James Blandford, Managing Director

Jim, located in Baird’s Western Region public finance office, has more than 30 years of public finance experience. He has assisted major issuers in their issuance of general obligation, transportation, sales and excise tax, enterprise system, annually appropriated lease, K-12, and higher education financings throughout the Midwestern and Western parts of the United States. Jim has extensive Arizona experience, having served as either a financial advisor or lead banker to most major governmental entities within the State. Some of the entities served since 1981 include the cities of Phoenix, Tucson, Glendale, and Scottsdale, the Arizona Department of Transportation, the Arizona Department of Administration, the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority, Arizona State University, the University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University. Jim also specializes in charter school financings and has well-established relationships with the network of institutional investors who consistently buy charter school bonds. Jim earned his Bachelor of Science degree at Arizona State University.