Title: Director, Higher Education Group
Firm: PFM Financial Advisors LLC
Age: 36
While in college and serving as president of the student body and a representative on the Board of Trustees, Bjorn Reigle said it was working on the college’s bond financing to refund existing debt and build projects that “enhanced the student experience” that drew him to a career in public finance. It was the first time he knew that he wanted to be involved in Higher Education finance.
Bjorn enjoys the relationships he’s built over the years and the opportunity to work on projects that have a meaningful impact for High Education institutions and ultimately their students. The business allows him to work on creative solutions for complex situations, and at the end of the day makes a real difference, he said, adding that he always enjoys seeing a new campus building open and knowing that he helped make the project a success.
The top issues confronting higher education today are affordability and differentiation, he says, noting that what worked for the past 20 years may not work for the next 20 years. Affordability continues to be a real concern, and solving it is a bigger challenge. Institutions need to be innovative and forward-thinking in how they deliver core offerings or they will risk falling behind.
“I consider Bjorn a true partner of our university and foundation. He puts our interests at the forefront of every project and his leadership and experience is unmatched,” said Robert Whitaker, Vice President for Business and Finance, Georgia Southern University.”
