Michael Rowan Managing Director Public Finance, Moody’s Investors Service

As Managing Director of the Global Public, Project and Infrastructure Finance Group, Mike is responsible for the rating activities in those segments across the Americas, EMEA and Asia. In this capacity Mike is also the Head of the US Public Finance Group. Previously, Mike was the Managing Director of the Global Commercial Group of Moody’s Investors Service, from 2010 through 2012, where he oversaw management of the firm’s relationships with existing issuers, as well as business development and strategic planning for the rating agency. In 2008 and 2009, Mike was the Managing Director of the Global Corporate Finance Group, which conducts all of Moody’s non-financial corporate ratings activities. This followed five years as Managing Director and co-head of the Americas Corporate Finance Group. Mike’s other responsibilities at Moody’s have included serving as Managing Director and co-head of the Leveraged Finance team, responsible for syndicated loan and high yield bond analysis. He joined Moody’s in 1996 as a senior analyst for Leveraged Finance, coming from Bank of America, where he was Vice President in the corporate banking division. Mike earned a B.S. degree in finance from Siena College and an M.B.A. in finance from Iona College. He is also a Chartered Financial Analyst as well as a member of the CFA Institute, the CFA Society of New York, the Fixed Income Analysts Society and the National Federation of Municipal Analysts. 

Naomi Richman Senior Vice President, US Public Finance Moody's Ratings

Naomi Richman is a Senior Vice President in Moody's US Public Finance Group. Naomi manages the Surveillance team and Data and Analytics team. She is also responsible for contributing to state and local government analytical initiatives, research and methodologies. Naomi was previously a Managing Director in US Public Finance and Chief Credit Officer for global public sector ratings. Naomi has over 35 years of experience in credit analysis at Moody's, covering state and local governments, housing, higher education, financial guarantors, and global sovereigns.

Prior to joining Moody's, Naomi spent four years with the New York City Department of Finance. Naomi holds an MPP from Harvard University and an AB from Bryn Mawr College.

Mark Zandi Chief Economist Moody's Analytics

Mark M. Zandi is chief economist of Moody’s Analytics, where he directs economic research. Moody’s Analytics, a subsidiary of Moody’s Corp., is a leading provider of economic research, data and analytical tools. Dr. Zandi is a co founder of the company Economy.com, which Moody’s purchased in 2005.

Dr. Zandi’s broad research interests encompass macroeconomics, financial market sand public policy. His recent research has focused on mortgage finance reform and the determinants of mortgage foreclosure and personal bankruptcy. He has analyzed the economic impact of various tax and government spending policies and assessed the appropriate monetary policy response to bubbles in asset markets.

A trusted adviser to policymakers and an influential source of economic analysis for businesses, journalists and the public, Dr. Zandi frequently testifies before Congress on topics including the economic outlook, the nation’s daunting fiscal challenges, the merits of fiscal stimulus, financial regulatory reform, and foreclosure mitigation.

Dr. Zandi conducts regular briefings on the economy for corporate boards, trade associations and policymakers at all levels. He is on the board of directors of MGIC, the nation’s largest private mortgage insurance company, and The Reinvestment Fund, a large CDFI that makes investments in disadvantaged neighborhoods. He is often quoted in national and global publications and interviewed by major news media outlets, and is a frequent guest on CNBC, NPR, Meet the Press, CNN, and various other national networks and news programs.

Dr. Zandi is the author of Paying the Price: Ending the Great Recession and Beginning a New American Century, which provides an assessment of the monetary and fiscal policy response to the Great Recession. His other book, Financial Shock: A 360º Look at the Subprime Mortgage Implosion, and How to Avoid the Next Financial Crisis, is described by the New York Times as the “clearest guide” to the financial crisis.

Dr. Zandi earned his B.S. from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and his PhD at the University of Pennsylvania. He lives with his wife and three children in the suburbs of Philadelphia.