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Neal Pandozzi
Neal Pandozzi joined Bowditch & Dewey's Business & Finance Group as a partner in its Boston office.
Pandozzi, a member of the National Association of Bond Lawyers, has represented state and local governments throughout New England. He was chosen "Lawyer of the Year" in public finance for Providence, Rhode Island, in Best Lawyers' 2023.
"Neal is highly regarded for his understanding of complicated financings. We are very excited to add his experience and capabilities to our public finance and commercial finance groups," said Paul Bauer, practice area leader for Real Estate, Finance, and Corporate.
"Bowditch's collaborative approach to addressing clients' financing needs offers me an ideal platform to further develop my practice. I have worked with a number of Bowditch attorneys over the years, and I am excited to join the team," said Pandozzi.
Pandozzi has served as bond counsel, disclosure counsel, borrower's counsel, underwriter's counsel, lender's counsel, and trustee's counsel in a wide variety of bond transactions, including general obligation bonds, conduit revenue bonds benefitting 501(c)(3) corporations, taxable and tax-exempt industrial revenue bonds, certificates of participation and tax-exempt leases.
Public sectors he's been involved with include projects such as drinking water and wastewater systems, infrastructure projects, energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, higher education and hospital facilities, airports, stadiums, student loan financings and multi-family housing developments.
Pandozzi has also represented clients in connection with various commercial lending transactions, ranging from simple unsecured lines of credit to sophisticated collateralized loan facilities. Pandozzi recently served as borrower's counsel for the financing of an automobile dealership and lender's counsel for a project consisting of the acquisition, construction, furnishing and equipping of vacant commercial space into a sophisticated food hall. He also regularly advises clients regarding general corporate and business matters, including mergers and acquisitions, corporate formation and governance and contract negotiations.
Pandozzi graduated magna cum laude from Providence College and earned his law degree from Roger Williams University School of Law, and a master of laws from Boston University School of Law.
Pandozzi, a member of the National Association of Bond Lawyers, has represented state and local governments throughout New England. He was chosen "Lawyer of the Year" in public finance for Providence, Rhode Island, in Best Lawyers' 2023.
"Neal is highly regarded for his understanding of complicated financings. We are very excited to add his experience and capabilities to our public finance and commercial finance groups," said Paul Bauer, practice area leader for Real Estate, Finance, and Corporate.
"Bowditch's collaborative approach to addressing clients' financing needs offers me an ideal platform to further develop my practice. I have worked with a number of Bowditch attorneys over the years, and I am excited to join the team," said Pandozzi.
Pandozzi has served as bond counsel, disclosure counsel, borrower's counsel, underwriter's counsel, lender's counsel, and trustee's counsel in a wide variety of bond transactions, including general obligation bonds, conduit revenue bonds benefitting 501(c)(3) corporations, taxable and tax-exempt industrial revenue bonds, certificates of participation and tax-exempt leases.
Public sectors he's been involved with include projects such as drinking water and wastewater systems, infrastructure projects, energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, higher education and hospital facilities, airports, stadiums, student loan financings and multi-family housing developments.
Pandozzi has also represented clients in connection with various commercial lending transactions, ranging from simple unsecured lines of credit to sophisticated collateralized loan facilities. Pandozzi recently served as borrower's counsel for the financing of an automobile dealership and lender's counsel for a project consisting of the acquisition, construction, furnishing and equipping of vacant commercial space into a sophisticated food hall. He also regularly advises clients regarding general corporate and business matters, including mergers and acquisitions, corporate formation and governance and contract negotiations.
Pandozzi graduated magna cum laude from Providence College and earned his law degree from Roger Williams University School of Law, and a master of laws from Boston University School of Law.
Dan McManus
Municipal bond attorney and industry veteran Dan McManus has joined Stifel Financial Corp. as deputy general counsel and head of municipal securities compliance.
McManus, who will be based in New York City, joins Stifel from MBIA, where he was most recently general counsel of its municipal bond subsidiary, National Public Finance Guarantee Corp.
"Dan's depth of knowledge of municipal bond credits and the municipal bond market makes him a strong addition to Stifel's legal and compliance team," said Peg Henry, head of municipal securities group legal at Stifel. "We are honored that he has joined us."
McManus has more than 30 years of experience in the municipal bond industry. Previously, he worked as an associate with McManimon & Scotland, LLC and as a partner with Winston & Strawn LLP.
He is a member of the National Association of Bond Lawyers and SIFMA Compliance & Legal Society.
"Dan is a highly regarded attorney and longtime industry professional, whose addition reflects Stifel's ongoing commitment to growing our nationally ranked public finance franchise as well as our full municipal capital markets platform," noted Peter Czajkowski, director of the municipal securities group at Stifel. "Stifel has an impressive team of both banking and legal professionals as a leader in the public finance market, and I feel honored to join such a dynamic group," McManus said.
McManus, who will be based in New York City, joins Stifel from MBIA, where he was most recently general counsel of its municipal bond subsidiary, National Public Finance Guarantee Corp.
"Dan's depth of knowledge of municipal bond credits and the municipal bond market makes him a strong addition to Stifel's legal and compliance team," said Peg Henry, head of municipal securities group legal at Stifel. "We are honored that he has joined us."
McManus has more than 30 years of experience in the municipal bond industry. Previously, he worked as an associate with McManimon & Scotland, LLC and as a partner with Winston & Strawn LLP.
He is a member of the National Association of Bond Lawyers and SIFMA Compliance & Legal Society.
"Dan is a highly regarded attorney and longtime industry professional, whose addition reflects Stifel's ongoing commitment to growing our nationally ranked public finance franchise as well as our full municipal capital markets platform," noted Peter Czajkowski, director of the municipal securities group at Stifel. "Stifel has an impressive team of both banking and legal professionals as a leader in the public finance market, and I feel honored to join such a dynamic group," McManus said.
RAFFI ALEXANDER
Lee White
Veteran public finance investment banker Lee White has joined D.A. Davidson & Co. as a managing director in its Denver office.
During his career, White has participated in deals for student housing, project finance, higher education, general government, stadiums, and renewable energy, according to a statement from the firm.
In addition to advising and leading underwritings for nearly $10 billion to date, White served as executive director of the Colorado Department of Administration and the Colorado Office of State Planning and Budget under former-Gov. Richard Lamm, the statement added.
"Lee is a trusted banker who brings significant knowledge and relationships aligning well with our platform," Marc Dispense, D.A. Davidson's president of fixed income capital markets, said in the statement. "His addition represents our continued commitment to broadening our banking strategy in conjunction with our well-established sales and trading network."
White previously was a managing director at Stifel Financial Corp. and was manager of the Colorado, higher education, and renewable energy businesses at George K. Baum prior to its 2019 acquisition by Stifel.
During his career, White has participated in deals for student housing, project finance, higher education, general government, stadiums, and renewable energy, according to a statement from the firm.
In addition to advising and leading underwritings for nearly $10 billion to date, White served as executive director of the Colorado Department of Administration and the Colorado Office of State Planning and Budget under former-Gov. Richard Lamm, the statement added.
"Lee is a trusted banker who brings significant knowledge and relationships aligning well with our platform," Marc Dispense, D.A. Davidson's president of fixed income capital markets, said in the statement. "His addition represents our continued commitment to broadening our banking strategy in conjunction with our well-established sales and trading network."
White previously was a managing director at Stifel Financial Corp. and was manager of the Colorado, higher education, and renewable energy businesses at George K. Baum prior to its 2019 acquisition by Stifel.
Guy Logan
Municipal bond industry veteran Guy Logan has been named to head up Raymond James' newly formed national infrastructure group.
Logan will join the firm's Atlanta office as a managing director and lead the group, the firm announced Monday. The group will deliver investment banking services to municipal issuers across the country.
To read the full article,click here .
Logan will join the firm's Atlanta office as a managing director and lead the group, the firm announced Monday. The group will deliver investment banking services to municipal issuers across the country.
To read the full article,
Kristina Sherk
Luisella "Sella" Perri
Luisella "Sella" Perri has joined the law firm of Foley & Lardner LLP's national healthcare and public finance practice.
Perri has wide experience in the public finance arena, the firm said, with a focus on federal tax laws and regulations related to tax-exempt financings.
She has extensive knowledge in matters involving Section 103 of the Internal Revenue Code and often represents clients being audited by the Internal Revenue Service on a wide variety of public finance issues.
To read the full article,click here .
Perri has wide experience in the public finance arena, the firm said, with a focus on federal tax laws and regulations related to tax-exempt financings.
She has extensive knowledge in matters involving Section 103 of the Internal Revenue Code and often represents clients being audited by the Internal Revenue Service on a wide variety of public finance issues.
To read the full article,
Bancroft Capital
Alix Cethoute
Bancroft Capital is beefing up its Dallas-based municipal bond team with the hiring of two individuals with extensive market experience.
The certified service-disabled veteran-owned small business, which specializes in institutional brokerage and capital markets services, announced the addition of Alix Cethoute (pictured) as director of municipal underwriting and Jack Logan as director of municipal sales.
To read the full article,click here .
The certified service-disabled veteran-owned small business, which specializes in institutional brokerage and capital markets services, announced the addition of Alix Cethoute (pictured) as director of municipal underwriting and Jack Logan as director of municipal sales.
To read the full article,
Tim Reidy
Raymond James has added Tim Reidy to its public finance team, extending its reach in Ohio to include a new Cleveland office.
Reidy joined the Florida-based firm in September as a managing director where he will work on an array of issuance covering schools, utility districts, the state, and local governments.
To read the full article,click here .
Reidy joined the Florida-based firm in September as a managing director where he will work on an array of issuance covering schools, utility districts, the state, and local governments.
To read the full article,
Bruce Sorensen
Municipal bond veteran Bruce Sorensen has moved to Florida where he will continue to work for Robert W. Baird & Co. and focus on charter school finance.
Sorensen joins Baird's Sarasota office, moving from Minneapolis, and continue to focus his work on charter school municipal finance, the firm said Monday.
Sorensen joined Baird in 2019 and has more than 30 years of industry experience in many areas of public finance, including local government, economic development, sales tax, tax increment, project revenue, new markets tax credit and charter school finance.
To read the full article,click here .
Sorensen joins Baird's Sarasota office, moving from Minneapolis, and continue to focus his work on charter school municipal finance, the firm said Monday.
Sorensen joined Baird in 2019 and has more than 30 years of industry experience in many areas of public finance, including local government, economic development, sales tax, tax increment, project revenue, new markets tax credit and charter school finance.
To read the full article,
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Peter Hill
After more than five years of helping to rebuild its public finance department, public finance head Peter Hill has decided to leave UBS Securities, effective Thursday.
"After leading the evolution of the business, including the bottom-up establishment of a strong and highly talented team and its integration into the firm's Unified Capital Markets unit, Peter has informed us of his decision to pursue opportunities outside of UBS," according to a memo sent to UBS employees from Mark Sanborn, head of Capital Markets Americas and Brendan Connolly, global head of Public Capital Markets. "Peter is a highly respected industry leader and a champion for building diverse teams, and we are grateful for his many contributions to UBS."
Steve Genyk, head of middle markets, will assume leadership of the public finance team on an interim basis, in addition to his current responsibilities, the firm said.
To read the full article,click here .
"After leading the evolution of the business, including the bottom-up establishment of a strong and highly talented team and its integration into the firm's Unified Capital Markets unit, Peter has informed us of his decision to pursue opportunities outside of UBS," according to a memo sent to UBS employees from Mark Sanborn, head of Capital Markets Americas and Brendan Connolly, global head of Public Capital Markets. "Peter is a highly respected industry leader and a champion for building diverse teams, and we are grateful for his many contributions to UBS."
Steve Genyk, head of middle markets, will assume leadership of the public finance team on an interim basis, in addition to his current responsibilities, the firm said.
To read the full article,
Faust Bowerman
Faust Bowerman has joined Holland & Knight as a tax partner and will serve as leader of the law firm's public finance tax practice.
"Faust is a nationally known and dynamic partner who we believe will hit the ground running," Woody Vaughan, who leads the firm's public finance practice, said in a statement. "His extensive skill set will be of immediate benefit to our clients utilizing tax-exempt financing to ensure compliance with the Internal Revenue Code, including IRS audits."
Bowerman, who was previously a partner at Hawkins Delafield & Wood LLP, will work in Holland & Knight's New York and Austin offices.
"He has advised clients on federal income tax aspects of tax-exempt and tax credit bond financing transactions involving the issuance of private activity bonds (including exempt facility bonds, qualified mortgage bonds and qualified 501(c)(3) bonds) and governmental bonds throughout the United States," the statement said.
Bowerman has a J.D. degree and an LL.M. degree in taxation from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law and a B.A. degree from the University of Texas at Austin.
"Faust is a nationally known and dynamic partner who we believe will hit the ground running," Woody Vaughan, who leads the firm's public finance practice, said in a statement. "His extensive skill set will be of immediate benefit to our clients utilizing tax-exempt financing to ensure compliance with the Internal Revenue Code, including IRS audits."
Bowerman, who was previously a partner at Hawkins Delafield & Wood LLP, will work in Holland & Knight's New York and Austin offices.
"He has advised clients on federal income tax aspects of tax-exempt and tax credit bond financing transactions involving the issuance of private activity bonds (including exempt facility bonds, qualified mortgage bonds and qualified 501(c)(3) bonds) and governmental bonds throughout the United States," the statement said.
Bowerman has a J.D. degree and an LL.M. degree in taxation from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law and a B.A. degree from the University of Texas at Austin.
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Steve Bolden
Steve Bolden has joined Locke Lord's public finance practice group as a partner in its Dallas office.
He joins the law firm from Bracewell and will concentrate on bond, underwriters', and disclosure counsel activities.
"We continue to expand our public finance capabilities in Texas and having someone of Steve's caliber join us only adds to that momentum," said Kevin Twining, co-chair of the public finance group, in a statement. "Steve is an impressive public finance attorney whose experience serving as bond counsel for large Texas issuers combined with his sheer talent and robust ties in the industry helps solidify Locke Lord's reputation as a top public finance firm in Texas and nationwide."
After graduating from Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Bolden began practicing law in 2000. In recent years, he served as underwriters' counsel for Texas Public Finance Authority issues, disclosure counsel for Dallas-Fort Worth Airport issues, and bond and disclosure counsel for North Texas Tollway Authority issues.
In bond counsel rankings so far this year, Locke Lord was in 15th place, according to Refinitiv data.
He joins the law firm from Bracewell and will concentrate on bond, underwriters', and disclosure counsel activities.
"We continue to expand our public finance capabilities in Texas and having someone of Steve's caliber join us only adds to that momentum," said Kevin Twining, co-chair of the public finance group, in a statement. "Steve is an impressive public finance attorney whose experience serving as bond counsel for large Texas issuers combined with his sheer talent and robust ties in the industry helps solidify Locke Lord's reputation as a top public finance firm in Texas and nationwide."
After graduating from Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Bolden began practicing law in 2000. In recent years, he served as underwriters' counsel for Texas Public Finance Authority issues, disclosure counsel for Dallas-Fort Worth Airport issues, and bond and disclosure counsel for North Texas Tollway Authority issues.
In bond counsel rankings so far this year, Locke Lord was in 15th place, according to Refinitiv data.
Anton Voinov
Academy Securities continues to expand its national public finance platform with the addition of a career-long municipal banker and advisor, the firm said this week.
Anton Voinov joins the veteran-owned and operated firm's public finance division as a director and head of Southeast banking, a position the firm has been longing to fill to complement its growing presence in Chapel Hill, N.C., according to Rick Kolman, managing director and head of the municipal group.
Click here for the full article.
Anton Voinov joins the veteran-owned and operated firm's public finance division as a director and head of Southeast banking, a position the firm has been longing to fill to complement its growing presence in Chapel Hill, N.C., according to Rick Kolman, managing director and head of the municipal group.
Fitch adds six municipal bond analysts
Fitch Ratings said it has hired six analysts to join its U.S. Public Finance group. The analysts will be based throughout the country and cover various municipal subsectors.
Joining Fitch's San Francisco office are senior directors Pascal St. Gerard, who will serve as Fitch's Western regional manager, and Karen Fitzgerald, who becomes Fitch's sector head for community development and social lending, the agency announced on Tuesday.
Click here for the full article.
Joining Fitch's San Francisco office are senior directors Pascal St. Gerard, who will serve as Fitch's Western regional manager, and Karen Fitzgerald, who becomes Fitch's sector head for community development and social lending, the agency announced on Tuesday.
Manju Ganeriwala
When Manju Ganeriwala looks back at her time as Virginia state treasurer, she can be proud of steering the state's finances and fiscal health through two economic downturns and a pandemic.
Ganeriwala recently retired after more than a decade as state treasurer.
Ganeriwala was treasurer of the commonwealth from January 2009 until June when she chose to retire.
Click here to read the full article.
Ganeriwala recently retired after more than a decade as state treasurer.
Ganeriwala was treasurer of the commonwealth from January 2009 until June when she chose to retire.
Richard Allan Markley and Michael Reik
Raymond James has hired two retired school superintendents to bolster its school district specialty practice in the Midwest.
Richard Allan Markley and Michael Reik joined the firm's Kansas City, Missouri, office in July as directors. They will focus on working with school districts in Missouri and Kansas while also helping out with the firm's general governmental practice. They join an overall team of more than 180 bankers.
Click here to read the full article.
Richard Allan Markley and Michael Reik joined the firm's Kansas City, Missouri, office in July as directors. They will focus on working with school districts in Missouri and Kansas while also helping out with the firm's general governmental practice. They join an overall team of more than 180 bankers.
Jeffrey Aronoff
Detroit-based Miller Canfield public finance attorney Jeffrey Aronoff has joined the five-member board of managing directors following a vote of the firm's principals.
The firm also voted to put attorney Pawel Chudzicki, who is a member of the corporate and transactions group, on the five-member board. The newly elected members join Scott Eldridge, who was re-elected, and Danielle Mason Anderson and A. Michael Palizzi.
Click here to read the full article.
The firm also voted to put attorney Pawel Chudzicki, who is a member of the corporate and transactions group, on the five-member board. The newly elected members join Scott Eldridge, who was re-elected, and Danielle Mason Anderson and A. Michael Palizzi.
Alice Cheng
Janney Montgomery Scott LLC has hired Citi's Alice Cheng to replace Erin Ortiz, who has moved into a new role for the firm's Higher Education & Not-for-Profit Advisory Group.
The advisory group is tasked with providing insights regarding capital and debt planning and management, credit analysis and strategy to higher education and non-for-profit institutions. In her new position, Ortiz will "provide insight on rating agency management and the credit and debt capacity impact of various strategies," according to a release from Janney.
Click here to read the full article.
The advisory group is tasked with providing insights regarding capital and debt planning and management, credit analysis and strategy to higher education and non-for-profit institutions. In her new position, Ortiz will "provide insight on rating agency management and the credit and debt capacity impact of various strategies," according to a release from Janney.
Jason Halley/Jason Halley/University Photogra
Keely Martin Bosler
Keely Martin Bosler, 47 — who stepped down Thursday as director of the California Department of Finance, the governor's chief fiscal advisor and the state's fiscal watchdog — has helped craft the financial analysis and advised the Legislature, and later governors as several momentous issues all played out.
Click here to read the full article.
Nixon Peabody
Virginia Wong
Virginia Wong, a 27-year veteran of the municipal bond industry, has been chosen to lead Nixon Peabody LLP’s project finance and public finance practice as the firm continues to expand its business.
Wong, who has been with the firm since 1995, takes over the role from Kenneth Lind, who has led the practice since 2018 and plans to retire early next year.
Click here to read the full article.
Wong, who has been with the firm since 1995, takes over the role from Kenneth Lind, who has led the practice since 2018 and plans to retire early next year.
John Petr
Kutak Rock LLP public finance attorney John Petr took over as firm chair this month after Jay Selanders’ five-year term expired.
Petr, a partner who had been serving as vice chair, is based in the Omaha headquarters where he’s a member of the public finance department. Petr joined Kutak Rock in 1987 and has held the vice chair post since 2019.
Click here to read the full article.
Petr, a partner who had been serving as vice chair, is based in the Omaha headquarters where he’s a member of the public finance department. Petr joined Kutak Rock in 1987 and has held the vice chair post since 2019.
Steven Permut
Steven Permut entered the municipal finance industry in 1982, fresh out of the State University of New York at Oneonta, where he graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in business economics and geography.
After 40 years in the municipal bond industry — 35 of them at American Century — Permut left the California-based mutual fund firm on June 30 for retirement.
Emina Masic
BondLink, the Boston-based financial technology company that provides cloud-based debt management software solutions to issuers, has hired three new public finance professionals to its issuer success team to bolster issuer transparency efforts.
Emina Masic, Ted Damutz and Robert Smith joined BondLink as regional directors in the past few months, tasked with educating the buy-side and sell-side about best practices in the bond market and how to use BondLink's platform.
Click here to read the full article.
Emina Masic, Ted Damutz and Robert Smith joined BondLink as regional directors in the past few months, tasked with educating the buy-side and sell-side about best practices in the bond market and how to use BondLink's platform.
Mary Colby
The once notoriously opaque municipal bond market has experienced many changes that have improved disclosure over the years.
Among those was the creation of the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA website where issuers have posted bond and disclosure documents since 2009.
Improved disclosure in the market is due largely to people, like Mary Colby, who has been a managing director and head of the municipal research at Charles Schwab Investment Management since 2004 and retired recently.
Click here to read the full article.
Among those was the creation of the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA website where issuers have posted bond and disclosure documents since 2009.
Improved disclosure in the market is due largely to people, like Mary Colby, who has been a managing director and head of the municipal research at Charles Schwab Investment Management since 2004 and retired recently.
Joe Stephenshaw
Joe Stephenshaw will take over as director of the California Department of Finance, replacing Keely Martin Bosler.
Bosler, who has held the position since 2018, had announced earlier in the year that she planned to leave after the budget process was completed.
For Stephenshaw, it’s coming full circle, since he worked as a budget analyst for DOF from 2005 to 2008 after earning his master of business administration from California State University, Sacramento.
Elizabeth Funk
Chicago-based Mesirow is continuing to add new professionals to its capital markets and public finance operations to grow its footprint in the municipal industry.
Mesirow has hired Elizabeth Funk, a veteran municipal underwriter who specializes in high-yield bonds, as managing director in the institutional sales and trading municipal underwriting group. She is the seventh new hire for the municipal division in the last 12 months to join the independent, employee-owned financial services firm.
Click here to read the full story.
Mesirow has hired Elizabeth Funk, a veteran municipal underwriter who specializes in high-yield bonds, as managing director in the institutional sales and trading municipal underwriting group. She is the seventh new hire for the municipal division in the last 12 months to join the independent, employee-owned financial services firm.
Donna Alberico/Donna Alberico
David Erdman
After wrapping up his final deal, Wisconsin Capital Finance Director David Erdman is packing up an office filled with three decades of paperwork as his tenure with the state winds down and he makes the leap to the private sector at Baker Tilly Municipal Advisors LLC.
Click here to read the full story.
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers’ administration tapped Deputy Capital Finance Director Aaron Heintz for the top debt management post David Erdman vacated.
Click here to read the full story.
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers’ administration tapped Deputy Capital Finance Director Aaron Heintz for the top debt management post David Erdman vacated.
Matthew Nichols
Greenberg Traurig, LLP hired Matthew Nichols as shareholder in its Atlanta Public Finance & Infrastructure Practice.
Previously, he worked at King & Spalding. Nichols has worked on leveraged financings, direct placements, syndicated private placements and municipal bond offerings, advising issuers, lenders, underwriters, and sponsors.
Nichols served as bond counsel for the $500 million financing for the Georgia World Congress Center Authority convention center hotel adjacent to the World Congress Center and Mercedes Benz Stadium.
“Matt’s experience enhances our ability to serve a broader group of issuers, lenders and sponsors throughout the state of Georgia,” said Jéan E. Wilson, chair of the firm's Atlanta and Orlando Public Finance & Infrastructure Practices. “Since Atlanta and the Southeast remain high-growth regions, his experience in managing large, complex public financing projects focused on infrastructure improvements, will help leverage the vast resources and expertise of our global Public Finance & Infrastructure team.”
“I was drawn to Greenberg Traurig’s strong and growing Public Finance and Infrastructure Practice. Having such a network behind me will support me as I work with my clients to help bring their projects to life,” said Nichols. “Joining the Atlanta office also carried an extra benefit for me: the team’s commitment to support and help grow our Georgia community.”
Greenberg Traurig’s other recent additions include shareholders Zachary D. Sakas in Phoenix, Solomon Cadle in Washington, D.C., and of counsel Martye Kendrick in Houston.
Previously, he worked at King & Spalding. Nichols has worked on leveraged financings, direct placements, syndicated private placements and municipal bond offerings, advising issuers, lenders, underwriters, and sponsors.
Nichols served as bond counsel for the $500 million financing for the Georgia World Congress Center Authority convention center hotel adjacent to the World Congress Center and Mercedes Benz Stadium.
“Matt’s experience enhances our ability to serve a broader group of issuers, lenders and sponsors throughout the state of Georgia,” said Jéan E. Wilson, chair of the firm's Atlanta and Orlando Public Finance & Infrastructure Practices. “Since Atlanta and the Southeast remain high-growth regions, his experience in managing large, complex public financing projects focused on infrastructure improvements, will help leverage the vast resources and expertise of our global Public Finance & Infrastructure team.”
“I was drawn to Greenberg Traurig’s strong and growing Public Finance and Infrastructure Practice. Having such a network behind me will support me as I work with my clients to help bring their projects to life,” said Nichols. “Joining the Atlanta office also carried an extra benefit for me: the team’s commitment to support and help grow our Georgia community.”
Greenberg Traurig’s other recent additions include shareholders Zachary D. Sakas in Phoenix, Solomon Cadle in Washington, D.C., and of counsel Martye Kendrick in Houston.
Ira Smelkinson
Chicago-based Loop Capital Markets LLC has hired two senior transportation and housing sector managers away from Wall Street competitors and put more banking boots on the ground in Texas with three recent hires.
Ira Smelkinson started in the minority-owned firm’s New York office June 1 as a managing director and head of a now-four member transportation team that focuses on the sector as well as public-private partnerships. He previously led the transportation team at Morgan Stanley.
Click here to read the full article.
Ira Smelkinson started in the minority-owned firm’s New York office June 1 as a managing director and head of a now-four member transportation team that focuses on the sector as well as public-private partnerships. He previously led the transportation team at Morgan Stanley.
Stephen Winterstein
Municipal market veteran Stephen Winterstein has been tapped to lead capital markets at Alphaledger, a growing muni blockchain firm.
Winterstein, who has 30 years of experience in a variety of leadership positions across the municipal industry, including portfolio management, credit and quantitative research, and strategy was most recently head of municipal fixed income at MarketAxess.
Click here to read the full article.
Winterstein, who has 30 years of experience in a variety of leadership positions across the municipal industry, including portfolio management, credit and quantitative research, and strategy was most recently head of municipal fixed income at MarketAxess.
M. Elizabeth Reich
M. Elizabeth Reich has resigned as Dallas’ chief financial officer after almost six years and will be replaced by Jack Ireland, the city’s budget director.
In a memo to the mayor and city council, City Manager T.C. Broadnax said Reich had accepted a position outside of city government and her last day with Dallas will be June 30.
Click here to read the full article.
Reich will be joining Dallas Area Rapid Transit starting July 18.
Click here to read the full article.
In a memo to the mayor and city council, City Manager T.C. Broadnax said Reich had accepted a position outside of city government and her last day with Dallas will be June 30.
Reich will be joining Dallas Area Rapid Transit starting July 18.
Phil Culpepper
Chicago-based public finance banker Phil Culpepper has joined veteran-owned Drexel Hamilton LLC to lead a banking push into the Midwest and other regions as co-head of public finance.
Culpepper is taking on a role that marries his banking and issuer-side experience with his pride in military service.
Click here to read the full article.
Culpepper is taking on a role that marries his banking and issuer-side experience with his pride in military service.
Isaac Yilma
The law firm of McGuireWoods continues to expand its footprint in the Southeast.
Isaac Yilma has joined the firm as a public finance partner in its Atlanta office. Yilma has more than 10 years of experience working on major financings for infrastructure, affordable housing and economic development projects. Previously, he was at Squire Patton Boggs.
Click here to read the full story.
Isaac Yilma has joined the firm as a public finance partner in its Atlanta office. Yilma has more than 10 years of experience working on major financings for infrastructure, affordable housing and economic development projects. Previously, he was at Squire Patton Boggs.
Hardy Manges
The taxable municipal trading desk at Ramirez & Co. is expected to see continued growth and expansion with the recent arrival of veteran trader Hardy Manges, the firm said.
A municipal trader with over 30 years experience, Manges is a senior vice president focusing on taxable municipal bonds, and located in the New York City headquarters of the nationwide, full-service investment bank, brokerage, and advisory firm.
Jennifer Rimmer
International consulting firm Turner & Townsend has hired a pair of new executives, including former New York City Economic Development Corp. vice president Jennifer Rimmer, for its U.S. infrastructure group as it looks to take advantage of the rollout of the new infrastructure law.
The hires come as the firm looks to double its growth in North America by 2025 in part by taking advantage of the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
Mark Blumkin, who was previously managing director of Deloitte’s infrastructure and capital projects practice, joins as executive vice president and leader for Turner & Townsend's U.S. infrastructure practice.
Click here for the full story.
The hires come as the firm looks to double its growth in North America by 2025 in part by taking advantage of the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
Mark Blumkin, who was previously managing director of Deloitte’s infrastructure and capital projects practice, joins as executive vice president and leader for Turner & Townsend's U.S. infrastructure practice.
RAFFI ALEXANDER
Richard Lohr
D.A. Davidson added strength to its senior living and structured housing team by wooing away four bankers from Piper Sandler’s senior living group.
The firm wants to capitalize on the growth in the sector as the U.S. population ages.
Richard Lohr (pictured) joins as a managing director and head of senior living and structured housing; Amy Hayman and Romy McCarthy were named managing directors; and Ogieva Guobadia, CFA joins as a senior vice president. Lohr and Guobadia are in Houston, McCarthy is in Milwaukee and Hayman joins the Chicago office.
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The firm wants to capitalize on the growth in the sector as the U.S. population ages.
Richard Lohr (pictured) joins as a managing director and head of senior living and structured housing; Amy Hayman and Romy McCarthy were named managing directors; and Ogieva Guobadia, CFA joins as a senior vice president. Lohr and Guobadia are in Houston, McCarthy is in Milwaukee and Hayman joins the Chicago office.
D.A. Davidson targets senior living space with latest expansion
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Julia Harris
Siebert Williams Shank is aiming to elevate its role in the higher education sector with the establishment of a dedicated group led by Chicago-based public finance professional Julia Harris.
Harris recently joined the top-ranked women and minority-owned firm as a managing director and head of the higher education group.
Click here for the full story.
Harris recently joined the top-ranked women and minority-owned firm as a managing director and head of the higher education group.
Rene Moreno and Melanie Shaker
FHN Financial Capital Markets will establish its first Midwest banking presence in Chicago, led by Melanie Shaker, and put banking boots on the ground in Scottsdale, Arizona, with the hiring of Rene Moreno.
Shaker will join the firm’s existing Chicago office that houses sales professionals on May 24, and Moreno started Monday in what marks a new office for the firm although the firm already does business there. Both are senior vice presidents.
For the full story,click here .
Shaker will join the firm’s existing Chicago office that houses sales professionals on May 24, and Moreno started Monday in what marks a new office for the firm although the firm already does business there. Both are senior vice presidents.
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David Erdman
Wisconsin Capital Finance Director David Erdman will retire in July after a 32-year career with the state, the last seven in the role of debt manager during which the state won upgrades and his stature as an advocate for the issuer community grew.
Erdman plans to leave the state July 2 and on July 5 will join a “growing” municipal advisory firm which he declined to name.
To read the full story,click here .
Erdman plans to leave the state July 2 and on July 5 will join a “growing” municipal advisory firm which he declined to name.
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NICOLE THOMAS PHOTOGRAPHY Nicole Thomas Photography Ltd. / Nicole C Thomas/Nicole Thomas
Ammar Rizki
Cook County, Illinois, is losing its fiscal chief, Ammar Rizki, to the Obama Foundation.
Rizki joined county government from the private sector in 2010 as a deputy director in the Department of Revenue. He left in 2012 to take a position as a fund manager in investment advisory services at Pakistan-based NBP Fullerton Asset Management Ltd.
Read the full storyhere .
Rizki joined county government from the private sector in 2010 as a deputy director in the Department of Revenue. He left in 2012 to take a position as a fund manager in investment advisory services at Pakistan-based NBP Fullerton Asset Management Ltd.
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Michael Lambert
Arkansas-based Crews & Associates is looking to grow its investment banking footprint with the promotion of Michael Lambert to head of national public finance.
Lambert, a 20-year veteran of the firm, said he would like to expand into three to four new states over the next year or two, while adding to the current staff of 20 investment bankers.
For the full story,click here .
Lambert, a 20-year veteran of the firm, said he would like to expand into three to four new states over the next year or two, while adding to the current staff of 20 investment bankers.
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Tom Murphy
Tom Murphy was named president of SLC Management fixed income division.
Murphy, who had served as SLC’s head of institutional business, will lead the firm’s fixed income business.
“The SLC Management fixed income business has experienced very strong growth over recent years,” said SLC President Steve Peacher. “I know that under Tom’s strategic leadership, we are well positioned for further growth as we continue to enhance the value we bring to our clients and expand our range of fixed income solutions.”
Murphy joined the firm 2018 and spent his “time focused on our clients and our people. The plan is to continue doing just that while bringing new, innovative solutions to the marketplace and further deepening our client relationships.”
Prior to SLC, Murphy was a senior partner at Mercer.
Murphy, who had served as SLC’s head of institutional business, will lead the firm’s fixed income business.
“The SLC Management fixed income business has experienced very strong growth over recent years,” said SLC President Steve Peacher. “I know that under Tom’s strategic leadership, we are well positioned for further growth as we continue to enhance the value we bring to our clients and expand our range of fixed income solutions.”
Murphy joined the firm 2018 and spent his “time focused on our clients and our people. The plan is to continue doing just that while bringing new, innovative solutions to the marketplace and further deepening our client relationships.”
Prior to SLC, Murphy was a senior partner at Mercer.
Steven Washington
Veteran bond lawyer Steven Washington joined Chicago-based Chapman and Cutler LLP in a move the firm sees as strengthening its municipal platform.
Washington started recently as a partner, bringing to the table two decades of working in both the public and private sectors.
He most recently worked at Ice Miller LLP where he spent 11 years representing a variety of state and local issuers and other government and not-for-profit issuers on transactions while also working with municipal issuers on a variety of derivative and investment transactions.
Click here to read the full story.
Washington started recently as a partner, bringing to the table two decades of working in both the public and private sectors.
He most recently worked at Ice Miller LLP where he spent 11 years representing a variety of state and local issuers and other government and not-for-profit issuers on transactions while also working with municipal issuers on a variety of derivative and investment transactions.
Frank DeGuire
Milwaukee-based attorney Frank DeGuire returned to his legal roots at Quarles & Brady LLP to work in the public finance and business law practices.
DeGuire will serve as bond counsel for a range of tax-exempt and taxable financings for the state and local governments, non-profit corporations including conduit and qualified private activity bond financings, the firm said. He additionally will leverage his most recent experience on the corporate side at Meridian Industries Inc. for the firm’s business law practice.
To read the full story,click here .
DeGuire will serve as bond counsel for a range of tax-exempt and taxable financings for the state and local governments, non-profit corporations including conduit and qualified private activity bond financings, the firm said. He additionally will leverage his most recent experience on the corporate side at Meridian Industries Inc. for the firm’s business law practice.
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Thomas Bruder
Thomas Bruder has joined law firm Kutak Rock’s national public finance group as of counsel.
Bruder, who works out of the firm's Los Angeles office, was a deputy attorney general with the California Department of Justice for a year prior to taking the position at the law firm. Before working for the DOJ, he worked for nearly eight years at Squire Patton Boggs, where he was named principal in March 2020.
At the DOJ, he focused on state and federal accounting, treasury, taxation and financial laws and regulations.
He has represented issuers, underwriters and banks on tax-exempt and taxable financings. Clients have included state and local governments, colleges and universities, private schools and other nonprofit organizations. As bond counsel and disclosure counsel, Bruder has worked on a broad range of financial structures.
He earned his J.D. from University of Notre Dame Law School and his bachelor of arts, summa cum laude, from Florida State University.
Bruder, who works out of the firm's Los Angeles office, was a deputy attorney general with the California Department of Justice for a year prior to taking the position at the law firm. Before working for the DOJ, he worked for nearly eight years at Squire Patton Boggs, where he was named principal in March 2020.
At the DOJ, he focused on state and federal accounting, treasury, taxation and financial laws and regulations.
He has represented issuers, underwriters and banks on tax-exempt and taxable financings. Clients have included state and local governments, colleges and universities, private schools and other nonprofit organizations. As bond counsel and disclosure counsel, Bruder has worked on a broad range of financial structures.
He earned his J.D. from University of Notre Dame Law School and his bachelor of arts, summa cum laude, from Florida State University.
Sharone Levy
Sharone Levy joined Nixon Peabody LLP’s Project Finance and Public Finance practice as counsel in its Chicago office.
Levy has represented various parties — including issuers, underwriters, purchasers, borrowers, and credit-enhancement providers — on taxable and tax-exempt financings for municipalities, state universities, state agencies, transit systems, public utilities, airports, sewerage facilities, multi-family housing, and hospitals, along with other nonprofit entities.
“Throughout her career, Sharone has displayed a deep commitment to improving communities through her contributions to public infrastructure,” said David R. Brown, managing partner of Nixon Peabody’s Chicago office. “She is a highly-regarded industry leader, and I look forward to her continued success at our firm.”
Levy began her career in state and local government, where she developed a passion for public finance. She later worked as a credit rating analyst at Moody’s Investors Service, focusing on tax- and revenue-backed municipal securities throughout the Midwest.
“Sharone partners with municipalities and borrowers to help bring important projects across the economic spectrum to light,” said Ken Lind, head of Nixon Peabody’s Project Finance and Public Finance practice. “She has distinguished herself as a true leader in public finance, and her knowledge will be a tremendous asset to our clients and team.”
Levy earned her J.D. from the University of Iowa College of Law, graduating with distinction, a M.A. in Public Policy from the University of Chicago Harris School, and a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania. She maintains an active pro bono practice and is on various community boards. She currently serves as president of the Chicago Chapter of Women in Public Finance.
Levy has represented various parties — including issuers, underwriters, purchasers, borrowers, and credit-enhancement providers — on taxable and tax-exempt financings for municipalities, state universities, state agencies, transit systems, public utilities, airports, sewerage facilities, multi-family housing, and hospitals, along with other nonprofit entities.
“Throughout her career, Sharone has displayed a deep commitment to improving communities through her contributions to public infrastructure,” said David R. Brown, managing partner of Nixon Peabody’s Chicago office. “She is a highly-regarded industry leader, and I look forward to her continued success at our firm.”
Levy began her career in state and local government, where she developed a passion for public finance. She later worked as a credit rating analyst at Moody’s Investors Service, focusing on tax- and revenue-backed municipal securities throughout the Midwest.
“Sharone partners with municipalities and borrowers to help bring important projects across the economic spectrum to light,” said Ken Lind, head of Nixon Peabody’s Project Finance and Public Finance practice. “She has distinguished herself as a true leader in public finance, and her knowledge will be a tremendous asset to our clients and team.”
Levy earned her J.D. from the University of Iowa College of Law, graduating with distinction, a M.A. in Public Policy from the University of Chicago Harris School, and a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania. She maintains an active pro bono practice and is on various community boards. She currently serves as president of the Chicago Chapter of Women in Public Finance.
Blaine Hawkins, Jack Oliver and Alyson Blossom
Piper Sandler added associates Blaine Hawkins, Jack Oliver and Alyson Blossom.
Hawkins joins Piper Sandler as an associate in public finance investment banking for the special district group. He will provide transactional support to the group’s senior bankers, focusing on the Colorado market. A recent graduate from Central College, Hawkins holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and finance.
Oliver joins the special district group as a quantitative associate, where he will conduct quantitative analysis behind bond issuances. Previously, Oliver was a senior financial analyst at Maxar Technologies, where he modeled the movement of satellite data to create cost projections. Oliver holds an MBA from the University of Colorado and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Vermont.
Blossom joins the special district group as an investment banking associate for the Utah office. She previously served as an associate in alternative investments and manager selection at Goldman Sachs, where she focused on long-only equities and worked with external investment managers. Blossom holds a Master of Science degree in finance from the University of Southern California and a bachelor’s degree from the University of California-Irvine.
Hawkins joins Piper Sandler as an associate in public finance investment banking for the special district group. He will provide transactional support to the group’s senior bankers, focusing on the Colorado market. A recent graduate from Central College, Hawkins holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and finance.
Oliver joins the special district group as a quantitative associate, where he will conduct quantitative analysis behind bond issuances. Previously, Oliver was a senior financial analyst at Maxar Technologies, where he modeled the movement of satellite data to create cost projections. Oliver holds an MBA from the University of Colorado and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Vermont.
Blossom joins the special district group as an investment banking associate for the Utah office. She previously served as an associate in alternative investments and manager selection at Goldman Sachs, where she focused on long-only equities and worked with external investment managers. Blossom holds a Master of Science degree in finance from the University of Southern California and a bachelor’s degree from the University of California-Irvine.
Wilmington Trust adds five
Wilmington Trust added five members to its Project Finance Agency Services business within Global Capital Markets: Stephanie Li (pictured left), Rafael Miranda (pictured right), Amedeo Morreale, Kevin Pennant, and Bobby Reyes. The team will report directly to Will Marder, head of Project Finance.
"We are thrilled to welcome these professionals with such a robust combined resume of experience and success in the project finance sector," said Marder. "Their addition brings tremendous knowledge to the Wilmington Trust team, and we look forward to leveraging their capabilities and insights to help us continue delivering the high-quality service our clients have come to expect, while growing our award-winning project finance offering. We see significant opportunities in the project finance sector, driven by the continued focus on ESG and renewable energy, as well as the infrastructure build-out supported by recent U.S. legislation."
Li, Miranda, Morreale, Pennant and Reyes join from MUFG. The has more than 100 years of experience in corporate trust and banking.
Miranda, Morreale and Pennant join Wilmington Trust as relationship managers and will be responsible for closing new transactions and managing portfolios of existing project finance transactions. Li joins as a client administrator, where she will be responsible for assisting the relationship managers in their day-to-day transaction management activities.
Reyes joins as a unit manager, where he will be focused on control, compliance, and training for the overall team.
"Our corporate trust team has seen significant deal flow in the project finance sector. We are looking forward to expanding on this growth, as we leverage the experience and strong client contacts that come from these new team members," said Abby Mrozinski, head of Global Capital Markets. "Bringing on this core group demonstrates our commitment to this space, and the significant investment we are continuing to make in our Project Finance Agency Services team."
"We are thrilled to welcome these professionals with such a robust combined resume of experience and success in the project finance sector," said Marder. "Their addition brings tremendous knowledge to the Wilmington Trust team, and we look forward to leveraging their capabilities and insights to help us continue delivering the high-quality service our clients have come to expect, while growing our award-winning project finance offering. We see significant opportunities in the project finance sector, driven by the continued focus on ESG and renewable energy, as well as the infrastructure build-out supported by recent U.S. legislation."
Li, Miranda, Morreale, Pennant and Reyes join from MUFG. The has more than 100 years of experience in corporate trust and banking.
Miranda, Morreale and Pennant join Wilmington Trust as relationship managers and will be responsible for closing new transactions and managing portfolios of existing project finance transactions. Li joins as a client administrator, where she will be responsible for assisting the relationship managers in their day-to-day transaction management activities.
Reyes joins as a unit manager, where he will be focused on control, compliance, and training for the overall team.
"Our corporate trust team has seen significant deal flow in the project finance sector. We are looking forward to expanding on this growth, as we leverage the experience and strong client contacts that come from these new team members," said Abby Mrozinski, head of Global Capital Markets. "Bringing on this core group demonstrates our commitment to this space, and the significant investment we are continuing to make in our Project Finance Agency Services team."
Sheila Mares and Ludvig Ragnarsson
Piper Sandler has expanded its special district group to 30 public finance professionals with the addition of seven members since January as the need for public infrastructure financing grows in parts of the nation, the firm said.
The investment bank announced that Sheila Mares and Ludvig Ragnarsson, who both previously worked at D.A. Davidson, joined the firm this month. Mares is a senior vice president based in Piper Sandler’s Denver office, overseeing strategic initiatives and managing the organizational needs of the special district group’s expanded national team.
Click here to read the full report.
The investment bank announced that Sheila Mares and Ludvig Ragnarsson, who both previously worked at D.A. Davidson, joined the firm this month. Mares is a senior vice president based in Piper Sandler’s Denver office, overseeing strategic initiatives and managing the organizational needs of the special district group’s expanded national team.
Katie Koster
Veteran California public finance banker Katie Koster has joined HilltopSecurities’ Debt Capital Markets group as a managing director and head of development finance.
Koster will lead HilltopSecurities’ California banking strategy from the Los Angeles office. She will report to Yaffa Rattner, senior managing director and head of municipal credit and Todd Bleakney, senior managing director and head of debt capital markets.
“Katie is well-known for her collaborative leadership and for bringing a unique perspective to her work,” Bleakney said in a statement. “Her ability to identify and develop personalized strategies while fostering trust with clients, we believe, will yield new opportunities for development finance and the California market.”
Koster was hired just more than a year ago as a managing director to grow Denver, Colorado-based D.A. Davidson & Co.’s southwest public finance practice.
Of the move, she said, that Hilltop “provides a platform that is well-known to California issuers for its ability to underwrite and distribute bonds to high yield institutional accounts, Tier I, II and III institutional buyers and has a robust retail distribution network and underwriting desk located in California.”
“HilltopSecurities is committed to growing its California banking and development teams. Katie’s hire adds to both of these strategic objectives,” Rattner said.
Koster has more than 25 years of experience as a public finance banker. She specializes in land secured financings as well as water and wastewater, energy, transportation, and real estate. Prior to working for D.A. Davidson, she was a Piper Sandler managing director. She also has served as a director at UBS Securities.
Koster received a bachelor’s degree from Pepperdine University. She is a member of the California Society of Municipal Finance Officers (CSMFO) and Building Industry Associates (BIA) in Southern and Northern California. Koster has served on the National Women in Public Finance National board of directors as vice president and chairman of the Strategic Planning Commission. She is also a co-founder and past president of the Women in Public Finance, Los Angeles chapter.
Koster has received the “She’s Our Hero” award that recognizes a woman’s ability to manage a career, self-development, family, and civic development. She is a frequent speaker, panelist, and moderator for California Debt and Investment Advisory Commission (CDIAC) education conferences and The Bond Buyer’sCalifornia Public Finance conference. “I have worked with Katie for over a decade, and she is an incredibly talented banker that has a proven ability to provide innovative land-secured capital solutions for her clients,” said Rattner. “We are thrilled that she could join HilltopSecurities.”
Koster will lead HilltopSecurities’ California banking strategy from the Los Angeles office. She will report to Yaffa Rattner, senior managing director and head of municipal credit and Todd Bleakney, senior managing director and head of debt capital markets.
“Katie is well-known for her collaborative leadership and for bringing a unique perspective to her work,” Bleakney said in a statement. “Her ability to identify and develop personalized strategies while fostering trust with clients, we believe, will yield new opportunities for development finance and the California market.”
Koster was hired just more than a year ago as a managing director to grow Denver, Colorado-based D.A. Davidson & Co.’s southwest public finance practice.
Of the move, she said, that Hilltop “provides a platform that is well-known to California issuers for its ability to underwrite and distribute bonds to high yield institutional accounts, Tier I, II and III institutional buyers and has a robust retail distribution network and underwriting desk located in California.”
“HilltopSecurities is committed to growing its California banking and development teams. Katie’s hire adds to both of these strategic objectives,” Rattner said.
Koster has more than 25 years of experience as a public finance banker. She specializes in land secured financings as well as water and wastewater, energy, transportation, and real estate. Prior to working for D.A. Davidson, she was a Piper Sandler managing director. She also has served as a director at UBS Securities.
Koster received a bachelor’s degree from Pepperdine University. She is a member of the California Society of Municipal Finance Officers (CSMFO) and Building Industry Associates (BIA) in Southern and Northern California. Koster has served on the National Women in Public Finance National board of directors as vice president and chairman of the Strategic Planning Commission. She is also a co-founder and past president of the Women in Public Finance, Los Angeles chapter.
Koster has received the “She’s Our Hero” award that recognizes a woman’s ability to manage a career, self-development, family, and civic development. She is a frequent speaker, panelist, and moderator for California Debt and Investment Advisory Commission (CDIAC) education conferences and The Bond Buyer’sCalifornia Public Finance conference. “I have worked with Katie for over a decade, and she is an incredibly talented banker that has a proven ability to provide innovative land-secured capital solutions for her clients,” said Rattner. “We are thrilled that she could join HilltopSecurities.”
Zachary D. Sakas
Law firm Greenberg Traurig LLP has added Zachary D. Sakas to its public finance and infrastructure practice as a shareholder in its Phoenix office.
Sakas focuses on bond counsel services for Arizona governments, particularly municipalities and special taxing districts, the law firm said.
“He’s firmly entrenched in the long-term stakes and public operations of our state,” said Phoenix office Managing Shareholder Nicole Goodwin in a statement. “His positioning and experience will continue to ensure best-in-class legal services for our clients that operate in this sophisticated space, as Arizona continues to grow its economy.”
Sakas, who previously worked at Sherman & Howard, helped draft legislation and provided expert testimony for a bill that was unanimously passed in the Arizona House and Senate and signed into law in 2021, according to the statement. The new law, which was aimed at aiding economic development in the state, revised statutes governing how community facilities districts can issue bonds.
Sakas focuses on bond counsel services for Arizona governments, particularly municipalities and special taxing districts, the law firm said.
“He’s firmly entrenched in the long-term stakes and public operations of our state,” said Phoenix office Managing Shareholder Nicole Goodwin in a statement. “His positioning and experience will continue to ensure best-in-class legal services for our clients that operate in this sophisticated space, as Arizona continues to grow its economy.”
Sakas, who previously worked at Sherman & Howard, helped draft legislation and provided expert testimony for a bill that was unanimously passed in the Arizona House and Senate and signed into law in 2021, according to the statement. The new law, which was aimed at aiding economic development in the state, revised statutes governing how community facilities districts can issue bonds.
Dennis Reilly
The Wisconsin Health and Educational Facilities Authority's longtime head Dennis Reilly will leave after a replacement is found to join Fifth Third, where he hopes to leverage his conduit experience to aid not-for-profits through a commercial banking lens.
Reilly, 50, joined the authority 26 years ago just a couple years out of college and 10 years ago moved into the executive director’s chairfollowing Lawrence Nines' retirement.
Read the full storyhere .
Reilly, 50, joined the authority 26 years ago just a couple years out of college and 10 years ago moved into the executive director’s chair
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Joel Swearingen
Joel Swearingen was promoted to partner by Nixon Peabody.
Swearingen focuses on the needs of issuers, underwriters, and borrowers involved in public finance transactions and works with clients to comply with information reporting and withholding responsibilities associated with payments made to non-employees, both internationally and domestically.
Swearingen is involved at all stages of financing to ensure that a project is eligible to be financed with tax-advantaged bonds, that the terms pursuant to which such bonds are issued do not jeopardize the tax-advantaged status of the bonds, and that the bonds continue to qualify as tax-advantaged following the issue date of the bonds. He represents issuers in traditional governmental financings, conduit borrowers, and underwriters — all in connection with the issuance of tax-advantaged bonds.
Swearingen focuses on the needs of issuers, underwriters, and borrowers involved in public finance transactions and works with clients to comply with information reporting and withholding responsibilities associated with payments made to non-employees, both internationally and domestically.
Swearingen is involved at all stages of financing to ensure that a project is eligible to be financed with tax-advantaged bonds, that the terms pursuant to which such bonds are issued do not jeopardize the tax-advantaged status of the bonds, and that the bonds continue to qualify as tax-advantaged following the issue date of the bonds. He represents issuers in traditional governmental financings, conduit borrowers, and underwriters — all in connection with the issuance of tax-advantaged bonds.
Jeffrey Storch
Jeffrey E. Storch, an experienced public and municipal finance attorney, has joined Harris Beach PLLC as partner.
Storch has served as bond counsel, underwriter’s counsel, issuer’s counsel or insurer’s counsel on thousands of general obligation and revenue bond issues in New York and Connecticut. At Harris Beach he will oversee all aspects of its New York GO bond practice and plans to expand the firm’s presence throughout the state.
He brings over 22 years of legal experience representing New York counties, cities, towns, villages, school districts and municipal corporations. At the state level, Storch has been involved in a multitude of New York State Environmental Facilities Corp. transactions, including financings with the Dormitory Authority of New York State and the New York State Housing Finance Agency.
He has also represented numerous 501(c)(3) issuers in connection with revenue bond financings through the New York City Industrial Development Agency, Build NYC and other local development issuers. He is counsel to the New York Liquid Asset Fund, a municipal cooperative investment fund for local governments and school districts. In addition to public finance, Storch has extensive experience in real estate law, election law and municipal law.
Storch has served as bond counsel, underwriter’s counsel, issuer’s counsel or insurer’s counsel on thousands of general obligation and revenue bond issues in New York and Connecticut. At Harris Beach he will oversee all aspects of its New York GO bond practice and plans to expand the firm’s presence throughout the state.
He brings over 22 years of legal experience representing New York counties, cities, towns, villages, school districts and municipal corporations. At the state level, Storch has been involved in a multitude of New York State Environmental Facilities Corp. transactions, including financings with the Dormitory Authority of New York State and the New York State Housing Finance Agency.
He has also represented numerous 501(c)(3) issuers in connection with revenue bond financings through the New York City Industrial Development Agency, Build NYC and other local development issuers. He is counsel to the New York Liquid Asset Fund, a municipal cooperative investment fund for local governments and school districts. In addition to public finance, Storch has extensive experience in real estate law, election law and municipal law.
Annette Folmar
Annette Folmar has joined Baird’s public finance group as a senior vice president, the firm announced Tuesday. She is based in the Dallas area and will focus on serving Texas public school districts.
Folmar joins Baird from Prosper Independent School District, where she most recently was chief financial officer. In her more than 28-year-long career she has held numerous leadership roles within Hays and Austin Independent School Districts.
“We are thrilled to welcome Annette to the public finance team,” Brian Brewer, director of Baird’s public finance group, said in a statement. “Her depth of experience working with Texas public schools will be a tremendous asset to Baird as we continue to grow our public finance platform in Texas and expand our service offerings nationally.”
A certified public accountant, Folmar has also been involved with many professional organizations, including the Texas Association of School Business Officials, sitting on its Accounting and Auditing Advisory Committee and serving as president of Capital Area for two terms.
She has also been an adjunct professor of governmental accounting at St. Edwards University.
Folmar received a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting from The University of Texas at Austin and her Master of Business Administration from St. Edward’s University.
Baird has 12 offices and approximately 140 professionals based in Texas, including more than 20 public finance professionals in Dallas, Houston and San Antonio offices.
Folmar joins Baird from Prosper Independent School District, where she most recently was chief financial officer. In her more than 28-year-long career she has held numerous leadership roles within Hays and Austin Independent School Districts.
“We are thrilled to welcome Annette to the public finance team,” Brian Brewer, director of Baird’s public finance group, said in a statement. “Her depth of experience working with Texas public schools will be a tremendous asset to Baird as we continue to grow our public finance platform in Texas and expand our service offerings nationally.”
A certified public accountant, Folmar has also been involved with many professional organizations, including the Texas Association of School Business Officials, sitting on its Accounting and Auditing Advisory Committee and serving as president of Capital Area for two terms.
She has also been an adjunct professor of governmental accounting at St. Edwards University.
Folmar received a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting from The University of Texas at Austin and her Master of Business Administration from St. Edward’s University.
Baird has 12 offices and approximately 140 professionals based in Texas, including more than 20 public finance professionals in Dallas, Houston and San Antonio offices.
Joshua Schank
Joshua Schank, who joined the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority seven years ago to run the Office of Extraordinary Innovation is leaving for private industry.
Schank will join InfraStragies as a managing principal in the firm’s southern California office on Feb. 14 bringing “his unique and specialized experience in policy, strategy, program management and project development,” InfraStrategies Managing Partner Mike Schneider said in a statement.
Click here to read the full story.
Schank will join InfraStragies as a managing principal in the firm’s southern California office on Feb. 14 bringing “his unique and specialized experience in policy, strategy, program management and project development,” InfraStrategies Managing Partner Mike Schneider said in a statement.
Calvin Hanson retires
Calvin Hanson, Colorado Educational and Cultural Facilities Authority’s general counsel since 2006, retired at the end of 2021.
Hanson guided CECFA through the great recession, four governors, two executive directors, dozens of CECFA board members, and a global pandemic.
He advised CECFA on more than 450 bond issuances involving a diversity of projects and totaling more than $6.8 billion.
“Those of us who have had the pleasure of working with Calvin will recall just how easy it all seemed,” said Mark Heller, CECFA executive director. “We always could count on Calvin to know the four corners of an issue, to have CECFA’s priorities squarely in sight, and to negotiate with his calm integrity that moved us ever forward. He has had an amazing career in law and improved the lives of all who worked with him.”
Cory Kalanick took over as general counsel. He has backed up Hanson for almost a decade, CECFA expects a seamless transition, Heller said.
Hanson guided CECFA through the great recession, four governors, two executive directors, dozens of CECFA board members, and a global pandemic.
He advised CECFA on more than 450 bond issuances involving a diversity of projects and totaling more than $6.8 billion.
“Those of us who have had the pleasure of working with Calvin will recall just how easy it all seemed,” said Mark Heller, CECFA executive director. “We always could count on Calvin to know the four corners of an issue, to have CECFA’s priorities squarely in sight, and to negotiate with his calm integrity that moved us ever forward. He has had an amazing career in law and improved the lives of all who worked with him.”
Cory Kalanick took over as general counsel. He has backed up Hanson for almost a decade, CECFA expects a seamless transition, Heller said.
Gittings Photography
Andrew Smith
Andrew Smith was hired as U.S. Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority Chief Executive Officer effective Jan. 10.
Smith has 30 years of experience in the electric utility, power generation, and energy industry, most recently as a consultant on financial best practices.
“The critical necessity to repower the leadership within WAPA is evidenced by the authority’s struggles, and by extension the territory’s utility burdens, which have stemmed from continued underperformance at the leadership level,” said WAPA Governing Board Chairman Kyle Fleming.
Laurence Kupfer, who had been CEO, left in March. Since then, WAPA-professional Noel Hodge has served interim CEO.
Smith has 30 years of experience in the electric utility, power generation, and energy industry, most recently as a consultant on financial best practices.
“The critical necessity to repower the leadership within WAPA is evidenced by the authority’s struggles, and by extension the territory’s utility burdens, which have stemmed from continued underperformance at the leadership level,” said WAPA Governing Board Chairman Kyle Fleming.
Laurence Kupfer, who had been CEO, left in March. Since then, WAPA-professional Noel Hodge has served interim CEO.
Eric Wambold
Dmitri Millas
Dimitri Millas, a Houston-based bond and disclosure counsel, is one of 54 Norton Rose Fulbright lawyers around the world promoted to partner in the 2022 class, the firm announced Tuesday.
Millas, who joined the firm in 2008 after graduating from Yale Law School, has been counsel on municipal bond financings for a variety of local governmental entities, including cities, counties, universities, airport systems, water authorities, junior colleges, stadium authorities and tax increment reinvestment zones, and serves as general counsel and bond counsel to a several local municipal utility districts.
The Houston native also has degrees from Texas A&M, Rice and Harvard.
Millas, who joined the firm in 2008 after graduating from Yale Law School, has been counsel on municipal bond financings for a variety of local governmental entities, including cities, counties, universities, airport systems, water authorities, junior colleges, stadium authorities and tax increment reinvestment zones, and serves as general counsel and bond counsel to a several local municipal utility districts.
The Houston native also has degrees from Texas A&M, Rice and Harvard.
Shaney Lokken
In a move to further expand its public finance practice in Atlanta, the law firm of Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP announced that Shaney Lokken has joined the firm as counsel.
Lokken is a public finance attorney with 20 years of experience representing issuers, borrowers, underwriters and purchasers.
Read the full article
Natalie Braswell
Natalie Braswell of Bloomfield will succeed Kevin Lembo as Connecticut comptroller on Dec. 31, Gov. Ned Lamont announced.
Lembo on Dec. 3 said he would resign due to a heart condition. Braswell will hold the position through Jan. 4, 2023.
Read the full articlehere .
Lembo on Dec. 3 said he would resign due to a heart condition. Braswell will hold the position through Jan. 4, 2023.
Read the full article
Brian Mayhew
Brian Mayhew stepped into his job before the turn of this century, taking on fiscal responsibility for a set of bridges that urgently needed upgrades to protect them against California's earthquakes.
More than two decades and many billions of dollars in debt later, he will retire as chief financial officer of the San Francisco Bay Area's Metropolitan Transportation Commission and Bay Area Toll Authority.
Read the full articlehere .
More than two decades and many billions of dollars in debt later, he will retire as chief financial officer of the San Francisco Bay Area's Metropolitan Transportation Commission and Bay Area Toll Authority.
Read the full article
Horace Carter, executive vice president of fixed income capital markets, will succeed Raymond James Financial President John Carson as president of fixed income and join the firm’s executive committee.
“I’m deeply grateful to John for his leadership, counsel and the many tangible contributions he has made to Raymond James during his nearly 10-year tenure,” Chairman and CEO Paul Reilly said in a statement.
Read the full articlehere .
“I’m deeply grateful to John for his leadership, counsel and the many tangible contributions he has made to Raymond James during his nearly 10-year tenure,” Chairman and CEO Paul Reilly said in a statement.
Read the full article
Richard Li
The Milwaukee comptroller’s longtime debt specialist, Richard Li, has departed to join the Connecticut state treasurer’s office.
Li, a public debt specialist who led management of the city’s debt under three comptrollers, left the office earlier this week to join Treasurer Shawn Wooden’s office to manage one of its debt programs, a position that opened up following a retirement.
Read the full articlehere .
Li, a public debt specialist who led management of the city’s debt under three comptrollers, left the office earlier this week to join Treasurer Shawn Wooden’s office to manage one of its debt programs, a position that opened up following a retirement.
Read the full article
Jason Appleson
Jason Appleson, a veteran portfolio manager and former analyst, will officially take the helm of the municipal bond team at global asset management firm PGIM Fixed Income at the start of 2022.
Appleson joined the firm on Nov. 1 as he prepares to assume the duties of current managing director and municipal department head Susan Courtney, who will retire effective Jan. 1 after 16 years with the firm.
Read the full article
Dan Hynes
Dan Hynes, the former Illinois deputy governor for budget and the economy, joined Jefferies LLC this month where he will work to elevate the firm’s presence in the state and in the broader Midwest.
Hynes hopes to parlay his public experience “in the trenches” of state government to build on the firm’s Illinois and Midwest presence. The new role marks his first foray into public finance banking.
Read the full articlehere .
Hynes hopes to parlay his public experience “in the trenches” of state government to build on the firm’s Illinois and Midwest presence. The new role marks his first foray into public finance banking.
Read the full article
William Estes
Ballard Spahr announced William Estes, an experienced public sector attorney, has joined the P3/Infrastructure Group in its New York City office.
Estes, who has over 20 years of experience as a lawyer, has overseen multibillion-dollar design-build and infrastructure developments for government agencies.
Read the full articlehere .
Estes, who has over 20 years of experience as a lawyer, has overseen multibillion-dollar design-build and infrastructure developments for government agencies.
Read the full article
Laura Hoydick
Stratford Mayor Laura Hoydick has joined the Connecticut Green Bank’s board of directors. House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora, R-North Branford, made the appointment.
Hoydick, the town’s mayor since 2017, is the first female at that position. Previously she was in the House of Representatives as a ranking member of the energy and technology committee while holding critical roles on the banks committee and the finance, revenue and bonding committees.
During her tenure as mayor, the town has added five solar arrays to public buildings, brought in textile recycling and solar compacting trash and recycling receptacles.
Connecticut’s General Assembly in 2011 established the Green Bank as the nation’s first such bank.
Hoydick, the town’s mayor since 2017, is the first female at that position. Previously she was in the House of Representatives as a ranking member of the energy and technology committee while holding critical roles on the banks committee and the finance, revenue and bonding committees.
During her tenure as mayor, the town has added five solar arrays to public buildings, brought in textile recycling and solar compacting trash and recycling receptacles.
Connecticut’s General Assembly in 2011 established the Green Bank as the nation’s first such bank.
Jeremy Couvillion
Crews & Associates hired Jeremy Couvillion for business development with a focus on Louisiana municipalities and counties.
Couvillion started at Crews on Sept. 20. He will be working in municipal finance as an investment banker, serving cities, schools and parishes across Louisiana.
He has 17 years of experience in Louisiana as a teacher, principal and superintendent. He has now transitioned into the business world to help school districts improve their business services and opportunities.
Couvillion, of Baton Rouge, attended Louisiana State University and holds a BS in elementary education and a master’s degree in educational leadership and administration.
In 2017, he was named East Baton Rouge Parish Principal of the Year and was on the list of Baton Rouge’s “40 Under 40” professionals to watch.
Crews & Associates, a First Security Company, is an investment bank that is headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas. Its fixed income sales and trading team provides tax-exempt and taxable bonds. It has more than $7.5 billion in municipal volume and over $5.5 billion of taxable volume annually. It has branch offices in Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and West Virginia as well as in Arizona and New York.
Couvillion started at Crews on Sept. 20. He will be working in municipal finance as an investment banker, serving cities, schools and parishes across Louisiana.
He has 17 years of experience in Louisiana as a teacher, principal and superintendent. He has now transitioned into the business world to help school districts improve their business services and opportunities.
Couvillion, of Baton Rouge, attended Louisiana State University and holds a BS in elementary education and a master’s degree in educational leadership and administration.
In 2017, he was named East Baton Rouge Parish Principal of the Year and was on the list of Baton Rouge’s “40 Under 40” professionals to watch.
Crews & Associates, a First Security Company, is an investment bank that is headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas. Its fixed income sales and trading team provides tax-exempt and taxable bonds. It has more than $7.5 billion in municipal volume and over $5.5 billion of taxable volume annually. It has branch offices in Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and West Virginia as well as in Arizona and New York.
Nathan Coco and Megan Preusker
Mintz is bulking up its bankruptcy and restructuring practice with the hiring of veteran specialists Nathan Coco and Megan Preusker.
The two joined Mintz from McDermott Will & Emery LLP. They specialize on restructuring and insolvency covering distressed finance issuers, merger & acquisition transactions, creditor rights, and bankruptcy litigation with an emphasis on debt restructuring involving public projects, municipal finance, and tax-exempt bonds.
To read the full story clickhere .
The two joined Mintz from McDermott Will & Emery LLP. They specialize on restructuring and insolvency covering distressed finance issuers, merger & acquisition transactions, creditor rights, and bankruptcy litigation with an emphasis on debt restructuring involving public projects, municipal finance, and tax-exempt bonds.
To read the full story click
Danelle Barrett
Retired Rear Admiral Danelle Barrett has been named to Academy Securities’ advisory board.
Barrett has over 30 years of experience in cyber, digital transformation and telecommunications strategy development and global operations.
She served as director of current operations at U.S. Cyber Command. She was also navy cyber security division director and deputy chief information officer on the chief of naval operations staff. She is one of less than 200 women in U.S. Navy history to achieve the rank of admiral.
“We are incredibly honored to add Danelle Barrett to our advisory board,” said Chance Mims, Academy’s chairman and CEO. “Her leadership and military accomplishments are remarkable and her expertise in cybersecurity will be valuable to the firm.”
Barrett is a graduate of Boston University with a Bachelor of Arts in history. She holds a Master of Arts in management, national security strategic studies, and human resources development. She also earned a Master of Science in information management.
“I look forward to working with the team at Academy,” Barrett said. “I admire the mission-driven culture of the firm and hope to use my expertise to add valuable insights to our clientele.”
Academy is a registered broker-dealer, certified disabled veteran business enterprise and minority business enterprise.
“With additions like Danelle Barrett, our team only gets stronger and more well-rounded. We are thrilled to have a professional like Rear Admiral Barrett align with our firm,” said Phil McConkey, Academy’s president.
Barrett has over 30 years of experience in cyber, digital transformation and telecommunications strategy development and global operations.
She served as director of current operations at U.S. Cyber Command. She was also navy cyber security division director and deputy chief information officer on the chief of naval operations staff. She is one of less than 200 women in U.S. Navy history to achieve the rank of admiral.
“We are incredibly honored to add Danelle Barrett to our advisory board,” said Chance Mims, Academy’s chairman and CEO. “Her leadership and military accomplishments are remarkable and her expertise in cybersecurity will be valuable to the firm.”
Barrett is a graduate of Boston University with a Bachelor of Arts in history. She holds a Master of Arts in management, national security strategic studies, and human resources development. She also earned a Master of Science in information management.
“I look forward to working with the team at Academy,” Barrett said. “I admire the mission-driven culture of the firm and hope to use my expertise to add valuable insights to our clientele.”
Academy is a registered broker-dealer, certified disabled veteran business enterprise and minority business enterprise.
“With additions like Danelle Barrett, our team only gets stronger and more well-rounded. We are thrilled to have a professional like Rear Admiral Barrett align with our firm,” said Phil McConkey, Academy’s president.
Lawrence "Larry" Martinez
Lawrence "Larry" Martinez had agreed to become the chief executive officer for D.A. Davidson Companies early next year.
Martinez will replace James Kerr, chairman and CEO of the firm, who announced his retirement effective as of the company’s annual meeting in January 2022.
Martinez will take on the role of CEO, but Kerr will retain his position as executive chairman.
To read the full story,click here .
Martinez will replace James Kerr, chairman and CEO of the firm, who announced his retirement effective as of the company’s annual meeting in January 2022.
Martinez will take on the role of CEO, but Kerr will retain his position as executive chairman.
To read the full story,
Paul Arevalo
Retired West Hollywood, California, City Manager Paul Arevalo has joined Raymond James as managing director in its Pasadena office, further strengthening the firm’s public finance coverage in the state.
The broker-dealer entered California in 2011 and has grown to 14 public finance people working in offices in Los Angeles, Pasadena, San Clemente and San Francisco.
Arevalo was West Hollywood’s city manager for more than 20 years before he retired this summer.
To see the full story,click here .
The broker-dealer entered California in 2011 and has grown to 14 public finance people working in offices in Los Angeles, Pasadena, San Clemente and San Francisco.
Arevalo was West Hollywood’s city manager for more than 20 years before he retired this summer.
To see the full story,
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Lorraine Tyson
Greenberg Traurig LLP attorney Lorraine Tyson is moving desks in the firm’s Chicago office to officially join the public finance & infrastructure practice.
The veteran bond lawyer, a shareholder, joined the firm’s corporate and securities practice in 2016 where her work crossed sectors.
Tyson now formally joins the public finance team where she will continue work that has been focused on public finance and public private partnership transactions as well as government law.
Tyson has acted as disclosure counsel, bond counsel, underwriter's counsel, remarketing agent counsel, issuer's counsel, borrower's counsel or letter of credit counsel on deals for Chicago, Chicago Public Schools, Cook County, Illinois, the Regional Transportation Authority, the Illinois Finance Authority, and the Illinois Housing Development Authority.
Before joining the firm, Tyson worked at Pugh, Jones & Johnson PC.
The veteran bond lawyer, a shareholder, joined the firm’s corporate and securities practice in 2016 where her work crossed sectors.
Tyson now formally joins the public finance team where she will continue work that has been focused on public finance and public private partnership transactions as well as government law.
Tyson has acted as disclosure counsel, bond counsel, underwriter's counsel, remarketing agent counsel, issuer's counsel, borrower's counsel or letter of credit counsel on deals for Chicago, Chicago Public Schools, Cook County, Illinois, the Regional Transportation Authority, the Illinois Finance Authority, and the Illinois Housing Development Authority.
Before joining the firm, Tyson worked at Pugh, Jones & Johnson PC.
UBS beefs up
As part of the ongoing expansion of its banking, trading, and sales platforms, UBS has recently added eight new hires to enhance its overall global wealth management business, the firm announced this week.
UBS management said the new hires will further the firm’s momentum in public finance and add leverage to its franchise.
The latest to join the team is Adam J. Glick, as head of taxable municipal trading, effective July 26, reporting to Doug Vissicchio, head of municipal principal trading, Global Wealth Management.
Most recently at BofA Securities, Glick will help build out the taxable municipal trading platform, including international distribution, using his decade-plus of experience in institutional sales and retail marketing and specialization in taxable municipals.
Glick also brings long-standing institutional client relationships to his new role.
Earlier this month, public finance veteran Michele Vobach (pictured) joined the firm’s Dallas office, as managing director and co-head of healthcare, effective July 19, reporting to Peter Hill, head of public finance, Global Wealth Management.
A 28-year veteran of public finance, Vobach is responsible for expanding healthcare coverage with Lisa Rogers, managing director and co-head of healthcare. Most recently at BofA, Vobach has covered a wide variety of national healthcare and higher education issuers.
Additionally, John Germain joined the firm as executive director in housing, reporting to Tim Sullivan, head of housing and co-head of the East region.
Germain will focus on expanding multi- and single-family housing, student housing, and renewable energy projects.
He arrived at UBS from Corvias, a public-private partner to state and local governments, the military and higher education, where he most recently sourced structured debt and equity financings for development of solar energy, clean water, student housing and military housing projects.
Orlando Cherenek, Jr. (pictured), a portfolio manager, trader and institutional sales on both the buy- and sell-sides of the market, joined the firm effective July 15 as executive director and institutional salesperson. He brings his sales experience to the firm, reporting to Ross Mullman and Greg Neuner, co-heads of municipal institutional sales.
Most recently at Citi, Cherenek focused on municipal sales, particularly taxable municipals within the institutional sales team.
Four additional hires include Tayo Edun and Robert Suh to the West region team, Anthony Kinsey to the Midwest team, and Marc-Adrien Mandich to the Quantitative Team.
A director in the West region team, Edun was most recently at E&Y Infrastructure Advisors, covering P3 infrastructure projects.
Suh is a director in the West Region team, arriving from Wells Fargo, where he covered California, and California cities, counties and school districts, and was previously a wealth management specialist.
Kinsey is a director in the Midwest team, arriving from Huntington Bank Public Finance, covering the transportation sector, and bringing prior public finance experience from Loop Capital and BMO Harris.
An associate director, Mandich joins the Quantitative Team from the UBS Model Risk Governance and Management team.
UBS management said the new hires will further the firm’s momentum in public finance and add leverage to its franchise.
The latest to join the team is Adam J. Glick, as head of taxable municipal trading, effective July 26, reporting to Doug Vissicchio, head of municipal principal trading, Global Wealth Management.
Most recently at BofA Securities, Glick will help build out the taxable municipal trading platform, including international distribution, using his decade-plus of experience in institutional sales and retail marketing and specialization in taxable municipals.
Glick also brings long-standing institutional client relationships to his new role.
Earlier this month, public finance veteran Michele Vobach (pictured) joined the firm’s Dallas office, as managing director and co-head of healthcare, effective July 19, reporting to Peter Hill, head of public finance, Global Wealth Management.
A 28-year veteran of public finance, Vobach is responsible for expanding healthcare coverage with Lisa Rogers, managing director and co-head of healthcare. Most recently at BofA, Vobach has covered a wide variety of national healthcare and higher education issuers.
Additionally, John Germain joined the firm as executive director in housing, reporting to Tim Sullivan, head of housing and co-head of the East region.
Germain will focus on expanding multi- and single-family housing, student housing, and renewable energy projects.
He arrived at UBS from Corvias, a public-private partner to state and local governments, the military and higher education, where he most recently sourced structured debt and equity financings for development of solar energy, clean water, student housing and military housing projects.
Orlando Cherenek, Jr. (pictured), a portfolio manager, trader and institutional sales on both the buy- and sell-sides of the market, joined the firm effective July 15 as executive director and institutional salesperson. He brings his sales experience to the firm, reporting to Ross Mullman and Greg Neuner, co-heads of municipal institutional sales.
Most recently at Citi, Cherenek focused on municipal sales, particularly taxable municipals within the institutional sales team.
Four additional hires include Tayo Edun and Robert Suh to the West region team, Anthony Kinsey to the Midwest team, and Marc-Adrien Mandich to the Quantitative Team.
A director in the West region team, Edun was most recently at E&Y Infrastructure Advisors, covering P3 infrastructure projects.
Suh is a director in the West Region team, arriving from Wells Fargo, where he covered California, and California cities, counties and school districts, and was previously a wealth management specialist.
Kinsey is a director in the Midwest team, arriving from Huntington Bank Public Finance, covering the transportation sector, and bringing prior public finance experience from Loop Capital and BMO Harris.
An associate director, Mandich joins the Quantitative Team from the UBS Model Risk Governance and Management team.
Sycamore Advisors adds two
Sycamore Advisors, LLC, has added two seasoned professionals to its national municipal advisory practice.
The independent municipal advisory firm said the addition of Jessica Lamendola as senior vice president and Lucien Harlow-Dion as quantitative analyst will enhance and strengthen its advisory services to high-priority municipal projects for clients in the Northeast and Midwest.
Both bring “a fresh analytical capacity and unique perspectives” to the firm, where they will join senior vice president Chris Valentino in the New York City office.
The Indianapolis-based firm — which also has a Chicago office — provides advisory services to state and local governments and leading not-for-profit institutions. The firm focuses on infrastructure capital planning and finance, primarily transportation, water, wastewater and stormwater, and is known for its work with complex credits and structured financings.
Lamendola and Harlow-Dion’s skills will be crucial in serving its clients, according to Sycamore president Diana Hamilton.
“In the increasingly complex world of evaluating and understanding an issuer’s credit in today’s marketplace, it is critical that the municipal advisors have a deep understanding of its clients and the changing credit criteria used to evaluate issuers,” she said in a release. “Jessica and Lucien’s backgrounds and skills respond to that need, and Sycamore continues its tradition of building a team comprised of former issuers who understand the unique perspective and risks issuers face each day.”
Lamendola comes to Sycamore after serving as the director of administrative and financial services for the city of Topeka, Kan.
In her new role, she will focus on providing advice to clients in credit structure development, rating agency relationships, and investor outreach.
In addition, she was previously an assistant vice president for three years at Moody’s Investors Service, where she was a senior credit and financial analyst responsible for a large portfolio of municipal issuers, as well as the state lead for local governments in New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. She previously worked for several other New York issuers, including North Hempstead, N.Y., where she was the director of finance and acting comptroller; and Nassau County, N.Y., where she was the investor relations manager in the Office of Management & Budget, as well as the assistant director in the Office of Legislative Budget Review.
Besides her rating agency and issuer experience, Lamendola also has a background in budgeting, performance management, accounting, financial reporting, contracts and procurement, debt issuance and fund management.
Harlow-Dion’s employment represents Sycamore’s strategic choice to reflect the sustainability goals of its municipal clients, and the firm’s emphasis on ESG initiatives as its clients make infrastructure investments.
His previous muni-focused work includes selling emergency management software across the country for VEOCI, as well as two years on the Economic Development Board for the City of New Haven, Conn.
His prior work history includes working as a marketing and publishing consultant for Capital Institute, where he created and shared thought leadership to drive regenerative finance principles, as well as an engagement specialist for Domini Impact Investments, where he worked on deforestation and natural capital to identify applications for the financial sector to manage forest-related risks and opportunities, and led research, development, and recommendations for a $500,000 capital raise for a farmer cooperative start-up.
Professionally, Lamendola serves on the Committee on Governmental Debt Management for the Government Finance Officers’ Association; a board member for Women In Public Finance, and previously served on the Northeast Women In Public Finance Board.
Harlow-Dion is a recipient of the NYU Certificate in Clean Energy, sponsored by NYSERDA.
Sycamore Advisors, a Women Business Enterprise (WBE), is also a certified municipal advisory firm, registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board.
The independent municipal advisory firm said the addition of Jessica Lamendola as senior vice president and Lucien Harlow-Dion as quantitative analyst will enhance and strengthen its advisory services to high-priority municipal projects for clients in the Northeast and Midwest.
Both bring “a fresh analytical capacity and unique perspectives” to the firm, where they will join senior vice president Chris Valentino in the New York City office.
The Indianapolis-based firm — which also has a Chicago office — provides advisory services to state and local governments and leading not-for-profit institutions. The firm focuses on infrastructure capital planning and finance, primarily transportation, water, wastewater and stormwater, and is known for its work with complex credits and structured financings.
Lamendola and Harlow-Dion’s skills will be crucial in serving its clients, according to Sycamore president Diana Hamilton.
“In the increasingly complex world of evaluating and understanding an issuer’s credit in today’s marketplace, it is critical that the municipal advisors have a deep understanding of its clients and the changing credit criteria used to evaluate issuers,” she said in a release. “Jessica and Lucien’s backgrounds and skills respond to that need, and Sycamore continues its tradition of building a team comprised of former issuers who understand the unique perspective and risks issuers face each day.”
Lamendola comes to Sycamore after serving as the director of administrative and financial services for the city of Topeka, Kan.
In her new role, she will focus on providing advice to clients in credit structure development, rating agency relationships, and investor outreach.
In addition, she was previously an assistant vice president for three years at Moody’s Investors Service, where she was a senior credit and financial analyst responsible for a large portfolio of municipal issuers, as well as the state lead for local governments in New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. She previously worked for several other New York issuers, including North Hempstead, N.Y., where she was the director of finance and acting comptroller; and Nassau County, N.Y., where she was the investor relations manager in the Office of Management & Budget, as well as the assistant director in the Office of Legislative Budget Review.
Besides her rating agency and issuer experience, Lamendola also has a background in budgeting, performance management, accounting, financial reporting, contracts and procurement, debt issuance and fund management.
Harlow-Dion’s employment represents Sycamore’s strategic choice to reflect the sustainability goals of its municipal clients, and the firm’s emphasis on ESG initiatives as its clients make infrastructure investments.
His previous muni-focused work includes selling emergency management software across the country for VEOCI, as well as two years on the Economic Development Board for the City of New Haven, Conn.
His prior work history includes working as a marketing and publishing consultant for Capital Institute, where he created and shared thought leadership to drive regenerative finance principles, as well as an engagement specialist for Domini Impact Investments, where he worked on deforestation and natural capital to identify applications for the financial sector to manage forest-related risks and opportunities, and led research, development, and recommendations for a $500,000 capital raise for a farmer cooperative start-up.
Professionally, Lamendola serves on the Committee on Governmental Debt Management for the Government Finance Officers’ Association; a board member for Women In Public Finance, and previously served on the Northeast Women In Public Finance Board.
Harlow-Dion is a recipient of the NYU Certificate in Clean Energy, sponsored by NYSERDA.
Sycamore Advisors, a Women Business Enterprise (WBE), is also a certified municipal advisory firm, registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board.
Assured hires director on infrastructure finance team
Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp. has hired Eric Friedland as a director on the Infrastructure Finance team in the Public Finance department.
Friedland will focus on origination and underwriting as a member of Assured Guaranty's infrastructure finance team, developing opportunities for the company's financial guaranty business.
He reports to Lorne Potash, managing director of infrastructure finance.
"We look forward to Eric playing an important role in expanding our reach in the infrastructure market," said Bill Hogan, senior managing director and head of Public Finance for Assured Guaranty. "His deep industry knowledge and experience are well-suited to pursue the growing opportunities in the U.S. infrastructure market."
Friedland has over 30 years of municipal market experience in transaction origination, municipal research, underwriting and surveillance.
He has bond insurance experience and worked for 15 years at AGM (then named Financial Security Assurance) as a director and member of the Public Finance group from 1993 to 2008.
Most recently, he spent seven years as director of municipal bond research for Lord Abbett, after serving as a fixed-income portfolio manager and director of municipal credit research at Schroders Investment Management, and as a managing director and credit officer in Fitch Ratings' Public Finance group. Early in his career, he was a senior analyst at Moody's Investors Service.
"We are very excited to welcome Eric back to Assured Guaranty," Potash said. "Not only does he have a wealth of experience with key roles in the municipal market, but he also has historical knowledge and experience in our business. With the current opportunities in the infrastructure market, the timing couldn't be better to add someone like Eric to our Infrastructure Finance team."
"This is an incredible opportunity to join the industry leader in bond insurance and its outstanding Public Finance team," Friedland said. "Assured Guaranty has a long, well-established reputation for helping to finance infrastructure development more cost-effectively while protecting bond investors from payment defaults and helping to reduce market value volatility risk. Assured Guaranty has proven its resilience through our time's most challenging economic environments and I look forward to playing a part in its future success."
Friedland earned a master of business administration from Duke University, a master of science in accounting from Northeastern University and bachelor of science from SUNY at Albany.
Friedland will focus on origination and underwriting as a member of Assured Guaranty's infrastructure finance team, developing opportunities for the company's financial guaranty business.
He reports to Lorne Potash, managing director of infrastructure finance.
"We look forward to Eric playing an important role in expanding our reach in the infrastructure market," said Bill Hogan, senior managing director and head of Public Finance for Assured Guaranty. "His deep industry knowledge and experience are well-suited to pursue the growing opportunities in the U.S. infrastructure market."
Friedland has over 30 years of municipal market experience in transaction origination, municipal research, underwriting and surveillance.
He has bond insurance experience and worked for 15 years at AGM (then named Financial Security Assurance) as a director and member of the Public Finance group from 1993 to 2008.
Most recently, he spent seven years as director of municipal bond research for Lord Abbett, after serving as a fixed-income portfolio manager and director of municipal credit research at Schroders Investment Management, and as a managing director and credit officer in Fitch Ratings' Public Finance group. Early in his career, he was a senior analyst at Moody's Investors Service.
"We are very excited to welcome Eric back to Assured Guaranty," Potash said. "Not only does he have a wealth of experience with key roles in the municipal market, but he also has historical knowledge and experience in our business. With the current opportunities in the infrastructure market, the timing couldn't be better to add someone like Eric to our Infrastructure Finance team."
"This is an incredible opportunity to join the industry leader in bond insurance and its outstanding Public Finance team," Friedland said. "Assured Guaranty has a long, well-established reputation for helping to finance infrastructure development more cost-effectively while protecting bond investors from payment defaults and helping to reduce market value volatility risk. Assured Guaranty has proven its resilience through our time's most challenging economic environments and I look forward to playing a part in its future success."
Friedland earned a master of business administration from Duke University, a master of science in accounting from Northeastern University and bachelor of science from SUNY at Albany.
