Connect. Learn. Build
Denver, CO
June 13th, 2025
Join us on Friday, June 13th, 2025 from 8:30 am - 5:30 pm in Denver, CO!
The ADU Academy is a one-day intensive for professionals seeking in-depth, cutting edge education on the ADU market taught by experienced industry practitioners.
Join us for the most comprehensive information available in the country and connect with a national network of ADU professionals.
Attendees are eligible to earn the nationally-recognized ADU Specialist designation.
Why Colorado?
In 2024, Colorado, Arizona, Montana, Washington and Massachusetts all adopted strong statewide legislation allowing ADUs and removing barriers to permitting and building in urban areas where housing is needed most.
Colorado’s House Bill 24-1152 will legalize Accessory Dwelling Units in many areas across Colorado. With this new legislation in place, homeowners and local leaders are looking to professionals for guidance on the development process and the vast opportunities that come with ADUs.
The ADU Academy strives to the premier educational event for professionals and practitioners at all levels of ADU development from Policy Makers to Planners to Architects, Builders, Lenders, and Real Estate professionals. We understand that ADU development doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Our goal to educate and inspire you to attend the ADU Academy to CONNECT. LEARN. BUILD. in markets where ADUs are newly allowed, helping you become your client’s and community’s ADU resource!
Join us and become your inspired local leader in all things ADU! This iteration of ADU Academy will be 3 days long, and include a factory tour of modular ADUs, and a public tour of ADUs. More information is forthcoming about those related events.
If you are already an ADU professional, or looking to deepen your knowledge of design to valuation of ADUs, join us! Attendees will be learning directly from the pioneers and networking with and bleeding-edge ADU enterpreurers.
Come get inspired at the ADU Academy.
Why Should You Attend?
The ADU Academy is a one-day conference focused on the emerging ADU industry and customized for architects, designers, builders, lenders, real estate agents, appraisers, municipal leaders, and developers.
Attending the ADU Academy will prepare you to:
Excel in the rapidly changing and growing ADU market
Receive in-depth education about ADU issues that will set you apart as an ADU practitioner and professional
Expand your ADU network, client base and business opportunities
Gain an edge on the competition by gaining the nationally recognized ’ADU Specialist’ Designation from Earth Advantage
What attendees are saying about the ADU Academy
ADU Specialist Designation
Attend the event and become eligible to earn the ‘ADU Specialist' designation in order to join the professional network over 950 ADU Specialists across 21 states.
The designation will lend valuable credibility to your business so you can tap into this growing market with the backing of an organization that has trained and credentialed thousands of professionals across the country.
Learn more about the designation
ADU Academy | San Diego Instructors
-
Kol Peterson
DIRECTOR
-
Jared Basler
DESIGN
-
Stephanie Gutierrez
REAL ESTATE
-
Meredith Munger
FINANCE & APPRAISAL
-
Gabe Alvarez
BUILD
-
Jonathan Palley
PLENARY
ADU Academy event workshops are designed to provide detailed and expert-level insights about ADU development from top industry practitioners who have first-hand experience in this growing sector within leading US markets for ADUs.
8:30 - 9:30 AM
Plenary - Welcome Session
Morning Sessions
Real Estate Workshop
ADU Consultation
Development models
Market Forces
Investment Scenarios
Integrating ADUs into your business
Design Workshop
Site Design
ADU Design
ADU Structural Types
Utilities
Client Services
Catered Lunch
Afternoon Sessions
Finance Workshop
Financing Options
Lending Concepts & Challenges
Innovations in ADU Financing & Development
Appraisal Theory
What makes ADU appraisals different and challenging
Techniques to valuing homes with ADUs
Build Workshop
Working on site with homeowners
Design/build process
Setting expectations
Specializations: Garage conversions, basement conversions, internal ADUs
Potential Shared assets
Utilities
3:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Breakout Groups
Developer Plenary - Derek Sherrell- That ADU Guy
Exam
5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Post event gathering and networking
Brought to you by
And promotional partners
Testimonials from ADU Academy attendees


















