Julie Secrist, PE, F.ASCE is a Professional Engineer, CEO and Founder of Red Stone Group Development & Engineering, who manages multiple lines of business for the company. Julie is an expert in site hydrology, design, and construction for private site development projects including, mixed-use, office, residential, and commercial projects as well as aviation planning, design and construction oversight. She has managed major expansion projects at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the world’s busiest air transportation hub. She is renowned for her use of green spaces in large-scale site development. A few of her exceptional projects include the following: Halcyon, Avalon, Eastmore, Delta Ground Support Facility and Main Terminal Transportation Improvements at Hartsfield Jackson. Throughout Julie’s 20-year career, she has continuously been involved in the leadership of multiple professional engineering and land development organizations, both on the local and national levels. She has been on the leadership team for all four of the Georgia Infrastructure Report Cards which have directly impacted the state’s increased infrastructure funding over the last two decades. She has led three civil engineering departments, multiple large-scale project teams, has been responsible for over 60 engineers, and has mentored countless more. Julie serves as President for Georgia Engineering Foundation, Past-President of ASCE Georgia, Past-Chair for UGA’s College of Engineering Advisory Board, and Co-Chair for the Georgia Infrastructure Report Card. In 2025, she was named Georgia’s Engineer of the Year in Construction.

Rhonda Dillingham is a veteran educator who taught 9th -12th grade English for 18 years and brings a wealth of experience to her role as Executive Director of the NC Association for Public Charter Schools. She graduated with honors from Greensboro College in 1996 with a BA in secondary English Education. In addition to earning her National Board Certification in 2005, Rhonda has completed Master’s work in Education Leadership at High Point University. In 2007, she was part of the team that founded the Asheboro High School Zoo School, a satellite location of Asheboro High School at the North Carolina Zoo. The Zoo School serves grades 10-12 in a science-focused small learning community committed to project-based learning and environmental education. In 2013, she co-founded Uwharrie Charter Academy, the only charter school in Randolph County, where she served as Chief Curriculum Officer for three years. Now in its eleventh year, Uwharrie Charter’s mission is to prepare students for post-secondary life through a STEM-focused project-based learning environment. As Executive Director of the NC Association for Public Charter Schools, Rhonda is proud of the progress the organization has made in serving the needs of the state’s public charter schools while she works to advocate, educate, and support the advancement of quality educational opportunities for all North Carolina children by supporting and expanding successful charter schools.

Sean Werdlow is a proven finance professional and business leader who has led multiple entities through challenging financial and economic circumstances and growth phases achieving strong results and creating significant value for shareholders and constituents. Werdlow is currently Senior Managing Director and Head of the mid-west and southeast regions for Siebert Williams Shank, a full-service investment banking firm offering debt and equity origination services to a wide range of Fortune 500 companies and debt underwriting for municipal clients nationally. Werdlow is responsible for the overall public finance business operations and the growth of the firm’s market share in the mid-west and southeast territories of the United States. Werdlow has led over $14 billion of senior managed capital markets transactions and secured an additional $12 billion in co-managed deals. Previously, Werdlow was Chief Financial Officer for the City of Detroit. Serving in this role, he was the first finance professional in the history of city government to manage both Departments of Finance and Budget simultaneously. Werdlow led aggressive initiatives that resulted in $250 million of annual expenditure reductions and over $400 million of new and one-time revenue measures over a four-year period. Under his leadership, the City also received numerous credit rating upgrades reaching the “A” category for its general obligation rating. This resulted in millions of savings for taxpayers and ratepayers. Werdlow previously served as Vice President of Finance and Treasurer of Detroit Medical Center, where he led strategic cashflow planning, investor relations and capital allocation achieving significant reductions in interest costs, higher returns on investment for system-wide assets and improved days cash on hand. Werdlow led negotiations for and secured an asset-based lending facility which enabled the system to stabilize, acquire needed revenue producing equipment, and protect its cash position. Werdlow is often sought for his business and civic leadership. He is active in various industry and civic organizations and serves on several Non-Profit Boards. He serves on the boards of Wayne State University Foundation and The Community Foundation of Southeastern Michigan (Program and Investment Committee). Werdlow holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from Wayne State University.

J. Ben Watkins III was appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Cabinet as the Director of the Florida Division of Bond Finance in 1995. The Division administers bond programs for the Departments of Education, Transportation, Environmental Protection, Management Services as well as borrowings for the State University System. Director Watkins is well known and respected for his work in the municipal “muni” bond industry. He is an active member and has served in a variety of leadership roles on muni associations. He is a past vice chairman and board member of the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB), former chairman of the Committee on Government Debt for the Government Finance Officers Association, and currently serves as a member on the National Association of State Treasurers and National Association of Bond Lawyers. Additionally, Director Watkins serves as a member on the Maclay School Board of Trustees, Tall Timbers Research and Land Conservancy Board and chairman of the Leon County Investment Oversight Committee. He previously served as past chairman of the Economic Club of Florida and was a board member on the Municipal Code Corporation and Florida State University Coastal and Marine Lab Advisory Board. Prior to his role as Director, he practiced public finance law with Sutherland Asbill & Brennan in Atlanta, Georgia. He received his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida and his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Auburn University.

Tyler began his career in the Public Finance Investment Banking group at Citigroup in New York before becoming a financial advisor at a top 10-ranked firm in the Southeast. He served as financial advisor for finance teams in local government, higher education, and healthcare for nearly eight years before founding DebtBook to build powerful and easy-to-use treasury and accounting software for public finance teams.

Collin Teague, Managing Director and Head of Surface Transportation, has served as a public finance banker for close to 20 years, having served as lead or execution banker on over $30 billion in total par, including on several relevant transactions for transit, toll road and state transportation agencies. He has executed transactions for transit agencies including New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority / Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority, Chicago Transit Authority and Dallas Area Rapid Transit; toll road agencies including Grand Parkway Transportation Corporation, Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, Illinois State Toll Highway Authority and Harris County Toll Road Authority; and state and large local issuers including TxDOT, Michigan DOT, Michigan State Building Authority, Indiana Finance Authority and Indianapolis Local Public Improvement Bond Bank. Collin has significant experience developing comprehensive plans of finance for surface transportation issuers, which have included but are not limited to the structuring of new credits/liens and master indentures for startup project financings; the structuring, negotiation and execution of TIFIA loans; interim financing programs including public and private note programs and TIFIA bond anticipation notes; and the refinancing of TIFIA loans. Collin also brings significant experience structuring financings secured by sales and other special tax for state and local governments, as well as real estate financing and other project financings.

Smith becomes only the third executive director in JEDA’s 40-year history Jesse A. Smith has been appointed the new Executive Director of the South Carolina Jobs-Economic Development Authority (JEDA), succeeding Harry A. Huntley, CPA, who is retiring after holding the post since 2009. Smith most recently served as a partner at Styx Companies in Columbia, advising firms on raising capital. He was previously a Senior Vice President at First Citizens Bank, where he created and expanded relationships with commercial clients. With 20 years of experience assisting South Carolina companies, Smith is well-positioned to lead JEDA in its mission of facilitating financing economic development statewide. JEDA is a conduit issuer of tax-exempt and taxable bonds, partnering with public and private entities to provide favorable financing that also helps maximize job growth and retention. “I’m honored to follow in the footsteps of those before me who have helped JEDA play such a vital role in South Carolina’s economic progress since its creation in 1983,” said Smith. “I look forward to working closely with our board and partners statewide to continue building this legacy of continuity and accomplishment.” “Jesse has proven himself to be an energetic and innovative lender devoted to the success of the borrowers he serves and the communities where they live and work,” said JEDA Board Chairman Michael W. Nix, CFA, President & Chief Investment Officer of Verity Investment Partners in Beaufort. “We’re confident he will lead JEDA effectively into the future.” Huntley, only the second Executive Director after the late Elliott Franks III, oversaw JEDA’s participation in facilitating 14 years of strong economic growth across the Palmetto State. “JEDA will be in very good hands with Jesse and I am grateful for the opportunity I’ve had to serve our state in this capacity,” Huntley said. Since its establishment by the South Carolina General Assembly in 1983, JEDA has facilitated more than $15.4 billion in financing for schools, healthcare and senior living providers, other public and private nonprofit organizations, and companies in multiple industries, contributing to the creation and retention of more than 314,167 jobs.