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Helping government & nonprofit finance teams do their best work
DebtBook helps finance teams manage debt, cash, leases, and subscriptions with modern, cloud-based software, purpose-built for governments and nonprofits.
Invest Smarter, Build Stronger with BAM-Insured Bonds.
BAM Mutual-insured bonds help investors build a better portfolio and support essential infrastructure projects. Let our exclusive focus be your strategic advantage.
Assured Guaranty is the leading provider of financial guaranty insurance. We guarantee timely payment of scheduled principal and interest when due on municipal, public infrastructure and structured financings. We also participate in the asset management business through our ownership interest in Sound Point Capital Management, LP and certain of its investment management affiliates.
Orrick is a global law firm serving the technology, energy, infrastructure, finance, and life sciences sectors across 25+ markets worldwide. For over a century, Orrick has advised governments, public agencies, developers, investors, and lenders on complex infrastructure and public finance transactions. Ranked Band 1 byChambers USA for Public Finance, P3s, Energy Transition, Renewables, and Power, Orrick combines market-leading public finance and infrastructure capabilities to help clients deliver critical projects through innovative financing and procurement solutions. Over the past five years, the firm has advised on more than $624 billion in public finance transactions and $188 billion in P3 and alternative delivery projects.
Erwin Tam was appointed Director of Financing at the California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA) by Governor Gavin Newsom in September 2021. CalHFA is California’s statewide affordable housing lender dedicated to financing mortgage loans and downpayment assistance for first-time homebuyers and multifamily rental developments for low- and moderate-income Californians.
As Director of Financing, Erwin is responsible for CalHFA’s financial operations. This includes the controllership, investments and treasury management, capital markets, financial planning and analysis, annual budget, and financial risk management.
Prior to joining CalHFA, Erwin spent 20 years in municipal advisory and investment banking roles, most recently as Senior Vice President at Backstrom McCarley Berry & Co. in San Francisco. He has consulted on and structured over $18 billion of municipal bonds throughout his career across a variety of sectors including K-12/higher education, transportation, municipal utilities, and general government.
Erwin was recently honored by the Sacramento Business Journal with a 2024 C-Suite Award in recognition of his efforts at CalHFA. Erwin has a BA from the University of California, Berkeley in Economics and Environmental Science (Biological Science).
Lisa Marie Harris joined the Water Authority in May 2014 and has more than 23 years of financial experience in both the public and private sector, including working at the County of San Diego as chief deputy treasurer; the State Treasurer’s Office as executive director of the California Debt and Investment Advisory Commission; the City and County of San Francisco; San Francisco International Airport as the Assistant Deputy Airport Director for Budget and Finance; and most recently for Siebert Brandford Shank & Co., LLC, an investment banking firm, as senior vice president. Harris received her bachelor’s degree in economics from University at California, Berkeley, and her master’s degree in public policy from the University of Michigan.
The Finance Department has a broad range of responsibilities for accounting, financial reporting, payroll, deferred compensation, and accounts payable and receivable (including reporting, billing and collection of water charges, budget oversight, and internal controls). The department is also responsible for investing and borrowing funds; protecting credit ratings in the investment market; developing long-range financing plans in support of the Capital Improvement Program; advising the Board on proposed policy decisions; and providing oversight of imported water activities.
Ronda Chu is the Acting Assistant Chief Financial Officer at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), operated by the Airport Commission of the City and County of San Francisco. She oversees the airport’s financial operations, with a focus on long-term stability and growth. Her leadership spans strategic planning, budgeting, financial systems & reporting, financial planning & analysis, revenue management, capital financing, procurement and risk management. She manages a $1.7 billion operating budget, oversees the financing of a $12.5 billion capital improvement plan, and guides a $9.7 billion debt portfolio—key elements that ensure the airport’s financial strength and resilience.
She brings over 25 years of experience in municipal finance, with a background that spans both advisory and issuer roles. Before joining SFO in 2008, she worked as a management consultant, delivering financial and business planning services to airports and municipalities across the U.S and internationally.
Ms. Chu holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master of Science in Financial Economics from the University of London. Committed to professional and community service, Ms. Chu previously served as a Board Member for a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization from 2012 to 2021. She is currently a member of the Airport Council International-North America (ACI-NA) Finance Committee and serves as Chair of the Strategic Planning and Performance Management Working Group.
Michael Ballinger is Publisher of The Bond Buyer and has been with the publication for over 15 years. He was instrumental in the launch of The Bond Buyer’s Trailblazing Women in Public Finance, Rising Stars and Hall of Fame programs and the National Outlook conference. Before joining The Bond Buyer, Michael was head of marketing and communications at bond insurers, MBIA and CIFG for over 20 years. Prior to that, he worked at United Brands Company in the public affairs department. Michael has a bachelor of arts degree from Hobart and William Smith Colleges and a master’s degree in communications from New York University.
Andy Nakahata is the Executive Director at IBank.
Prior to being appointed by Governor Newsom in 2025 as Chief Deputy Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (IBank), Andy Nakahata spent more than 30 years working with state and local governments, public and private universities, public utilities and other entities developing financing solutions to fund infrastructure projects through the tax-exempt and taxable debt markets.
Nakahata is a native of San Francisco and a long-time Bay Area resident. Prior to joining the IBank, he worked at TD Securities as Director and Western Region Head, UBS Financial Services as Managing Director and Regional Head of Public Finance, West Region, and National Public Finance Guarantee Corporation as Managing Director and Head of West Region New Business building each respective firm’s presence and business in the western region. Nakahata also served as a public finance investment banker with Citigroup, J.P. Morgan and Goldman Sachs.
Nakahata has spent his career finding creative solutions to fund public infrastructure projects at the lowest cost of funds. He plans to leverage his experience as a banker and financial services executive to further strengthen the IBank’s mission to provide financial assistance to support infrastructure and economic development.
A testament to his connection with the California public finance industry, Nakahata has served five times as Co-Chair of the California Bond Buyer Conference, the largest public finance conference in the country.
Nakahata is an active community member, currently serving as Treasurer of the Board of Trustees of San Francisco University High School and is a current and founding member of the Board of Directors of Asian Americans in Public Finance. He previously served as Chair of the Board of Trustees of Marin Country Day School, Secretary of the Board of Directors of Kokoro Assisted Living, Treasurer of the Board of Directors of Enterprise for Youth and member of the Board of Directors of the Asian Pacific Youth Leadership Project.
