Northwest Municipal Advisors (“NWMA”) is a financial advisory firm that specializes in assisting public entities finance capital projects.
As a firm, we do not sell or underwrite securities or bonds, but serve in an advisory role. This allows us to manage potential conflicts of interest in providing advice to a bond issuer.
NWMA was founded in 1996 under the name A. Dashen & Associates. In 2015, the firm changed its name to Northwest Municipal Advisors to reflect our regional focus and our work as independent municipal advisors.
NWMA has a northwest focus, and works with clients ranging from small special purpose districts to large counties and cities.
NWMA is an independent registered municipal advisor with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (“MSRB”).
As municipal advisors, we have a fiduciary responsibility to our municipal entity clients and therefore have a duty to act in good faith and solely in the best interest of our clients. NWMA’s most important responsibility is to provide sound advice to our clients.
NWMA recognizes that our clients do not regularly engage in the bond market. Our frequent participation in the bond market allows us to keep current on market trends and conditions, including pricing, documentation requirements, and regulatory changes. We provide the quality information our clients rely on to make decisions with confidence.
Meet Our Team
Northwest Municipal Advisors adopts a team approach in order to provide a broad support to each of our clients.
Scott Bauer has been with the firm for over 15 years. Scott has worked on all aspects of financing, including assembling and coordinating the financing team, bond structuring, documentation, and projections. Prior to joining the firm, he had 12 years of experience in private industry where he developed a strong analytical background. His experience included project management, customer relations, and financial analysis.
Scott works to structure issues to meet a client’s needs and analyzing financing options. Scott has structured debt service to minimize impacts on rates for utility clients or to match expected levy rates for clients with voted bond issues (e.g. schools and cities).
Scott has a degree in engineering from the University of Washington and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Seattle University. Scott holds Series 50 and Series 54 licenses and is a Registered Municipal Advisor with the SEC.
Ryan Neumeister joined the firm in 2020. Ryan develops analysis for revenue and general obligation debt. He works with valued firm clients and presents data at committee and public meetings to provide decision makers with the information needed to make sound financial decisions. Ryan has more than ten years of experience in public finance experience. Previously, Ryan held roles as a Municipal Advisor based in New York State, and Relationship Manager with J.P. Morgan in Seattle, Washington.
Ryan earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree from John Carroll University. After graduating, he served as a Small Business Development volunteer with the Peace Corps in Peru. Ryan is Series 50 and Series 54 licensed and a Registered Municipal Advisor with the SEC.
Malinda Okerlund joined the firm in 2014. She has more than 15 years of experience in government sector lending. Malinda structures financings for revenue and tax-backed debt, coordinates bond sale documentation review and publication, creates and advises clients regarding rating presentations, and monitors the debt market. Malinda’s specialty is direct placement debt. Prior to joining NWMA, she had roles as a bank Relationship Manager and Credit Analyst, working with clients on private placements of municipal debt, as well as, analyzing credit risk for cities, counties, ports, school districts, water/sewer districts, and states.
Malinda holds Bachelor of Science and Master of Public Administration degrees from Brigham Young University, is Series 50 licensed, and a Registered Municipal Advisor with the SEC.
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Header Photo: Port of Olympia, WA – NWMA was MA for a 2018 LTGO and Refunding Bond Issues