History

The Council of Development Finance Agencies is a national association dedicated to the advancement of development finance concerns and interests. CDFA is comprised of the nation’s leading and most knowledgeable members of the development finance community representing 300 public, private and non-profit development entities. Members are state, county and municipal development finance agencies and authorities that provide or otherwise support economic development financing programs, including tax-exempt and taxable bonds, credit enhancement programs, and direct debt and equity investments as well as a variety of non-governmental and private organizations ranging from regional and large investment banks to commercial finance companies to bond counsel, bond insurers, trustees, venture capital companies, rating agencies, and other organizations interested in development finance.

The Council was formed in 1982 with the mission to strengthen the efforts of state and local development finance agencies fostering job creation and economic growth through the use of tax-exempt and other public-private partnership finance programs. Today, CDFA has one of the strongest voices in the development finance industry and regularly communicates with Capitol Hill, state and local government leaders and the Federal Administration. The Council provides a number of avenues for assisting the development finance industry including education, advocacy, research, resources and networking.

CDFA is ultimately the conduit linking development finance professionals together. CDFA has a rich history and is considered the industry expert within the federal government, on Capitol Hill and throughout the entire development finance industry.

Board Leadership

CDFA is governed by a 32-member Board of Directors. Policy is developed by the Board of Directors based on committee recommendations and concerns of the membership.

Chairman, Darnell Moses, Authorities Manager, Allegheny County Economic Development, PA
Vice-Chair, Steve Johnson, Manager, Colorado Housing and Finance Authority, CO
Treasurer, James Parks, President & CEO, Louisiana Public Facilities Authority, LA
Secretary, John Saris, Business Services Manager, Business Oregon, OR

Joseph Branca, Managing Director, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, NY
Mark P. Brown, Managing Director, The Bank of New York Mellon, GA
Steve Chilton, Senior Vice President, MassDevelopment, MA
Gregory Cole, Program, Manager, Maryland Department of Business & Economic Development, MD
John Doherty, Vice President, U.S. Bank, NY
Gene Eagle, Vice President, Arkansas Development Finance Authority, AR
Terry Finn, President, Stern Brothers & Co., St. Louis, MO
Richard Frampton, Vice President, Illinois Finance Authority, IL
Jeffrey Freese, Managing Director, KeyBanc Capital Markets, OH
Jonathan Gouveia, Senior Vice President, New York City Economic Development Corporation, NY
Daniel Harrison, Dir. of Administrative Services, CA Statewide Communities Dev. Authority, CA
Maureen Hassett, Senior VP, New Jersey Economic Development Authority, NJ
Harry Huntley, Executive Director, South Carolina Jobs-Economic Development Authority, SC
Bob Lind, Director, Business Finance, City of Minneapolis, MN
Eileen Marxen, Deputy Executive Dir., CA Industrial Dev. Financing Advisory Commission, CA
Brian McMahon, Executive Director, New York State Economic Development Council, NY
Tina Neal, Principal, Perseverance Capital Advisors LLC, VA
Richard Palank, Senior Vice President, Business Finance, St. Louis County Economic Council, MO
Patrick Ray, Managing Partner, Kutak Rock LLP - Arizona, AZ
Amanda Rhein, Senior Project Manager, Invest Atlanta, GA
Gary Smith, President/CEO, Chester County Industrial Development Authority, PA
May M. Smith, Manager of the Industrial Development Authority, City of Los Angeles, CA
James Snyder, Partner, Ice Miller
Cheryl Strickland, First Vice President, Stifel Nicolaus & Company, Inc.
Cam Turner, Principal, United Fund Advisors, Portland, OR
Frances Walton, Chief Financial Officer, Empire State Development Corporation, NY
John Wooten, Director; Head of Municipal Placements, Wells Fargo Securities, NC

Emeritus Director, Mark Huston, Portfolio Manager, Iowa Fund of Funds, IA

General Counsel, Arthur Cohen, Counsel, Hawkins Delafield & Wood LLP, NY
Legislative Representative, Eric Silva, Winston & Strawn, Washington, DC

CDFA Staff & Advisors

CDFA's staff and advisors carry out the day-to-day administration of the Council. To contact a member of the staff or an advisor, use the following information.

Toby Rittner, President & CEO, 614-224-1300
Katie Kramer, Director, Education & Programs, 614-224-1316
Mathius Dillon, Director, State Programs, 614-224-1325
Lori Griffin, Chief Financial Officer, 614-224-1300
Erin Tehan, Manager, Legislative & Federal Affairs, 614-224-1323
Samantha Lynch, Development Coordinator, 614-224-1300
Kimberly Heckbert, Development Coordinator, 614-224-1335
Logan Dawson, Resources Coordinator, 614-224-1325
Eric Silva, Legislative Representative, Winston & Strawn, 202-282-5745
Jerry J. Arkebauer, Bond Finance Course Advisor, 614-224-1300
Tony Q. Smith, Tax Increment Finance Course Advisor, 614-224-1300
Dana Sumner, Revolving Loan Fund Course Advisor, 614-224-1300
Sam DeNies, Network Administrator, 614-224-1300

CDFA mailing address:

Council of Development Finance Agencies
85 E. Gay Street, Suite 700
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 614-224-1300