Professional development

Municipalities face the most difficulty in attracting and winning new hires compared to all other financial sector participants.

Teague, most recently an executive director of the municipal securities department at Morgan Stanley, will focus on surface transportation.

"Our firm is committed to expanding in regions and sectors with robust muni issuances and we view the K-14 market in California to be a great intersection of such," said Gary Hall, SWS president of infrastructure and public finance.

Messina, a veteran public finance lawyer, will focus on senior living and life-plan communities.

Peter Lam has served as bond counsel to state and local issuers for public and privately placed bond issuances.

Mesirow's public finance group will collaborate with the firm's institutional sales and trading team to offer clients defeasance and cash-flow management for their portfolios.

"After more than 36 years as investor and leader, Peter has decided the timing is right to begin his own retirement next year," said Rich Kushel, senior managing director at BlackRock.

"I am excited to lead the team through what will be an exciting period of growth in public finance," Anjali Sharma said.

The award will be presented to Chu during Women in Public Finance's national conference in Washington, D.C. in September.

Charles Treece and Azer Akhtar in Washington, D.C., and Jennifer Santangelo in Philadelphia have become partners at Ballard Spahr.

Virginia Wong, a partner in Nixon Peabody's public finance group, talks with Chip Barnett about effective mentorship and building successful teams. (15 minutes)

Tishelman, a 40-year market vet, comes to Siebert from UBS Financial Services, where he was a managing director and head of issuance strategies and municipal sales.

Villanova, who is based in Hawaii, will help expand Bancroft's engagement with issuers, underwriters and financial advisors.

Public finance veterans Marvin Markus and Mark Liff join Siebert as managing directors to focus on expanding the firm's infrastructure and higher education practices.

"Our goal and our mission is really this — to provide investors with the insightful research that will help them make better investment decisions," says Janice Hofferber, head of Moody's Public Finance group.

Julie Burger and Mark Burns will report to Chuck Peck, while Peter Cannava, current head of public finance, will become leader of multifamily capital in Wells Fargo's commercial real estate group.

The Securities and Exchange Commission's examination priorities for the year include big ticket items like Regulation Best Interest.

"As we continue to strengthen our national platform, I am delighted to have Gary serving as president of the infrastructure and public finance department," Suzanne Shank said.

A compendium of changes in the municipal industry.

On Tuesday, the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board filed a proposal with the SEC to changing Rule G-3, which governs continuing education requirements.