Women in Public Finance will honor St. Louis Comptroller Darlene Green, JPMorgan banker Stephanie Tomblin, and RBC Capital Markets banker Gabriella Briceno with its 2019 Founders’ Awards.
The group chose Green to receive its Lifetime Achievement award. Colorado-based Tomblin, a managing director and manager of aviation and seaport finance, will receive the “She’s Our Hero” award, and Texas-based Briceno, a vice president, will receive the “Rising Star” award.
The women will be recognized Thursday, September 26th at Austin City Limits in Austin, Texas during the 23rd Annual Women in Public Finance Conference.
The lifetime recognition honors a woman involved in the field for more than 10 years who has consistently demonstrated skill, drive, integrity, and vision.
Green has served in the elected comptroller post since 1995 and was the first woman and third African-American elected to the position.
“Comptroller Green has been a strong fiscal steward for the citizens of St. Louis for over 23 years,” reads her nominating statement. “Comptroller Green has also been a strong supporter of women and minorities in public finance throughout her tenure as Comptroller.”
Green said she was honored by the recognition. “To be in public service and represent the taxpayers is a true labor of love. Public finance is an excellent place for women who want to use their analytical skills to help people and build a rewarding career,” Green said.
The “She’s Our Hero Award” recognizes a woman for her management of career, self-development, family, and civic involvement. Tomblin is a 24-year veteran of public finance who began her career as an analyst at the former Lehman Brothers and now is a leading aviation banker who has structured major deals in the sector.
“Stephanie is an outstanding investment banker — unmatched technical and analytical skillset and recognized leader in structuring complex and innovative financings across the nation” who “serves as a model for junior bankers and professionals firm-wide,” says her nominating statement, which also cites her long-time membership in and leadership with WPF.
The “Rising Star Award” recognizes a woman involved in the field for 10 years or less whose work demonstrates skill and intelligence that will have a long-term impact in the field.
“Gabby has a diverse array of clientele, including school districts, cities, counties and state agencies requiring a broad skill set. It is testament to her hard work and intellect that in only 6 years she has developed such a wide range of expertise, performing with aplomb,” her nominating statement says.
“I feel grateful to have been nominated by my peers and am looking forward to the reception and conference that is being held in my home state of Texas,” said Briceno, who began her career at Hilltop Securities Inc. and recently moved over to RBC.
WPF's founders— financial advisor Courtney Shea, former Chicago CFO and financial advisor Lois Scott, retired Standard & Poor's senior managing director Sarah Eubanks, and consultant Nancy Remar — launched the awards more than a decade ago.
The aim is to recognize women with a range of experience for their contributions to the field. The founders, along with past recipients of the awards, review new and past nominations to make their annual selections.
Founded in 1997 in Chicago, Women in Public Finance started out with a focus on the Midwest. In 2010, the group amended its bylaws to recognize regional chapters and affiliates and include professionals from all over the U.S. in order to facilitate regional activities that compliment nationally focused activities.
Among the participants are state and local government issuers, not-for-profit issuers, investment bankers, attorneys, financial advisors, rating agency analysts, bond insurers, and trust officers among others.
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