Join the National Housing Conference (NHC) on June 24, 2026, at The Anthem in Washington, DC, for its Annual Housing Visionary Awards Gala, an evening dedicated to celebrating exceptional leadership in affordable housing and community development. Bringing together more than 500 housing professionals and advocates from across the country, the Gala is your opportunity to celebrate, recognize, network, and reflect on the strength and shared purpose of the housing community, while also supporting NHC’s ongoing work to advance policies and solutions that are tangible, impactful, and achievable.
Widely regarded as THE premier event for housers, the event highlights nationally recognized leaders whose work is expanding opportunity, strengthening communities, and advancing solutions to the affordable housing crisis. We invite you to explore highlights from last year’s celebration and to join us this June as we honor this year’s exceptional awardees. Don’t miss this opportunity and confirm your participation or sponsorship today.
The 2026 Housing Visionary Award honorees are Bill Emerson, Board Member of Rocket Companies, and Debra W. Still, CMB, retired Vice Chair of Pulte Financial Services. This year’s honorees have dedicated decades to strengthening the housing finance system, expanding access to homeownership, and advancing industry leadership that benefits communities nationwide.
Bill Emerson’s leadership helped guide one of the nation’s largest housing finance companies through periods of significant growth and economic uncertainty, while maintaining a strong commitment to organizational culture, innovation, and community impact. Deb Still’s more than four decades of leadership have helped shape a more inclusive, responsible, and resilient mortgage industry through her work at Pulte Financial Services and the Mortgage Bankers Association. Together, they represent the kind of principled leadership needed to strengthen our housing system for generations to come.
The Gala kicks off at 5:30 pm with a networking reception, leading into dinner and the much-anticipated awards ceremony. The evening culminates with a dessert reception, offering another chance to network with fellow housers. To show your support for the Gala and NHC, we encourage you to explore our sponsorship opportunities or purchase tickets to further the work of ensuring everyone is able to live in a quality, affordable home in a thriving community. Below is a sample of the sponsorships available:
- Advocate ($15,000) – includes a Gala table with preferred seating, a full-page ad and listing in the Gala Tribute Book, promotion in printed and electronic marketing materials, acknowledgment in the opening and closing media presentations, and prominent listing of company logo, name, and website link on event webpage.
- Champion ($10,000) – includes a Gala table with preferred seating, a half-page ad and listing in the Gala Tribute Book, acknowledgment in the opening and closing media presentations, and a range of promotional opportunities.
- Opportunity Builder ($5,000) – includes five Gala tickets and a quarter-page ad and listing in the Gala Tribute Book.
- Friend ($3,500) – includes two Gala tickets and a quarter-page ad in the Gala Tribute Book.
If you can’t attend this year’s Gala or don’t need additional tickets, you can still show your support by placing an ad in the Gala Tribute Book. And, new for 2026 displaying a digital ad onsite at the Anthem! It’s a meaningful way to celebrate the accomplishments of this year’s honorees or highlight your commitment to our mission. Tribute Book ads start at $750 for a quarter page and go up to $2,500 for a full page. Digital ads start at $325 for a quarter page and go up to $1,250 for a full page. You can also choose to have your name listed in the Gala Tribute Book for $250. Learn more about these opportunities here.
I hope you will join us in honoring these truly visionary housing leaders on June 24 at The Anthem. Please visit our website at nhc.org/event/gala or contact NHC’s Chief Operating Officer, Amanda Mitchell, at amitchell@nhc.org for more information.