Blog
End of Summer Newsletter
President’s Letter
Welcome to the End of Summer APFP Newsletter. On behalf of the APFP Board of Governors, we hope everyone is faring well and staying healthy and safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
APFP incorporated five years ago to provide a platform for public finance professionals to meet, share ideas and learn industry trends. During these challenging times we remain committed to meeting our mission by looking at alternative means to reach our membership. To that end, we want to extend a special thank you to our sponsors — we remain grateful for your support that allows APFP to continue providing a platform for public finance professionals.
While we have postponed all in person events, APFP is developing a series of virtual events. Stay tuned for upcoming announcements.
Warm Regards,
Craig A. Robinson
Co-Found and President APFP
First Half of 2020 in Review
We began 2020 in partnership with other regional Public Finance Professional organizations. On January 15, 2020, APFP and the Virginia Chapter of Women in Public Finance co-hosted Economic Development and Innovation Education Panel & Networking Reception, at the University of Virginia Darden Sands Family Grounds in Roslyn, Virginia. The panel featured experts from the public and private sector discussing innovative approaches to economic development in Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. Moderated by Giedre Ball, Debt Program, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, panelists Stephanie Landrum, President & CEO, Alexandria Economic Development Partnership, Dr. Fitzroy Lee, Deputy CFO and Chief Economist, DC Government, Marian Marquez, Acting Director of Business Investment, Arlington Economic Development, and Andy Van Horn, of JGB Smith discussed how governmental leaders and the business community worked together to drive growth. This was our second event co-hosted with the Virginia Chapter of Women in Public Finance, and we look forward to continuing our partnership.
On January 29, 2020 APFP and the Maryland Chapter of Women in Public Finance co-hosted a panel discussion at the Offices of Miles & Stockbridge P.C. in Baltimore, Maryland. Moderated by Fabian Walters of Miles & Stockbridge, panelists Jennifer Fredericks of BNY Mellon, Nikki Griffth of Howard County and Desa Sealy of Edgemoor Infrastructure & Real Estate discussed the considerations and challenges of executing public-private partnerships. As our first co-hosted event with the Maryland Chapter of Women in Public Finance, we anticipate future joint events.
On Wednesday, June 24, 2020, in continuance of our mission to encourage fellowship within the public finance community, promote standards of high professional integrity, and provide activities to meet, share ideas and learn, APFP hosted its first virtual workshop on Creating a Culture of Inclusion: Addressing Unconscious Bias. Led by Tanya M. Odom, Ed.M. global consultant, writer, coach, and diversity, equity, and inclusion thought leader, over 70 public finance professionals attended the virtual workshop. Please visit our website https://www.publicfinancedmv.com/presentations/ to access the slides from the workshop presentation, and other resources to support enhancing your learning about unconscious bias and microaggressions.
COMING SOON
2020 Virtual Events. Need a reason to get outside? Want to test your trivia skills? Plan to join us virtually for a 5K run/walk, and Muni Virtual Game Night. Details are forthcoming.
2021 Sponsorship Opportunities. Become an APFP Sponsor by contacting APFP Treasurer Pam Holton-Byrd at byrdp@stifel.com.
One year anniversary APFP – organization established to promote high standards and fellowship in the Greater Washington, D.C. area public finance industry
For Immediate Release
One year anniversary APFP — organization established to promote high standards and
fellowship in the Greater Washington, D.C. area public finance industry
Washington, D.C. February 16, 2016…. The Association of Public Finance Professionals of the
District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia (APFP) a District of Columbia 501(c)(6),celebrates it’s
first year. APFP was created by a group of Greater Washington, D.C. area public finance
professionals in order to establish a forum for governmental issuers, regulators and related
professionals in the D.C. area to meet, exchange ideas, and to discuss those ideas in an informal
setting. In addition, the Association aims to promote awareness of the public finance industry to
students and young professionals to facilitate the development of careers in public finance through
establishing mentoring programs, career panels and providing guidance to mentoring relationships.
Board members include representatives from national financial advisory, underwriting and law firms
as well as related industry professionals with a strong presence in the region.
The APFP roster now boasts over 70 members with participants from state and local government
issuers, not-for-profit issuers, investment bankers, attorneys, financial advisors, insurers, and trust
officers.
“Our goal is to be a resource of information and ideas for the D.C. area public finance industry,” said
Craig A. Robinson, President of APFP. “APFP has had a phenomenal year! Our inaugural
Educational Seminar featured guest speaker Bob Fippinger, Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board
(MSRB) Chief Legal Counsel who provided an update on the MSRB rules related to the
development of the MSRB’s municipal advisory regulatory regime, reviewed MSRB Rule G-17 and
proposed Rule G-42 and discussed the upcoming Municipal Advisor Representative Qualification
Examination (Series 50). Approximately 60 persons attended our second educational seminar with
guest speaker Rebecca Harrigal, Director of the IRS Office of Tax Exempt Bonds, Tax Exempt &
Government Entities Division where she reviewed the IRS FY 2016 priorities.”
“APFP plans to continue to take advantage of our location and proximity to industry regulators and
host educational presentations and other events throughout the year for our community. Similar to
New York and Chicago, which have active industry organizations, there is a strong enough industry
concentration in the region to support such an organization going forward” added Jonathan Kirn,
Vice President of APFP.
For 2016, APFP will host at least 2 workshops which will include special guest speaker
presentations, panel discussions about current topics in the public finance industry and 2 networking
events.
For more information about APFP, please visit www.publicfinancedmv.com.
Contact: Jonathan F. Kirn
202-872-8052
# # #
Taxpayer – Friendly Treasury Regulations Recently Released
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
3:30 p.m. Registration
4 p.m. Program
5 p.m. Cocktail Reception
Squire Patton Boggs
2550 M Street Northwest
Washington, D.C. 20037
Contact
Matt Trem
+1 216 479 8405
At the issuance and during the life of an issue of tax-exempt bonds, issuers and borrowers must be mindful of the limitations imposed by the federal tax laws on the use of such proceeds. On October 27, 2015, the Treasury Department promulgated Final Treasury regulations that dramatically enhance the ability of an issuer or borrower to allocate funds other than tax-exempt bond proceeds toward private business use of a mixed-use project. The regulations also include provisions designed to provide greater flexibility to accommodate public-private partnerships. Additionally, under certain circumstances, the regulations permit “anticipatory remediation” of a future deliberate action, a common-sense provision long sought after by public finance practitioners.
The regulations apply to bonds sold on or after January 25, 2016 and may be applied, in certain circumstances, to bonds issued before that date. Issuers and borrowers of governmental obligations and qualified 501(c)(3) bonds are likely to benefit the most from the regulations; however, the regulations will benefit issuers and borrowers of all types of tax-exempt bonds.
This session will provide attendees with a short, concise discussion of the new regulations and offer practical suggestions for how the regulations can benefit tax-exempt bond issuers, as well as borrowers. Squire Patton Boggs attorneys who will be in attendance include Alethia Nancoo, JR Clark, Todd Cooper, Robert Labes and Joel Swearingen. Immediately following the presentation, the panelists will host a question and answer session for the attendees, followed by a cocktail reception.
APFP-DMV Winter Update
The Association of Public Finance Professionals of the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia (“APFP-DMV”) organizers: Craig Robinson (PFM Group), Jon Kirn and Anton Voinov (Siebert Brandford Shank & Co), Darrin Glymph (Orrick), Pam Holton-Byrd (Stifel), Peter Cunningham (BNY Mellon), and Ritta McLaughlin, have all been busy over the winter preparing for 2015. Below are some of the highlights:
Organizational Structure
The organizational documents are in the final stages of completion. APFP-DMV will be filing in the coming weeks and will become an official 501c(6) not-for-profit corporation.
Survey Results
In our efforts to improve as an organization and for future events, last November APFP-DMV conducted a survey about the organization as a whole and our two 2014 networking events. APFP-DMV has received overwhelmingly positive responses with comments including, “Social atmosphere was good and key,” along with “Don’t change a thing”. Some respondents would also like to see an educational component to the events. All survey respondents agreed they would like to continue seeing additional APFP-DMV events. The organizers are taking all suggestions into consideration and will try to incorporate them in the future. Thank you to those who took the time to respond to the survey.
Website
The APFP-DMV website is under construction. We are working with Dan Rodriguez of ImageMaster in designing a robust website that will allow APFP-DMV to fulfill our goals as a professional organization. The official website roll out is coming soon.
Membership & Committees
Stay tuned for another communication about how to become a member and how to participate in one of the committees.
Sponsorships
A big “Thank You” to last year’s event sponsors (listed alphabetically): BNY Mellon, Image Master, Jefferies, Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe, PFM Group, Siebert Brandford Shank & Co., Stifel, and TD Securities. If you are interested in sponsoring any of our 2015 events, please contact Craig Robinson at robinsonc@pfm.com for more details.
Upcoming Event
Our next event is scheduled for Wednesday, April 29, 2015. Be on the lookout for a “Save the Date” in the coming weeks with more details.
Contact Us
We are always open to hearing further comments, recommendations and suggestions. Please feel free to contact the group at admin@publicfinancedmv.com or reach out to any of the organizers individually.
Stay warm this winter!
Sincerely,
The APFP-DMV Organizers
Our Mission
The Association of Public Finance Professionals of the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia (APFP-DMV), a District of Columbia 501(c)(6) not‐for‐profit corporation, aims to encourage good fellowship among its members and to promote and maintain high standards and principles in the public finance industry through association activities including informal networking events, educational panels and seminars featuring and recognizing prominent public sector and industry leaders of the public finance community. Through its association activities, the APFP-DMV provides a platform for public finance industry participants to meet frequently, share ideas and learn industry trends in congenial settings away from the business of doing deals. In addition, the APFP-DMV will aim to promote awareness of the public finance industry to students and young professionals and will work to facilitate the development of careers in public finance through establishing mentoring programs, career panels and providing guidance to mentoring relationships.