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.

Kathleen Sharman is the Chief Financial Officer for the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, operator of Orlando International Airport, the busiest airport in the state of Florida, and Orlando Executive Airport. Orlando International Airport served nearly 49 million passengers in fiscal year 2022, making it one of the busiest airports in the United States. As Chief Financial Officer, she is responsible for managing the over $680 million dollar annual operating budget and a $4.3 billion capital program. She has more than 30 years of accounting and finance experience across multiple transportation modes, as well as solid waste and real estate industries in the public and private sectors. Prior to joining the Aviation Authority, Ms. Sharman served as the CFO and Treasurer of the New Jersey Transit Corporation, one of the nation’s largest providers of bus, rail, and light rail transit with over 11,000 employees and an operating budget of over $2 billion. Her experience also includes CFO and Treasurer positions at Georgia’s State Road and Tollway Authority and the South Jersey Transportation Authority, operator of the Atlantic City Expressway and the Atlantic City International Airport. Ms. Sharman began her career at Arthur Andersen & Company, one of the country’s “Big 8” accounting firms at the time, and has held corporate Controller positions for several private sector companies in the solid waste and real estate industries. She holds a Bachelor’s of Business Administration from George Washington University and is a Certified Public Accountant. She was recognized by The Bond Buyer newspaper as one of the 2018 Trailblazing Women in Public Finance and in November 2021 she was named Airport Council International’s Finance Professional of the year (Large Airports) as well as one of Orlando Business Journal’s Women who mean business for 2022. Ms. Sharman also served as Chair of Airports Council International’s finance steering committee for 2022 and is serving on the AAAE Audit Committee and ACI Board Finance Committee of 2023.

Sharon Sepik is the Assistant Treasurer for the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, where she oversees Treasury operations including Cash Operations, PCI Compliance, Merchant Services, Debt and Investment Management, and administration of the $4.4 billion Pension Plan and 457 Plan. With more than 20 years of experience in treasury and finance, Sharon manages a $2 billion investment portfolio and oversees $2 billion in debt-related funds, supporting major initiatives such as stadium construction. She plays a key role in bond issuance strategy, debt compliance, and investment reporting to Metro’s Investment Committee. She also leads the Government’s Fuel Hedge and Credit Card Programs and has implemented treasury management systems like Kyriba and Clearwater to drive efficiency and transparency. Before joining Metro in 2022, Sharon was Director of Treasury at the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority, managing an $800 million portfolio and leading debt compliance and financial strategy. Her earlier roles include treasury leadership at Delek US Holdings, Castle Group, KHS America, and Tupperware Brands, where she gained deep expertise in FX management, intercompany lending, and global cash operations. Sharon holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Auburn University and a Master of Science in Accountancy from the University of Phoenix. She is a Certified Cash Manager (CCM/CTP) and a Certified Municipal Finance Officer (CMFO) in the State of Tennessee.

Chris Ransom has served as the Chief Financial Officer of the Alabama Port Authority since October 2023. A seasoned financial executive with over 25 years of experience in corporate finance in the healthcare, education, transportation, and energy sectors, Chris is focused on ensuring the organization’s fiscal health and driving financial strategies to support APA’s long-term growth objectives. Chris plays a pivotal role in overseeing all financial operations for the Authority, including accounting, financial planning & analysis, treasury management, procurement, and risk management. Chris holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Birmingham-Southern College. A native of Eufaula, AL, he and his wife Beth now reside in Mobile.

Daniel Prentice serves as the Chief Financial Officer for the Charleston County School District, which is the second-largest public school system in South Carolina with over 6,500 employees and an annual budget of approximately $1 Billion. Mr. Prentice manages several departments throughout the District including Budget, Accounting, Capital Projects Accounting, Business Intelligence, Contracts & Procurement, Internal Consulting, Federal Programs, and Payroll. Additionally, he serves as the liaison to the Audit & Finance Committee and is a member of the Superintendent’s Cabinet. Prior to joining the School District in March 2024, Mr. Prentice held the role of Deputy County Administrator and Chief Financial Officer with Dorchester County for nearly eight years where he managed numerous finance and operational departments for the twelfth-largest and fifth fastest growing county in South Carolina. He has over ten years of public administration and finance experience. Mr. Prentice received a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting with a Minor in Crime, Law, and Society from the College of Charleston and a Master of Business Administration from Louisiana State University Shreveport. In September 2021, he was appointed by Governor Henry McMaster to serve as the liaison for South Carolina counties to the Tourism Expenditure Review Committee which oversees the annual expenditure of taxes from hotels received by cities and counties. Supplemental for The Bond Buyer Conference: In his capacities in Dorchester County and with the Charleston County School District, Mr. Prentice has overseen the issuance of a highly-diverse portfolio of public debt. This includes general obligation debt supported by both ad valorem and sales taxes, utility debt supported by ratepayers, limited obligation bonds in tax increment financing districts, and assessment revenue bonds in special assessment districts created by the unit of local governmen