Dan is the CEO and co-founder of Adaje Inc., a cutting-edge AI-powered platform for modeling, marketing, and managing the bond issuance lifecycle for issuers, bankers, advisors, and investors. Previously, Dan served as a municipal advisor for over fifteen years on hundreds of transactions spanning various credits and structures. His disappointment with legacy bond structuring solutions led to the innovation of Adaje. Dan also co-founded Callowhill Capital Advisors, a financial advisory firm known for its analytical expertise and exceptional service. Dan received his bachelor’s degree with honors and majors in Finance and Economics from Drexel University. He is a CFA charterholder and Series 50 and Series 54 licensee.
As Director of GFOA’s Federal Liaison Center, Emily leads coalition and advocacy efforts of the Public Finance Network in Washington DC. Her advocacy includes anticipating and responding to federal legislative and regulatory activities that impact the finance functions of state and local governments and public sector entities including tax reform, municipal securities disclosure and public pension and benefit issues. Emily also serves as staff on GFOA’s Debt Committee, working with committee members to develop best practices that promote sound financial practices for local, state and provincial governments. Prior to joining GFOA, Emily was a commercial bank relationship manager at a large national bank, serving as the sole bank liaison for government and university clients.
Ms. Dralle, Assistant Treasurer and Tax Collector for Los Angeles County, oversees the Department’s Finance and Investment Branch, responsible for the County’s borrowing programs, the investment of County funds, and oversight of investment activities related to the 401(k) and 457 deferred income plans.
Ms. Dralle is a public finance and investment banking executive with over 35 years of experience serving governmental clients. She has held senior leadership roles directing regional markets, structuring complex capital programs, and leading diverse teams. She served as Managing Director and Head of the West Region at Cabrera Capital Markets LLC, overseeing capital infrastructure planning and underwriting for public entities. Previously, at UBS Financial Services and J.P. Morgan, she led California public finance platforms and executed complex financing transactions for counties, cities, State agencies, and special districts.
Ms. Dralle holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History from Marycrest College and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Arizona State University.
Treasurer Fiona Ma appointed Robert Berry to the position of Executive Director of the California Debt and Investment Advisory Commission (CDIAC) in January 2020. Prior to his appointment and since joining CDIAC in late 2010, he served as Deputy Executive Director. Before joining CDIAC, Robert was a manager in the Capital Markets Group of Panattoni Development Company, one of the largest private merchant development companies in the country at the time. As a registered representative and manager of the company’s private equity placement program, he was charged with placing investments of high net-worth individuals in the company’s development projects across 29 US, Canadian, and Eastern European markets. Preceding his years in real estate finance, Robert worked over fourteen years in economic development as a business attraction and retention specialist with the State of California.
Robert earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of California, Davis.
Simon Wirecki is the Western Regional Head for Municipal Finance at Jefferies. Mr. Wirecki has almost 20 years of public finance experience and previously served as a senior banker at Bank of America and Goldman Sachs. Over the course of his career, Mr. Wirecki has lead-managed over $50 billion in financings for issuers across California, Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon, Nevada and Washington. His experience includes assisting clients in executing a range of financing products and structures – fixed rate bonds, floating rate notes, variable rate demand structures, securitizations, and capital appreciation bonds. Mr. Wirecki has also led the execution of a numerous tender offers for issuers across the country. Mr. Wirecki has worked across a wide variety of sectors and his clients have included numerous large state and local governments, higher education institutions, housing issuers, public utilities, 501(c)3 organizations, and securitization SPVs.
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.