David B. Thompson,
Lead Founder and Chief Executive Officer

David B. Thompson, chief executive officer of Phoenix Advisors, LLC, is known and respected throughout New Jersey for his knowledge and expertise gained over a 30+ year career in the field of public finance.  He has a thorough understanding of all aspects of municipal bonds, including authorization and issuance processes and as well as their underwriting and trading in the marketplace.

Former Senior Vice President of Commerce Capital Markets, and former President of Cypress Securities, Inc., Mr. Thompson has served as senior banker and advisor on a broad range of financings, working with municipalities, counties school districts, independent authorities, special tax districts, and state government. A graduate of Rutgers University with a degree in business administration and the Securities Industry Institute at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, Mr. Thompson is a former mayor and former school board member.

Email: dthompson@muniadvisors.com

Sherry L. Tracey
Managing Director

Sherry L. Tracey is a principal shareholder and member of the management committee of Phoenix Advisors and has eight years experience working with local and state authorities, municipalities and school districts in tax exempt and taxable new money, refunding and debt restructuring issues. Sherry is experienced in financial analysis, portfolio construction and cash management, and she brings superb research, analytical, and presentation skills to clients.  Prior to inaugurating Phoenix Advisors, Ms. Tracey served as an investment banker with Commerce Capital Markets. Ms. Tracey is a graduate of The College of New Jersey with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing.  She is also certified as a School Business Administrator.

Email: stracey@muniadvisors.com

Anthony P. Inverso
Managing Director

Anthony P. Inverso is a principal shareholder and member of the management committee of Pheonix Advisors and has over ten years experience working with local and state authorities, higher education institutions, municipalities, and school districts. Over the past two years, Anthony has provided financial advice on over $775 million of complex fixed and variable rate new money and refunding debt for colleges and universities in New Jersey. Anthony's extensive resume includes four years as a financial advisor, working with Acacia Financial Group, Inc. and Public Financial Management, Inc. and six years as an investment banker with a regional investment banking firm. Mr. Inverso graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Economics, with a concentration in Finance.

Email: ainverso@muniadvisors.com

Peter G. Egan
Managing Director

Peter G. Egan is based in our Downingtown, Pennsylvania office. He has over 30 years of experience in all aspects of municipal finance, including financial advisor, investment advisor, verification agent, and senior banker appointments. An arbitrage rebate specialist, Pete leads Phoenix's effors providing clients with necessary calculations and reporting to comply with IRS rebate requirements. His extensive experience was gained through participation in over $16 billion in negotiated and/or competitively bid Pennsylvania municipal bonds, and pooled loan programs for client school districts, state agencies, counties, cities, municipal authorities, and other governmental entities. Mr Egan also serves on the Three Rivers Wet Weather Demonstration Program Finance Committee in western Pennsylvania.

Email: pegan@muniadvisors.com

Matthew A. Spoerndle
Managing Director

Matthew A. Spoerndle has recently joined the Phoenix team and is charged with managing the Connecticut market. His responsibilities include client relationships, engagement management and quantitative analysis related to the issuance of general obligation and revenue-supported debt, debt management plans, debt studies, rating presentations, refunding and escrow analyses, bond structuring and in-depth credit analysis. Prior to joining Phoenix Advisors, he spent nearly nine years providing Financial Advisory service to Connecticut municipalities with People’s United Bank where he assisted communities in borrowing over $2 billion. Mr. Spoerndle is a member of the Government Finance Officer's Association and the Council of Small Towns and has held several licenses under the auspices of the NASD, including Series 52, 63 and General Securities Series 7. Mr. Spoerndle earned a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Economics and a minor in International Relations from the University of Pennsylvania in 1997. There, he was captain of the Ivy League champion varsity Track & Field team. He received an M.B.A. degree in Finance from Fairfield University in 2003.

Email: mspoerndle@muniadvisors.com

Ronald E. Novak
Vice President

Ronald E. Novak brings over 30 years of experience in school business administration to the Phoenix team. Former business administrator for Princeton Regional Schools and Monroe Township, he also served as director of budget and finance for the Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District, has held key financial management positions in other New Jersey school districts and recently was an investment banking associate with Commerce Capital Markets. Mr. Novak holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Rider University and a Master of Arts in School Business Administration from Kean College of New Jersey. 

Email: rnovak@muniadvisors.com

Donna Pearson
Office Manager

Donna Pearson has 15 years of experience in the financial services business, including 8 years as Operations Manager with UBS Financial Services. Through her depth of knowledge in several aspects of operations she provided leadership to the UBS branch service support staff and management team. Ms. Pearson while at UBS assisted with processing trades of stocks and bonds along with handling various office functions in a timely and efficient manner. Ms. Pearson joined Phoenix Advisors and is currently managing the daily office routines, processing proposals, editing Preliminary and Final Official Statements and finalizing debt service schedules 

Email: dpearson@muniadvisors.com

Gar Keepers
Project Consultant

Gar Keepers has 38 years of experience in public education, including 21 years as a school business administrator, Mr. Keepers served up to six school districts in a shared business services relationship through Gateway Regional High School District Business Services. In this role Gar was innovative, inaugurated efficiencies, and established himself as an effective and knowledgeable problem solver.

A founding member of the Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem Counties Joint Insurance Fund, Mr. Keepers served as Chairperson since fund inception in 1994. A fund trustee and organizer of the School Pool for Excess Liability Limits serving 61 districts in southern New Jersey provides a firm basis of understanding of a district’s financial management needs. Gar’s years of experience in financial management and fiscal responsibility creates a strong bond with the philosophy of Phoenix Advisors, LLC in the ethical financial services provided. A Rider University graduate with a degree in Commerce and Business Administration, he continued his education at Brooklyn Law School and holds a Master of Arts in Administration and Supervision from Glassboro State College.  

Email: gkeepers@muniadvisors.com

Ronald J. Wolfe
Project Consultant

Ronald J. Wolfe has over 30 years in public education and is known for his cost-saving initiatives as a School Business Administrator and for the successful approval of a $27 million referendum for a middle school and a $71.5 million referendum for a high school. Notably, Ron engineered a string of 22 consecutive budget approvals without a defeat. As a charter member of the School Alliance Insurance Fund, Mr. Wolfe served as Chairperson for 8+ years. SAIF began with 35 member districts and grew to 180 school districts located throughout New Jersey. The Fund has saved districts and taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars. Recognized for his experience, Mr. Wolfe has also been the state appointed mentor for nine successful new school business administrators. He holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from Kean College and is a graduate of Dale Carnegie. 

Email: rwolfe@muniadvisors.com

Matt Sweeney
Analyst

Matt Sweeney is a part-time member of the Phoenix team. With two years experience he has advanced skills in the preparation of bond offering documents (Official Statements). Mr. Sweeney is adept at researching outstanding debt of issuers and utilizing Phoenix’s online market tools, Bloomberg and TM-3. Starting March of every year he leaves us for six months to pursue his professional athletic career. He returns following the completion of the baseball season. 

Email: msweeney@muniadvisors.com