American City & County Magazine Highlights Knope of the Week
What is the Knope of the Week? It’s ELGL’s way of recognizing an individual or group of individuals who have excelled in promoting the public sector. Recipients may come from the public or private sector and are nominated by ELGL members. Recipients receive an incredible amount of recognition and prizes that we are not at liberty to disclose. The storied history of the award dates back to 2012.
And the winner of the Knope of Week is…….
D.A Davidson & Co.
Kasia Benoit, Fixed Income Capital Markets, D.A. Davidson & Co.
Matt Donahue, Vice President, Public Finance, D.A. Davidson & Co.
Connect with D.A Davidson: LinkedIn, World Wide Web
Experience in finance, marketing, management, designer retail, safety, recruitment, hiring and training of employees, increasing efficiency in existing systems, planning and executing events, analyzing trend reports, sales, and customer service.
Specialties: Finance, Municipal Bonds, Management, Auditing, Marketing, Recruiting, Analysis, Compliance, Merchandising, Business Planning, Program Implementation, Negotiation
Education: University of Portland, MBA, Business and Oregon State University, Merchandising Management
Matt Donahue is an investment banker and financial adviser to local governments in Oregon. He began his work in public finance at the New Jersey State Treasury where he oversaw numerous public finance functions for the State. He participated in dozens of transactions and the issuance of over $2 billion in bonds. Matt managed the State’s transition out of auction rate securities and developed a strategy for the State’s interest rate swaps that mitigated losses to the State Treasury. Since moving to Oregon, Matt has worked with cities, school districts, special districts, and counties on a diverse set of financings and bond issues. Prior to his start in public finance, Matt was a fifth grade teacher and helped start up an educational software company.
In the Summer of 2012, Matt was chosen by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for a fellowship in their U.S. programs division focusing on reform in K-12 education. He has a Bachelor of Arts from Harvard College and a Master’s in Business Administration from the Yale School of Management. He holds the NASD Series 7, 53 and 63 licenses.
Background Check on D.A Davidson
D.A. Davidson specializes in financing projects for communities across the United States. From securing funding for a new elementary school building to structuring multi-million dollar project financings for professional athletic facilities, we are committed to strengthening infrastructure, expanding businesses and enriching the lives of the people in our communities.
Their public finance investment bankers average over 18 years of experience in conventional fixed-rate debt financing, variable-rate bonds, credit-enhanced structures and non-rated bonds. Year after year, we serve as manager for billions of dollars of financings.
Knope-Worthy Accomplishments
What makes ELGL unique is our long-standing (3 years) relationship with a number of private sector companies and their employees. At the forefront of that list is D.A Davidson and the support that they have provided since the very beginning. Two of their employees, Matt Donahue and Kasia Benoit have been instrumental in building the relationship between ELGL and D.A Davidson.
Attendees to the now-sold out ELGL Conference will get a sampling of why so many government entities rely on D.A Davidson & Co.’s expertise. Kasia and Matt will highlight the session titled, “Local Government Finance Options: Realistic Solutions for Your Community.”
This interactive session will provide valuable summarization of the broader scope of public financing vehicles, including general obligation bonds, full faith and credit obligations, revenue bonds, and more. Geared toward public sector leaders, this session will build your understanding of which vehicles are best for your community, in a conversational tone that is practical, relatable (and dare we say it – fun)!
And to answer the question that everyone has been asking, there will be no twerking doing this session. Sorry, company policy.
Anyway, still unconvinced that D.A Davidson is the best thing since stuffed crust pizza? D.A Davidson is providing generous financial support to offset some of our conference costs and thus saving you a few extra dollars and keeping your money clip a little wider.
Supplemental Reading
- D.A. Davidson & Co. Hires Matt Donahue as Public Finance Lead in Oregon
- D.A. Davidson & Co. to merge with Crowell, Weedon & Co.
- Did You Know Davidson is Employee-Owned?
- D.A. Davidson & Co. Analysts Receive Financial Times/StarMine Awards
- D.A. Davidson Fixed Income Strategist Discusses Rising Interest Rate Environment, Yield Curve
- PERS Presentation