March 10 • 1:00–2:30 PM
Sponsored by
SPEAKERS
Abby Johnson, Executive Director, Virginia PACE Authority,
and Administrator, Virginia C-PACE Program
Abby will provide information on the new statewide Virginia PACE Authority, and update progress on local C-PACE initiatives, including examples from regional programs.
Abbey's Biography
Abby is Executive Director and founder of VPA. Since 2012, Abby has specialized in PACE financing, advising commercial building owners, lenders and public sector clients in PACE project and program development including crafting of PACE legislation, creating program guidelines, and launching and administering PACE programs. She has been instrumental in developing PACE programs around the country in Pennsylvania, Texas, Illinois, Florida, New Jersey, Louisiana, Oregon, North Carolina, and the Mid-Atlantic region, including Virginia. In Virginia, she was largely responsible for expanding PACE over the last five years to include resiliency, stormwater management, commercial condos, and retroactive projects. In 2019, she founded VPA to offer Virginia localities a low-cost, nonprofit option for program administration. Through Abby’s leadership, VPA has received multiple grants, including one that is funding the creation of a web-based platform that connects lenders with borrowers to fund resiliency and clean energy projects. In her capacity as an advisor, Abby works with building owners to develop “PACE-able” projects, structure PACE within the capital stack, and source senior debt as needed.
Roderick Scott, CFM, Board Chair, Flood Mitigation Industry Association
Rod will introduce the new Federal STORM Act and review pending legislation in the Virginia General Assembly that would set up a Resilient Virginia Revolving Loan Fund to support disaster mitigation projects.
Rod's Biography
Rod has over 30 years of construction contracting experience and is a Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM). Since 2008, Rod has been involved in the planning, financing, and execution of 1,500 structural elevation/flood hazard mitigation projects. Rod pioneered post-flood disaster education outreach about flood mitigation elevation in upstate New York after Hurricane Irene (2008) and re-deployed an improved version after Hurricane Sandy (2012) in New Jersey and New York. This effort won the Association of State Floodplain Managers’s (ASFPM’s) 2014 National Flood Proofing Award. In 2016 Rod was certified as a flood plain administrator. Rod is the primary author of the International Association of Structural Movers’ (IASM’s) “Steps to Elevation” and the 8-hour “Home Raising Academy” funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
In 2019 Rod helped form the Flood Mitigation Industry Association (501c3) and is serving as chair of the Board.
Grace Tucker, Senior Analyst, Climate Resilient Coasts and Watersheds, Virginia, Environmental Defense Fund
Grace will discuss financing and funding programs that support flood mitigation and adaptation, including the Virginia Beach Flood Protection Bond and the Community Flood Preparedness Fund (CFPF).
Grace's Biography
Grace is the Senior Analyst for EDF’s Climate Resilient Coasts and Watersheds Virginia team. In this role, she builds and maintains collaborative partnerships with diverse local, regional and national stakeholders to collectively advocate for comprehensive, research-based and equitable planning and policies that reduce flood risk in Virginia. Grace is committed to bringing together sound science and effective communications to develop and implement locally-supported solutions that address historical inequities and build resilience for people and ecosystems now and in the future.
Peter D’Alema, Director of Program Management, Virginia Resources Authority
Peter will provide remarks on VRA’s role in managing local government financing programs.
Peter's Biography
Peter D’Alema currently serves as the Director of Program Management for Virginia Resources Authority (VRA), which entails managing the Virginia Pooled Financing Program (VPFP). The VPFP offers public bond market access to Virginia localities for infrastructure financing at competitive interest rates. His previous experience includes serving as Financial Manager for VRA and Senior Commercial Underwriter for Bank of America, N.A. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing Management from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) and a Master’s degree in Finance from Virginia Commonwealth University.
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