Background

Over the last few years there have been several “informal” gatherings of public finance professionals and local issuers coordinated by regional professionals. In 2014 we formalized this ad‐hoc group of organizers to include Craig Robinson from PFM Asset Management (the originator), Darrin Glymph from Orrick, Jon Kirn and Anton Voinov from Siebert Brandford Shank & Co., L.L.C, Pam Holton‐Byrd from Stifel (and formally the District of Columbia), and Peter Cunningham at BNY Mellon with input from Malik Muhammad from the District of Columbia and public finance professional Ritta McLaughlin. In May this group hosted an after work gathering with 54 attendees including municipal issuers, financial advisors, public finance professionals, bond / underwriters / disclosure counsel and trustee / paying agent representatives. The initial feedback from those in attendance was that they would see value in future gatherings.

Our goal is to create a forum for governmental issuers and related professionals in the Suburban Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia (Greater Washington) area to meet, exchange ideas, discuss those issues that we have in common, and to socialize. We want to take advantage of our location and proximity to the industry regulators to include such parties ‐‐ if not as members then as speakers and special guests. We expect to have two evening gatherings per year where we would have speakers / discussions relevant to the area or industry and perhaps one or two lunch gatherings – all To Be Determined when we have assessed interest.