Managing Director, Western Region Manager
PNC Bank
Monika Suarez is a Managing Director & Senior Vice President, serving as the West Region Manager within PNC’s Public Finance Group. Ms. Suarez focuses on the origination of municipal capital solutions as well as the delivery of PNC’s full banking platform to governmental, higher education and 501c3 entities. This includes the delivery and execution of credit origination, bond underwriting, treasury management and investment management solutions.
Ms. Suarez brings nearly 30 years of public finance experience, with a unique blend of public‑ and private‑sector roles. Prior to joining PNC, she spent twelve years at Western Alliance Bank, where she led and scaled the public finance and affordable housing platform, managing a multibillion‑dollar portfolio of loans, securities, and credit facilities. Earlier in her career, she spent a decade at the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (“LA Metro”), where she planned future debt issuances and helped implement innovative financing structures. Ms. Suarez holds a Master of Public Administration from The George Washington University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from University of Arizona.
California’s housing crunch remains one of the state’s most pressing economic and public policy challenges. With the passage of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act incentivizing more housing, public finance leaders are exploring innovative ways to expand housing production.
This session will examine how growing demand for affordable, workforce, and middle-income housing is being met, while navigating rising construction costs, regulatory hurdles, and evolving market conditions. Panelists will also discuss financing strategies for military housing and the critical role housing plays in supporting economic growth, workforce retention, and community development throughout California.