Team

Ms. Russel joined the Finance Authority in September, 2000 and had been serving as Chief of Programs since 2003.  Ms. Russel was appointed as the Finance Authority’s Chief Executive Officer in November 2019.  Prior to joining the Finance Authority, Ms. Russel spent 10 years at the Illinois Development Finance Authority, where she held the positions of Marketing Director and Senior Program Administrator.  Ms. Russel earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

David Quintana has more than two decades of experience at the NM Department of Transportation, rising through the ranks from Engineer in Training to his most recent role as Programs and Infrastructure Division Director and Chief Engineer — a position in which he oversees more than 220 employees and manages an annual budget exceeding $500 million.  Mr. Quintana has experience directing the department’s statewide design and construction program, supports six district offices and overseeing project development, bridge design, environmental review, right-of-way acquisition and the Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan. Earlier in his career, he served in district engineering roles across northern New Mexico and as Roadway and Drainage Section Manager for the City of Santa Fe.  Mr. Quintana holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from New Mexico State University.

Darren serves as municipal advisor to entities in the Western U.S. focusing on transportation, state and local governments and public utilities. Darren’s experience includes assisting his clients in the development and execution of long-term financial plans as well as assisting his clients in accessing both the private and public capital markets involving fixed and floating rate securities, interim financing products, and derivatives, among others.

Over his career he has worked with a variety of sectors including mass transit, state and local governments, public power and water and wastewater, including others. His transportation clients include, among others, New Mexico DOT, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Commission, City of Phoenix Transit, Sacramento Regional Transit, Sacramento Transportation Authority and San Diego Regional Transportation Commission.

Before joining PFM, Darren spent over a decade as an investment banker, completing over $30 billion of transactions including transportation sales tax revenue bonds, public utility revenue bonds, general obligation bonds, certificates of participations, tax and revenue anticipation notes, variable rate bonds.