Chris works as a Director in the Public Finance Group – Eastern Region at Assured Guaranty, focusing on utility and transportation sector transactions in the Americas. Prior to working in the Public Finance Group – Eastern Region, Chris worked as a Director in the Infrastructure Finance Group. In addition to covering a variety of issuers and sectors located in the eastern region of the United States, Chris brings a deeper concentration on the utility and transportation sector both domestically and internationally. Prior to joining Assured Guaranty, Chris worked at U.S. Bank, N.A., managing the Public Utility Group in the Government Banking Division. Prior to U.S. Bank, he was a Senior Director/Manager of Fitch Ratings Public Power Group in the Public Finance Division and worked at MBIA Insurance Corporation as a Managing Director in the Public Finance Division. Having extensive prior experience working in bond insurance, at a rating agency and for a commercial bank, Chris brings a unique set of risk assessment, negotiation and rating skills to the revenue bond and tax-supported credit sectors.
Liberty Ziegahn is a Managing Director at Oppenheimer & Co. Inc where she specializes in developing innovative, sustainable financing solutions for infrastructure, economic development, and other transformative public-sector projects. Liberty has nearly two decades of experience, beginning her career with the State of Ohio as a budget analyst, responsible for activities related to the issuance and management of state debt before transitioning to public finance banking roles at William Blair, Morgan Stanley, and UBS and Oppenheimer. Beyond her professional work, Liberty is actively engaged in the community and serves on the Board of Directors of the Homes for Children Foundation and the Chicago Summer Business Institute.
Joe Pezzimenti is a Director in the States and Transportation team and is based in the New York office. He has worked as a U.S. Public Finance credit analyst since 2001, when he joined S&P Global Ratings (formerly Standard & Poor’s). Joe is the primary analyst for various major public finance transportation infrastructure issuers, such as the Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport and the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority. He also currently serves as primary analyst for several states, including Kansas, Maryland, and North Carolina.
As a lead analyst, Joe mentors other analysts, publishes credit commentaries, develops criteria, conducts credit analysis, participates at conferences and investor meetings, and serves as a subject matter expert on the not-for-profit transportation infrastructure sector (i.e. airports, ports, toll roads, transit agencies, and parking systems).
Joe is currently a member of the National Federation of Municipal Analysts (NFMA).
Prior to joining S&P Global Ratings Joe received an MBA from New York University’s Leonard N. Stern School of Business. Joe also holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Southern California.
As Director of GFOA’s Federal Liaison Center, Emily leads coalition and advocacy efforts of the Public Finance Network in Washington DC. Her advocacy includes anticipating and responding to federal legislative and regulatory activities that impact the finance functions of state and local governments and public sector entities including tax reform, municipal securities disclosure and public pension and benefit issues. Emily also serves as staff on GFOA’s Debt Committee, working with committee members to develop best practices that promote sound financial practices for local, state and provincial governments. Prior to joining GFOA, Emily was a commercial bank relationship manager at a large national bank, serving as the sole bank liaison for government and university clients.
Ryan Patton is an AVP–Analyst on the Project and Infrastructure Finance team. Ryan has deep experience covering the U.S. water sector and is currently the lead analyst for U.S. investor-owned water utilities. His portfolio also includes public power and municipal joint action agencies.
Ryan previously spent 11 years on Moody’s Local Government team covering municipal utilities, cities, counties, and school districts.
Prior to joining Moody’s, Ryan was an Associate Economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and spent several years in environmental consulting.
Ryan holds a Master of Public Policy degree from the University of Chicago and a BA in Political Science and Geology from Wheaton College in Illinois.
Chris joined PNC Capital Markets LLC as Head of Western Region & National Public Power/Utilities in May 2024. Chris has over 34 years of public and project finance experience in providing funding for the infrastructure, prepay, general fund, and refinancing needs of a diverse group of electric, water and wastewater utilities and state, county, and local governments. His experience includes assisting his clients with the execution and delivery of traditional and non-traditional financing solutions, including capital market products, direct balance sheet lending and purchases, asset acquisition, gas and electric prepay, inaugural credit formation, derivatives, public/private partnerships, project finance and the creation of special purpose vehicles to fund and complete projects. Chris has served as the lead banker on several notable financings, including the City of Missoula, Montana’s Water System Revenue Bond Anticipation Notes and follow up Water Revenue Bond financings to fund the acquisition of the City’s water system from the existing private owner. The inaugural financing won the Bond Buyer Small Issuer Deal of the Year award. Prior to PNC Capital Markets LLC, Chris held senior-level banking positions at Barclays, J.P. Morgan, and Bear Stearns, working with municipal issuers throughout the United States. Chris graduated from the University of Arizona with a B.S. in Finance and holds SIE, Series 7, Series 52, Series 53, and Series 63 FINRA licenses.
David L. Young serves as the Colorado State Treasurer. Treasurer Young is responsible for safeguarding taxpayer dollars, overseeing the state’s $90 billion in assets and leading initiatives that strengthen Colorado’s long-term financial health. With over 50 years in public service as an educator, legislator, and now State Treasurer, Young has dedicated his career to ensuring government works for all people, especially those too often left behind.
A former middle school math, science, and technology teacher, Young’s commitment to equity and education laid the foundation for his public service. His journey into politics was inspired by his sister, who lives with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Witnessing the challenges she faced accessing basic care inspired him to reform systems that fail vulnerable Coloradans.
As a state legislator, Young served on the Joint Budget Committee and as Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, crafting bipartisan policies to expand health care, improve public education, and support small businesses. Since taking office as Treasurer in 2019, he has helped launch transformative programs like the Colorado Secure Savings auto-IRA program, expanding access to retirement savings for private-sector workers, and CLIMBER, a loan fund to support Colorado’s small businesses during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Treasurer Young is deeply committed to economic justice and financial empowerment. Under his leadership, the Treasury has prioritized transparency, fiscal responsibility, and programs that provide real value to everyday Coloradans. His focus on equitable economic opportunity continues to drive his work, from expanding access to financial literacy programs to investing in long-term solutions that serve future generations of Coloradans.