BuzzHouse: A Baker Tilly Podcast

Developing housing is already a complex equation, and tapping EB-5 capital adds a whole other layer of strategy. 

In this episode of BuzzHouse, Don Bernards and Garrick Gibson are joined by their Baker Tilly colleagues @Warren Oakes and @Jillian O’Brien, two professionals with deep experience in EB-5 project structuring, compliance and advisory services.

The team explains what EB-5 is, how it applies to multifamily housing, the steps...

In this special year-end episode of BuzzHouse, Don Bernards and Garrick Gibson reflect on the most memorable conversations of 2025 and look ahead at what’s on the horizon in 2026. 

From innovative financing tools to workforce development and public housing repositioning, Don and Garrick revisit the guests and insights that shaped the year. They also explore what’s happening legislatively, from HUD updates to new proposals like the A...

In this episode of BuzzHouse, Don Bernards and Garrick Gibson are joined by Stockton Williams, executive director of the National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA).

The group discusses key housing legislation such as  Road to Housing Act, the evolution of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, and how HFAs are pushing forward with new programs to meet middle-income and single-family housing needs.

Listen in for more insights on w...

In this episode of BuzzHouse, Don Bernards and Garrick Gibson sit down with Philip Porter, senior vice president and head of acquisitions at Enterprise Housing Credit Investments, to make sense of the shifting landscape in low-income housing tax credit equity.

Philip breaks down what developers should know about lower credit pricing, the impact of recent legislation like the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and what’s really driving chan...

In this episode of BuzzHouse, Don Bernards and Garrick Gibson talk with Orlando Valdes, vice president of business development at Ion Water, about how invisible water waste is draining operating budgets in affordable housing and what developers, investors and property managers can do about it.

From catching invisible leaks to delivering underwriting support, Orlando explains how water data is becoming an operational tool for real sa...

In this episode of BuzzHouse, hosts Don Bernards and Garrick Gibson sit down with Kristina Tatroe, director of online training at HAI Group, to explore how innovative education is reshaping the affordable housing industry.

From bite-sized “infotainment” modules and gamification to VR-driven compliance training, Kristina shares how HAI equips housing professionals to navigate regulatory changes, strengthen teams and drive impact in t...

Amid budget negotiations, shifting tax credit allocations and evolving funding programs, LIHTC developers are facing a dramatically changing landscape. The recently passed “One Big Beautiful Bill” is already reshaping how housing projects will be financed, structured, and planned in 2026 and beyond.

In this episode of BuzzHouse, Don Bernards and Garrick Gibson walk through the biggest updates that matter most to affordable housing p...

In this episode of BuzzHouse, Don Bernards and Garrick Gibson sit down with Aron Thompson, executive director of R.E.D. Academy, a developer training program in Nashville backed by the Urban League and Amazon.

From filling the "if-but-for" gaps to building a pipeline of local leaders, Aron unpacks what it really takes to grow a developer and why proximity, trust and support systems make the difference.

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How do state building codes influence housing development, cost and safety? In this episode of BuzzHouse, hosts Don Bernards and Garrick Gibson are joined by Daniel Hereth, secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services, to outline the department’s role in maintaining public safety while examining how modernizing building codes can increase flexibility for developers and encourage more affordable housing ...

In this episode of BuzzHouse, Don Bernards and Garrick Gibson sit down with Thom Amdur, Senior Vice President of Policy and Impact at Lincoln Avenue Communities. Thom shares what he's tracking on Capitol Hill and what could be coming next for affordable housing, tax reform and federal regulation. From the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act to changes in NEPA and Davis-Bacon, he breaks down the legislative and administrative ...

In this episode of BuzzHouse, host Garrick Gibson welcomes Jolena Presti, managing director in Baker Tilly’s development and community advisory practice, to break down what’s really working in the fight to fix our housing crisis. With state and local governments shifting policies and communities leaning into strategic land reuse and streamlined permitting, Jolena shares insights from the American Planning Association’s National Pla...

In this episode of BuzzHouse, hosts Don Bernards and Garrick Gibson talk with Kathryn Grosscup, housing tax credit manager for the Colorado Housing Finance Authority (CHFA), about Colorado’s innovative approach to addressing the middle-income housing gap. Listen in as Kathryn breaks down the newly launched Middle Income Housing Tax Credit (MIHTC) and how it aims to address Colorado’s affordable housing crisis. 

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In this episode of BuzzHouse, hosts Don Bernards and Garrick Gibson sit down with Peter Sherman, director of development for the Housing Authority of the City of Charleston, to discuss an innovative approach to financing affordable housing. With tax credits becoming increasingly competitive, Peter shares how his team navigated the challenges of financing the renovation of Kiawah Homes by leveraging their housing authority’s credit ...

In this episode of BuzzHouse, hosts Don Bernards and Garrick Gibson are joined by Baker Tilly colleagues Michelle Isenhouer-Hanlin and Joe Marchese to explore the $6 billion Clean Communities Investment Accelerator (CCIA) under the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF). The discussion dives into how this funding supports low-income and disadvantaged communities through green banks and community lenders, what types of projects qualif...

In this episode of BuzzHouse, Don Bernards and Garrick Gibson reflect on 2024 and the key moments in multifamily housing. From updates on affordable housing funding to the latest on bond financing and solar initiatives, they break down the year’s highlights. They also look ahead to 2025, discussing exciting opportunities such as the Green Communities Investment Accelerator and the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act. Listen a...

On this special episode of BuzzHouse, Don Bernards sits down with David Gasson, executive director of the Housing Advisory Group, a national advocacy organization that works on behalf of the LIHTC, as well as broader housing issues. David provides insight on the implications of the 2024 election on the world of affordable housing – including leadership in housing policy-related Congressional committees, predictions on changes to th...

On this episode of BuzzHouse, Don and Garrick sit down with Erica Mackie, CEO and co-founder of GRID Alternatives, the nation’s largest not-for-profit solar installer. Over the course of the episode, Don and Garrick talk with Erica about the $7 billion Solar For All program, launched as part of the Inflation Reduction Act. The conversation delves into challenges in reaching underserved communities, including policy and regulatory o...

In this episode of BuzzHouse, hosts Don Bernards and Garrick Gibson dive into the complexities of the LIHTC market, welcoming Lindsay Soyka and Jason Gershwin from R4 Capital. The group discusses the current state of LIHTC deals in a post-COVID-19 world, such as rising construction and insurance costs, creative financing solutions to help developers navigate the turbulent market and the current level of investor demand for affordab...

On this episode of BuzzHouse, Don and Garrick sit down with Nate Helbach, founder and CEO of Neutral, a regenerative development company that crafts financially responsible, sustainable living spaces. Over the course of the episode, Don and Garrick talk with Nate about the thesis he utilizes for Neutral’s strategy, the philosophy and benefits of using sustainable materials like mass timber, Neutral’s use of renewable energy sources...