2023 WAHNderful Woman of the Year Award winner, Cindy Prater

We are thrilled to announce that Cynthia Prater, HCCP , Director of Development Operations at The Bennett Group, is the recipient of the 2023 WAHNderful Woman of the Year Award! The members of WAHN have spoken loudly in their votes for you as winner of this award!
 
When we began this journey to recognize remarkable women who have made exceptional contributions to our industry and the community, we could not have imagined a more deserving candidate than you. Your dedication, passion, and unwavering commitment to your community and your role as the President of Alabama Women’s Affordable Housing Network have left us in awe.  The nominations we received highlighted not just your remarkable achievements but also the sheer magnitude of your impact on the lives of those you serve. You have set a standard of excellence that few can rival, and your tireless efforts have inspired and uplifted everyone fortunate enough to work with you.
 
Your selection as the WAHNderful Woman of the Year Award winner is a testament to your exceptional character and leadership. We are convinced that the world requires more individuals like you, who exemplify the limitless potential of women in leadership roles, and who are dedicated to empowering women, striving for equity for all, and displaying a profound passion for the affordable housing industry and the well-being of our neighbors in these communities.
 
We will honor you and celebrate your achievements at our upcoming AHF Live Happy Hour Monday November 13th. This will be an opportunity for all of us to raise a toast to you, our WAHNderful Woman of the Year, and express our gratitude for your outstanding contributions to society.
 
Congratulations Cindy and all the WAHNderful nominees we received for this award! You all are helping to make our industry and our communities better places for all of us!

Novogradac & Company LLP and Women’s Affordable Housing Network (WAHN) have teamed up to provide a deeply discounted LIHTC basic training for WAHN Members!

Keep an eye on your email for the link to register and the discount code exclusively for our members!

Join WAHN today to get this discount.

Eligibility: WAHN members
Format: online lectures via Zoom
When: 3PM Eastern Time on Thursdays, 10/5, 10/12, 10/19, 10/26, 11/2 and 11/9
Length: 1 hour and 30 minutes each
Homework: 5 self-graded assignments

Topics Covered:

10/5 – Introduction

  • Basics of how the program operates
  • The four main components
  • Finding rent and income limits

10/12 – Eligible Basis

  • Understanding the overall concepts
  • Applying these concepts to examples
  • The three kinds of 30% boost

10/19 – Pro-Formas

  • Setting up the spreadsheet
  • Changing variables to see the effects

10/26 – Equity Investment

  • Ownership entity structure
  • Types of risks
  • Time value of money

11/2 – Qualified Allocation Plans

  • Federal legal requirements
  • The four main components
  • Practical realities of implementation

11/9 – Post-Award

  • Carryover and 10% Test
  • Extended Use Agreements
  • Form 8610 and Cost Certifications

Ashley Northcutt’s interview with Nan McKay in the Trailblazers Impact Podcast

View the full article and listen to the podcast here.

Ep. 290 – Dive into the journey of Ashley Northcutt, the dynamic President of the National Women’s Affordable Housing Network (WAHN), an organization passionately advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.

WAHN, under Ashley’s stewardship, empowers women in the industry through education, active allyship, and fostering meaningful connections.

With a diverse network spanning government agencies, financial institutions, developers, and nonprofits, WAHN is truly reshaping the affordable housing landscape.

Join us as we explore Ashley’s inspiring pivot from a seasoned accounting professional to spearheading this pioneering network full-time.

Tune in for an enriching conversation about affordable housing, diversity, and the power of women in the industry.

Listen in to learn how to pivot from your career and still find success in following the path led by your strength and passion. You will also learn the value of choosing a career in affordable housing, working for a diverse company, and prioritizing community housing.

Key Takeaways:

  • The importance of supporting other women to help you sustain your level of success
  • The power of saying yes and getting involved with a lot of things in helping you get to the top
  • How to utilize your strengths and passion to pivot your career and still find success
  • The importance of building a career in an organization focused on diversity

In this episode, you will learn:

Ashley on why she decided to pivot to the National Women’s Affordable Housing Network [01:42]

She defines affordable housing plus the creative affordable housing solutions they’re focused on [04:58]

She explains how WAHN is open to all creative affordable housing solutions [06:23]

The role of women in affordable housing, plus how we can sustain our levels of success [07:40]

She describes some of the initiatives that WAHN is planning and the impact they’ll make [09:03]

How WAHN is committed to bridging the gap in the affordable housing industry [15:59]

How she was able to pivot from a secure corporate career and embrace a role at WAHN [18:41]

The three takeaway points Ashley would like to leave you with on housing and career [22:47]