CHICAGO – The National Federation of Municipal Analysts presented awards to six municipal market professionals and one issuer during a luncheon at its annual conference here on Wednesday.
The awards have been presented annually and recognize individuals or entities that further NFMA's goals of advancing the muni bond industry. Jennifer Johnston, vice president and research analyst with Franklin Templeton's municipal bond department and a former NFMA chair, was this year's awards committee chairman and presided over the ceremony.
Colleen Woodell, vice chair of the board for the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board and the former chief credit officer of global corporate and government ratings for Standard & Poor's, received a Career Achievement Award. Johnston said the committee recognized Woodell for her "significant contribution to the industry in the training of countless analysts" and her unique expertise drawn from her experience working on various sides of the market.
"Colleen has been a tough advocate for women in the field, and we felt that she deserves our acknowledgement and appreciation," Johnston said.
The Meritorious Service Award for 2016 went to Gilbert Southwell, III, vice president and senior municipal analyst at Wells Capital Management, for his leadership role on several NFMA committees that published white papers and recommended best practices on disclosure. Johnston thanked Southwell for his "willingness to devote time and his significant expertise in assisting the NFMA in the promulgation of best practices in the municipal market."
"He wants to improve disclosure through everything he does," she said.
Four other members received NFMA Industry Contribution Awards for their work in establishing the group's newest society, the Philadelphia Municipal Analysts Society (PhAMAS).
PhAMAS was created to fill a need in the Philadelphia area for education programming and networking for municipal analysts and other muni professionals, according to the NFMA. The members were: Tom Kozlik, a managing director at PNC Capital Markets; Ron Mintz, principal and senior credit analyst at Vanguard; Bill Bonawitz, director of municipal research with PNC Capital Advisors; and Stephen Winterstein, managing director of research & chief strategist at Wilmington Trust Investment Advisors.
"These four members recognized a need in the Philadelphia area and filled it," Johnston said. "PhAMAS events are unique, educational and make us think differently about what we do."
The NFMA also recognized an issuer, the San Francisco international Airport, with its Excellence in Disclosure Award.
"San Francisco International Airport serves as an example for outstanding disclosure through its timely and very comprehensive disclosure," Johnston said. "Management is accessible and candid, not just on an ongoing basis, but also when communicating with investors during challenging times."
Ronda Chu, the airport's debt manager, accepted the award.
