Education Finance
HJ Sims and our education finance team has closed more than $7 billion in public sector and charter school financings. We are deeply experienced in helping you create, improve and build your vision.
Public Financing Done Right
More than 85 years of experience has taught us one thing. It’s that personal relationships with clients are the key to success. We work with you as trusted partners and advisors, guiding you through every step of the process. We’ll answer any and all questions you have. In addition, we’ll provide guidance and advice at every opportunity. We’ve built our reputation by being nimble, smart and most importantly, human. You are not just a financing to us and you never will be. You are a unique client with your own vision and needs. We’ll work tirelessly to turn that vision into reality. And, we’ll make sure your financing is always done right.
Charter Schools are all about Them
You’re passionate about your charter school. You believe that children have a better chance of succeeding at life when they have the right educational foundation. At HJ Sims, we couldn’t agree with you more – which is why we’d like to be your financing partner. HJ Sims has completed more than $33 billion in taxable and tax-exempt financings since its founding in 1935.
Your Community, Our Experience
The right financing can lead to a stronger community and thousands of children living to their full potential and achieving their dreams. Because of this, we’ve made sure that our expertise extends into many areas…
- Providing financing for acquisition, expansion, renovation or refinancing
- Capital planning
- Structuring and underwriting transactions
- Existing debt refinancing
- Financial modeling
- Debt and asset management
- Strategic capital and organizational planning
- Repositioning strategies
- Bank/private placement financing strategies
- Credit enhancement
- Loan analysis and syndication
- Advisory services
Why choose HJ Sims?
A third-generation, family-run and privately owned firm with a history of providing tax-free bond financings for new ventures throughout the U.S., HJ Sims is your trusted partner from the very first meeting through the final closing – and beyond. We understand the financial markets, and because we know your business and your need for flexibility, you can count on HJ Sims to be a trusted advisor for objective advice, in your best interest, uninfluenced by transaction goals.
Serving the financing needs of our clients for three generations, HJ Sims brings a wealth of experience – an average of 20 years per banker – that provides us with keen insights into the evolving charter school market. We are nimble and creative, and we tailor solutions and strategies to help you maintain your independence and financial viability.
The strength of our institutional and individual investor distribution capabilities can make the difference for the success of your offering. With thousands of clients who regularly purchase bonds for start-up projects and new organizations, our individual investor capacity is incredibly strong and often results in lower interest rates and more flexible financing options for your school. We deliver the right expertise, the right strategies and the right solutions to meet your needs. Make the right choice, HJ Sims.
Our Education Finance Team
Our Education Finance Team is here to serve you in all your financing needs.
Richard (Rich) Harmon
EXECUTIVE MANAGING DIRECTOR / HEAD OF EDUCATION FINANCE
Columbus, Ohio
614.506.1976
[email protected]
Richard (Rich) Harmon serves as Executive Managing Director/Head of Education Finance leading the firm’s group, providing taxable and & tax-exempt financing, as well as solutions for early stage capital, for education organizations nationwide. Rich brings more than 30 years’ experience in investment and commercial banking, having first launched his profession with Lancaster Pollard. Throughout his career, Rich has dedicated his work to education and built one of the leading charter school investment banking practices in the country. He most recently served as Head of Public Finance with BB&T Capital Markets/Truist Securities. Rich earned his bachelor’s degree in mathematics and economics at Denison University and a J.D. degree from Capital University Law School
Robert (Rob) Nickell
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, EDUCATION FINANCE
Dallas, Texas
214.681.0952
[email protected]
Robert (Rob) Nickell serves as Executive Vice President further developing the education finance practice with Rich Harmon. Rob began his investment banking career as an analyst at Wells Fargo over 20 years ago. Since then, he was has been a major driver in partnering with Rich to develop one of the nation’s preeminent charter school practices. Rob earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Emory University and his MBA from The University of Texas. Based in Dallas, TX, Rob actively works on the West Coast as well.
Kaiti Wang, CFA®
VICE PRESIDENT, EDUCATION FINANCE
Fairfield, CT
203.418.9025
[email protected]
Kaiti Wang serves as Vice President of Education Finance. Prior to joining HJ Sims, Kaiti had experience in municipal analyst roles with S&P Global Ratings, where she was introduced to the education sector and found that each charter school has a unique story and faces varied challenges in fulfilling its mission to educate students. Kaiti has evaluated the credit profiles of the more than 300 S&P-rated charter schools. Following her time at S&P, she served as a Loan Officer with Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), where she underwrote loans to high quality charter schools seeking funds to meet acquisition, pre-development, construction, and leasehold improvement needs for their school buildings. Kaiti graduated from UC Berkeley with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics. Since then, she has earned her CFA charterholder designation and completed a Commercial Real Estate Loan Underwriting course.