Siebert Williams Shank Strengthens Midwest Public Finance Team, Adds Industry Veteran Eric Avila
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New Managing Director & Head of Midwest Region to be Based in Chicago Office
Chicago, IL – February 17, 2026 – Siebert Williams Shank & Co. (SWS) continues to bolster its position in the municipal finance markets for 2026 with the addition of Eric Avila, who brings 20 years of public finance experience, primarily serving clients throughout the Midwest Region. He joins the firm as Managing Director and Head of Midwest Region.
Avila will be based in the SWS Chicago office, where he will collaborate with other municipal banking colleagues, including Mike Fadel, Vice President, and Brandon Chandler, Analyst, on general regional coverage. Julia Harris, Head of Higher Education, is also based in this office. Last summer, Gary Hall, Co-President of SWS, established a local residence to also work from the firm’s Chicago office.
A senior public finance banker with strong relationships across the Midwest, Avila has extensive experience advising state and local governments, utilities and transportation authority clients on complex municipal bond financings and executing multi-billion-dollar issuance programs. He has most recently held senior roles with Janney Montgomery Scott and Morgan Stanley in Chicago.
"I’m excited to join Siebert Williams Shank at a time of significant public infrastructure investment across the region,” Avila said. “The firm’s strong reputation in public finance and client-focused approach align closely with how I’ve built my career. I look forward to expanding the firm’s Midwest platform and helping deliver solutions that support meaningful, long-term impact for our communities.”
As a key figure in Chicago municipal finance marketplace for the last ten years, Avila has been responsible for business development, market expansion and executing municipal financings across Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin and the Midwest.
“Eric is an extremely innovative public finance banker with valuable expertise throughout the Midwest region, that will further advance the firm’s leading public finance platform,” said Keith Richard, SWS Head of Public Finance. “Siebert Williams Shank’s commitment to strategic growth, through significant hires such as Eric, highlights our continued momentum to enhance market presence while providing quality and superior insights and services to our clients.”
SWS comes off a record-setting 2025 in public finance, where the firm served as underwriter for 329 municipal transactions with $108 billion in par-amount and was Senior Manager on 91 transactions totaling $25 billion.
Dually headquartered in New York, NY and Oakland, CA, SWS is an independent non-bank financial services firm that offers investment banking, sales and trading, research, and advisory services. Its mission is to exceed expectations through value-added results and leave a lasting impact on the sectors, corporations, and communities it serves. SWS counts over 80 Fortune 100 companies among its clients.