Spiro Hountalas

Experience

• 

  Fox Metro Water Reclamation District (fka Aurora Sanitary District)

  Jun 1981 - Jun 1987

  Controller

  Responsible for financial and business affairs for a wastewater treatment plant that served four communities totaling 110,000 population and 80 employees.

• 

  Village of Morton Grove

  Jun 1987 - Jun 1998

  Director of Finance/Treasurer

  Director of Finance/Treasurer Led financial and business affairs for a 23,000 population municipality with 212 employees.  Provided expertise to CEO during negotiations for collective bargaining, tax increment financing, economic development/revenue sharing, and solid waste removal Prepared Village's first written investment policy and monitored $34 million pension portfolio Instituted long term debt policy to finance capital improvement and equipment procurement programs (saved $640,000 by refinancing three bond issues; streamlined procedures for soliciting annual capital equipment loan proposals) Initiated and managed self-insured health program for 216 employees and retirees -realized savings of $250,000 over two year period Show less

• 

  City of Naperville, IL

  Jul 1998 - Mar 1999

  Assistant Finance Director

  Accountable for all treasury functions including investment, debt management, capital improvement, and pension funding for 125,000 population municipality operating under Council-Manager government.  Directed refinancing of two separate debt issues resulting in $1 million savings Improved capital improvement plan process by implementing steps to justify, coordinate, prioritize, and finalize projects

• 

  Standard & Poor's

  Mar 1999 - Dec 2014

  Director-Business Development/Client Relationship Management

  Responsible for rating engagements, client outreach and business development for entities issuing tax-exempt debt, fixed income funds and local government investment pools in 12 Midwest state areas. Sectors include cities, public, private and charter schools, hospitals, public and private colleges, electric cooperatives, social housing providers and non-for-profit organizations.  Led efforts to increase market share in targeted States of Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Ohio and Missouri to current highest levels ever and overtaking Moody’s previous market dominance Consistently exceeded sales goals for 14 consecutive years Total sales generated increased over 32% during 2011-2014  Top Sales producer Public Finance Client Business Management team since 2008 Responsible for outreach to key individuals at various public finance related trade associations to suggest topic ideas and speakers at annual conferences and workshops. Groups included National GFOA, ICMA, various State GFOA’s, ASBO’s, CACUBO and HEFAs. Resulted in numerous events with featured S & P speakers to demonstrate industry knowledge. Organized, chaired and moderated all day annual leadership academy in debt issuance for Illinois Association of School Business officials since 2010  Played key role in developing content for U.S. Public Finance “hot topics” page targeted to issuers, investors and prospects. Most recommendations I made currently reside on site: spratings.com/uspublicfinancePrior to Standard & Poor’s, I worked for 18 years as a municipal finance officer for a variety of municipalities and special districts in the Chicago area. Before that, I worked as an internal auditor for an international insurance company and on various levels at local accounting firms.I served on the Executive Board for the Illinois Government Finance Officers Association for eight years including one year as President and two years as legislative committee chair. Show less

• 

  Midwest Equity Mortgage, LLC

  Aug 2015 - Sept 2016

  Senior Residential Mortgage Loan Originator NMLS # 1397118

  As a Licensed Illinois Residential Mortgage Originator, I am authorized to accept mortgage loan applications, advise/negotiate terms on residential mortgage loans and provide refinancing and cash out needs on current mortgages. In short, connect with my clients, understand how I can help with residential mortgage needs and then make it happen!My goal is help my clients navigate through the entire loan process from start to finish and provide the very best professional service. I will conduct this with the same vigor, passion, integrity and success as in my previous professional positions, especially as this is for their personal affairs! Show less

• 

  BondLink

  Sept 2016 - Sept 2017

  Business Development - Midwest

  BondLink is a technology, web-based start- up company providing a turnkey platform to public finance entities to develop and maintain a customized investor relations website. The value to the entity includes:• Transparency and awareness in the market place• Connecting directly with bond investors so they can tell their story rather than allowing a rating agency to define their story; • Attract more investors to their bond sales, including local investors and save more money on their bond issues;• Ability to track investors to site and what they are specifically looking at Responsible for selling product. • Sold 11 of first 16 live sites including first State, Hospital, University, School District and County• Led efforts to provide major revision to current pricing strategy resulting in greater acceptance Show less

• 

  PFM Asst Management LLC

  Jan 2018 - Sept 2021

  Senior Managing Consultant

  Worked closely with public sector entities in the Midwest to develop, implement and maintain prudent investment strategies for short and long term funds including fixed income and multi asset portfolios.This includes educating these sectors on current market events and investment opportunities.