Peter Scherer is a Senior Director in the Public Finance Group at KBRA, where he focuses on states as well as airports and other transportation credits. Peter brings expertise in municipal credit risk and has worked in various roles in the industry for 10 years. Prior to joining KBRA, he held positions as an asset manager and a financial guarantor.
Peter holds a B.S. in business administration from Boston University.
Randy Conner is the Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Water Management (DWM. No newcomer to the field, he is returning to the role after previously serving as the DWM Commissioner from 2017 to the end of 2020.
Commissioner Conner brings more than two decades of experience in urban engineering and infrastructure to the department. He formerly served as the First Deputy Commissioner at both the Chicago Department of Transportation and the Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation.
At the Department of Water Management, Commissioner Conner oversees a system that delivers high-quality drinking water to more than 42% of Illinois residents daily. This system includes over 4,300 miles of water mains, 4,450 miles of sewer mains, two of the world’s largest water treatment facilities, and over 2,100 employees. He manages an annual operating budget of approximately $1.4 billion and a capital budget of approximately 750 million dollars annually.
When he previously held the position, Commissioner Conner created a Division of Performance Management to elevate professionalism in the department; established mandatory EEO training for all employees to improve the department’s culture; and oversaw the implementation of the ambitious 10-year “Building a New Chicago” capital plan which represented a $6 billion investment in water infrastructure to support the city’s future growth.
In 2024, Commissioner Conner will spearhead DWM efforts to deliver a robust capital improvement program to replace water mains, and sewer mains and renovate critical DWM facilities. He will ensure that the department will continue to increase the number of lead service line replacements throughout the City. This work is critically important as the nation looks to Chicago- the city with the most lead service lines at 406,000- for best practices on how to effectively address this legacy infrastructure issue.
He is a licensed minister and has logged thousands of service hours with many community and civic service organizations. A recipient of the Man of Honor Award from the Chicago Defender, he attended Purdue University, where he studied Engineering and Construction Principles, and is certified in Emergency Action Planning by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. A lifelong Chicago resident, he resides in the West Pullman neighborhood and is the father of one daughter.
Lisa Eisenberg serves as the Chief of Public Finance in the Ohio Treasurer’s Office. In that capacity she oversees the investment of over $50 billion across the State Treasury and STAR Ohio, and management of Ohio’s $10 billion municipal debt portfolio. She leads the Investments and Debt Management departments with the common goal of creating value for Ohio taxpayers. Mrs. Eisenberg is the Chair of the State Debt Management Network, Vice President of Ohio Women in Public Finance, and a member of Ohio University’s Finance Advisory Council. Her contributions to the public finance industry have been recognized and rewarded on a national scale. She is a member of the Bond Buyer’s 2021 class of Rising Stars and 2025 Class of Trailblazing Women in Public Finance. Mrs. Eisenberg holds a BA in Actuarial Science from Ohio State University, an MBA from Ohio University, and is a Certified Treasury Professional.
Mr. Spino has served as the Chief Financial Officer of the Authority since June 2023 and brings over 25 years of experience in numerous financial leadership roles. In his current role, he provides leadership and strategic oversight to the following areas and departments: accounting and finance, procurement and business partnership programs, parking and ground transportation, and technology services. Previously, he served as the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Richmond Redevelopment & Housing Authority, in Richmond Virginia, where he oversaw the finance, human resources, procurement and information technology departments. Mr. Spino also served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Tulsa Airports Improvement Trust, in Tulsa Oklahoma, where he oversaw the finance, engineering and planning, parking operations, asset management, and contracts departments. Mr. Spino led multiple bond and bank financing efforts during his time with Tulsa Airports Improvement Trust.
Mr. Spino earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Finance from the University of Rhode Island and holds a Master of Business Administration from Norwich University, where he completed the program summa cum laude. Mr. Spino was elected a member of Delta Mu Delta, an International Business Honors Society, while completing his master’s program. Mr. Spino’s 25 years of experience in finance ranges from banking to real estate, working for such organizations as Franklin Street Properties Corp, Symes Associates Inc, AMB Property Corporation, JP Morgan Chase, and Boston Financial Data Services located in Massachusetts.
AARON HEINTZ, STATE OF WISCONSIN CAPITAL FINANCE DIECTOR has been a member of the State’s Capital Finance Office since 2005 and Director since 2022. During that time, Mr. Heintz has been part of or led a team responsible for the preparation, sale, issuance, disclosure, and compliance of more than 80 State of Wisconsin bond/notes issues in aggregate par amount of more than $14 billion. The Capital Finance Office is responsible for all State bond/note issuances over five different credits (general obligations, revenue bonds, appropriation bonds), the development of new State borrowing credits, administration of the Master Lease Program, financial management of the Environmental Improvement Fund, and oversight of the State’s commitment to venture capital through the Badger Fund of Funds
Jacob Blasdel is Executive Director of the Indiana Bond Bank, an instrumentality of the State of Indiana that provides cost-effective financing to local units of government. Under his leadership since 2023, the agency’s annual lending has grown from $170 million to $383 million. Earlier, as a financial analyst at the Indiana Finance Authority, he worked on the $675 million Ohio River Bridges East End Crossing, named The Bond Buyer’s 2013 national Deal of the Year. A former Clerk-Treasurer and Town Manager for the Town of Speedway, Indiana, he remains active in local government as Vice President of the Speedway Redevelopment Commission. He holds a BA in Economics from DePauw University and an MBA in Finance from the Indiana University Kelley School of Business, and is a Certified Treasury Professional.
Justin Marlowe is a Research Professor at the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy, where he also serves as Associate Director of the Center for Municipal Finance. He has published five books – including the forthcoming Public Debt Management: Strategy and Evidence (Cambridge University Press) – and dozens of articles on the municipal bond market, infrastructure finance, governmental accounting, and local fiscal policy. He regularly works as an expert witness in federal and state courts, and has served on technical advisory bodies for the California State Auditor, the Governmental Accounting Standards Board, and the Chicago Metropolitan Agency on Planning, among many others. He is a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration and co-hosts (with Liz Farmer) the popular Harris School-sponsored podcast “The Public Money Pod.” He holds a Ph.D. in political science and public administration from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Lisa Marie is a qualified financial expert with significant governance and regulatory compliance experience. She is the board president for the San Diego City Employment Retirement System (SDCERS) serving on the audit and investment committees, a board of director for the California Fixed Income Trust (CalFIT) serving as Treasurer and Secretary and a board member of the Wakeland Housing Corporation LLC., serving on the Finance Committee. While serving as the Board President of SDCERS, Harris oversaw and guided the board through the transformation of a closed pension plan to a restructured open plan to comply with State law requiring several years of negotiation with the pension plan sponsor, employee unions and the pension plan.
Lisa Marie is serving as the Chief Financial Officer for the San Diego County Water Authority in San Diego California. Under her leadership, Lisa Marie directs a team of over 30 finance professionals providing operational leadership and strategic financial expertise that has been regionally recognized by the San Diego Business Journal as CFO of the year for exceptional operational oversight of the multi-billion utility and for the execution of financial strategies involving a complex Private-Public P3 refinancing of the San Diego Desalination Plant, largest in the Western Hemisphere as well as a unique financing restructuring resulting in protecting the financial position of the water utility during the financial crisis caused by COVID-19. In addition, the National Bond Buyer and Women in Public Finance awarded Harris as a Trailblazer in Public Finance for outstanding contributions to the industry and as a top-ranked Chief Financial Officer. In addition, Harris was recognized by the Secretary of State for the State of California, for her outstanding contributions to public finance and her leadership at the San Diego County Water Authority.
Lisa Marie has also served on numerous boards for California and national nonprofit organizations. Lisa Marie is a past board member for San Diego County Pension System (SDCERA), and currently serves on the Investment Committee for the San Diego Girl Scouts. Recently honored as a finalist for the San Diego Girl Scouts Cool Women for her leadership in the region. Lisa Marie is a past national board member for Governmental Finance Officers Association (GFOA), Women in Public Finance and founder of the San Diego Chapter of Women in Public Finance serving on the executive and finance committees.
Chris Wimsatt joined the Port of Seattle as Chief Financial Officer in October of 2025. In this role, he is responsible for shaping the financial strategy for the Port’s business lines, including Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and the Seattle Seaport. Chris oversees all Finance, Budget and Debt Management functions in addition to Financial Reporting, Treasury and Risk Management. Chris and his team manage a $1.2 billion budget, $4 billion debt portfolio, $2.5 billion investment portfolio, and a $5 billion Capital Improvement Plan.
Chris has spent his career in Public Finance and Transportation, having previously served as Assistant Director of Airports for the Sacramento County Airport System. He also previously held roles as the deputy director and chief financial officer at the Sacramento County Airport System, and as the division manager and chief financial officer for the Department of Aviation in the City of Dayton, Ohio.
Chris holds a B.S. in Political Science from Ohio University and an MBA from Western Governors University. He was recognized as a 2023 Bond Buyer Rising Star as well as 2024 Airport Finance Professional of the Year by Airports Council International-North America.
Steven J. Lux was appointed by the Board of Commissioners on June 6, 2024, as Treasurer of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. The Treasurer is responsible for maintaining the District’s cash and investments portfolio, maintaining a proper level of liquidity while maximizing investment returns. The Treasurer is also responsible for debt management which consists of issuing bonds, timely payment of principal and interest payments and ensuring the District has capacity to issue bonds under its Debt Service Extension Base as well as maintain relations with rating agencies and investors. The Treasurer also manages the assets of the District’s Retiree Healthcare Trust.
Steve brings 40 years of accounting and finance expertise, having started his career at Touche Ross, which later merged with Deloitte. In 1996, he joined the City of Chicago, his former client, as Deputy Comptroller, advancing to Managing Deputy Comptroller and then City Comptroller before serving as a Director at Baker Tilly for two years.
In 2013, Steve then returned to government as the Chief Financial Officer of the Chicago Park District. During his eleven-year career at the Park District, he supervised various departments including Budget and Management, Comptroller’s Office, Finance, Performance Management, Procurement, Revenue and Treasury. He transitioned the Park District’s health care to a self-insured model implemented cost-saving measures and reduced utility costs by hedging energy prices during the pandemic.
Steve graduated from the University of Illinois in Champaign with a Bachelor of Sciences degree in Accountancy.