Suite 400
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Telephone: (727) 822-3339
Fax: (727) 822-3502
Florida Professionals
Marianne F. Edmonds, Senior Managing Director
Certifications/Licenses: Series 50, Municipal Advisor Representative and Series 54, Municipal Advisor Principal
Marianne Edmonds joined PRAG in September, 2005 with PRAG’s acquisition of her firm, Marianne Edmonds, Inc. Ms. Edmonds founded Marianne Edmonds, Inc. in March 1997.
Prior to founding her firm, she worked as an investment banker and financial advisor to governmental issuers in Florida, beginning in 1982, at William R. Hough & Co. and Smith Barney, Inc. During Ms. Edmonds’ career in public finance, she has developed and implemented financing plans for a variety of purposes: general governmental capital projects, utility systems, resource recovery plants, refundings, equipment lease programs, lease purchase programs, housing, and sports facilities, among others.
Ms. Edmonds received a B.A. in Mathematics from Northwestern University and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School.
Certifications/Licenses: Series 50, Municipal Advisor Representative and Series 54, Municipal Advisor Principal
Mr. Gaertner joined PRAG in 2013. He has 30 years of experience in public finance at the local, state and federal level. He is located in PRAG’s Florida office and his clients include cities, counties, states, utilities, transportation agencies, and special districts.
With a background in commercial banking, investment banking and financial advisory, Mr. Gaertner has experience in tax-exempt and taxable municipal bonds, 144A corporate debt in public, private and global offerings, variable rate debt, swaps, commercial paper, letters of credit, traditional bank debt and public-private partnerships. He has advised clients on financial structures and strategies in connection with financings for general government, transportation, utility, education, and economic development purposes as well as project financings for sports facilities, convention centers, hotel, real estate, and affordable housing projects. In addition to providing transactional advice for debt issuances, Mr. Gaertner also provides strategic financial advisory services including development of long-term financial models, creation of interim funding strategies, and evaluation of public-private partnership opportunities. He has played a lead role on financings recognized by Project Finance Magazine as “North American Real Estate Deal of the Year” and “North American Public Private Partnership Deal of the Year.”
Mr. Gaertner received a B.S. in Chemistry with General Honors from the University of Miami and an M.B.A. from Stetson University.
Certifications/Licenses: Series 50, Municipal Advisor Representative
Natalie Sidor joined PRAG in 2018 as a Managing Director bringing over 15 years of corporate and public finance experience. At PRAG, Ms. Sidor provides client management and transactional support to general government, special district, higher education and housing finance authority clients.
Formerly with Raymond James and Associates, Inc., Ms. Sidor provided investment banking and advisory services to municipal clients throughout the Southeast. While at Raymond James, Ms. Sidor was responsible for evaluating, developing and executing financing solutions based on client objectives and market dynamics. She was involved in the execution of lead-managed municipal financings for state and local governments, primarily in Florida.
In addition to her extensive public finance experience, Ms. Sidor also has experience in real estate development and corporate finance. After receiving her M.B.A., she served as Finance and Investments Manager for The Sembler Company, a real estate development company. Ms. Sidor began her career as an analyst in Corporate Investment Banking for Wachovia Securities, participating in deal teams for mergers and acquisitions advisory, debt private placements, strategic studies and valuations.
Ms. Sidor is a founding member of the Florida Chapter of Women in Public Finance and currently serves as President.
Ms. Sidor received a B.S. degree from the University of Tampa with a double major in Finance and Economics, and an M.B.A. from The Wharton School.
Certifications/Licenses: Series 50, Municipal Advisor Representative
Molly Clark joined PRAG in 2018 as a Managing Director. Ms. Clark serves PRAG’s general government clients including cities, counties and special districts, providing both transactional and analytical support.
Ms. Clark began her public finance career in 2001, having previously worked as an investment banker at Wells Fargo Securities and RBC Capital Markets. As a banker, Ms. Clark provided investment banking to clients throughout the State of Florida. She was involved in planning, structuring, and executing tax-exempt and taxable bond financings through the capital and bank markets.
Prior to her public finance activities, Ms. Clark worked as a corporate trust analyst at Northern Trust Bank.
Ms. Clark is a founding member of the Florida Chapter of Women in Public Finance and currently serves on the Board as Communications Chair.
Ms. Clark received a B.A. degree in Economics cum laude from Carleton College.
Certifications/Licenses: Series 50, Municipal Advisor Representative
Mr. Johnston joined PRAG in 2018 after spending over ten years advising municipalities, redevelopment agencies, authorities, and school districts across the State of New Jersey. Mr. Johnston’s previous experience includes assisting clients on a variety of business matters including negotiation and implementation of payment-in-lieu-of-tax (PILOT) agreements, labor negotiations, water privatization contract negotiations, budget planning, and capital analysis.
In addition to his work in public finance, Mr. Johnston also gained valuable experience as a Manager of Financial Analysis at The Blackstone Group, headquartered in New York City.
Mr. Johnston earned his B.A. in Finance from James Madison University.