CHICAGO Midwestern financial advisory firm Columbia Capital Management LLC hired veteran public finance banker and advisor Courtney Shea to lead its push for Chicago area and Illinois business.
Shea started at the firm’s Chicago office this week as a managing director.
“I had the opportunity to work with them on a deal for the Chicago Public Schools and they are a great firm and do excellent work,” Shea said. Columbia has offices in Chicago, St. Louis, and the Kansas City metropolitan area.
Shea had long worked as a public finance banker but shifted to advisory work in 2009 when she opened a Chicago office for Acacia Financial Group Inc. Shea parted ways with the firm in May after she was told the firm was moving a different direction. The firm’s owners declined to comment at the time.
“We have had our eyes on adding someone in Chicago for a number of years but were waiting for the right opportunity,” said Jeff White, a principal at Columbia. “We have worked with Courtney on deals in her past positions and feel it’s a great fit. With Courtney’s experience we are hoping to solidify our position In the Chicago FA community.”
Shea is the firm’s second addition over the last year. James Prichard was hired late last year as a vice president working from its Kansas City area office. Prichard formerly worked as manager of capital markets for the state of Illinois.
Columbia’s roots date back to 1996 when Dennis Lloyd and Les Bond Jr. founded the firm.
Bond, who had primarily worked to build the firm’s Chicago area business, sold his interest to Lloyd, who serves as the firm’s president, a few years ago. White has served since as the primary contact for Chicago area business. The firm has worked on two Chicago Public Schools deals and was recently selected to advise the City Colleges of Chicago.
Columbia ranks at the top of advisors in Missouri so far this year, according to Thomson Reuters data, and finished last year in second place.
It ranks 11th so far this year in Illinois after finishing 22nd last year, and ranks 23rd so far this year nationally and finished 53rd last year
Shea previously managed the banking group at the former LaSalle Capital Markets and held banking positions at Siebert Brandford Shank & Co. LLC, Citi, Artemis Capital Group Inc. and Kemper Securities.
