The HCDLI is bringing together an exceptional lineup of sector experts and experienced professionals offering unique perspectives, practical expertise, and actionable strategies to help participants navigate the evolving housing and community development landscape in our summer Lunch & Learn series. Read more below about each of our featured speaker! Emily Weitzman Rosenbaum is a Senior Relationship Manager with NeighborWorks America who has a passion for building strong partnerships that advance housing and community development goals. She previously served as Executive Director of Twin Cities CDC in Fitchburg and Leominster, Massachusetts, Coalition for the Better Acre in Lowell, Massachusetts, the Worcester JCC, and as CEO of the Akshaya Patra Foundation USA. Throughout her career, Emily has worked closely with mission-driven organizations, funders and donors, and community stakeholders to support projects that create opportunity and strengthen neighborhoods. She is particularly interested in connecting capital, strategy, and collaboration to drive meaningful community impact. Emily enjoys helping organizations navigate complex challenges and identify practical solutions that support long-term growth. She believes that strong relationships are at the heart of successful community development efforts and is excited to engage with the next generation of housing and community development leaders and share insights from her professional experience. Joanie Straussman Brandon became Regional Vice-President of NeighborWorks® America’s Northeast Region May 2017 after serving in an interim capacity since July 2016 and as Senior Director from 2013-1016. She had been with NeighborWorks America for twenty-five years before becoming a private consultant in 2006. During Joanie’s first 25 years with NeighborWorks, seven were with Field Operations and eighteen with the Organizational Assessment Division (OAD). In Field Operations Joanie was responsible for the development and/or expansion of several NeighborWorks organizations. In OAD, Joanie managed organizational assessments and was involved in the development of the PROMPT® review system. Joanie was also responsible for more than 60 of the chartering reviews for new network affiliates. While a consultant from 2006-2013, Joanie continued to do organizational assessments, coach staff, assist with board development, and did course development and training for NeighborWorks’ Training Institutes and Community Leadership Institutes. She reviewed grant proposals and was a coach for the Community Impact Measurement project. More recently Joanie was a coach for the Excellence in Governance program, a Mentor in the Strong Leaders Program and helped to develop the Advancing Leaders in Real Estate Development program. Joanie also worked for three years with the Housing and Community Development Network of NJ as Director of Programs from 2011-2013. Prior to NeighborWorks America, Joanie was Executive Director of a multi-service organization in Chelsea, Massachusetts. Joanie has a Bachelor’s Degree from Clark University. and a Masters Degree in Social Work with a concentration in Planning and Community Organizing from Boston College. Joanie is a certified coach through Leadership That Works and the International Coaching Federation (ICF). Hannah Alldredge Morris is a learning and development and organizational effectiveness professional with more than 20 years of experience helping individuals, teams, and organizations grow. As Training & Development Manager at the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA), and now Assistant Director of Talent & Organizational Development, she focuses on building leadership capability, strengthening coaching and accountability practices, and creating learning strategies that support employee growth and organizational success. Prior to CHFA, Hannah directed the University of Hartford's LEAD Program, empowering emerging women leaders through education, coaching, and career development. She has also facilitated leadership and communication workshops for professionals across industries through The Latimer Group and spent 16 years as an educator and academic leader at Choate Rosemary Hall. Hannah entered the field of affordable housing later in her career and is eager to introduce others to this important work and help future housing leaders grow their skillsets. Pheobe Ploof is a Program Officer focused on Housing & Capacity Building for Connecticut’s suburban and rural communities. Pheobe has a background in housing planning, policy administration, and affordable housing technical assistance. She holds an MPA and a BA in Political Science from the University of Connecticut. Prior to joining the team at LISC, Pheobe worked at a Council of Governments as a housing planner focusing on facilitating affordable housing initiatives and providing technical assistance to municipalities in Western Central CT. She has also worked throughout the State of Connecticut as a residential property manager for affordable housing and senior units and as an undergraduate instructor. Emily Weitzman Rosenbaum
Joann Straussman Brandon
Hannah Alldredge Morris
Pheobe Ploof
