Public Finance Department

Adrian G. Teel
Executive Vice President
Director & Manager, Municipal Capital Markets
email: ateel@fbw.com

Mr. Teel, a Director of the Firm and Executive Vice President, joined Ferris, Baker Watts as Manager of the Public Finance Department in April 1994. He was elected as a member of the Firm's Board of Directors and subsequently promoted to Director of Municipal Capital Markets in March 2000. Prior to FBW, Mr. Teel served within the Maryland Department of Transportation as Executive Director of the Maryland Port Administration from June 1991 to March 1994.

From April 1983 to June 1991, Mr. Teel served as Chief Operating Officer for the Anne Arundel County, Maryland government, employing more than 4,000 persons, with a total budget in excess of $900 million. Mr. Teel was also employed by the Anne Arundel County Board of Education from February 1964 to March 1983 in various business-related positions, including Assistant Superintendent for Management and Fiscal Services.

Mr. Teel received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Baltimore Law School in June 1970 and was selected as the Law School Alumnus of the Year in 1993. He also was awarded a B.S. degree in Accounting from the University of Maryland, College of Business and Public Administration in 1964.

Public Finance

Elizabeth B. Andresini
Vice President
email: landresini@fbw.com

Ms. Andresini rejoined Ferris, Baker Watts in September 1992 as the Administrator/Coordinator after two years as a Loan Officer with the Maryland Water Quality Financing Administration's Revolving Loan Program.  She was first employed by Baker Watts & Co., predecessor to Ferris, Baker Watts from January 1979 until June 1990 and was responsible for coordination of all aspects of financial advisory assignments and municipal bond underwritings.

Ms. Andresini currently monitors the activities of the Municipal Capital Markets Group on behalf of the Manager, assists the other members of the professional staff in the development and settlement of bond issues.   She also supervises the administrative staff in the Baltimore office.  Ms. Andresini holds an A.A. degree from a local community college and is a member of the Maryland Public Finance Officers Association.

Blair D. Bennett
Investment Banker
email: bbennett@fbw.com

Blair D. Bennett joined Ferris, Baker Watts in June 2003 as a marketing consultant for business development and was subsequently hired fulltime in November 2003 as an investment banker.  He is primarily responsible for establishing new accounts and servicing existing accounts for North Carolina Counties and Cities.

From 1977 to 2003 Mr. Bennett was employed with Cabarrus County , North Carolina as Finance Director and Deputy County Manager.  During his tenure with the County he completed bond issues, COP’s, and lease financing issues to fund construction of capital projects and had the responsibility of selecting the financial advisors, underwriters, and bond attorneys for each project.  Mr. Bennett has also traveled to New York to make rating agency presentations.  He obtained several bond rating upgrades for the County, and ultimately achieved a “AA” rating with Moody’s, S&P and Fitch.  He is also familiar with the application process and requirements of the Local Government Commission.   

Edwin S. Crawford
Senior Vice President
email: ecrawford@fbw.com

Mr. Crawford offers a broad knowledge of capital market finance for tax-exempt and taxable bonds. His principal specialty financing is affordable housing having financed over $6 billion in bond issues. He has professional expertise in commercial banking, and state and local government, and has senior managed new and refunding bond issues for higher education, solid waste, resource recovery, parking, general government and healthcare, both on a credit-enhanced and unenhanced basis. He has served as financial advisor to more than 20 Maryland counties and municipalities, providing advice on a wide variety of financing, budget, and cash management practices. During his 22-year banking career, he has served as senior manager for more than $13 billion in bond issues and as financial advisor to more than $2 billion. He is a graduate of the University of Maryland (B.S., Economics, 1968 and M.A., Public Administration, 1972) and the University of California (M.A., Economics, 1970); and a former associate professor-University of Baltimore. He has served as a Member, Board of Regents, University System of Maryland; State Teachers and Employees Retirement System, and presently Chairs the Maryland College Savings Program.

Keith A. Holmes
Vice President
email:kholmes@fbw.com

Mr. Holmes joined Ferris, Baker Watts in August 2005. Prior to joining FBW, Mr. Holmes served as First Vice President with Ryan, Beck & Co. from March 2003 until July 2005. In that capacity he was responsible for the firm’s variable rate demand note (VRDN) program. Mr. Holmes managed the firms public finance clients in the Maryland area. He also marketed taxable and tax-exempt securities to municipalities, insurance companies and mutual fund companies throughout the country.

From July 1988 to March 2003, Mr. Holmes was Vice President and Head of fixed income sales, trading and underwriting for The Chapman Company. He was responsible for underwriting all of the firms competitive and negotiated transactions both fixed rate and variable. Mr. Holmes maintained the firms $120 million variable rate demand note program. As an underwriter, he had the pleasure of serving such clients as Howard and Prince George’s County, MD and the Maryland Community Development Administration, as well as many of the other major municipalities in the Maryland area and throughout the country. He also provided taxable and tax-exempt securities to a variety of institutional accounts.

Mr. Holmes received a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Morgan State University in May of 1986 and is a municipal securities principal.

Pamela M. Kelly
Vice President
email: pkelly@fbw.com

Ms. Kelly's primary responsibilities include financial structuring and analysis, development of technical proposals and presentations, and day-to-day banking activities for general government, not-for-profit organizations, housing, education and economic development projects.  with an overall focus on the Firm's mid-Atlantic service area, Ms. Kelly concentrates on borrowers in Maryland, the District of Columbia and Northern Virginia.  During her career, she has completed municipal financing totaling more than $1.7 billion in aggregate principal amount for issuers at both the state and local levels.  She is a graduate of Towson State University (Maryland) with a degree in Finance from the School of Business and Economics.

Joseph E. Nassif
Vice President
email: jnassif@fbw.com

Mr. Nassif  joined FBW in 1998. His primary responsibilities include financial advisory services, financial structuring and analysis, preparation of rating agency presentations and credit analyses, bond document review, development of technical proposals and presentations, and day-to-day banking/advisory activities for a variety of municipal financings. Mr. Nassif has provided investment banking services for over $1 billion in bonds issued in West Virginia for which the firm was senior or co-senior manager or financial advisor. In addition, Mr. Nassif has prepared debt service schedules totaling over $600 million in State of West Virginia water, sewer, infrastructure and economic development loans. He has worked closely with a number of State, county, city, and board of education issuers across the state with an emphasis on tax increment financing, higher education, water and sewer, and primary and secondary education. 

Tina K. Neal
Senior Vice President
Manager, Richmond (VA) Public Finance Office
email: tneal@fbw.com

Ms. Neal brings over 13 years investment banking experience to her role as Manager of the Richmond Public Finance office. She joined FBW in July 1996 as a specialist in project financing for both corporate and municipal entities, particularly in the form of industrial development bonds or municipal lease financings. Her expertise in project financing allows her to serve a broad range of corporate and municipal investment banking clients as well as real estate developers and owners. Ms. Neal is also recognized for her role in financing economic development projects and understanding the complex needs of localities and companies and is a frequent speaker at local Industrial Development Authorities, as well as, for the Virginia Tech Industrial Development Authority Institute and Economic Development seminars and for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Basic Economic Development Course. Ms. Neal holds a B.A. from Beloit College and an M.A. in Economics from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Alison W. Peeler 
Vice President
e-mail: apeeler@fbw.com

Alison W. Peeler joined Ferris, Baker Watts in the Richmond Public Finance office in January 2001.  She began her career in municipal finance with J. Lee Peeler & Company in 1992, where she was actively involved in the trading, underwriting and sales of municipal bonds.  After a merger with Morgan Keegan & Company in 1994, Ms. Peeler moved into the North Carolina Public Finance Department where she served as financial advisor, banker and analyst for numerous municipalities. At FBW, Ms. Peeler continues to serve as financial advisor, banker and analyst to North Carolina and Virginia municipalities.

Ms. Peeler graduated with a B.S. degree from North Carolina State University in 1988 and is a member of the North Carolina Government Finance Officers Association, North Carolina Association of County Finance Officers, North Carolina Municipal Advisory Council and the North Carolina Local Budget Association.

Marie L. Prezioso
Manager, Charleston (WV) Public Finance Office
email: mprezioso@fbw.com

Ms. Prezioso joined FBW in January, 1991 after having served as State Campaign Director for the re-election of US Senator Jay Rockefeller. She has worked with state agencies, counties, cities, public service districts, hospitals, and boards of education throughout West Virginia. She has served as Deputy Commissioner for Finance and Administration for the State of West Virginia, Executive Secretary for the West Virginia Municipal Bond Commission, Senior Investment Officer and Acting Director of Investments for the West Virginia Treasurer's Office. Ms. Prezioso holds a B.S. in Business Administration from West Virginia University and an M.B.A. from West Virginia University Graduate School.

Underwriting and Trading

Carol Converso
Senior Vice President
Lead Underwriter
email: cconverso@fbw.com

Ms. Converso joined Ferris, Baker Watts in September 2000.  Her experience includes 15 years in the Municipal Capital Markets area, including two years at Alex. Brown and most recently with 13 years at Legg Mason, where she served as their Municipal Syndicate Manager.  At FBW she is responsible for structuring, pricing and managing all new municipal bond issues; marketing and analyzing new municipal issue credits for their sales force and clients; as well as presenting firm credentials to potential clients such as state and local government agencies, private developers, hospitals and continuing care retirement community board members.  

Fixed Income Institutional Sales

Joseph J. Roberts, Senior Vice President
Manager, Fixed Income Institutional Sales
email: jroberts@fbw.com

Mr. Roberts joined Ferris, Baker Watts as Manager of the Fixed Income Institutional Department after four years at the Washington-based firm of Folger, Nolan, Fleming, Douglas, Inc.  Prior to 1988, he had spent 20 years at Baker Watts & Co., as General Partner and Managing Director with responsibility for all Municipal Bond activities, including public finance, trading underwriting, and unit investment trust sales.

Mr. Roberts has served as President of the Municipal Bond Club of Baltimore, the Bond Club of Baltimore, and the Baltimore Security Traders Association, in addition to having been Chairman of the National Association of Securities Dealers District No. 10 Business Conduct Committee.  He also served as a member of the Public Securities Association Trading and Syndicate Practices Committee.

Mr. Roberts graduated from the University of Baltimore (Business) and holds an M.B.A in Finance.

Municipal Research

Christopher G. Brown, Vice President
Analyst, Municipal Bond Department
email: cbrown@fbw.com

Mr. Brown joined FBW in January 1996 after having worked for seven years at Connie Lee Insurance Company in the Credit & Policy Research and Underwriting Groups.  His experience includes healthcare and higher education underwriting, municipal research, credit policy and database development.  He also spent three years at Financial Guaranty Insurance Company ("FGIC"), a New York bond insurance company, where his responsibilities included structured transactions and pooled loan administration.

At FBW, Mr. Brown directs the Firm's municipal credit research, analysis and surveillance for all healthcare and higher education transactions.  Mr. Brown earned his Bachelor's degree from the University of Georgia.