EMERGING LEADERS &
MARKETS CONFERENCE

The Strength of Partnerships

2026

Tickets on Sale Now!

Columbia University | Alfred Lerner Hall

2920 Broadway, New York, NY 10027

Location Information

Friday, June 12th

8:00am - 4:00pm

Full Schedule

About the Conference

The Emerging Leaders and Markets (ELM) Conference is the New York Real Estate Chamber’s signature event, bringing together leaders from Government, Business, Community Development, and Finance to enlighten attendees with regard to current opportunities and innovations in a series of topical panels. The New York Real Estate Chamber (NYREC) expects ELM to attract 200 commercial and housing real estate professionals, along with political and community leaders from throughout the Tri-State Area. ELM will feature some of the real estate’s most successful and innovative deal makers and leaders of minority-owned firms and just as important leading public policymakers, to drive the discourse, develop ideas, and relationships around sustainable development in urban communities. The ELM Conference is a uniquely powerful opportunity to connect with dynamic developers, government officials, financiers, and other real estate professionals engaged in remaking the urban landscape.

Past ELM Conferences

Keynote Speaker

Stephen Rosenberg

Founder & CEO

Greystone

Steve Rosenberg founded Greystone over three decades ago to provide a unique solution to restructuring distressed real estate assets. From its modest beginnings in the back of a friend’s music store in Atlanta, Greystone has since grown into a mature commercial real estate finance firm with a national reputation as a lender, advisor, and top-ranked Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and Federal Housing Administration (FHA) partner. Mr. Rosenberg has focused on pursuing strategic opportunities to further Greystone’s growth, particularly across the affordable housing sector. He has expanded the firm to provide a robust suite of holistic debt and equity solutions, asset management and loan servicing, property management, and most recently led the formation of a strategic joint venture with Cushman & Wakefield in 2021 to expand access for clients to investment sales and advisory services. In 2014, Mr. Rosenberg launched Harmony Housing, a nonprofit organization that focuses on acquiring and preserving affordable housing to serve low- and moderate-income families and the elderly, which housing projects are managed by Greystone. In 2021, AbleHearts, a nonprofit organization serving the skilled nursing and healthcare sector was launched in a similar vein. Mr. Rosenberg’s approach to business is rooted in philanthropy, which has enabled Greystone to maintain a committed position as a highly charitable organization. Mr. Rosenberg established The Murray & Sydell Rosenberg Foundation in his parents’ names as a nonprofit foundation to reduce suffering and provide aid to humanitarian causes worldwide. Prior to Greystone’s founding in 1988, Mr. Rosenberg worked in CRE finance at Dean Witter Reynolds. He earned a concurrent M.B.A. from the Wharton School and D.M.D. degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dentistry.

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Explore Contracting Opportunities with Trinity Church/Hudson Square Properties

Schedule a 30-minute one-on-one meeting with the Trinity Church/Hudson Square Properties team to discuss upcoming contracting opportunities, including general contracting, repairs, and maintenance services. Contractors should bring a company one-sheet or brochure and have a minimum of five years of experience working in Class A office buildings. Selected firms will have the opportunity to introduce their capabilities and explore potential vendor partnerships and future prequalification opportunities.

Schedule Your Slot

Join us at Deal Tank, an exciting opportunity for ELM attendees to showcase their projects to a panel of NYREC-associated investors. This is your chance to gain invaluable insights and potentially secure funding. Don't miss out on the opportunity to elevate your project to the next level! Sign up today and take the first step toward making your vision a reality. The Deal Tank is a live project showcase featuring five vetted developments presented to a panel of experienced investors and lenders. Developers and contractors will present real opportunities, respond to questions, and explore funding options including equity partnerships and structured debt

Deal Tank Judges

Senior Director, LISC

Christine Retzlaff O’Connol

As Senior Director of Community Capital Investments & Housing, Christine directly supports program partners in financing community development opportunities. She also provides support to the lending team in its transactional work through her involvement in the origination and underwriting of loans. Christine has over 10 years of experience in housing finance, community development, and public affairs. She also worked as an intern and case writer for LISC National’s Community Safety Initiative. Prior to re-joining LISC, Christine held multiple roles in the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) including Director and Deputy Director of the Affordable Neighborhood Cooperative Program and Project Manager for the Participation Loan Program. In these roles, Christine led teams in underwriting and developing financing strategies, developed a construction loan pipeline of 100+ properties and led efforts to establish a homeownership, shared equity, and Community Land Trust agenda for the agency. Additionally, she led various partnerships with a diverse group of stakeholders including NY City Council, community boards, the Mayor’s office and community advocacy groups focused on affordable housing. Prior to working at HPD, Christine worked for the New York City Housing Authority in the Resident Economic Empowerment & Sustainability (REES) team where she managed departmental budgets, procurement and RFP processes and led the development of resident engagement and fundraising strategy. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Applied Social Relations from Eastern Connecticut State University and a Master of Science in Urban Policy Analysis and Management from The New School.

Senior Vice President, Bank of America

Maurice Coleman

Maurice Coleman is the Tax Credit Syndication and Investment Executive at Bank of America. He leads a national team responsible for the bank’s origination of Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) equity through syndication partners to create multi-family, mixed-income affordable housing as well as the delivery of Historic Tax Credits (HTC) to preserve and restore historic properties across the country, and the secondary market execution of New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) to drive national economic development by building or rehabilitating community facilities and commercial real estate projects serving under-resourced communities. He manages a $4.9 billion equity portfolio. Maurice also serves as the Co-Chair of the Bank of America Black Professional Group (BPG), a global Employee Network consisting of 36 chapters and over 18,000 members. Prior to this role, Mr. Coleman served as the Boston Market Leader and Senior Relationship Manager, where he delivered debt, tax credit equity and pre-development and permanent financing for multi- family, affordable housing as well as mixed-use, mixed-income real estate projects throughout the Northeast. Mr. Coleman joined Bank of America’s predecessor bank, BankBoston in 1999, where he served as an Investment Officer with the BankBoston Development Company (BBDC) and later Fleet Development Ventures (FDV), a $250 million private equity and mezzanine finance boutique focused on investing direct equity in women and/or minority owned companies operating in emerging markets nationally. In 2004, Maurice became a Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Fleet National Bank’s Community Investment Group (CIG), where he managed a regional team focused on private equity, small business lending, retail banking and community development lending in New York City and northern New Jersey. For over a decade, Mr. Coleman served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of three national Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) -- the New York City - Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), TruFund Financial Services, and the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone (UMEZ) – Business Resource and Investment Service Center (BRISC). He also served on the national Board of Directors for the Corporation of Supportive Housing (CSH) and was the co-founder/vice chairman of two charter schools, Capital Prep Harlem and Capital Prep the Bronx. He actively serves on the Board of Visitors at Columbia College for Columbia University. Maurice received his B.A. in History and Economics from Columbia University where he was a varsity athlete and a Rhodes Scholar finalist; MPA from the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University with a concentration in Public Finance; and he completed the Finance and Management Leadership Program at Columbia Business School. Maurice completed Credit and Capital Markets Training at BankBoston and is an alumnus of the Venture Capital Institute (VCI).

Vice President, CPC

Wilhelmena Norman-Hernandez

Wilhelmena Norman-Hernandez (Mena) is the Assistant Vice President, Manager of Community Impact for ACCESS. In this capacity, Mena works closely with The Community Preservation Corporation’s field offices to identify lending opportunities and other activities associated with the initiative. The Acquiring Capital and Capacity for Economic Stability and Sustainability (ACCESS) initiative, which began in 2020, focuses on targeted investments in low-income communities and creating opportunities to empower black, indigenous and other people of color (BIPOC) in the real estate industry across New York State and the region. Co-leading the initiative, ACCESS provides capital for predevelopment, acquisition, construction and permanent financing, and capacity building programs, as well as technical assistance and other supports to BIPOC developers as needed. CPC, through the ACCESS initiative, is also collaborating with New York State to help administer the Legacy Cities Access program. A $25 million program funded by the State, Legacy Cities Access seeks to transfer portfolios of land bank-owned residential properties to local developers with a preference for M/WBEs. Following rehabilitation, sales will prioritize purchasers of color and low-income households. Mena joined CPC in 2012 as an Asset Management Associate in the organization’s Special Assets Division, in a career change from finance positions previously held in community-based programs in healthcare. In 2015, Mena moved into the organization’s Credit Department as a Mortgage Administrator, and was promoted to her current position as AVP, Manager of Community Impact for ACCESS in 2020. Over the course of her nearly ten years’ experience within the industry, she has established herself as an innovator and thought-leader, and continues to push the boundaries to provide solutions for BIPOC developers seeking to break down the barriers to entry into the real estate industry. Mena studied at New York University, for Organizational Development and Business Leadership at the Division of Applied Undergraduate Studies New York campus.

Senior Vice President, Wells Fargo

Gregory Richards

Gregory Richards is a managing director in Wells Fargo’s Community Lending and Investment division. Based in New York, Greg is responsible for the underwriting and financial structuring of the firm’s equity investments in affordable housing transactions, primarily in the Northeast region of the U.S. In this role, Greg draws on his 20+ years of real estate experience to finance multifamily and mixed-used developments utilizing low-income housing tax credits, tax-exempt bonds, conventional debt, and a range of other public and private funding sources. Greg started his career in Morgan Stanley’s real estate investment banking division and has since then focused primarily on the financing of affordable housing developments, at Phoenix Realty Group and now at Wells Fargo. In addition to holding corporate positions, Greg co-founded Sister Island Development, a real estate company focused on residential and commercial development in the Caribbean island of St. Kitts where he grew up; and Caribe Café, the first coffeehouse in St. Kitts with beans sourced from the Caribbean region. Greg holds a bachelor of arts in business administration from Morehouse College and a master of science in real estate development from Columbia University. He currently resides in New Rochelle, New York with his wife, two children, and their dog. When not at work, Greg can be found spending time with his family or enjoying a game of soccer, supporting Manchester City F.C.

Panelists & Speakers

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National Development Trends: A Fireside Chat with Leading Urban Mayors

Moderated by:
New York State Representative, Brian Cunningham

This fireside chat will bring together mayors from major cities across the country for a candid conversation on the future of urban development. Panelists will discuss the disparities their cities face, opportunities to advance equity, and the ongoing challenges around access to capital for communities and businesses. The discussion will also highlight current housing needs, major infrastructure investments, and how local governments are working to drive inclusive growth and sustainable development in today’s evolving economic landscape.

Full Panel Information

Assembly member, 43rd District

Moderator

Brian Cunningham

Mayor of Orange City

Dwayne Warren

Mayor of New Rochelle

Yadira Ramos-Herbert

Sponsorship Opportunities

Sponsoring the ELM Conference offers a unique opportunity to align your organization with the powerful theme of “Strength of Partnerships” while positioning your brand at the center of meaningful industry dialogue. Convening leading developers, capital providers, policymakers, and community stakeholders at Columbia University, the conference creates a high-impact environment for visibility, relationship-building, and deal flow. Sponsors gain direct access to decision-makers shaping equitable growth across urban markets, while demonstrating a tangible commitment to inclusive development, minority advancement, and innovative financing solutions. Beyond brand exposure, sponsorship signals leadership—placing your organization alongside those driving real projects, measurable impact, and sustainable progress.

2026 ELM Sponsorship Deck

$50,000

Premium Branding and promotional sponsorship during opening remarks, Keynote address, and cocktail reception
15 Tickets to ELM Conference
Exclusive private dinner with NYREC Board of Directors
10 minute speaking opportunity during ELM Luncheon
Sponsored panel with speakers of sponsors choosing
Full page Pop-up ad inside conference online itinerary
Dedicated 2026 Roundtable Event with NYREC Membership
Exposition table at conference
Feature in NYREC quarterly newsletter
Company hyperlinked to NYREC website as ELM Conference Sponsor
NYREC Advisory Board Membership for 2026/2027