Banco Popular de Puerto Rico is a full-service financial services provider with operations in Puerto Rico, the United States and Virgin Islands. Popular, Inc. is the largest banking institution by both assets and deposits in Puerto Rico, and in the United States Popular, Inc.
Latest NewsSarah Vennekotter is a not-for-profit healthcare analyst at Moody’s Investors Service, where she covers healthcare ratings in multiple states including Florida, Minnesota, New York, New Jersey, Ohio and Texas. She has authored numerous special comments, including Moody’s 2011 not-for-profit healthcare medians report. Prior to joining the healthcare ratings team, Ms. Vennekotter worked as an analyst for over two years in Moody’s Municipal Structured Products Group, and before joining Moody’s she was an associate at Morgan Stanley Capital International. She is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and New York University’s Graduate School of Public Administration.
Saavan Gatfield is Senior Director in Fitch Ratings’ Global Infrastructure and Project Finance Group. His primary focus is on U.S. transport infrastructure and, in particular, on the toll roads sector, of which he is team head.� Prior to joining the U.S. transport team, Saavan worked for three years within EMEA transport and social infrastructure, covering a wide range of airport, port, toll road and rail transit credits as well as having responsibility for Fitch’s EMEA social infrastructure ratings portfolio.Saavan has worked at Fitch Ratings since January 2005. Before joining the infrastructure team, he was a member of Fitch’s structured finance group, working extensively on European commercial mortgage backed securities. Before Fitch, Saavan spent several years working in various business and operational positions in retail sales, distribution and logistics as well as education in both the UK and Japan.He has a Bachelor of Social Science degree in Economics from the University of Birmingham, UK. In addition, Saavan is a member of the Municipal Analysts Group of New York.
Neal has a 20-year track record of successful B2B product development and strategy. At Ipreo, he is responsible for the firm�s industry-leading suite of investor prospecting applications and institutional data offerings. Neal�s previous experience includes senior roles at such well-known firms as RiskMetrics, Computershare, and Thomson Financial (now ThomsonReuters), as well as a number of successful entrepreneurial ventures.Neal earned his BS in Finance from American University, and his MBA from Loyola College.
Peter is the Senior Assistant Vice President for Treasury Operations at the University of Illinois. In this role, Peter has responsible over strategy and operations for the treasury function. This includes operating and endowment investments, cash management, capital finance, tax compliance, risk management including self-insurance, as well as merchant and identification card services. His background also includes direct investments in residential and commercial real estate. Peter owned a litigation consulting firm during graduate school. He completed his PhD at the University of Illinois and obtained a B.S. at Rutgers University. Peter is a CFA charterholder.
Mr. Stettler joined BMO Capital Markets in September 2012 as a Director in the firm�s Municipal Credit Analytics team, where he is responsible for covering transportation, public utility and general municipal credits. Mr. Stettler has over 20 years of experience analyzing municipal credits at EVEREN Securities, Inc., Fitch Ratings, and Ricondo & Associates, Inc.At Fitch, Mr. Stettler served as a primary analyst in the Tax-Supported Group covering general municipal credits including the City of Chicago, Cook County, the Chicago Public Schools, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority and the Chicago Park District, and as a lead analyst in the Transportation Group covering airports nationwide including Chicago O�Hare, Philadelphia, Detroit Metropolitan, and Dallas Fort Worth international airports Mr. Stettler began his in the municipal research department of EVEREN Securities, Inc., and most recently provided general financial consulting to airports at Ricondo & Associates, Inc. Peter�s work has been acknowledged by industry peers through several awards, including the Award for Excellence from the National Federation of Municipal Analysts. Peter holds both a Master of Public Administration and a Bachelors Degree in Political Science from Northern Illinois University.
Jeremy Bass is a Managing Director in the Boston office and provides financial advisory services to public universities, and private colleges and universities. A senior member of PFM�s higher education practice, he works with College and University clients nationally but with a focus in New England and the Mid-Atlantic.Mr. Bass advises his clients on a broad range of capital markets related services, including capital structure evaluation, risk analysis, debt capacity analysis, rating agency strategy, strategic planning and financial forecasting, and transaction execution. He has assisted colleges and universities in building complex financial models to evaluate initiatives, obtain first time bond ratings, and manage rating communication. He has advised on billions in financings for colleges and universities on a wide range of structures including fixed rate, variable rate, private placements, and synthetic structures using swaps.A graduate of Bucknell University, Mr. Bass holds a B.A. in Economics and Education.
Peter joined MPC as urban development director in 1996. For the past 16 years, he has played a lead role in expanding MPC�s capacity to produce quality research, develop sound policies, and advocate for sensible development in Chicagoland.He has led several major policy initiatives, including spending five years on the passage of Illinois� Public Private Partnerships for Transportation Act enacted in 2011 and is actively working on bringing Bus Rapid Transit to Chicago's west side. He staffed Mayor Rahm Emanuel's Transportation and Infrastructure transition committee and currently co�chairs the Mayors Pedestrian Advisory Committee with Gabe Klein, commissioner of the Chicago Dept. of Transportation and he Chaired the Midway Advisory Panel overseeing the proposed long term lease of Midway Airport. He is also a member of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning Transportation Committee and University of Illinois-Chicago (UIC) Campus Advisory Board.
Brian Wittneben joined First Southwest Company in 2004 as Associate General Counsel. In 2009 he became the General Counsel and Secretary. First Southwest is a financial advisory and investment banking firm, employing approximately 400 employees, with 26 offices in 14 states, and the District of Columbia. As General Counsel, Mr. Wittneben advises the board of directors, senior management, all affiliates and departments on legal, corporate and regulatory issues, including corporate governance, securities transactions, regulatory actions, litigation, employment issues and legal strategy. Before joining the firm, Mr. Wittneben was an associate in the Corporate/Securities Practice Group of Haynes and Boone, LLP. Mr. Wittneben earned his B.A. from Texas A&M University and his J.D. from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law. While in law school Mr. Wittneben served as a Staff Editor for The International Lawyer and NAFTA: Law and Business Review of the Americas, President of the International Law Review Association and was a member of Phi Delta Phi.



