Description

Housing: What "Affordable" Really Means

A Community Conversation Presented by Leadership Winston-Salem

Sponsored by: City of Winston-Salem, Forsyth Technical Community College, Habitat for Humanity of Forsyth County, Robert Half, and The Resource

Join Leadership Winston-Salem for a candid and informative conversation about the future of housing in Forsyth County. As our community grows, so does the need to better understand what “affordable housing” truly means—and who it serves. This conversation brings together residents, community leaders, and housing experts in a panel discussion to explore the realities, challenges, and opportunities within our local housing landscape.

Together, we’ll dive into key questions shaping the housing conversation today:

• What is affordable housing—and who is it actually affordable for?
• Where are the gaps in Forsyth County’s current housing options?
• What does affordability look like for lower-income families, the workforce community, and middle-class households—and how does that compare to current supply?

Following the panel, we’ll open the floor for an audience Q&A, giving community members the opportunity to share questions, insights, and lived experiences.

Whether you work in housing, are personally affected by rising costs, or simply want to better understand the challenges facing our community, this discussion offers a chance to learn, engage, and contribute to meaningful dialogue about Forsyth County’s housing future.

Moderated by: 

Pat Pate - Winston-Salem City Manager: With roots in the Triad, William Patrick “Pat” Pate has worked for the city of Manassas since 2013 and served as an assistant city manager for the city of High Point from 1999 to 2013. He was the budget and evaluation director for the city of Greensboro from 1990 to 1999 as well as the budget and research manager for the city from 1987 to 1990. He held three positions with the city of Winston-Salem in the budget department from 1985 to 1987. Pate holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and religion as well as a master’s of public administration, both from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 

Featured Speakers:

Richard Angino - Owner of Third Wave Housing: Third Wave Housing is a team that specializes in the development of both new and historic multi-family properties.  Richard has been on the development side of the industry since 2004 and has developed 20 properties which contain over 2,100 units.  Prior to moving to his current role in the industry, Richard held various senior executive positions on the investor and equity syndication side within the tax credit industry since 1987 which involved funding over 450 properties. Most recently Richard completed two complexes called Essex Place and 600 Peters Creek in Winston Salem.  In 2019 Richard started a housing advocacy group in Winston Salem called Folks for Good Housing.

Ted Ortiviz - Executive Director of ASPIRE: Ortiviz began as Executive Vice President of Operations at ASPIRE in September 2024, where he oversaw public housing, housing vouchers, development, and maintenance programs. In July 2025, he was promoted to the Executive Director. Raised in public housing in Pueblo, Colorado, Ortiviz has spent his career in housing and human services. He previously served as executive director of the housing authorities in Pueblo, Colorado, and Lafayette, Louisiana. 

Ortiviz holds a bachelor’s degree from Colorado State University–Pueblo and a Juris Doctor from Western Michigan University, Cooley Law School. He also served eight years on the Pueblo County School District 70 Board of Education, including four years as board chair. He brings a resident-centered leadership approach to ASPIRE as the organization advances major redevelopment and preservation initiatives.

Dr. Angel Wright-Lanier - Assistant City Manager of Winston-Salem: Dr. Angel Wright-Lanier is a dynamic executive leader with more than 20 years of experience across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. She has a strong record in public administration, program management, and strategic communication, leading large-scale initiatives, managing multimillion-dollar budgets, and advancing policies that drive organizational growth and community impact.

In addition to her role as Assistant City Manager, she currently serves as Executive Director of Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration, where she leads an international membership organization advancing education in public policy and administration. In this role, she has secured grant funding to support NASPAA’s strategic plan, launched key partnerships, modernized IT infrastructure, and established the organization’s first Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Accessibility (DEIJA) plan.

Previously, Dr. Wright-Lanier held senior leadership roles in local government in North Carolina, including Assistant County Manager for Cumberland County and Assistant City Manager for Fayetteville, where she managed a $233 million budget and led major capital projects and crisis communications. She holds a Doctor of Education from Vanderbilt University and master’s degrees in management information systems and public administration.

Gena Fisher - Director of ReStore Operations at Habitat for Humanity of Forsyth County: In Fisher's current role, she oversees all ReStore locations and leads efforts to strengthen sales, operations, and community engagement in support of affordable homeownership.

She previously spent 13 years with the YMCA of Northwest North Carolina, advancing from camp counselor to Director of Child Care Services and earning a reputation for strong leadership and operational excellence. During that time, Fisher became a Habitat homeowner—an experience that inspired her to join Habitat Forsyth professionally. She began as Store Manager of the Peters Creek ReStore and was promoted to Director of ReStore Operations within two years.

Fisher’s journey—from Habitat homeowner to organizational leader—reflects her deep commitment to helping families achieve stability and opportunity through homeownership.

Sponsors: