Ice Miller lawyers Sebastian Smelko and Kip Wahlers will be presenting a breakout session titled "Innovative Funds in the Capital Stack" at the Council of Development Finance Agencies' 2026 National Development Finance Summit. The firm is also a sponsor of the event.

View the full agenda.

About the Event:

The CDFA National Development Finance Summit is three days of face-to-face engagement with the brightest minds in development finance from across the nation. Thought leaders, dealmakers, consultants, lenders – they’ll all be here, representing a diverse cross-section of the industry and bringing unique perspectives, creative financing approaches, and an eagerness to talk shop with their peers. You’ll meet industry experts, learn about the latest approaches, and discover development finance solutions to take back to your organization or community.

If you work in any facet of development finance and want to meet and learn from professional kindred spirits from across the country, this conference was designed specifically for you.

With an agenda built to encourage networking and learning about all types of development finance tools and programs, the National Summit is the perfect place to turn introductions into partnerships. You’ll leave with more knowledge, more resources, more connections, and best of all, a new perspective.

Program Description:

Complex projects rarely fail because of a lack of capital. They fail because capital isn't structured to work together. This session explores how CDFIs, public agencies, and mission-driven organizations are creating and deploying innovative funds to fill financing gaps, absorb risk, and unlock investment.

Using real-world examples, participants will examine how specialized funds, credit enhancements, and catalytic capital can be layered with traditional financing to execute challenging projects. The discussion will also address the legal and structuring considerations that determine whether a capital stack is merely assembled, or truly designed for success.

Moderator:

• Wisty Pender, State Director, BERO, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development

Speakers:

• Ron Brooks Jr., President, River City Capital Investment Corporation 
• Sebastian Smelko, Partner, Ice Miller LLP 
• Kip Wahlers, Partner, Ice Miller LLP