Staff Directory

Stockton Williams

Executive Director swilliams@ncsha.org

Stockton Williams was appointed Executive Director in March 2018. He leads NCSHA’s wide-ranging efforts to advocate and strengthen the central role of state housing finance agencies in the nation’s housing system.

Stockton has held senior leadership positions in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors throughout a career dedicated to expanding housing opportunity. He has been an advisor to local communities across the U.S., an author of original research, and a commentator in the media on real estate and economic development issues.

Stockton was previously Executive Vice President of Content and Executive Director of the Terwilliger Center for Housing at the Urban Land Institute (ULI). Before that he was Managing Principal of HR&A Advisors’ Washington, D.C., office. Stockton previously served as Senior Advisor in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Energy. He has also held senior leadership positions at Enterprise Community Partners, Living Cities, and with an affordable housing developer.

Stockton earned a master’s degree in real estate development from Columbia University and a bachelor’s degree in religion from Princeton University.

Garth B. Rieman

Director of Housing Advocacy and Strategic Initiatives grieman@ncsha.org

Since 1993, Garth Rieman has helped NCSHA formulate and execute its policy on the Housing Credit, Housing Bonds, housing finance reform, appropriations, and other affordable housing issues. He leads NCSHA’s advocacy efforts.

Garth previously held positions with the U.S. Senate Housing Subcommittee, National Association of Realtors, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and U.S. Office of Management and Budget.

He is a graduate of Pomona College and Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Jennifer Schwartz

Director of Tax and Housing Advocacy jschwartz@ncsha.org

Jennifer Schwartz serves as the Director of Tax and Housing Advocacy at the National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA). She rejoined NCSHA in 2014 after previously holding the role of Senior Legislative and Policy Associate at the organization from 2001-2005. Jennifer leads NCSHA’s multifamily and tax policy team and oversees the organization’s federal legislative advocacy efforts, with particular focus on the Low Income Housing Tax Credit and tax-exempt private activity Housing Bonds.

Prior to returning to NCSHA, Jennifer was the Director of Policy and Programs for the Southern Governors’ Association, where she focused on facilitating bipartisan collaboration between governors in various policy areas. Earlier in her career, she worked as a counselor and case manager at Women’s Protective Services, a domestic violence shelter and rape crisis counseling center in Massachusetts, and as a project consultant for the Massachusetts Advocacy Center (now Massachusetts Advocates for Children).

Jennifer earned a master’s degree in Public Administration and Public Policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a bachelor’s degree from Brandeis University, where she was a double major in psychology and sociology.

Glenn Gallo

Senior Legislative and Policy Associate ggallo@ncsha.org

Since joining NCSHA in 2014, Glenn Gallo has held a variety of positions in the Policy and Government Affairs department, focusing on homeownership and affordable rural housing issues.

Prior to joining NCSHA, Glenn was a Fellow at the Department of Veterans Affairs, helping prepare Department officials for Congressional hearings in its Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs.

He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of St. Andrews studying history and international relations.

Rosemarie Sabatino

Senior Homeownership Policy Specialist rsabatino@ncsha.org

Rosemarie Sabatino serves as a senior homeownership policy specialist. Her responsibilities include legislative, regulatory, and related work on FHA mortgage insurance, housing finance, MRBs and MCCs, government-sponsored enterprises, and CRA. Rosemarie is another NCSHA alumna who returned for a second tour.

Prior to re-joining NCSHA, Rosemarie worked for the Montgomery County Green Bank, the Mortgage Resolution Fund, Global Communities, PMI Capital Corporation, and Fannie Mae.

Rosemarie earned her MBA from Columbia University and an AB cum laude from Harvard University.

James Tassos

Deputy Director of Tax Policy and Strategic Initiatives jtassos@ncsha.org

James Tassos represents the interests of state housing finance agencies with the U.S. Congress, the Department of the Treasury, and the affordable housing industry. His primary focus is developing best practices, regulatory policy, and legislative initiatives to strengthen the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program.

Earlier in his career, he worked for an urban planning and development firm in North Carolina and as an affordable housing consultant focusing on green building and sustainable development issues.

James holds a master’s degree in city and regional planning from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a bachelor’s degree in architecture and building science from Clemson University.

Deborah Yi

Legislative and Policy Coordinator DYi@ncsha.org

Deborah Yi joined NCSHA in February 2022. As Legislative and Policy Coordinator, she supports the Director of Tax and Housing Advocacy and the Policy and Government Affairs department with monitoring policy, regulatory, legislative issues, and other various tasks. Prior to joining NCSHA, Deborah worked at the Credit Union National Association, where she worked in the Regulatory Affairs department, managing the many advocacy subcommittees, including the Housing Subcommittee.

Deborah earned a bachelor’s degree from American University in Political Communications.

Greg Zagorski

Senior Homeownership Policy Specialist gzagorski@ncsha.org

Greg Zagorski focuses on issues related to affordable homeownership and housing finance.

Prior to joining NCSHA in 2012, Greg worked as a legislative assistant for Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT), advising the Senator on housing and other economic issues.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and history from the University of Connecticut and a master’s degree from George Washington University.

Lisa S. Bowman

Director of Marketing and Communications lbowman@ncsha.org

Lisa Bowman joined the NCSHA staff in 2016 as Director of Marketing and Communications. She previously held senior management and communications positions with the National Cooperative Business Association, the Society for Marketing Professional Services, and APICS. She began her career as an editor and writer for a hospitality management consultancy.

Lisa is a graduate of the University of Maryland at College Park and a member of the American Society of Association Executives.

Stephanie Romanoff, CAE

Senior Digital Associate sromanoff@ncsha.org

Stephanie Romanoff is part of the National Council of State Housing Agencies’ (NCSHA) Marketing and Communications team, where she manages the NCSHA website and online communities and provides strategic digital production support. She manages the member Data & Analytics, Information Technology, and Equity communities. She is honored to support the missions of state Housing Finance Agencies, which have been central to the nation’s affordable housing system for more than 50 years.

Her professional background includes strategic leadership roles at several nonprofits, including serving as Communications Director for the Academy of Integrative Health & Medicine and the American Board of Holistic Integrative Medicine. She has a strong interest in community-based initiatives that support children’s development.

Stephanie holds a BA in Economics from St. Mary’s College of Maryland, where her senior thesis examined the affordable housing crisis in Lexington Park, MD, and the potential of inclusionary zoning. She is also a Certified Association Executive (CAE), leader of DC’s Nonprofit Technology Network (NTEN), and PMI-certified project manager.

Chris Townley-Owens

Marketing and Communications Associate

Chris Townley-Owens has been a part of NCSHA’s Marketing and Communications team since 2018. Her responsibilities include the NCSHA website, email production and distribution, conference branding, and supporting the Marketing and Communications Director. She also manages NCSHA’s Annual Awards for Program Excellence.

Earlier in her career, she worked alongside the international team at the Association for Talent Development in Alexandria, Virginia.

Chris holds a BSBA degree in Marketing from Christopher Newport University’s AACSB accredited Joseph W. Luter, III School of Business.

Griffin Voltmann

Sponsorship and Trade Show Manager gvoltmann@ncsha.org

Griffin Voltmann joined NCSHA’s Marketing and Communications team in 2025 as Sponsorship and Trade Show Manager. His responsibilities include building and maintaining relationships with event sponsors and exhibitors and managing NCSHA’s annual trade shows.

Griffin brings 15 years of association management experience to NCSHA, having worked with trade associations in the DC area in roles including marketing and credentialing. He is a graduate of the College of William & Mary, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in English.

Cristina Charron, CMP

Director of Meetings

Cristina began her career in the hospitality industry through the prestigious Walt Disney World International Hospitality Program and was a proud member of the opening team at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center. There, her contributions to establishing high service standards played a pivotal role in shaping her strong foundation in hospitality and event management. Before relocating to Virginia, she held roles in conference services and sales at well-known properties including the Grand Bohemian Hotel Orlando and Salamander Reunion Resort.

Her association event portfolio spans both intimate C-suite gatherings and large-scale conferences of up to 5,000 attendees, developed during her time with the American Society of Civil Engineers and the National Contract Management Association. An engaged member of Meeting Professionals International since 2017, she has actively contributed as a volunteer and was honored with the Planner of the Year Award for 2020–2021.

She holds a double major in Foreign Languages Interpreting and Business Communication from Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj, Romania, and an MBA from Webster University in Orlando.

Melissa Ventresca Maggio, CMP

Meetings and Events Manager

Melissa Ventresca Maggio has been a member of NCSHA’s Meetings Team since 2019. Her responsibilities include assisting in all logistical aspects of planning and executing NCSHA’s conferences, trade shows, and events.

Melissa previously held positions as a banquet manager and a trainer with the Fairmont Washington, DC, Georgetown. She participated in the brand’s SUMMIT Leadership Development Program and served on task forces at the Fairmont Kea Lani and Sofitel Washington, DC, Lafayette Square. Melissa began her hospitality career as a wedding planner at HollyHedge Estates in Pennsylvania.

Melissa is a Certified Meeting Professional and earned a bachelor’s degree, cum laude, from Fairleigh Dickinson University where she studied hospitality management. She is also a graduate of Wroxton College in Oxfordshire, England.

Kevin B. Burke, CPA

Director of Finance and Operations kburke@ncsha.org

Kevin Burke joined the NCSHA staff in 1999. He served as NCSHA’s controller for seven years before advancing to his current position as Director of Finance in January 2006.

Prior to coming to NCSHA, Kevin worked as an auditor for a public accounting firm in the Washington, DC, area.

Kevin is a certified public accountant (CPA) and graduated from Penn State University with a degree in accounting.

Lovely Padua-Hare

Senior Operations Associate / Finance lpadua-hare@ncsha.org

In 2010, Lovely began working at NCSHA as part of the Operations Team. She is currently a Senior Operations Associate with a focus in finance. Prior to joining NCSHA, she worked in the banking sector in Manila, Philippines and then in the international maritime hospitality industry.

Lovely is a certified nonprofit accounting professional. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at Colegio de San Juan de Letran in Manila, Philippines, where she majored in Computer Management.

Phaedra Stoger

Senior Operations Associate / Membership pstoger@ncsha.org

Phaedra Stoger joined NCSHA in 2006 as the Operations Coordinator. During her time at NCSHA she has developed new responsibilities that lead her into her current role as the Senior Operations Associate/Membership. Prior to joining NCSHA, Phaedra worked in a retail clothing store as an Assistant Store Manager where she cultivated her customer service skills.