© 2026 Arizent. All rights reserved.
Legal Intelligence
Research
Infrastructure/P3
New Issuance
Anatomy of a Deal
Leaders
MuniThink
Top Stories
Rising Stars 2026

Meet The Bond Buyer's 2026 Rising Stars

Published August 11, 2026 8:52 AM
|
Updated September 15, 2026 8:32 AM
1 Min Read
Complimentary Access Pill
Enjoy complimentary access to top ideas and insights — selected by our editors.
Want unlimited access to top ideas and insights? Subscribe Now
Rising Stars Logo

The Bond Buyer's Rising Stars program recognizes municipal finance professionals under the age of 40 who have made positive contributions to their community while demonstrating exceptional leadership, excellent collaboration skills, innovation and creativity in their roles.

The 11th class of Rising Stars will be honored at an awards dinner at the close of The Bond Buyer's INFRASTRUCTURE conference, which takes place September 14–15, 2026, at the Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel. Scroll through to meet the Class of 2026.

See last year's class.

Joseph Abramson.jpg

Joseph Abramson

Title: Executive Director
Firm: Morgan Stanley
Age: 39

Joseph Abramson is helping to reshape and modernize the nation's infrastructure to meet the challenges of the next century and he couldn't be happier.

"There are real infrastructure problems to solve," he says.

Read the full bio here.
Kirsten Chalke.jpg

Kirsten Chalke

Title:  Senior Vice President
Firm: Jefferies
Age: 35

What Kirsten Chalke remembers most from her internship in J.P. Morgan's transportation group wasn't a particular transaction — it was the people.

"I've always been driven more by people than subject matter," she says. "The people I met were passionate about what they do and that passion was contagious."

Read the full bio here.
Diana Cooke.png

Diana Cooke

Title: Associate Director
Firm: S&P Global Ratings
Age: 35

Diana Cooke is a born analyst. After earning her degree in math and economics from the University of Connecticut, she began her career as a research analyst at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, positioning herself for a Ph.D. in urban economics. However, during her doctoral studies, Diana reconsidered her path.

"I was dissatisfied with my Ph.D. program," Diana said. "Successful research seemed driven by data availability, not curiosity. Without real-world exposure, I couldn't even ask the most interesting questions. It felt like I was in a bubble while all the dynamics I cared to learn about were happening outside," she says.

Read the full bio here.
Jorge Delgado
Kelly McNett

Jorge Delgado

Title: Senior Vice President - Investment Banker
Firm: Hilltop Securities Inc.
Age: 38

Jorge Delgado's career could have gone in many directions. After almost accepting a job at Lockheed Martin following grad school, he instead joined Hilltop Securities.

"It would have been a totally different path, but I didn't have any one role I was set on. I was open to anything that seemed interesting and Hilltop seemed interesting," says Jorge.

Read the full bio here.
Patrick Doherty
Untitled design - 2

Patrick Doherty

Title: Vice President
Firm: Bancroft Capital
Age: 31

At first glance, Army paratrooper and investment banker may seem like very different careers. For Patrick Doherty, however, they share a common purpose: serving the country and the communities that make it strong.

Since childhood, Pat dreamed of becoming an Army paratrooper. At 18, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and spent six years as an airborne infantryman, team leader and sergeant. His service included multiple combat patrols in Iraq and he earned numerous medals.

Read the full bio here.
Casey Fox.jpg

Casey Fox

Title: Director
Firm: RBC Capital Markets
Age: 36

Casey Fox is quick to credit the people who helped shape his career.

"I've been fortunate to work with managers who invested in my development," he says. "I wouldn't be where I am today without their support."

Read the full bio here.
Sarah Goo.jpg
Mike Styer Photography LLC

Sarah Good

Title: Senior Managing Consultant
Firm: PFM Financial Advisors LLC
Age: 30

Driven by an interest in learning more about the inequalities that exist across different communities and how that correlates to finance, Sarah Good was drawn to municipal finance shortly after graduating from Gettysburg College.

"I was a sociology major in college and didn't expect to go into finance, but I learned early on how finance around housing, education and healthcare impacts communities. Public finance was a great way to combine my passion for finance and community inequalities," says Sarah, a senior managing consultant with PFM Financial Advisors.

Read the full bio here.
Jacqueline Hal.jpg

Jacqueline Hale

Title: Partner
Firm: McCall, Parkhurst & Horton LLP
Age: Age: 34

Jacqueline Hale grew up in the Central Texas area, graduated from Baylor University and then attended law school at the University of Oklahoma. After beginning her career at the Floyd Law Firm in Norman, Oklahoma, Jacqueline wanted to come home to Texas and in 2018 took a job with McCall, Parkhurst & Horton LLP, earning the title of partner in 2025.

Her practice primarily focuses on special districts in Texas. She serves as a leader in the firm on municipal utility district financings and represents municipalities on a wide variety of deals, including public improvement district transactions. Jacqueline recently expanded her practice to assist with large issuers in Texas, such as the Texas Water Development Board and the Lower Colorado River Authority.

Read the full bio here.
Untitled (2160 x 1050 px) - 1
Edi W

Lauren Herrera

Title: Senior Associate
Firm: Orrick
Age: 38

Lauren Herrera, a senior associate with Orrick, always thought she would work in the public sector after growing up with parents who both worked for Arizona State University. Then while in law school and interning at the Arizona governor's office she saw there were a lot of public and policy jobs suited for lawyers.

"I knew then I wanted to use a law degree in this way and I assumed I would work at a state agency," says Lauren. "Right after graduation I worked for a division within the state treasurer's office in California and that's where I learned about public finance."

Read the full bio here.
Rupanil Jai.jpg

Rupanil Jain

Title: Associate Director
Firm: Huntington Securities, Inc.
Age: 26

Rupanil Jain was drawn to public finance by the intersection of financial markets, public policy and politics.

During a college internship after her freshman year, she was struck by the dedication and sense of purpose of the bankers alongside whom she worked. Then, while studying abroad in London as Brexit unfolded, she witnessed firsthand how public policy decisions could ripple through financial markets and economies around the world.

Read the full bio here.
Matt Jian.jpg

Matthew Jiang

Title: Director
Firm: Bank of America
Age: 39

Timing, as they say, is everything.

Investment banking was on Matthew Jiang's radar after graduating from Cornell University. But it was 2008, right in the middle of the financial crisis. After completing an internship in sales and trading at Merrill Lynch, Matt was set to join the firm's municipal derivative team — just as the industry was moving away from derivatives. Instead, Merrill offered him a position as an analyst in public finance supporting the transportation team.

Read the full bio here.
Elizabeth Ki.jpg
Ruben_Domingo

Elizabeth Kim

Title: Vice President
Firm: Loop Capital Markets
Age: 35

Public finance wasn't part of Elizabeth Kim's original career plan. As an undergraduate, she was on the pre-med track until an internship at the Michigan Finance Authority prompted her to switch her major to finance.

Unsure where a finance degree would lead, Liz explored several career options, including private banking and management consulting. Yet she kept returning to public finance, drawn by the positive experience she had during her internship and the opportunity to work on projects with lasting community impact.

Read the full bio here.
Pharris Langston.jpg

Pharris Langston

Title: Senior Managing Director
Firm: Backstrom McCarley Berry & Co., LLC
Age: 39

Pharris Langston isn't afraid of hard work. Pharris began her career with Backstrom McCarley Berry & Co., LLC, as an intern in 2008. Over the past decade and a half, she has steadily expanded her responsibilities and expertise, serving in numerous roles across the firm, culminating in her promotion to senior managing director in 2025.

Pharris leads the implementation, renewal and replacement of credit facilities for the firm's municipal advisory clients while also overseeing the underwriting desk and back-office operations. Her ability to adapt, learn and excel across a wide range of functions has made her an invaluable asset to the firm.

Read the full bio here.
Leichman_Tiffany.jpg

Tiffany Lu Leichman

Title: Partner
Firm: Taft
Age: 39

A self-described bond nerd, Tiffany Lu Leichman never stops moving. Since 2023, she has worked on more than 145 financings worth more than $1.7 billion. Her transaction volume has more than quadrupled over the past three years, reflecting both her expanding responsibilities and the confidence clients, underwriters, developers, and public entities place in her counsel.

Just last year, Tiffany served as bond counsel on many notable projects, including Redtail Ridge Metropolitan District, located in Louisville, Colorado, which issued more than $87 million in tax-exempt financing to support the first phase of infrastructure for a 2.6 million-square-foot mixed-use innovation campus. The project represents one of the largest remaining commercial development opportunities in Boulder County.

Read the full bio here.
Erin Lenno.jpg

Erin Lennon

Title: Assistant Vice President
Firm: Assured Guaranty
Age: 27

Only five years into her public finance career, Erin Lennon is already helping shape the next generation of professionals.

Through Assured Guaranty's internship mentorship program, Erin helps interns with everything from reviewing resumes to interview preparation and encouraging them to explore careers in the field. "Most people don't set out to work in public finance," Erin says. "But once they discover it, they realize how exciting it can be. I love sharing my passion for the industry with them."

Read the full bio here.
Frank Mam.jpg

Frank Mamo

Title: Vice President
Firm: Moody's Ratings
Age: 38

Frank Mamo, a vice president on the ratings team at Moody's, is a lead analyst for local government credit ratings in the southeast.

During his 12 years at Moody's, he has worked with hundreds of local governments and conducted extensive research on municipal budgets and infrastructure needs. He is always researching the next thing that will impact communities.

Read the full bio here.
Cordelia Mende.jpg

Cordelia Mendez

Title: Senior Vice President
Firm: Ramirez & Co., Inc.
Age: 33

As a young girl riding New York City's transportation system, Cordelia Mendez was fascinated by how millions of people could live in such a compact environment.

Today, she helps finance that infrastructure.

Read the full bio here.
Jennie M.jpg

Jennie Mu

Title: Director
Firm: Fitch Ratings
Age: 32

In July, Jennie Mu celebrated her 10-year anniversary at Fitch Ratings.

Since joining Fitch in 2016, Jennie has been promoted four times, reflecting both her exceptional analytical ability and her growing leadership within the municipal bond market.

Read the full bio here.
Julius Ree.jpg

Julius Rees

Title: Director
Firm: Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.
Age: 27

"At the end of the day, this is a relationship business," Julius Rees says.

Whether working with bankers, issuers, attorneys, rating agency analysts or others, Julius is committed to building relationships rooted in trust across disciplines, geographies and perspectives, with the goal of helping clients achieve the best possible outcomes.

Read the full bio here.
Kevin Roberts.jpg

Kevin Roberts

Title: Managing Vice President
Firm: BAM Mutual
Age: 37

Kevin Roberts' door is always open for junior analysts.

As a key mentor in BAM's rotational analyst program, he's committed to helping new professionals build both technical expertise and confidence. "One of the hardest things as a new analyst is not getting lost in the weeds," he says. "I try to help younger analysts understand how their work fits into the bigger picture."

Read the full bio here.
Christina Saggiomo.jpg
David Rosenblum

Christina Saggiomo

Title: Senior Director of Capital Finance
Firm: Philadelphia International Airport/Northeast Philadelphia Airport
Age: 38

Public finance has been part of Christina's Saggiomo's life since she was a child.

Christina's father worked in public finance and showed her the infrastructure projects he helped finance. Those experiences sparked a fascination with how capital markets can shape community. Equally important was her love for her hometown of Philadelphia. Bringing those two passions together has allowed Christina to build a career dedicated to improving the city she calls home.

Read the full bio here.
Sarah Tahir
Gittings Global - NE153967
Gittings Photography

Sarah Tahir

Title: Partner
Firm: Bracewell LLP
Age: 36

Texas is one of the largest, most dynamic municipal markets in the country, with infrastructure needs to match. Sarah Tahir has spent her career meeting them.

Born and raised in Norway of Tanzanian heritage, Sarah found her way to public finance via a law school internship at the World Bank Group, where she worked on development finance. That experience showed her how capital markets could address critical infrastructure needs, a lesson she carried into her first public finance role in Texas. "The infrastructure needs in Texas are enormous, so it made sense to start a career here," Sarah says.

Read the full bio here.
Ben Tobias.jpg

Ben Tobias

Title: Senior Associate
Firm: Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
Age: 36

Ben Tobias, a senior associate at Squire Patton Boggs, has emerged as a standout leader, distinguished by his specialization in complex airport and water financings. A homegrown talent at Squire, Tobias joined the firm directly from Georgetown University Law Center.

"I was drawn to Squire's public finance group because I saw how those lawyers could point to what they've built — the actual infrastructure in their cities," says Ben. "I had a public interest mindset during law school. I found my niche and I've grown to enjoy it more each year."

Read the full bio here.
Sebastian Torres.jpg

Sebastian Torres

Title: Counsel
Firm: Nixon Peabody LLP
Age: 38

Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Sebastian Torres took a job as a judicial law clerk at the Puerto Rico Supreme Court soon after law school. Around the same time, Puerto Rico started to default on its debt.

Sebastian was contacted with an opportunity to be part of a newly created public corporation that would manage the fiscal policies of the commonwealth and the necessary debt restructurings. "Conveniently enough, they were looking for lawyers with judicial analytical experience to assess how credits would fare in a bankruptcy process," Sebastian says. "I worked there for three years and fell in love with municipal finance."

Read the full bio here.
Rose Ann Valera.jpg

Rose Anne C. Valera

Title: Global Corporate Trust Client Manager, Vice President
Firm: U.S. Bank Trust Company, N.A.
Age: 30

Rose Anne Valera immigrated to the U.S. from the Philippines at the age of 16. "My Filipino parents believed that to achieve financial stability you worked in healthcare or finance, which led me to pursue an accounting degree," says Rose Anne, a vice president with U.S. Bank Trust Company.

At the age of 17 Rose Anne landed an accounting internship with the city of St. Paul Public Works. "It was my first exposure to public finance, even though I didn't realize it," says Rose Anne.

Read the full bio here.
Kris Vasquez.jpg

Kristopher Vasquez

Title: Senior Vice President, Competitive & Negotiated Underwriting
Firm: TRB Capital Markets
Age: 30

When faced with a challenge, Kristopher Vasquez prefers to meet it head-on, take calculated risks, and own the outcome.

That mindset has fueled his success leading TRB Capital Markets' competitive underwriting. With more than $350 million in competitive bids so far this year, Kris has helped position TRB among the nation's top 25 competitive senior managers.

Read the full bio here.
Benjamin Vernon.jpg
Gittings Photography - LOI-29334
Gittings Photography

Ben Vernon

Title: Partner
Firm: Barnes & Thornburg
Age: 35

Ben Vernon, a partner in the public finance practice at Barnes & Thornburg, advises public entities and private participants on tax-exempt and taxable public finance transactions.

His practice focuses on representing investment banks and bond underwriters, helping his clients navigate the complexities of public finance securities laws. Ben's trajectory reflects steady advancement. After building his public finance practice at firms in Atlanta and Los Angeles, Ben joined Barnes & Thornburg as a partner in 2026.

Read the full bio here.
Charlie Yadon.jpg

Charlie Yadon

Title: Deputy Director
Firm: State of Florida
Age: 37

Growing up in Florida, Charlie Yadon admits he never gave much thought to how bridges, highways, and other public infrastructure were financed. That changed during an internship with the State of Florida, where he got an inside look at public finance.

Read the full bio here.

Rising Stars 2026 Rising Stars Rising Stars Public finance Attorneys Muni Advisor Sell side Buy side
MORE FROM BOND BUYER
Load More