NW Region Fall School Finance Workshop 2025-2026

Mark joined Baird’s Columbus public finance team in 2014 and serves as lead support banker for Baird’s engagements with Ohio municipal bond issuers, providing both analytical and transactional support. Mark graduated cum laude with his Bachelor of Science in Finance from Miami University.

Mike serves as Baird’s lead investment banker for Ohio issuers, working with K-12 schools, municipalities, counties, townships, higher education, convention centers, and real estate developers. Since joining Baird in 2007, he has worked in both the Structured Finance and Ohio Public Finance Groups, advising on a wide range of financing structures including general and special obligation bonds, revenue bonds, BANs, TANs, COPs, leases, and TIFs. Since 2014, Mike has led over 450 financings totaling more than $3 billion in par value, serving as sole underwriter, placement agent, or municipal advisor. His work focuses on delivering cost-effective, well-structured financing solutions tailored to each issuer’s needs.

Beverly A. Meyer is an employment and labor relations lawyer who counsels employers in both the public and private sectors. She is also an education attorney who represents K-12 school districts, colleges and universities. Beverly’s practice encompasses all areas of labor and employment law, including collective bargaining, employee discipline, harassment investigations, wage and hour claims, and leave and benefits issues. Beverly regularly litigates in federal and state courts and appears before administrative agencies, civil service commissions and labor boards. She has also served as an impartial hearing officer in special education due process hearings and has issued decisions on procedural and substantive matters. She is a frequent lecturer on matters affecting her areas of practice and has developed and presented employment-related trainings and programs for clients and professional groups on local, state and national levels.

Brock Miskimen practices construction, procurement, and ethics law. In his construction practice, he regularly advises clients on project delivery systems and prepares procurement and bidding documents as well as construction project contracts.

Brock worked in various government offices prior to joining Bricker Graydon, giving him the experience to assist clients in navigating the various levels of government. Most notably, he served as chief legal counsel for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), where he also advised the Oil and Gas Leasing Commission. While there, he coordinated litigation involving ODNR with the Ohio Attorney General's Office including the settlement of a multi-million-dollar litigation matter involving decades of flooding. Brock also advised ODNR on the construction and renovation of the Department’s infrastructure including dams, lodges, and cabins. Brock also managed outside counsel contracts and oversaw the in-house legal staff of more than a dozen attorneys and professionals.

Matt Stout is a partner in Bricker Graydon's Public Finance group and practices in the areas of public finance and public law, emphasizing school and local government law. He assists and advises with the documentation and issuance of general obligation and revenue bond transactions for municipalities, school districts, and other political subdivisions; assists and advises municipalities, school districts, and other political subdivisions with tax-exempt lease purchase financings; and provides general counsel assistance to political subdivisions.

Matthew Watson, an attorney in Bricker Graydon’s Construction Group, brings a strong background in construction and commercial litigation, along with broad legal experience.

Before joining Bricker Graydon, he was a Partner at a regional law firm, focusing on litigation and advising clients in healthcare and business law. He previously served as an Associate Attorney, handling client counseling and litigation support.

Matthew also worked as an Assistant Prosecutor for the City of Bellefontaine, gaining trial experience in misdemeanor cases. Earlier roles as an extern and law clerk further developed his skills in legal research, drafting, and client management.

Aaron Rausch is the Chief of Budget and School Funding at the Department of Education & Workforce (previously Ohio Department of Education), where he manages an agency budget of more than $17 billion and administers the state’s school funding program. In 2019, Aaron received the Dick Maxwell School Finance Award from the Buckeye Association of School Administrators. Prior to joining ODE in 2014, Aaron worked for the Ohio Office of Budget and Management as a budget analyst in the education section. Aaron started his career in state government as a performance auditor, focusing on school district performance audits at the Ohio Auditor of State's Office. Active in his community, Aaron serves as an advisory board member on the Columbus and Central Ohio Children’s Chorus Foundation, sings with the Choral Union at Capital University, and rides in Pelotonia every year. 

Elena Sanders is a Senior Financial Manager at the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (ODEW) Office of Budget and School Funding, where she oversees the state foundation funding and other state funding programs. Prior to coming to that office, she was an Assistant Director in the Office of Federal programs. She has an Ohio Treasurer’s license and master’s degree in educational administration and supervision. Elena is the captain of the USTA 3.0 tennis team and this year the team advanced into the districts to compete in Cincinnati.

Jennifer Bruns is the Chief Financial Officer of St. Henry Cons. LSD, where she has served since January 2016. Jennifer also serves as the Fiscal & Mentoring Specialist for Mercer County Educational Service Center. Jennifer began her School Finance career as the CFO of Riverside Local School District in Logan County. Prior to becoming a Treasurer/CFO, Jennifer worked for the Ohio Auditor of State. Jennifer has been a member of OASBO since 2012, has been very involved in the West Central Chapter, and currently serves on the OASBO Board of Directors as the Northwest Region Director. Jennifer also serves as the Chair of the OASBO Auditor of State Committee.

Jennifer is a Fiscal Operations Coordinator with Shared Services Alliance (SSA) where she provides fiscal support to school districts and governmental agencies across Ohio. Jennifer also serves as the CFO for Spencerville Local Schools. Prior, she was the Treasurer/CFO of Benjamin Logan. Before public service, she worked in the financial industry for 10 years. Jennifer also currently serves on the OASBO Board as the At Large Director of Transportation.

Katie Johnson is the Executive Director of the Ohio Association of School Business Officials. Katie is the seventh Executive Director and the first woman to lead the organization since its inception in 1936.

Katie was the Deputy Executive Director for OASBO prior to being named Executive Director. In that role, she served as legislative lead and in-house legal counsel for the association, keeping staff and members abreast of legal and regulatory compliance issues in school business. In addition, she has served as the chief learning officer, developing curriculum to support OASBO’s strategic plan and the Ohio school business profession.

Katie also serves on boards and committees focused on public finance, including serving as a member on the Finance and Appropriations Committee for Columbus City School District, as Treasurer of the Confluence Community Authority, and as past President of the Ohio Chapter of Women in Public Finance.

Katie holds a bachelor's degree in Business Finance from the University of Colorado, a master’s degree in Education from The Ohio State University, and a law degree from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.