Fadzai Konteh serves as the lead Public Finance Relationship Manager at PNC Bank responsible for spearheading business development efforts in the government, education and non-profit sectors in Georgia and South Carolina. Fadzai began her public finance career primarily supporting and cultivating client relationships in the Midwest region including Illinois, Missouri, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. In her role as Relationship Manager, she brings the full resources of the bank and its subsidiaries to support the specialized banking, credit structuring, and treasury needs of the public sector. Prior to joining the Public Finance Group, she worked as a Branch Manager in consumer and small business banking within PNC’s Retail Bank. She holds Series 52 and 63 licenses. In addition to her work in the Public Finance industry, Fadzai has served on the board of directors as Secretary for the State Charter School Foundation of Georgia and the Georgia Women in Public Finance chapter, serving in the role of President from 2019-2023. Fadzai received her Bachelor and Master of Public Affairs degrees with an emphasis on Public Financial Management from Indiana University, Bloomington, IN.

Courtney Knight has been a municipal finance professional for almost 40 years. He has rendered financial advice and investment banking services to state and local governments, their agencies and authorities, higher education, K-12 and charter schools and nonprofit organizations across the United States. Courtney is a widely respected financial advisor and investment banker who, during his career, has completed hundreds of financings ranging from as small as under $1 million to almost $4 billion. In January 2022, Courtney was appointed Treasurer of the City of Atlanta. As the City’s Chief of Treasury, Debt and Investments, Courtney heads the team that manages the City’s $6.5 billion debt portfolio including general obligation, water and wastewater and airport revenue bonds as well as other lease and tax increment bonds. His office also governs the use of the City’s fiscal portfolio and executes all cash and investment functions. They are responsible for managing the cash flow of all City accounts with deposits, withdrawals and transfers as well as implementing efficient and cost-effective means for collections and payments. Courtney has long focused on advancing the community and economic development of the communities where he has lived and worked. He currently serves on the GFOA Standing Committee on Economic Development and Capital Planning. Courtney previously served on the board of the Council of Development Finance Agencies and on the Environmental Financial Advisory Board. Nearer to home, Courtney serves on the board of the Development Authority of the Cobb County (Georgia) and heads its Affordable Housing Task Force. Courtney graduated from Harvard College with a degree cum laude in Economics and obtained his MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business with concentrations in finance and public sector management. Courtney and his wife Daveitta reside in Atlanta, are the proud parents of three adult daughters and have been blessed with two granddaughters, Grace Alaina and Eden Olivia.

As Vice President of Finance & Accounting for the Municipal Gas Authority of Georgia, and CFO of Main Street Natural Gas, Inc., Chris plays a critical role in shaping financial decisions that impact millions. With over 30 years of experience, including a decade at Deloitte & Touche LLP, he’s gained deep expertise in financial strategy, risk management, and large-scale energy operations. His time at Deloitte exposed him to some of the world’s most complex accounting challenges, refining the leadership skills he brings to the industry today. Since joining the Gas Authority in 2003, Chris has helped fortify financial operations, ensuring long-term stability and growth. His leadership also extends across Public Gas Partners, Inc. and Public Energy Partners, Inc., where as CFO his expertise continues to shape the industry’s financial future. Chris embodies what great leadership looks like: technical excellence, strategic foresight, and a relentless drive for progress.

As Provident’s President and Vice Chairman of the Board, Mr. Hicks is a member of the executive team that establishes the company’s strategy, culture, and fulfillment of its charitable missions. Mr. Hicks also spearheads Provident’s public-private partnership financings, working with project partners and beneficiaries, financing partners, investors, and rating agencies to ensure successful financial execution and an ongoing commitment to our partners for the life of our engagement. His role includes management of origination, analysis, and execution efforts for transactions and project relationships across a variety of asset classes. Chris works to foster relationships with universities, healthcare systems, and state and local governments, along with other key stakeholders, allowing Provident to utilize its financing platform to further not only its non-profit missions, but the missions of each of our partners. Prior to joining Provident, Mr. Hicks spent 18 years in the Public Finance Department of Citigroup Global Markets Inc., serving in the firm’s New York City, Boston, and Raleigh offices, departing in 2019 as a Director in their Infrastructure and Public Private Partnership Groups. During his time at Citi, Mr. Hicks worked with clients on over $25 Billion in financing. Mr. Hicks holds a B.A. in Economics and Political Science from Wake Forest University.

Matt Hastedt is the Treasurer for the City of Charlotte. As Treasurer Matt actively manages the city’s Treasury Division which is responsible for all debt management, and capital financing for the city, as well as the daily cash management and investment of the city’s consolidated cash pool. The city’s Revenue Division also reports up to Matt as City Treasurer. Matt joined the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Treasury and Investment Management Committee in 2023 and was recognized as a member of the 2024 Bond Buyer Rising Star class. In addition to serving as the City Treasury, Matt serves as an ex-officio Board Member for the Charlotte Firefighters’ Retirement System and serves on the Investment Committee since March 2022. Prior to serving as the City Treasurer, Matt served as the Debt Manager, Assistant Debt Manager, and an Economic Research Analyst. Matt is a graduate of Roanoke College with Bachelor of Arts in Economics and received a Master of Public Administration from James Maddison University.

Gary Hall is President, Head of Infrastructure & Public Finance at Siebert Williams Shank & Co., LLC. He is also a Partner of American Triple I Partners, an infrastructure private equity firm that focuses on transportation, energy, knowledge and information systems, and smart city investments. Before joining Siebert and Triple I, Hall was an investment banker with JPMorgan Securities LLC, where he assisted state and local governments with accessing the capital markets for close to $50 billion of senior-managed municipal bonds issuances, credit facilities and derivative transactions. He also worked in the Mergers & Acquisitions Group of Banc One Capital Markets, Inc. assisting both middle-market companies and financial sponsor firms with strategic alternatives. Prior to his career in investment banking, Hall was appointed a White House Fellowship by President William Clinton to work as a Special Advisor to the Under Secretary of the Treasury for Domestic Finance in the U.S. Department of Treasury. He was also a corporate finance attorney with Gardner, Carton and Douglas (now Faegre Drinker) and served posts in the administration of former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley. Hall is a member of the Board of Directors of the SIFMA, Bay Area Council (Executive Committee), and Las Trampas. He also serves on the Fixed Income Advisory Committee of FINRA, the Public Finance Advisory Board for the Milken Institute (Executive Committee) and is a trustee for the National Recreation Foundation. Hall is a former Chairman of the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board. Hall received a B.B.A. in Finance from Howard University and J.D. from the University of Notre Dame.

Jessica R. Giroux serves as General Counsel and Head of Fixed Income Policy at the American Securities Association (ASA). In this role, she oversees ASA’s legal, regulatory, and fixed income affairs, leveraging her extensive experience in the financial services industry and public policy. Giroux’s expertise spans across various aspects of securities regulation, government relations, and public finance where she also assists the ASA in navigating complex regulatory landscapes and advocating for the interests of ASA’s regional financial services firms. Before joining the ASA, Jessica was Director of Government and Public Affairs at the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB). In that capacity, she was responsible for developing and implementing a proactive government relations strategy that advanced the MSRB’s mission and goals. She was also the principal liaison before federal officials and policymakers and was directly responsible for establishing and maintaining relationships with external stakeholders including core industry groups. Prior to joining the MSRB, Jessica served as Director of Governmental Affairs at the National Association of Bond Lawyers (NABL). There, she led advocacy efforts including anticipating and responding to federal legislative and regulatory activities that impacted the public finance industry including tax reform, municipal securities disclosure, and regulatory proposals. Jessica also served as the primary staff liaison to various NABL committees including Governmental Affairs, General Law & Practice, Securities Law & Disclosure, and Tax Law Committees. Prior to joining NABL, Jessica served as General Counsel and Managing Director for the Bond Dealers of America (BDA). There, she was responsible for member engagement, advocacy on Capitol Hill and with federal regulators, research, analysis, and information collection regarding regulatory initiatives derived from efforts at the MSRB, FINRA, SEC, and the Treasury. Jessica obtained a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the State University of New York at Albany and a law degree from Albany Law School of Union University. She is admitted to the New York State and U.S. Supreme Court Bars.

Jay Gillespie is the Director of Alternative Finance at the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) and is based in Atlanta. At GDOT, Jay leads financial support of public-private partnership (P3) procurements, analysis of project delivery options, financial planning for major projects, and support for state and P3 financing to deliver GDOT’s multi-billion-dollar major capital program. Prior to joining GDOT, Jay spent 12 years with Ernst & Young Infrastructure Advisors where he advised public sector clients on financial, procurement, strategic and P3 issues for large-scale infrastructure projects and programs across multiple sectors. Previously, Jay was an associate in the Atlanta office of AECOM as part of their urban planning and design practice, leading and supporting major private real estate development and public sector projects in the U.S. and globally. Jay holds master’s degrees from Columbia University and Harvard University, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia.