Who We Are

Mission Statement

Masterson Advisors exists to strengthen communities and develop tomorrow’s leaders.

Our in depth experience enables us to equip clients with municipal financing knowledge, analytical support and the confidence to face rating agencies and Wall Street underwriters on equal footing.

We serve our clients with the unwavering principles of integrity, humility, collaboration and excellence. From our Partners to our Analysts, every member of our team is responsible for upholding these principles and fostering a culture of mutual respect, service, and life-long learning.

Leadership

Drew K. Masterson

Managing Director
Drew.Masterson@MastersonAdvisors.com
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Professional Focus

Provides municipal advisory services for issuers of tax-exempt bonds including: charter schools, cities, universities, municipal utility districts, tax increment reinvestment zones, not-for-profits, convention centers/hotels, private schools and others

Experience
  • More than 39 years of experience in the municipal advisory industry
  • Formed Masterson Advisors in March, 2018
  • Joined First Southwest Company (Subsequently Hilltop Securities) in 1996 by acquisition
  • Joined Masterson & Company (Subsequently Masterson Moreland Sauer Whisman, Inc.) in 1985
  • Joined Shearson Lehman American Express in 1984
  • Current licenses held:
    • Municipal Advisor Representative, Series 50
Education

• Master of Business Administration in Finance, Wharton School of Business at University of Pennsylvania, with honors, member Beta Gamma Sigma business honor society
• Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Economics, Vanderbilt University, Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa

Personal
• Married to Madeline Lott Masterson since 1984
• Children: Drew Jr. (wife Ginny), Blake & Kendall
• Hobby: Tending the farm near Charlottesville, VA
Current Affiliations
  •  Community Loan Center of Greater Houston, Board Vice President
  •  Neighborhood Recovery Community Development Corporation, Board Vice President
  • City of Houston Investment Committee, Board Member

 

Past Affiliations

• YES Prep Public Schools, Board Member 15 years, Finance Committee Chair 5 years
• Municipal Advisory Council of Texas, Chair
• Orchestra X, Chair
• Forest Club, Chair
• Coronado Club, board member, Cigar & Spirits Committee Chair
• Chapelwood UMC, Finance Committee
• Kinkaid School, Advancement Committee

JULIE PEAK

Managing Director
Julie.Peak@MastersonAdvisors.com
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Professional Focus
Provides financial advisory services to municipal utility districts, levee improvement districts, water, control and improvement districts. Clients include major master planned communities and other residential and commercial communities.
Experience
  • More than 40 years of experience in the municipal advisory industry
  • Started providing financial advisory services in 1983
  • Joined FirstSouthwest (and its successors) in 1996 through April 2018
  • Joined Masterson Advisors in April 2018
  • License held: Municipal Advisor Representative, Series 50
Education
Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing, University of Houston, Houston, Texas
Personal
  • Married: David Hightower since 1993
  • Children: Erin
  • Hobbies: Country life in Chappell Hill, Texas; Summers in Colorado; Traveling in general
Current Affiliations
  • Urban Land Institute, Member
  • Scenic Houston, Board Member
  • West Houston Association
Past Affiliations

Annunciation Orthodox School, Board of Trustees

Master of Land and Property Development Industry Advisory Committee at Texas A&M University

ANTHEA W. MORAN

Managing Director
Anthea.Moran@MastersonAdvisors.com
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Professional Focus

Provides municipal advisory services for issuers of tax-exempt bonds including: municipal utility districts, water control and improvement districts, levee improvement districts and improvement districts.

Experience
  • More than 35 years in public finance
  • Previously employed by FirstSouthwest/Hilltop Securities from 1996-2018
  • Joined Masterson Advisors in April 2018
  • Primary focus in special district bonds in the State of Texas since 1988
  • Provided financial advisory services to more than 100 special districts
  • Coordinates the development and implementation of financing plans, the approval by State of Texas agencies, preparation of all marketing documents and credit assessments necessary to the sale of securities
  • Current licenses held:
    • Municipal Advisor Representative, Series 50
    • Municipal Advisor Principal, Series 54
Education
  • Master of Business Administration in Finance, University of Houston, Houston, Texas
  • Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Business, Hollins University, Roanoke, Virginia
Personal
  • Married to Tom Moran since 1997
  • Children: Luke

DEBBIE SHELTON

Managing Director
Debbie.Shelton@MastersonAdvisors.com
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Professional Focus

Provides municipal advisory services for issuers of tax-exempt bonds including: municipal utility districts, water control and improvement districts, levee improvement districts and improvement districts.

Experience
  • More than 39 years of experience working with utility districts
  • Fulbright & Jaworski LLP Legal Assistant working with utility districts from 1984 – 1993
  • Juran & Moody Utility District Financial Advisory work from 1994 – 2002
  • First Southwest Company/Hilltop Securities Utility District Financial Advisory work from 2002 – April 2018
  • Joined Masterson Advisors in April 2018
  • Current License held:
    • Municipal Advisor Representative, Series 50
Education

Bachelor of Arts in History and Sociology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee

Personal
  • Married to Roger Shelton since 1997
  • Hobbies include:
    • Spending time with my dogs
    • Avid sports fan, particularly Commodore sporting events
    • Spending time in Galveston, boating and relaxing

Steven Kantor

Managing Director
Steven.Kantor@MastersonAdvisors.com
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Professional Focus

Provides municipal advisory services for issuers of tax-exempt bonds including: states, state agencies, cities, counties, transportation issuers, convention centers, securitizations, universities, and others

Experience
  • More than 46 years of experience in the municipal finance industry
  • Joined First Southwest Company (Subsequently Hilltop Securities) in 2004 by acquisition
  • Joined O’Brien Partners (Subsequently Arimax Financial Advisors.) in 1990
  • Joined Merrill Lynch in 1984
  • Treasurer of Municipal Assistance Corporation For The City of New York
  • Deputy City Treasurer, City of Philadelphia
  • Current licenses held:
    • General Securities Representative, Series 7
    • Municipal Advisor Representative, Series 50
    • Series 53
    • Municipal Advisor Principal, Series 54
    • Investment Banking Representative, Series 79
Education
  • Master of Public Policy Analysis in Public Finance, Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania,
  • Bachelor of Science in Finance, Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania,
  • Bachelor of Arts, College of Arts and Sciences in Economics, University of Pennsylvania
  • Juris Doctor, Temple University School of Law
Personal
Current Affiliations
  • NEXT for AUTISM, co-founder and Treasurer,
  • State Debt Management Network
  • Citizens Budget Commission, trustee
Past Affiliations
  • National Association of State Treasurers, President  Corporate Affiliate Board
  • University Club of New York, audit committee
  • Lake Waramaug Country Club, Tennis Chair

Dave Brayshaw

Managing Director
Dave.Brayshaw@MastersonAdvisors.com
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Professional Focus

Provides municipal advisory services related to bond pricing, bond structuring, and the implementation of municipal financial products designed to meet the balance sheet management needs of public funds issuers nation-wide.

Experience
  • More than 37 years of experience in structured products and municipal advisory industry
  • Joined Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas 1986
  • Joined First Southwest Company (Subsequently, Hilltop Securities) in 1992
  • Joined Masterson Advisors in November 2018
  • Current licenses held:
    • Municipal Advisor Representative, Series 50
    • Municipal Advisor Principal, Series 54
Education
  • Masters of Business Administration, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas
  • Bachelor of Business Administration, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas
Personal
  • Married to Leana Lynn Brayshaw since 1991
  • Children: Eleanor, Laura and Katherine
  • Hobbies: Golf, lacrosse and oil painting
Current Affiliations
  • National Federation of Municipal Analysts, Member
  • Southern Municipal Finance Society, Member
  • Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst Candidate

Tina Arias Peterman

Managing Director
Tina.Peterman@MastersonAdvisors.com
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Professional Focus

Provides municipal advisory services for issuers of tax-exempt and taxable bonds including:  cities, counties, toll roads, airports, ports, utilities, sports authorities and hotels, among others

Experience
  • More than 28 years of experience in the municipal finance industry and over 23 years experience in the financial services industry
  • Joined Masterson Advisors in September 2018
  • Joined First Southwest Company (Subsequently Hilltop Securities) in 2014
  • Previous banking and public finance experience with J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and RBC Capital Markets
  • Current license held:
    • Municipal Advisor Representative, Series 50
    • Municipal Advisor Principal, Series 54
Education

• Bachelor of Science Business Administration, Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas

Personal
  • Married to Mitja Peterman, Jr since 1999
  • Children: Logan and Ava
  • Hobbies: Cooking, reading, investing time with my family
Current Affiliations
  • Houston Public Library Foundation, Treasurer
  • Senior Fellow, American Leadership Forum Class XXXVI
  • Texas Women in Public Finance, Member
Past Affiliations
  • Mayor Turner’s Transition Committee on Comprehensive Financial Reform
  • Houston Housing Authority, Commissioner
  • East Downtown Redevelopment Authority, TIRZ #15, Boardmember
  • ALF Board of Trustees, Treasurer

GREG LENTZ

Managing Director
Greg.Lentz@MastersonAdvisors.com
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Professional Focus

Providing municipal advisory services to special district clients.

Experience
  • 15 years of experience in public finance
  • Joined Masterson Advisors in April 2018
  • Involved in providing consulting services to special districts since 2004, initially in a civil engineering capacity, and since 2008, in a municipal advisory capacity
  • From 1996 to 2004, worked as a civil engineering consultant for the following:
    • Qore Property Sciences (formerly Atlanta Testing & Engineering)
    • Department of Utilities and Engineering, City of Columbia, South Carolina
    • Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc.
    • R.G. Miller Engineers, Inc.
  • Current Licenses Held:
    • Municipal Advisor Representative, Series 50
    • Municipal Advisor Principal, Series 54
    • Licensed Professional Engineer – State of Texas
Education
  • Master of Business Administration, The University of Houston, Houston, Texas
  • Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania
Personal
  • Married to Crystal Silva-Lentz since 2005
  • Reside in the Oak Forest area of Houston
  • Children: Christian and Matthew
  • Hobbies: Golf, Fitness, and coaching our boys
Current Affiliations
  • West Houston Association Rising Leader
  • Member, Urban Land Institute Houston
Past Affiliations
  • Graduate of Fort Bend Leadership Forum, Class of 2006
  • Secretary – Greater Houston Chapter of the Texas Society for Professional Engineers
  • Treasurer – Southeast Chapter of the Texas Section of the American Water Works Association
  • Vice President – Enclave on TC Jester Homeowners’ Association

CHRISTINE CROTWELL

Director
Christine.Crotwell@MastersonAdvisors.com
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Professional Focus
Provides municipal advisory services for special district clients.
Experience
  • More than 17 years of municipal advisory experience
  • Joined First Southwest Company (subsequently Hilltop Securities) in 2006
  • Joined Masterson Advisors in April 2018
  • License held:
    • Municipal Advisor Representative, Series 50
    • Municipal Advisor Principal, Series 54
Education

Bachelors of Business Administration in Finance, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas

Personal
  • Married to Gregory Lukin since 2013
  • Hobbies: equestrian sports, running, reading, my dogs
Current Affiliations
  • Member, Urban Land Institute
  • Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo; Committeeman

KAYLA MACEWEN

Director
Kayla.MacEwen@MastersonAdvisors.com
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Professional Focus
Provides municipal advisory services for issuers of tax-exempt bonds including: state and state agencies, cities, counties, transportation issuers, housing issuers, higher education issuers, tax increment financings, not-for-profits, convention centers, arenas and others
Experience
  • More than 16 years in the municipal advisory industry
  • Joined First Southwest Company (subsequently Hilltop Securities) in 2007
  • Provides quantitative financial analysis, financing structures, credit and cash flow analysis, legal documentation review, price negotiations, rating agency and bond insurer analysis
  • Extensive experience structuring, negotiating and executing complex tax-exempt and taxable transactions and negotiated bank credit facilities and direct purchases for clients.
  • Current license held:
    • General Securities Representative, Series 7
    • Municipal Advisor Representative, Series 50
    • Investment Banking Representative, Series 79
Education

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, University of Rhode Island, Finance Major

Personal
  • Married to Matthew Sanford since 2019
  • Children: West and Carter
  • Hobbies: Fitness (Chasing her toddlers around)
Current Affiliations
  • Northeast Women in Public Finance, member
  • Women in Public Finance (National), Executive Board Member & 2023 President
  • Women in Public Finance (Boston Chapter), Executive Board Member & Treasurer

JENNIFER ARNDT

Director
Jennifer.Arndt@MastersonAdvisors.com
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Professional Focus
Provides municipal advisory services for issuers of tax-exempt bonds including: cities, universities, tax increment reinvestment zones, not-for-profits, convention centers/hotels, charter schools, and others.
Experience
  • 16 years of experience in the municipal advisory industry, most recently at PFM Financial Advisors
  • Joined Masterson Advisors in November 2022
  • Coordinates the development and implementation of financing plans, structures and analyses capacity for bond transactions, prepares marketing annd administrative documents, and generates credit assessments necessary to the sale of securities.
  • Current license held:
    • Municipal Advisor Representative, Series 50
Education

Bachelor of Arts in Economics, University of Texas, Austin, Texas

Personal
Current Affiliations

Women in Public Finance, Texas Chapter

KRISTIN GARCIA BLOMQUIST

Senior Vice President
Kristin.Blomquist@MastersonAdvisors.com
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Professional Focus
Provides municipal advisory services for issuers of tax-exempt bonds including: cities, universities, tax increment reinvestment zones, not-for-profits, convention centers/hotels, charter schools, and others.
Experience
  • 13 years of experience in the municipal advisory industry
  • Joined FirstSouthwest (subsequently Hilltop Securities) in 2010
  • Joined Masterson Advisors in April 2018
  • Current license held:
    • Municipal Advisor Representative, Series 50
Education
Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance, Hankamer School of Business, Baylor University, Waco, Texas
Personal
  • Married to Aaron Blomquist since 2013
  • Children: Isabelle, Stire, Charlie the dog
  • Hobbies: playing with her children
Current Affiliations

Women in Public Finance, Texas Chapter

Harris County Hospital District Foundation, Trustee & Children’s Health Fund Committee Member

Recipe for Success, Vice President

JONATHAN CHURCH

Senior Vice President
Jonathan.Church@MastersonAdvisors.com
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Professional Focus

Provides municipal advisory services for issuers of tax-exempt bonds including: charter schools, healthcare organizations, universities, private schools, port authorities, not-for-profits and others.

Experience
  • 11 years of experience in public finance
  • Joined FirstSouthwest Company (subsequently Hilltop Securities) in 2012
  • Joined Masterson Advisors in May 2018
  • Current licenses held:
    • Municipal Advisor Representative, Series 50
    • Municipal Advisor Principal, Series 54
Education
  • Master of Science in Health Care Administration, Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas
  • Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas
Personal
  • Married to Crystal Thompson Church since 2006
  • Children: Brooklyn, Blaire & Bradley
  • Hobby: Tending to the children
Current Affiliations
  • American College of Healthcare Executives
  • Healthcare Financial Management Association
Past Affiliations

Trinity Health Care Administration Alumni Association, Mentor

SPENCER DAY

Vice President
Spencer.Day@MastersonAdvisors.com

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Professional Focus

Provides municipal advisory services for issuers of tax-exempt and taxable bonds including: cities, counties, school districts, toll roads, ports, municipal utility districts and others.

Experience
  • 11 years of experience in public finance
  • Joined Masterson Advisors in September 2018
  • Joined First Southwest Company (subsequently Hilltop Securities) in 2012
  • Current licenses held:
    • Municipal Advisor Representative, Series 50
    • Municipal Advisor Principal, Series 54
Education
  • Business Foundations Certificate, McCombs School of Business, The University of Texas at Austin
  • Bachelors of Science, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
Personal
  • Resides in Cottage Grove area of Houston
  • Hobbies: fitness, travel, spending time with family

CHASE EASTLAND

Vice President
Chase.Eastland@MastersonAdvisors.com

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Professional Focus

Provides municipal advisory services for issuers of tax-exempt bonds including: charter schools, cities, universities, municipal utility districts, tax increment reinvestment zones, not-for-profits, private schools and others.

Experience
  • 7 years of experience in public finance
  • Joined Masterson Advisors in March 2018
  • Joined Hilltop Securities in 2016
  • Current licenses held:
    • Municipal Advisor Representative, Series 50
    • Municipal Advisor Principal, Series 54
Education

Bachelor of Arts in Business and Minor in Spanish, Southwestern University, Georgetown, Texas, Phi Beta Kappa

Personal

Hobbies: Live music, travel, yoga

Current Affiliations
  • Texas Women in Public Finance, Member
  • Urban Land Institute, Member
  • Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Committeeman
  • Southwestern University Alumni Officer

Jared Welsh

Associate
Jared.Welsh@MastersonAdvisors.com

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Professional Focus

Provides municipal advisory services for issuers of tax-exempt bonds including: charter schools, cities, universities, municipal utility districts, tax increment reinvestment zones, not-for-profits, private schools and others.

Experience
  • 4 years of experience in public finance
  • Joined Masterson Advisors in June 2019
  • Current license held:
    • Municipal Advisor Representative, Series 50
Education

Bachelor of Arts in Business and Minor in Communication Studies, Southwestern University

Personal
  • Hobbies: Sports, Fitness, Traveling, Music
Current Affiliations

Josh Jones

Associate
Josh.Jones@MastersonAdvisors.com

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Professional Focus

Provides municipal advisory services for issuers of tax-exempt bonds including: charter schools, cities, universities, municipal utility districts, tax increment reinvestment zones, not-for-profits, convention centers/hotels, private schools and others.

Experience
  • 4 years of experience in public finance
  • Joined Masterson Advisors in June 2019
  • License held:
    • Municipal Advisor Representative, Series 50
Education

Bachelor of Arts in Finance with Minors in Communication and Exercise & Sports Science, Austin College, Sherman, Texas

Personal

Hobbies: Sports, Travel, Cars

Current Affiliations

Brendan Cooney

Associate
Brendan.Cooney@MastersonAdvisors.com
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Professional Focus

Provides municipal advisory services for issuers of tax-exempt bonds including states, state agencies, cities, counties, transportation issuers, convention centers, securitizations, universities, tax-increment financings, and others.

Experience
  • 3 years of experience in public finance
  • Joined Hilltop Securities in 2020
  • Joined Masterson in January 2021
  • Current licenses held:
    • Municipal Advisor Representative, Series 50
Education
  • Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Minors in Finance/Political Science from Providence College in Providence, RI
Personal
  • Hobbies: Golf, Skiing, Fishing, Exercising
Current Affiliations
  • National Federation of Municipal Analysts (Boston Municipal Analysts Forum), Member
Past Affiliations

Garrett Hall

Associate
Garrett.Hall@MastersonAdvisors.com

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Professional Focus

Pricing and structured financial products specialist offering advisory and consulting services designed to meet the needs of municipal issuers.

Experience
  • 3 years of experience in public finance
  • Joined Masterson Advisors in June 2020
  • Current licenses held:
    • Municipal Advisor Representative, Series 50
Education

Bachelor of Business Administration, University of Oklahoma Price School of Business

Personal
Current Affiliations

Austin Ficken

Associate
Austin.Ficken@MastersonAdvisors.com
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Professional Focus

Provides municipal advisory services for issuers of tax-exempt bonds including: charter schools, cities, universities, municipal utility districts, tax increment reinvestment zones, not-for-profits, private schools and others.

Experience
  • 3 years of experience in public finance
  • Joined Masterson in October 2021
  • Current licenses held:
    • Municipal Advisor Representative, Series 50
Education
  • Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and Finance, Texas Tech University – Rawls College of Business
Personal
  • Dog dad to Nova
  • Hobbies: Snowmobiling, Hiking, Traveling, Cars, Golf, Fitness, Houston Astros
Current Affiliations
Past Affiliations

Tiarrah Smith

Analyst
Tiarrah.Smith@MastersonAdvisors.com

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Professional Focus

Provides municipal advisory services for issuers of tax-exempt bonds including: charter schools, cities, universities, municipal utility districts, tax increment reinvestment zones, not-for-profits, private schools and others.

Experience
  • Joined Masterson Advisors in February 2020
  • Current licenses held:
    • Municipal Advisor Representative, Series 50
Education

Bachelor of Communications with a concentration in Marketing, University of Texas at San Antonio

Personal
Current Affiliations

Hermann Park Conservancy, Urban Green Member

Sandra Lopez

Associate
Sandra.Lopez@MastersonAdvisors.com
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Professional Focus

Provides municipal advisory services for issuers of tax-exempt bonds including: charter schools, cities, universities, municipal utility districts, tax increment reinvestment zones, not-for-profits, private schools and others.

Experience
  • Joined Masterson Advisors in June 2022

  • Current license held:  

    • Municipal Advisor Representative, Series 50

Education
  • Master of Public Affairs, LBJ School of Public Affairs, The University of Texas at Austin

  • Bachelor of Arts in Political Sciences, Rice University, Houston, Texas

Personal
  • Interests: Cooking, Soccer,  Travelling
Current Affiliations
Past Affiliations

Masterson Advisors LLC

3 Greenway Plaza, Suite 1100
Houston, Texas 77046

Houston Office
3 Greenway Plaza, Suite 1100
Houston, Texas 77046

713-814-0550

Masterson Advisors LLC

3102 Maple Ave. Suite 225
Dallas, TX 75201

Dallas Office
3102 Maple Ave. Suite 225
Dallas, Texas 75201

214-953-9353

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OTHER OFFICES
CANTON, MASSACHUSETTS
646-483-4941

NAPLES, FLORIDA
917-545-2864