CHICAGO — Minneapolis-based Dougherty & Co. announced this week the hiring of veteran local public finance banker Jim Wenker to bolster its fixed-income banking business and mortgage divisions.
Wenker joined the firm last month in its Minneapolis offices as a senior vice president in investment banking. He will be responsible for research and business development within the fixed-income and mortgage divisions. Wenker retired from his position as Midwest originations manager at Wells Fargo Securities at the end of 2009 after a 22-year career at Wells Fargo Brokerage Services and Norwest Bank, which Wells acquired in 1998.
Wenker worked in various positions in both public finance and commercial real estate divisions during his tenure at Wells and Norwest. Wenker said after six months of retirement he decided to return to work and took the position at Dougherty.
"I will work on developing business and will also do transactions," he said.
Wenker also spent 14 years working for St. Paul in its planning and economic development department, finance, and the city engineer's office.
"Jim brings an extensive and successful track record within investment banking and real estate finance," David Juran, a Dougherty executive vice president, said in a statement. "He understands public finance and commercial real estate markets extremely well. Since he's been primarily focused in the Midwest, his skill set and professional network are a perfect fit for us."
Dougherty ranks 10th so far this year as a senior manager in Minnesota and was 32nd in the Midwest. The firm was 12th last year in its home state and was 31st in the Midwest, according to Thomson Reuters.
