Title: Vice President and Head of National Higher Education Practice, Public Finance, Western Region
Firm: Build America Mutual
Age: 34
During the past six years, while being employed at Build America Mutual, Alex Vaisman has distinguished himself as a rising star among municipal analysts by developing a deep record of expert analysis in a wide range of sectors and geographic areas.
One of his most memorable and meaningful accomplishments has been serving the industry as a co-founder of California Muni Pride (CAMP), the first professional networking group for LGBTQ+ individuals working in the California municipal finance industry.
Alex co-founded CAMP in 2019 along with fellow class of 2020 Rising Star Roberto Ruiz and Luke Brewer, who works for the City and County of San Francisco.
He also has taken on a leadership role as chair of the National Federation of Municipal Analysts’ Society Outreach subcommittee, which is charged with helping launch new constituent societies around the country.
“Alex is a flexible, curious analyst who is known internally at BAM for looking beyond an issuer’s financial statements to understand how the broader economic and demographic environment can impact its credit quality,” according to Todd Tomich, managing vice president and head of the west region at BAM.
“Externally, in addition to his work with the NFMA and CAMP, he has built a range of collaborative relationships with municipal advisors and investment bankers across the West Region, providing honest feedback that leads to stronger, more efficient transactions for BAM’s issuer members and municipal bond investors.”
Alex works on issues from a wide range of sectors but he has developed particular expertise in complicated public higher education transactions and has also played a key role in BAM’s efforts to expand its business in Colorado.
Alex entered the industry as an analyst at Fitch Ratings in 2010, then joined BAM in 2014, starting in surveillance, then transitioning to public finance.
Alex loves dogs and in fact, his first dog is related to Winky, the Norwich Terrier from the 2000 mockumentary film titled “Best in Show.”
