PFM Asset Management Opens Denver Office

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- PFM Group, the nation's leading provider of independent financial and investment advisory services to state and local governments, announced today that Chris Blackwood has joined PFM Asset Management LLC (PFMAM) as senior managing consultant and has opened a Denver office to help expand PFM's asset management business in the West.  

Chris has 30 years of experience in the public finance and public funds investment business, most recently as a managing director at Davidson Fixed Income Management, where he helped start and manage local government investment pools in Florida and Colorado for Davidson and its predecessor, Kirkpatrick Pettis. He has been a public finance banker for several western regional investment banks and a senior economist for the state of Colorado.

Blackwood will focus on continuing to service and grow PFMAM's asset management portfolio in the entire region, with his main focus on Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico. 

"Chris' experience and reputation present a great opportunity for PFM to expand our business in the mountain states," said Marty Margolis, PFMAM Chief Investment Officer.  "We have long-standing financial advisory and investment management clients there, and a Denver office staffed by a professional of Chris' caliber will add essential resources on the ground for PFM to build an even greater presence."

Blackwood is a graduate of the University of Colorado with a B.A. and M.A. in Economics. In addition, he has attended post graduate programs at the University of Denver and MIT.  He lives in Littleton, Colorado with his wife Kristine and their two children.

PFM currently employs more than 430 professionals serving a broad base of clients from 34 offices located in every region of the country. The firm is well-respected for providing clients with independent advisory services free of conflicts in dealings with the capital markets. At the end of second quarter 2010, Public Financial Management retained its position as the top ranked financial advisor in the nation in overall new issues. In the first half of 2010, PFM advised clients on $27.2 billion of total debt in 467 separate transactions. In addition, at June 30, 2010, PFM Asset Management LLC had $35.7 billion in assets under management for state and local governments and non-profit institutions, and provided non-discretionary advice for an additional $2.2 billion in fixed income securities.

SOURCE The PFM Group