QALICB Boot Camp
Tom Fantin
Principal
Novogradac & Company LLP
Tom Fantin is a principal in the Dover, Ohio, office of Novogradac & Company LLP, where he performs numerous services related to the new markets tax credit (NMTC), historic rehabilitation tax credit (HTC) and renewable energy tax credit (RETC) industries, including audit and tax services, forecasting and consulting. Before joining Novogradac & Company in 2014, Mr. Fantin was an associate director with a regional certified public accounting firm in Ohio. He has significant experience serving the accounting and business advisory needs of middle-market companies in various industries, including restaurants, oil and gas, manufacturing/distribution, and brokers and dealers in securities. Mr. Fantin’s experience includes providing auditing, accounting, and mergers and acquisitions services, including due diligence, and performing SSAE 16 engagements. Mr. Fantin received his bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Akron and obtained his Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP) credential. Mr. Fantin was recognized as one of The CPA Practice Advisor's 40 under 40 from 2009 through 2013. He is a licensed certified public accountant in Ohio.
Scott DeMartino
Partner
Blank Rome LLP
Scott DeMartino concentrates his practice on real estate and renewable investments that yield economic, cultural and sustainable community benefits to investment partners. To this end, Mr. DeMartino teams with lenders, investors, developers and nonprofit sponsors to advise on how best to use historic rehabilitation tax credits (HTCs), new markets tax credits (NMTCs) and renewable energy tax credits (RETC) as sources of financing. These investment tools bring much-needed capital to construct and rehabilitate health care centers, charter schools and residential rental and commercial facilities, as well as historical arts and community spaces and renewable energy facilities, many in historic or underserved communities. Mr. DeMartino is the co-author of Tax Credits: Historic Boardwalk Guidance, Recommended Practices, published in Tax Notes, March 23, 2015, discussing recommended practices post issuance of Revenue Procedure 2014-12, 2014-3 IRB 415. Mr. DeMartino is passionate about preserving buildings of historic significance. To this end, he speaks at industry conferences and serves as vice president of the board of the DC Preservation League, of which he also chairs the governance committee.
Tony Smith
Executive Vice President
S.B. Friedman & Company
Tony Smith is an executive vice president with S. B. Friedman & Company, a development strategy and financial consulting firm based in Chicago’s Loop. In the past eight years, he has participated in structuring, underwriting, and negotiation of approximately $1.4 billion of public-private financing for about $3.8 billion of projects. He has led all of SB Friedman’s new markets tax credit- (NMTC-)related assignments, including extensive consultation for both community development entities (CDEs) and qualified active low-income community businesses (QALICBs). Mr. Smith has led the preparation of successful NMTC allocation applications securing about $485 million of allocation and structuring/closing of more than $800 million in NMTC transactions. During his tenure with S.B. Friedman, Mr. Smith has provided technical support, financial analysis, and strategic guidance to public, private and nonprofit organizations seeking to facilitate high-quality urban redevelopment and challenging, catalytic projects. In particular, he advises on deal structuring, analyzing the feasibility and financing gap (or "but for" rationale) of projects, and assessing cost/benefits and impacts. His clients have included, among others, large municipalities such as the cities and redevelopment agencies of Chicago, Dallas, Milwaukee, Atlanta, Kansas City and Pittsburgh. He is the national tax increment financing instructor for the Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA), supervising all of the organization's trainings and publications on this topic. Mr. Smith holds both a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania.
Joel B. Superfon
Director of Investment Management and Advisory Services
Dudley Ventures
Joel Superfon is the director of investment management and advisory services at Dudley Ventures. In that capacity he is principally responsible for the structuring of the firm’s investment funds; its advisory services activities with investors, sponsors and developers; and the deployment of tax credit equity and other financing proceeds. Mr. Superfon is a nine-year veteran of tax credit transactions and his commercial banking and legal background has suited him well as a director at Dudley Ventures. Mr. Superfon has been directly responsible for closing more than $800 million in new markets tax credit (NMTC) and other financing transactions nationwide. Before joining Dudley Ventures, Mr. Superfon worked for Wells Fargo Bank servicing commercial business clients where he incorporated business and real estate underwriting, financial analysis, and business development skills to successfully grow and manage a middle-market portfolio. Before joining the financial banking industry, Mr. Superfon held both director and manager roles in marketing and strategic development with Heidrick and Struggles and Korn/Ferry International companies, noted as the two largest executive recruitment firms globally. He was responsible for leading the marketing team, developing and managing strategic initiatives, implementing cross-departmental programs and negotiating and managing partnership agreements. Mr. Superfon earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California and a juris doctor-master of business administration from the University of Denver and is a member of the Arizona state bar.
Jet Hollingsworth
Attorney
Butler Snow LLP
Jet Hollingsworth has served as counsel to investors, community development entities (CDEs), leverage lenders and developers, both locally and throughout the United States, in complex tax credit transactions including the monetization of historic rehabilitation tax credits (HTCs), new markets tax credits (NMTCs) and renewable energy tax credits (RETCs). Many of these transactions involved combining a variety of financing sources including tax-exempt bond financing, financing administered and insured by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Qualified Energy Conservation Bonds, Section 1603 energy grants, Section 108 and BEDI grant programs, the United States Department of Agriculture and Small Business Association and various state tax credit programs. Additionally, he has served as bond counsel and underwriter’s counsel for numerous municipal bond and other public finance transactions. Mr. Hollingsworth has been named to Mid-South Super Lawyers for his work in this area. He serves on the Mississippi Secretary of State Business Incentives Study Group and the Novogradac NMTC Working Group. Mr. Hollingsworth obtained his juris doctor from Southern Methodist University and is admitted to The Mississippi bar, the American Bar Association and the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi.