Where Public Finance Works DebtBook

In this episode of Where Public Finance Works, we’re joined by Mark Funkhouser, an expert in government finance and urban management. From growing up in West Virginia to finding an interest in political science in Pennsylvania, discover the path that led Mark to become a pivotal figure in Kansas City's administration.
His career spans various roles, including social worker, director of the Performance Audit Group in Tennessee, and City Auditor in Kansas City. Through each position, Mark shares the importance of using government as a force for good, improving lives through effective management and fiscal responsibility.
Join our host, Tyler Traudt, as he introduces us to Mark's philosophy on leadership and governance. You’ll learn about Mark's strategic initiatives during his tenure as Mayor of Kansas City, where he focused on improving the city's financial health, reducing crime, and managing significant infrastructure projects. Mark's leadership saw Kansas City through the Great Recession, achieving the best financial condition in decades and a notable reduction in crime rates.
Mark also reflects on his post-mayoral career and his continued work in public finance and governance, including consulting and teaching, and his ongoing belief in the transformative power of effective public administration. His experience illustrates how effective governance can lead to better community outcomes and financial stability.
 
Featured Guest
Mark Funkhouser, president of Funkhouser & Associates, is a distinguished municipal finance expert with decades of government service. As the mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, during the Great Recession, Mark made pivotal decisions to guide the city toward fiscal sustainability. His extensive experience as an auditor—coupled with his recent role as publisher of Governing magazine— has established him as a trusted advisor to government officials nationwide.
Mark holds a master’s degree in social work from West Virginia University, an MBA from Tennessee State University, and an interdisciplinary Ph.D. in public administration and urban sociology from the University of Missouri at Kansas City.
 
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In this episode of Where Public Finance Works, join us for an enlightening conversation with David Boyd, the Chief Financial Officer of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina—a region experiencing rapid growth, adding 127,000 to its population since 2020.
David shares his journey from the Black Hills of South Dakota to the dynamic financial world of Mecklenburg County. From his initial steps in finance as a young auditor to rising as a leader influencing major fiscal strategies, David's career has been driven by a passion for impactful public service and a dedication to innovative financial management.
Join our host, Tyler Traudt, as he explores David's approach to leading his team through complex challenges. Learn how David's leadership philosophy focuses not just on the 'what' and 'how' of operations but significantly on the 'why,' enhancing his team's engagement and effectiveness. David’s strategic initiatives, especially in capital planning and fiscal management, emphasize transparency and proactive fiscal stewardship, which have been important in managing the county’s substantial budget and capital projects worth billions.
David also opens up about the personal side of his job, from how his son perceives his work to the deeper satisfaction that comes from knowing the tangible impact of his efforts on community infrastructure and services. Prepare to be inspired by a finance leader who’s not just keeping the books but rewriting them to better serve his community. This episode not only highlights the strategic role of financial leadership in government but also humanizes the profound impact such roles have on the quality of life in urban environments.
 
Featured Guest
David Boyd, Chief Financial Officer of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, holds an impressive track record in public and private sectors. Since August 2021, David has directed the financial operations of Mecklenburg County, overseeing a comprehensive array of functions including capital and debt planning, investments, accounting, payroll, procurement, grant management, and payables. His role extends to providing strategic financial support to various county departments, enhancing their efficiency and fiscal responsibility.
David's tenure in Mecklenburg is marked by his adept management of complex budgets and his innovative approach to public fiscal administration. Prior to his current role, he made significant impacts as the Finance Director for the City of Durham, North Carolina, starting in 2010, and the City of Thornton, Colorado, where he served in multiple capacities including Tax Auditor, Controller, and Finance Director for over nearly 13 years.
A proud alumnus of South Dakota State University, David holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics. His commitment to continuous professional development is evident in his credentials as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), and Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA).
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In this episode of Where Public Finance Works, we explore the remarkable journey of Martin “Marty” Feinstein, an influential figure in the fusion of public finance and investment banking technology. Born and bred in New York, Marty’s story begins with his early exposure to computing at Jamaica High School, training on an IBM 1030 mainframe, and progresses through his ascension in the field post completing his master’s from Albany State.
Join our host, Tyler Traudt as he guides us through Marty's story from his foundational programming work at International Paper, creating a forest-yielding algorithm, to his pivotal role at First Boston, where his uncle's advice steered him into the world of public finance. Marty recounts his transition from programming to financial analysis, and how the arrival of PCs and evolving technology shaped the industry.
Listen along as he details the profound shifts in bond pricing technology, from the Monroe Bond Calculator to the dominance of Bloomberg terminals. Marty candidly discusses the impact of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, which threw municipal finance into tumult, and how it prompted changes in refunding bonds and the entry of analytical databases.
As he reflects on his later roles and working with his team at DebtBook, we learn how Marty’s legacy is defined by a commitment to progress and the ability to harness knowledge for continuous improvement.
 
Featured Guest
Marty Feinstein is the Managing Director of Finance Product & Enablement and Head of Data Analysis/Excel Model Development at DebtBook. He first entered the Public Finance field in 1980 as a computer programmer at First Boston Corporation. In 1995, Marty joined Smith Barney (later to merge with Citi) where he became a director and headed the Finance Structuring Group within the Public Finance Department.
Marty also worked for Global Financial Markets Institute as a consultant responsible for training clients in general Public Finance knowledge or Excel cash flow modeling. In April 2020, Marty joined DebtBook to help the team design and build user-friendly internal models to speed data entry of client information and train staff in general Public Finance knowledge.
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In this episode of Where Public Finance Works, we’re joined by Matt Dull, the Associate Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs at Appalachian State University, where he details the complexities of university finance and infrastructure.
Join our host, Tyler Traudt, as he guides listeners through Matt's two decades of innovative leadership, which has significantly shaped the University's living spaces and financial strategies. Matt recounts his efforts in elevating student living standards through creative public-private partnerships (P3). These initiatives have helped redefine residential life on campus by fostering environments conducive to academic success and personal growth. He shares the careful process of increasing campus housing capacity, achieving the addition of over 2,300 beds, while emphasizing the need for affordability and quality.
Through Matt’s narrative, we gain insights into the holistic impact of well-designed living spaces on student retention and satisfaction. His commitment to balancing cost-efficiency with the creation of vibrant communities shows the far-reaching benefits of strategic planning in higher education.
 
Featured Guest
Matt Dull is the Associate Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, holding a diverse portfolio that includes Administrative Services, the Child Development Center, Electronic Student Services, University Housing, Staff Development & Strategic Initiatives, Student Affairs Assessment, and Student Affairs Capital Projects.
With a distinguished career in higher education administration, Matt has served in pivotal roles, including Director of Administrative Support Services from July 2010 until his promotion to Assistant Vice Chancellor. His extensive experience extends internationally, having held positions such as the Senior Associate Director of Admissions at Appalachian and Director for the University of North Carolina System Office at Fudan University in Shanghai, China.
 

FREE PLAYBOOK: How Local Governments Can Prepare for the FDTA
In this episode of Where Public Finance Works, we’re joined by Megan Kilgore, the accomplished City Auditor of Columbus, Ohio. Megan takes us through her journey from a child inspired by public figures like Margaret Thatcher and Sally Ride to becoming a leading force in one of America's fastest-growing cities. She shares her passion for public service and how her upbringing in a hardworking, blue-collar family shaped her values and a people-first approach to government finance.
Join our host, Tyler Traudt, as he leads us through Megan's insights on the complexities of managing a city's finances during rapid growth and maintaining trust with a diverse populace. Megan discusses the innovative solutions her office has implemented, including deploying technology to enhance efficiency without losing the crucial human touch that ensures services are people-focused.
Touching upon the Financial Data Transparency Act (FDTA), Megan addresses misconceptions around governmental fraud and the act's intention to modernize financial reporting. She shares her passionate view that the FDTA isn't about defending against fraud but rather about democratizing data, making information more accessible and easier to understand, which ultimately serves the public good.
Megan's drive for modernization — from "COBOL to cloud" — has marked her tenure as City Auditor, and her leadership has seen Columbus through significant fiscal challenges. This episode not only explores the strategic financial initiatives Megan has spearheaded but also reveals her belief in the creativity and capability of government workers to innovate and excel in public finance management.
Featured Guest
City Auditor of Columbus, Megan Kilgore, is the first woman elected to this executive branch position in Columbus. In her role as City Auditor she has pioneered significant advances in fiscal management for the 14th largest city in the United States.
Serving since January 2018, Megan's tenure is marked by her supervision of seven critical departments. She handles debt issuance, investor relations, a $2.8 billion investment portfolio, citywide accounting, and payroll services for a workforce of 10,000, while also modernizing three significant technological systems.
Megan also imparts her knowledge as an Adjunct Lecturer at The Ohio State University's John Glenn College of Public Affairs. She has been shaping the minds of graduate-level Public Finance students for over a decade, bringing her on-the-ground experience into the academic sphere.
 

In this episode of Where Public Finance Works, Justin Marlowe, esteemed faculty member at the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy, returns to share his insight on important shifts within the municipal market. Following where we left off in Part 1, Justin takes us through the current renaissance in public finance, celebrating the unleashing of expertise across all levels, from CFOs to billing clerks. He emphasizes the expectation for these professionals to not just execute tasks but to actively engage in policy-shaping discussions, highlighting the shift from static fund allocation to dynamic, informed decision-making that impacts policy and community development.
Join our host, Tyler Traudt, as he and Justin discuss the significant role of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in shaping new financial models, particularly in clean energy, and the intricate dance of managing tender offers in municipal bonds. 
Justin also sheds light on the pressing workforce challenges within public finance, marking the need for a diverse skill set in the era of AI and technological advancements. He shares valuable insight into innovative approaches to recruitment and development, recognizing the potential of talent with non-traditional backgrounds enriching the public finance workforce.
This episode not only underscores the transformational power of federal funding and the consequent responsibilities but also showcases public finance as a robust, adaptable field, rising to meet the complexities of a changing world. One undeniable trend is the internationalization of state and local public finance when you talk to borrowers today.
Featured Guest Justin Marlowe is a Research Professor at the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy and co-hosts the popular podcast “The Public Money Pod.” His teaching and research are focused on state and local government budgeting, finance, and financial management. He has published five books – including the forthcoming Public Debt Management: Strategy and Evidence – and dozens of articles on the municipal bond market, infrastructure finance, governmental accounting, and local fiscal policy. 
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