We’ll look at what makes Canadian housing co-ops unique, their successes, their challenges, and the opportunities they are seizing to grow after many years spent under the radar on the Canadian housing scene
Speaker: Thom Armstrong
How a RCM Prepares For and Supports Meetings for the Board of Directors and Membership
In this session, RCMs will explore how to prepare for an upcoming board meeting, including the required documentation and the ideal timing for providing information in advance to enable the board to make informed decisions. They will also discuss preparations for the distinctly different membership meeting.
Speaker: Ralph Marcus
12:15 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Luncheon
Enjoy lunch talking with your colleagues.
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Breakout Sessions:
Fair Housing
A review of the cooperative obligations under the Fair Housing Act. Reviewing various cases illustrating the many pitfalls of failing to understand or appreciate the rules that protect certain groups from housing discrimination in its many forms.
Speaker: Ronald Barba
Servicing Your Co-operative Communities. Bathroom Remodeling and Siding Exterior Projects
Bath Fitter® is an innovative high-quality long-lasting bath and shower remodel system. In our 40 years of success, we have perfected the one-day bath remodel with our unique Bath over Bath technology. We custom manufacture new baths and showers which allows us to install new products over existing units without disruption. We are committed to delivering top-quality products and services to residential and commercial clients across the United States and Canada. Now also in Europe. This session will address how our national team can assist your Co-operative communities from project conception through to installation.
Rocket Exteriors, a leading name in exterior renovations nationwide, represented by the Owner and national direct contact Jesse Carpenter. Jesse will share his valuable insight based on 16 years of industry experience, specializing in delivering high quality medium to large-scale projects involving windows, doors, siding and more. This session will cover the challenges and best practices in managing exterior renovation projects.
Speakers: Jessie Carpenter & Howie English
For Board Members Only Monitoring Your RCM
This session is for Board Members only. The RCM Board will journey through a typical day in an RCM’s life, including issues they must deal with, property, staff, residents, governmental authorities, contractors and the unplanned and unexpected. This session would greatly benefit Board Members in understanding the role of their RCM.
Speakers: Fred Gibbs, Ralph Marcus & Nicole Redding
2:00 p.m – 5:15 p.m.
Self-Management of Housing Cooperatives: Is it Right for You?
Self Management – Pros, Cons, and tools to boot! Are you a board member of a housing cooperative who has ever considered self-management? Are you currently self managed? This two-part course is designed to help you explore the benefits, challenges, and practicalities of transitioning to or from self-management in Part 1; and in Part 2 you will receive a thorough overview of one of the most important challenges to a cooperative’s overall financial health – budgeting and reserve planning. Through a blend of informative sessions, interactive group projects, and hands-on role-playing exercises, you will leave with a deeper understanding of what it takes to self manage – and as a bonus you will understand how to better monitor your cooperative operations and governance!
Speaker: Kimalee Williams
3:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
Refreshment Break
3:45 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.
Breakout Sessions:
Estate Planning
Does your cooperative have adequate policies and processes in place to ensure that the corporation is protected and that the deceased member’s assets are protected? This includes protecting personal property, equity in the membership share and who is to become the beneficiary of the membership. This session will assist in providing guidance on the steps necessary to protect the corporation and Its staff at the time of a member’s passing. It will also ensure that the correct documentation is on file to follow through with the member’s wishes.
Speakers: Kim Marcus & Ralph Marcus
Corporate Transparency Act…What You Need to Know
Housing Cooperatives are subject to the new Corporate Transparency Act filing requirements, and the deadline to comply is approaching. This class explores and provides legal guidance to Board Members and Managers on the obligations of Board members in carrying out Board functions, including ethical and fiduciary obligations to maintain corporate transparency. It also provides critical guidance on the new CTA filing requirements, including what information needs to be filed, by whom, and when.
Speakers: Creighton Gallup, April Knoch & Randall Pentiuk
Cutting Edge Communications: What Forms of Communication Work Best?
Class participants will explore methods of bridging the digital divide through communications.
Speaker: Fred Gibbs
8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Conference Registration
8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Exhibit Hall Open
8:45 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Coffee Break
9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Morning Educational Sessions
Financing Programs for Cooperatives
This session will provide an overview of the different financing programs available for Cooperatives and the process for accessing financing to obtain the needed funding.
Speaker: Hugh Jeffers
Communications and Body Language
Do you hear what I am showing you? Body language can derail what you are trying to convey. Are you sending mixed signals? Lets have some fun and learn how you can change how you communicate with others. Turn a bad situation around with simple tools that can save a relationship.
Speaker: Stacy Klabak
Attorney’s Roundtable for RCM’s – Legal Issues for Cooperative Housing
This RCM-only session will be presented by the distinguished law firm Pentiuk, Couvreur & Kobiljak. The session will explain legal pitfalls that an RCM should avoid. They will also update the RCMs on new laws and/or current trends.
Speakers: Creighton Gallup, April Knoch & Randall Pentiuk
9:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Board Members Only, How to Stay in Your Lane!
Join a lively discussion about Board Members getting “out of their lane,” learn where a Board member’s lane begins and ends, and know the potential personal consequences you might face by not staying in your lane. Get a Good Governance Checklist if you attend!
Speaker: Ralph Marcus
10:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Breakout Sessions:
Pet Policies/Emotional Support Animals
This course will delve into the intricacies of fair housing laws pertaining to service animals and pets. Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of the legal framework that governs the rights of individuals with disabilities to have service animals in housing situations. The course will explore the distinctions between service animals and pets, the obligations of cooperatives and property managers, and the potential legal consequences of noncompliance.
Speakers: Fred Gibbs & Dennis Meade
Advocate Now for You and Your Housing Cooperative
Learn about Federal and Congressional Issues that affect You and Your Housing Cooperative. This session will include a discussion of the following housing cooperative issues: Disaster Relief, Reverse Mortgages, The Corporate Transparency Act, the Veteran Home Loan Mortgage and many more issues. Learn about strategies and ways you can make a difference in advocating for your interests.
Speaker: Judy Sullivan
Creating a Compliant Member Selection Criteria for Your Cooperative
In this session, RCMs will learn about all the elements that should be included in their Member Selection Criteria. We will review application intake and processing, applicant screening policy recommendations, and finally, the RCM review of the application. We will also cover questions the interview committee should ask and what questions the committee cannot ask. You will leave this class confident in all aspects of your Member Selection Criteria.
Speaker: Nicole Redding
12:15 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Strut Your Stuff: Cooperative Pride Luncheon sponsored by Rocket Exteriors 
You and other attendees from your cooperative will have a chance to Strut Your Stuff and show your cooperative pride! Our annual cooperative “fashion show” will take place during Friday’s luncheon. Newly Registered Cooperative Managers will be introduced and RCM’s obtaining their recertification will be recognized. Candidates for the election to the NAHC Board of Directors will also be presented.
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Breakout Sessions:
Preventing Tragedy: Understanding Building Disasters
At around 1:25 AM on June 24, 2021, a large section of the Champlain Towers in Surfside, Florida, suffered a partial pancake collapse, and ninety-eight people lost their lives in the tragedy. In New York City, 14 people died in a tragic fire in a Bronx residential building in 2017, and two years earlier in the East Village, a gas explosion destroyed three buildings. In the aftermath of these incidents, legislation was enacted to address problems and hopefully prevent future tragedies. This course will review what is known about the Champlain Towers incident and review other building disasters and how to prevent them.
Speaker: Leon Geoxavier
Create a Future Focused Board: Board Assessment, Training & Succession
This workshop explores essential strategies to build a resilient cooperative housing board. Participants will learn how to conduct comprehensive board assessments, implement continuous training programs, and develop effective succession plans to ensure leadership continuity and sustainability. Engaging discussions will focus on real-world challenges, best practices, and actionable solutions for fostering board excellence.
Speakers: Ronald Barba, Patricia Parks-Taylor & Kim Pietrorazio
How to Approve Reasonable Accommodations
Approving reasonable accommodations for members. What a reasonable accommodation is and what is not. What is needed when approving or denying a reasonable accommodation.
Speaker: Hope Turner
3:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
Refreshment Break
3:45 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.
Breakout Sessions:
How to Handle Predators
This class is designed to equip housing cooperative board members with the knowledge and skills necessary to identify and combat predatory lending practices within their communities. Predatory lending can have devastating consequences for individuals and families, and understanding its various forms is essential for protecting the financial well-being of cooperative members.
Speakers: Fred Gibbs & Hugh Jeffers
The Art of Inclusions
Inclusion is a universal human right—one that embraces all people and removes barriers that impede collaboration. Cooperatives must create a culture where all Members feel a sense of belonging. Join this workshop to learn strategies that foster cohesion for years to come.
Speakers: Kalisha France & Valerie Hall
Bullies, Guns & Meetings
With the advent of open carry and concealed carry laws coupled with an already tricky social climate, it is more critical than ever that Boards and Managers understand their roles in keeping meetings on track and setting procedures for cooperative-sponsored events. This class will help identify and address the bully in the room based on tactics and how to deal with explosive situations in and outside the meeting room so you can get back on track, preserve community peace, and get cooperative business done.
Speakers: Creighton Gallup & April Knoch
5:15 p.m. – 5:45 p.m.
Candidates Forum: Meet Your Board Candidates
Here is a chance to meet with Board Candidates who will be elected at the Annual Meeting of Members on Saturday, October 26.
Moderator: Randall Pentiuk
5:45 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Member Association & Direct Member Association Caucuses
Midwest Association of Housing Cooperatives (MAHC)
NAHC Direct-Member Caucus
8:30 a.m. – 9:30 am
Ballot Pick-up and Election
9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Annual Meeting of Members
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
NAHC Board of Directors Meeting
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