A.J. Johnson to Present at Mid-Atlantic AHMA's 31st Annual Fall Conference, November 17-19, 2026
By A.J. Johnson
A.J. Johnson, Principal Consultant at A.J. Johnson Consulting Services, Inc. (AJJCS), will present nine sessions at the 31st Annual Mid-Atlantic AHMA Affordable Multifamily Rental Housing Conference, November 17-19, 2026, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Midlothian-Richmond in Richmond, Virginia.
A.J. will lead all five general sessions on Day One and the full LIHTC track on Day Two. Together, the sessions address the issues affordable housing professionals face today: fair housing risk, resident relations, technology, immigration enforcement, Average Income, HOTMA, and file-level errors that become findings. They are part of a much larger program featuring HUD, general interest, special interest, and technology tracks, making this year's conference one of the most comprehensive in the region.
The Mid-Atlantic AHMA Fall Conference is one of the region's largest gatherings of affordable housing owners, managers, and compliance professionals, typically drawing 650 to 800 attendees. The program covers compliance, legal and emerging policy issues, resident issues, and staff well-being, with sessions spanning LIHTC, HUD, and other affordable housing programs.
The 2026 conference runs three days:
Day One is structured as a single, cohesive program. It opens with a broad overview of the risks facing affordable housing managers, then covers fair Housing, resident relations, and technology, and closes with a hands-on file review workshop.
The Affordable Housing Manager's Risk Map for 2026 and Beyond 9:00 - 10:15 a.m.
The opening session frames the conference by mapping the operational, compliance, and leadership risks that affordable housing professionals face today. Topics include staffing pressures, fair housing exposure, inspection readiness, documentation weaknesses, maintenance liability, resident conflict, and the challenge of managing layered responsibilities amid limited resources. Attendees will leave with a practical roadmap for the year ahead.
Fair Housing in a Time of Mixed Signals 10:30 - 11:45 a.m.
A shifting enforcement climate does not reduce legal risk. This session focuses on sound site-level fair housing practices: consistent policy enforcement, screening standards, reasonable accommodation requests, staff training, and documentation that protects a property when decisions are challenged.
Resident Communication, Conflict, and Credibility 1:15 - 2:15 p.m.
Resident communication is one of the most overlooked tools in property management. A.J. will address how staff should communicate during disputes, maintenance delays, policy enforcement, and emergencies, and provide practical techniques for staying professional under pressure and for documenting interactions to reduce misunderstandings and liability.
Smart Use of AI and Technology in Affordable Housing Management 2:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Where does technology genuinely improve affordable housing operations, and where does it create new risk? This session offers a practical look at communication tools, workflow management, training support, and recordkeeping, as well as the risks of using technology in ways that undermine consistency, privacy, or sound judgment.
The Tenant File from Hell: Spotting Problems Before They Become Findings (Workshop) 3:30 - 5:00 p.m.
Day One closes with a case-study workshop. Participants will work through problem files that present multiple documentation and eligibility issues — missing items, inconsistent calculations, unsupported conclusions, and common judgment errors — covering both LIHTC and Section 8/Rural Development requirements.
A.J. presents at every session in the LIHTC track, providing attendees with a full day of tax credit compliance training in one room.
Immigration Rights & Responsibilities of Affordable Housing Managers 9:15 - 10:45 a.m.
A practical, straight-talking session on navigating immigration enforcement confidently and lawfully. A.J. will cover how ICE and other federal agencies operate; the authority they have on private property and what they do not; the critical differences between judicial warrants and administrative ICE documents; when access can be denied; and how to protect residents' privacy without obstructing law enforcement.
Average Income After the Final Regulations: What Managers Need to Get Right 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
This session focuses on the management side of the Average Income minimum set-aside under IRC §42(g)(1)(C): unit designation strategy, maintaining the required average, vacancies, transfers, re-rents, and the communication between compliance and operations staff that keeps a property compliant.
HOTMA, LIHTC, and Layered Housing: Where the Friction Shows Up 1:45 - 3:15 p.m.
HUD's HOTMA income and asset rules are reshaping how layered properties operate. This workshop examines where HOTMA and LIHTC requirements intersect and diverge, and how to maintain consistent documentation, train staff effectively, and avoid confusion when different program rules apply to the same household.
LIHTC Compliance Pressure Points 3:30 - 5:00 p.m.
The LIHTC track concludes with a review of the areas where tax credit properties most often face noncompliance: income calculation errors, student rule mistakes, utility allowance problems, documentation gaps, transfers, annual recertification issues, and internal management failures that result in reportable findings.
Session titles and times are from the conference's Agenda-at-a-Glance and are subject to change.
Mid-Atlantic AHMA has built a program that serves every part of the affordable housing industry: HUD, LIHTC, state agency compliance, landlord-tenant law, operations, staff well-being, and technology. The LIHTC track is one of five running in parallel on Wednesday, with strong options in every time slot.
Track A: General Interest (Parlor A/B). The track opens with Virginia Housing Updates from Anitra Anderson and Carol Jackson, followed by Grimes Creasy's An Updated Guide to Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Law. The afternoon shifts to the people side of the business with Michael Alexander's Understanding Your Communication Style and Shelia Battle's Burnout, Boundaries, and Balance.
Track C: HUD (Parlor D). Jenny DeSilva leads a full day of HUD multifamily training sessions: Advanced Income Eligibility Scenarios, Behind the Scenes with TRACS: Unlocking HUD's Data System, EIV 101: What to Print, Where to File, and How to Stay Ahead, and VAWA Compliance Made Clear: Protect Residents & Perfect Your Policies. It is an essential day for anyone managing Section 8 or other HUD-assisted properties.
Track D: Special Interest (York, limited seating). Focused sessions include Special Claims Essentials with Mary Celone and Pamela Kazlauskas; Virginia Housing Procorem Compliance; RAD for PRAC: Best Practices to Prepare & Convert Your PRAC Contract with Gates Kellett; and Michael Alexander's Top Ten Tips for Dealing with Seniors.
Track E: Software/Vendor (Anna, limited seating). Industry technology partners showcase what is now possible in day-to-day operations: Agentic AI in Affordable Housing (Drumlin Brook, RealPage); Artificial Intelligence as a Tool (Joanna Chlopeka, Yardi); The Inevitability of Monitored Cameras in Affordable Housing (Joseph Turner, Checkastructure); and Practical Automation for Affordable Housing Teams (Jeffrey Bai and Dianne Kaiyoorawongs, EliseAI). This track pairs well with A.J.'s Day One session on AI and technology.
The day concludes with the Vendor Exhibition & Reception from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the James River Ballroom, offering a chance to meet the industry partners who support Mid-Atlantic AHMA and its members.
The conference closes with two half-day intensives from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Jenny DeSilva presents HUD Hot Topics in the James River Ballroom, and Dennis DiBello presents NSPIRE: Everyday Practical Ideas So You'll Do Well on Your Next Inspection in the Shenandoah Ballroom. With NSPIRE inspections now a standing priority for HUD properties, the Thursday program offers site and maintenance teams practical, immediately applicable guidance.
Full descriptions of every session are available on the conference's Session Descriptions page.
A.J. thanks Executive Director Terry Rice and the Mid-Atlantic AHMA team for assembling an outstanding program and looks forward to seeing clients, colleagues, and fellow professionals in Richmond. Attendees are encouraged to stop by with questions after any session or to connect at the Vendor Exhibition and Reception on Wednesday evening.
Registration, hotel accommodations, and full session descriptions are available on the Mid-Atlantic AHMA conference website. To register, visit the Conference Registration page.
A.J. Johnson Consulting Services, Inc. (AJJCS) is an affordable housing compliance consulting firm based in Williamsburg, Virginia, serving property management companies, syndicators, Housing Finance Agencies, housing authorities, and developers nationwide. AJJCS provides training, file reviews, and compliance advisory services for LIHTC, HUD multifamily, HOME, USDA Rural Development, and related programs. Learn more at ajjcs.net.
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