Career moves

By hiring Silvia Shin, Ballard Spahr became Delaware's appointed bond counsel.

The addition is part of a push to expand the firm's presence in New York public finance, Jonathan Ballan told The Bond Buyer.

Hillman is part of a spate of hirings deepening the firm's presence in certain regions and the transportation sector. 

The longtime muni bond strategist left Wells Fargo earlier this year.

Main Street Natural Gas, a blended component unit of Georgia Gas, issues most of the authority's debt.

UMB hired 13 people from Wilmington Trust, and opened an Orange County office, to expand in municipal and corporate trustee, escrow and paying-agent services.

Denise Canada, appointed by Brad Briner to head state and local government finance, has experience working for the state's local and state governments.

Samantha Funk will step up as new head of public finance at PNC after Rob Dailey retires at the end of July.

Veteran muni banker Debra Saunders is working to help tribal governments access government financing and debt markets for energy projects.

Kullmann will head the firm's negotiated underwriting desk. 

Hilltop currently ranks 19th year-to-date among managing underwriters of municipal bonds, underwriting $1.2 billion in 53 issues.

Dan Aschenbach and Namsoo Lee created Municipal Financial Solutions Associates to help utilities manage the changing economic and regulatory landscape.

Compensation played a role in the departures, sources said.

The well-known muni strategist said he's pursuing "more market-related opportunities."

The Boston-based Nixon Peabody added seasoned municipal finance expert Michael Melzer as a partner, while Barclays lost three professionals.

Mary Simpkins, who joined the SEC's Office of Municipal Securities in November 1997, is retiring.

The departures happened around the time Barclays handed out companywide bonuses and coincided with the firm in the process of shrinking its muni footprint in the regions, according to sources.

The state treasurer is seeking someone willing to take the role on a permanent basis.

Firms like Siebert Williams Shank and Huntington have begun stacking their benches with municipal finance talent amid tax exemption uncertainty.

Rhonda Skoby and Rachel Lochner joined the Minneapolis public finance practice of Taft, Stettinier and Hollister as partner and associate, respectively.