[email protected]

Eric Ochmanek is the Director of Special Projects in the Office of the Ohio Treasurer. Eric has served in the office since 2015, previously as Deputy Chief of Staff. He helped build the nation’s first ABLE platform, an impactful savings and investment program for people with disabilities. He has traveled the country to raise awareness and built partnerships for ABLE since early 2016. Eric currently focuses on increasing participation for Treasury initiatives, generating program enhancements, and representing the office at public engagements. Prior to joining the Treasurer’s Office, he worked for British Petroleum in the Gulf Coast and for the Federal Government in Washington, D.C. Eric was born and raised in Michigan, and now resides with his wife, Claire, and three young sons in Ohio.

[email protected]
30 East Broad Street
9th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (800) 228-1102

Jonathan Azoff is the Director of the Office of Debt Management and Senior Counsel with the Ohio Treasurer’s office.  In that capacity, he manages the debt issuance process for the various general obligation, revenue, and special obligations for which the Treasurer serves as the issuing authority. He also oversees the servicing of the State’s approximately $10.5 billion debt portfolio.

Jonathan is an advisory board member of the National Association of State Treasurers—State Debt Management Network.  Prior to joining the State, he was an attorney with the law firm of Arnall Golden Gregory LLP in Atlanta, Georgia.  Jonathan earned his J.D. from the Emory University School of Law and his B.A. from Tulane University.

[email protected]
30 East Broad Street
9th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (800) 228-1102

Dusten is the IT Director for the Ohio Treasurer’s Office and has nearly 20 years of experience in technology and project management.  In his position, Dusten manages all aspects of the IT department including daily operations, website initiatives, internal & external security controls, cybersecurity, and vendor management.  Before the Ohio Treasurer of State’s office, Dusten worked in project management at Nationwide Insurance and as Network Technology & Security Officer and Chief Information Officer at the Ohio House of representatives.

[email protected]
4016 Allston Street
Suite 4
Cincinnati, OH 45209
Phone: (513) 758-8494

Ryan has over 25 years of experience in the investment industry with extensive knowledge concerning fixed income markets. For the last 18 years, he has specialized in assisting public entities and other agencies with their fixed income needs. Ryan leads business development at RedTree and oversees the firm’s investment process. His dedication to delivering unmatched service is evident by the many long-standing client relationships he maintains. 

Prior Experience
•  Baird Public Investment Advisors, Director and Portfolio Manager
•  Seasongood Asset Management, LLC, Chief Investment Officer 
•  Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc., Fixed Income Portfolio Manager 

Speaking Engagements
Ryan speaks regularly at professional development and continuing education training events, including those offered by the Ohio Treasury’s Center for Public Investment Management (CPIM). He is a sought-after speaker on financial topics and frequently presents to industry groups across the midwestern U.S.  Ryan’s speaking topics include:  Economic outlook, Interest rates, Ohio Revised Code (ORC) Chapter 135 Allowable Investments, and The Federal Reserve.

Education

Master of Business Administration, Xavier University

Bachelor of Science in Accounting, University of Kentucky

Certifications

Chartered Finance Analyst (CFA)

Series 7, 24, 65 (inactive)

[email protected]
2000 Huntington Center
41 South High Street
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 365-2799

  Allison Binkley focuses her practice on serving as bond counsel, underwriter’s counsel and purchaser’s counsel on general obligation financings, tax increment financings, utility revenue financings and special obligation financings. Her client base includes the State of Ohio, counties, municipalities, townships, port authorities, school districts, state universities, trustees, letter of credit banks, investment banking firms and financial institutions.  Allison has also served as bond counsel on 501(c)(3) and health care conduit financings. 
Allison has been recognized as a 2024 Best Lawyers in America for Public Finance Law and an Ohio Super Lawyer Rising Star from 2012-2017.  Allison is a member of the Ohio Government Finance Officers Association, for which she serves as a trustee and on the education committee.  Allison also serves on the board of Women in Public Finance – Ohio Chapter.  She is also a member of the National Association of Bond Lawyers.
Prior to beginning her legal career, Allison served as an economist for the Ohio Legislative Service Commission.  In that position, she staffed the Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee for which she drafted amendments to and coordinated the State of Ohio’s biennial operating and capital budget bills.

[email protected]
175 South Third Street
Suite 1250
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 987-1681

Brian Cooper concentrates on general obligation, income tax revenue, non-tax revenue and special revenue bonds.  Since 2003, Cooper has worked on 120 distinct project financings in Ohio representing over $2.75 billion in financed projects for municipal finance, economic development, utilities and infrastructure.  Cooper graduated from the Ohio State University in 2001 and is a municipal advisor registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and with the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB).

He has been a presenter at the Council of Development Finance Agencies’ national conference and serves as their muni bond advisor for both beginner and advanced bond courses and has also presented at the annual conferences for the Ohio Economic Development Association, the Ohio Government Finance Officers Association and is a guest lecturer at the Ohio State University.

Cooper joined Umbaugh in 2015 when his practice, ACI Advisors, LLC, merged with Umbaugh.  He is based in Umbaugh’s Columbus, Ohio, office and lives in Worthington, Ohio with his wife Patty and their three boys, Alex, Calvin and Ivan.

[email protected]
30 West Spring Street
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 466-7090

Susan Willeke is an accomplished government - relations professional with more than 20 years’ experience in public affairs, communication and public speaking.  Susan joined the Ohio Ethics Commission in 2005 as the Education and Communications Manager where she oversees and conducts educational and communication outreach.  In that position, Susan presents approximately 200 speeches annually, develops information strategies regarding agency programs and represents the Ethics Commission to Ohio citizens, the media and the Ohio legislature.  Prior to joining the Commission, Susan served in the communications office at the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and as a legislative aide in the Ohio House of Representatives.   

Susan is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of Ursuline College in Pepper Pike, Ohio.  In 2011, she was selected to present at TEDx Columbus, a conference for “Ideas Worth Sharing” and identified as one of Central Ohio’s “Leading Thinkers and Doers.”