Get to know some of the leaders who work hard behind the scenes to develop ULI’s programs and initiatives. We’ve asked these leaders to answer questions about their areas of expertise and what’s top of mind for their initiatives.

Get to know Rosemarie Hepner, Vice President of the ULI Terwilliger Center for Housing. Rosie oversees the Center’s wide-ranging activities, including its technical assistance engagements, housing awards program, and annual Housing Conference.

1. In your own words, can you describe the role of ULI’s Terwilliger Center for Housing?
   The Terwilliger Center for Housing convenes members and the industry at large to share best practices and thought leadership. Our role is to leverage this expertise so that we can advance housing production, particularly affordable housing. Our program of work includes an annual housing awards program, an annual Housing Conference, technical assistance for communities to solve their unique housing challenges, and case studies and research publications. In addition, the Center includes ULI’s new Homeless to Housed Initiative, which is addressing and amplifying the role of the real estate industry in addressing homelessness in the U.S. Learn more here.
2. What’s an example of a successful initiative led by your team that has positively impacted a community? And what factors contributed to the success?
   The Center worked on a technical assistance panel (TAP) for the city of Boise ID. Boise has rapidly become an unaffordable place to live and our panel brought in experts to provide recommendations for the city. Our panel was dynamite; their expertise was invaluable, as evidenced by the fact that all the panel’s recommendations have been implemented by the city. More importantly, the city conducted a zoning code reform, which will impact their ability to build needed housing tremendously. The full report is available here.
3. At the 2024 Fall Meeting in Las Vegas, you moderated a concurrent session called: ULI Corporate Partnerships & Strategy Presents: New Perspectives on Solving the Growing Housing Affordability Crisis, with several of our corporate partners. What surprised you the most during that discussion?
   I was surprised by how optimistic I left the conversation. I am passionate about housing affordability and like to keep panels focused on solutions. Yet it’s hard to feel optimistic about the topic lately; the problem feels unsurmountable. However, after our panel, I did feel energized – the panelists are achieving impact and I’m glad we could share it.
4. Looking ahead, what are some of the key topics you plan to discuss in February 2025 at the next Housing Conference in Atlanta?
   Innovation. We are seeing innovation at all levels of the industry – construction, policy, finance, homelessness interventions, etc. and I look forward to elevating what ULI leaders have achieved. I’m also excited about our panel on high growth suburbs and how communities that are traditionally single-family are meeting their housing needs through density.
5. What are the most effective strategies for ULI’s corporate partners to engage with the Terwilliger Center?
   Most immediately: sponsor our Housing Conference. I like to think of our Housing Conference as the Goldilocks of ULI events; we’re not too big or too small. So, you have a tailored audience of industry professionals that are impacting this industry, but you won’t get lost in a crowd!
   Longer term: we want to move from raising awareness to taking action. We seek to mobilize ULI members to accelerate the production of housing, particularly delivering affordable housing and deeply affordable housing that is connected to meaningful, supportive services, bringing us closer to our goal—to ensure that everyone has a home that meets their needs at a price they can afford.