Our Keynote Speaker

Tony Pickett
GROUNDED SOLUTIONS NETWORK C.E.O.

Tony Pickett is the Chief Executive Officer of Grounded Solutions Network (GSN). 35 years of community development leadership have molded his vision for equitable outcomes in affordable housing policies and programs, and positioned him as the leader of the nation’s foremost organization on inclusive affordable housing policies and programs. Tony's lifelong work advancing community land trusts and permanently affordable housing embodies our theme of cultivating opportunity for every generation. His leadership has created pathways to stability and prosperity for families across the country, aligning with ACHD’s vision of ensuring that every student, every parent, and every community has the foundation to thrive.

Known for his strategic ambition, Pickett launched a 10-year plan—“Lasting Affordability in Housing Now”—aiming to build one million new affordable units and forging key partnerships across the industry.​

He serves on the boards of the Up for Growth Coalition, Trust Neighborhoods, and Vermont Energy Investment Corporation, and is a founding member of the national community development CEO Circle. Under his leadership, GSN has been featured in major publications including Bloomberg Businessweek, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post.​

A Cornell University graduate in Architecture, Art, and Planning, Pickett’s expertise spans LEED-accredited design, residential development, nonprofit leadership, and public housing management. He is a trusted voice on community land trusts and enduring affordability as engines of economic mobility, firmly believing in the role of stable housing in supporting education, health, entrepreneurship, and generational prosperity.