Keynote Speaker
Brian Koziol
Brian Koziol has served as the Executive Director of the Virginia Housing Alliance, a statewide advocacy and education organization committed to expanding access to affordable housing and ending homelessness across the Commonwealth, since 2019. Prior to VHA, he served as the Director of Research for Housing Opportunities Made Equal of VA, Inc. Brian has worked on a variety of housing-related topics including access to opportunity, affordability, mortgage lending, foreclosures, employment, health, and transportation. He has served as a consultant to local governments across the country helping them to advance equitable housing policy.
Brian holds a Master’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from Virginia Commonwealth University and resides in the Northside of Richmond.
Virginia Housing Programs
Chris Thompson
Director of Strategic Housing | Virginia Housing
Chris Thompson is the Director of Strategic Housing at Virginia Housing. He leads a team charged with developing and managing relationships with the Commonwealth’s Housing Services Delivery Network. Mr. Thompson coordinates the design and delivery of trainings intended to strengthen the ability of local officials, land use planners, planning entities, and housing developers to better address local affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization issues. He also identifies strategic opportunities to provide technical assistance to individuals and organizations seeking to undertake transformational revitalization projects. Prior to joining VHDA he served as Deputy Director for Housing at the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD).
Rural Housing
Jeanie Barbrow
Jeanie Barbrow is a veteran of making the American dream come true for several thousand people. She is committed to helping improve the quality of life in rural America. She is also an advocator of partnership building between government, rural businesses, cooperatives, nonprofit agencies, faith-based and neighborhood organizations to better serve individuals, families and communities. Jeanie attended Liberty University and Va. Tech. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management. She has been with USDA Rural Development for 42 years. Jeanie started her career as a County Office Technician and has worked her way up to Single Family Housing Program Director for the State of Virginia. Jeanie has served on numerous National and State Task forces to improve Rural Development. She believes in what she does every day and has always loved her job.
Jason Tickle
Jason Tickle has worked in housing for nearly 12 years. Jason has written and been part of grant writing teams that have been awarded over $3.1 million in new home and repair dollars. As of this date, Jason’s team has written and closed on over $2.5 million in 502 Direct loans. These loans resulted in 14 homes to date with more in the pipeline. Homeowners in Caroline County Habitat for Humanity’s 523 Self-help Program have built nearly $500,000 in sweat equity.
Preserving Affordable Housing Stock Panel
James Roberson
James Roberson is the founder and President of 516 Project, a non-profit construction and disaster response ministry. James’ background in construction, disaster relief, c-suite business positions, and entrepreneurship has set him up for success in business and life. Initially, 516 Project was founded in 2016 as a side project and way to give back to the community. Quickly it was evident that God had bigger plans for the organization and James became full time in July of 2018. James has led and coordinated groups of thousands of volunteers to help disaster victims recover and rebuild after floods, hurricanes and tornadoes. He has worked with multiple government and non-government agencies in multiple states to make the recovery process more efficient and cost effective.
James did not attend college and is a strong believer in workforce and trades training. James grew up and still resides in Fredericksburg, VA. He is married and has 3 children ages 14, 10 and 8.
You can find more about James and 516 Project at www.516project.org and on social media @the516project or @jamesbuildshope
Sandra Powell
Sandra Powell serves as the Sr. Deputy Director of the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). She joined the agency in October 2021. Sandra is responsible for providing strategic leadership of the Community Development and Housing division, which focuses on creating and implementing solutions in partnership with all levels of government, nonprofits, and the private sector to achieve essential housing and community development outcomes.
Before joining DHCD, Sandra served as the Deputy Executive Director with Newport News Redevelopment and Housing Authority (NNRHA). In her role as NNRHA’s Deputy Executive Director, she provided day-to-day leadership of all NNRHA operational activities related to implementing organizational and department goals and strategies. Some of Sandra’s accomplishments while at NNRHA included her contribution to the success of the $30 million Choice Neighborhood Initiative Grant and the conversion of 296 housing units under HUD’s Rental Assistance Demonstration program. Sandra’s other focus areas include homeownership, construction, and renovation. She and her team collaborated with the planning and implementation of many city infrastructure and economic development efforts.
Sandra holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Christopher Newport University and earned her master’s degree in public administration from Old Dominion University. She has also achieved her Housing Development Finance Professional Certification.
Bailey Thompson
Bailey Thompson is the Community Development Planner for the City of Fredericksburg. Originally from a rural pocket of northwestern Pennsylvania, Bailey moved to Virginia early in his career to pursue city planning in a more urban setting. Bailey recently earned a master’s degree in Community And Economic Development from Penn State University and also just finished a six year enlistment with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard.
During his time with the City of Fredericksburg, he has had the opportunity to reach out to countless families and households with assistance through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. This program receives an annual allocation of approximately $200,000 from the Department of Housing and Urban Design (HUD). The City has three housing programs that are designed to keep residents in their homes and to provide homeownership opportunities.
Senior and Disabled Housing
Patricia (Pat) Holland
Ms. Holland is the Executive Director of Healthy Generations Area Agency on Aging in the Fredericksburg area. She has served as the Director of Client Services, supervisor of the Homemaker Program (assisting frail elderly with housekeeping and errand chores), Title V Coordinator (Older Workers Employment Program), and has coordinated many smaller programs for the Agency. In addition to her primary duties, Ms. Holland provides guidance to the Agency’s TRIAGE Committee, assessing seniors for all Agency programs and making referrals to various community programs.
Ms. Holland received her Bachelor of Science from the University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg, Virginia in 1985.
Ms. Holland holds affiliations with several boards. These include Mental Health America of Fredericksburg, Partners in Aging, TRIAD, and the Caregiver’s Appreciation Luncheon Committee. She was the 2016 recipient of the Dr. Wayland Marks Gratitude Award, which recognizes services to senior citizens in the Fredericksburg area.
Healthy Generations Area Agency on Aging is a private non-profit corporation established in 1976 in accordance with the Older Americans Act of 1965. HGAAA serves Planning Service Area Sixteen, comprising the Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania and Stafford Counties and the City of Fredericksburg. HGAAA strives to assist Older Americans in various ways to promote independence and enhance their quality of life.
Intersection of Housing and Health
Allison Balmes-John
Allison Balmes-John is the Population Health Manager for the Rappahannock Area Health District. She oversees health improvement planning for the health district, including the Community Health Assessment and Community Health Improvement Plan. Her role focuses on using data to understand the health of local populations, and then utilizing that data to identify ways we can prevent community health issues before they occur. She also coordinates communications and public information for the health district. Prior to her current role, Allison worked as a Violence Prevention Specialist at the Virginia Department of Health’s Central Office. She holds a Master in Public Health from the University of North Carolina and a BA in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Colorado, and she is an AmeriCorps alumni.
Ellen Justesen
Ellen Justesen graduated from Northern Arizona University with a Bachelor of Science in Public Health and a Minor in Health/Wellness Coaching in 2020. Prior to entering the public health workforce in 2019, her working background included: customer service/retail, fitness and wellness/personal training, and clinical/healthcare work. She currently serves as the Community Engagement Specialist with Rappahannock Area Health District and oversees progress related to the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP), projects under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), tasks and projects related to Quality Improvement, and much more! She has always believed that everyone should have the means to pursue the healthiest and happiest versions of themselves, and she carries that belief with her in everything she does.
Teresa Bowers
Teresa Bowers is an Occupational Therapist with over 37 years of experience specializing in the fields of behavioral health and geriatrics. She has practiced for over 29 years in the home health setting. In addition she served for 14 years as the Director of the Senior Visitors Program at Mental Health America of Fredericksburg, a volunteer based visitation program for lonely, isolated senior citizens. She is a clinical faculty at Virginia Commonwealth University in the Department of Occupational Therapy. Currently she is the Health Innovation Navigator and Health Care Coordinator for Micah Ecumenical Ministries, a collaboration of churches working together under one non-profit umbrella, to cultivate community and care for the homeless neighbors in the Fredericksburg community. She has been instrumental in developing the Health Ministry at Micah since April of 2022.
