Item Description:
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Commendation of Debt Management Officer Katherine Kardell, upon her retirement - offered by Commissioner Conley
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WHEREAS:
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WHEREAS, Katherine Kardell joined Hennepin County in 2010 as the county’s first Debt Management Officer; having previously served as the Assistant Commissioner for Treasury and Debt Management for Minnesota Management and Budget, as well as a municipal advisor serving state and local government issuers across the country; and
WHEREAS, in the last 16 years, Ms. Kardell has strengthened the county’s expertise in public finance, including modernizing the county’s debt issuance policies, and creating internal processes to track, monitor and manage debt-financed projects and related organizational and financial risks; and
WHEREAS, since joining the county, Ms. Kardell has used her 41 years of experience to advise on or issue over $2.5 billion worth of debt to finance projects in almost every sector of the municipal market, including the transportation and transit, environmental, education, healthcare, sports, housing, and economic development sectors; and as of 2026, the county has more than $1.76 billion of outstanding obligations; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Kardell was instrumental in improving the processes used by Hennepin County when serving as a fiscal agent for state bond-funded grant awards to community nonprofits located within the county, including development of a formal policy in 2021; and that these state grants supports the county’s disparity elimination goals by providing community organizations with knowledgeable support and guidance needed to access and use tax-exempt state issued bonds; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Kardell has always looked for opportunities to mentor women, advance women’s careers and advocate for women inside and outside the organizations for which she has worked; and
WHEREAS, since 2013, Ms. Kardell has served in national leadership roles for the Government Finance Officers Association, including as Chair and Vice Chair of the GFOA Committee on Governmental Debt Management (2015 to 2021), and as a member of the GFOA Education Advisory Committee; and
WHEREAS, since 2009, Ms. Kardell has served as a member of the University of Minnesota’s Debt Management Advisory Committee; and
WHEREAS, in 2011, Ms. Kardell helped found the Minnesota chapter of Women in Public Finance, and served as President or as a board officer for more than 15 years; and whereas Ms. Kardell’s contributions to Women in Public Finance include the creation of an annual conference that supports the professional development of the broader industry, as well as the many Hennepin County staff who attend each year; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Kardell’s leadership and industry influence has been recognized through national and state awards, such as the Bond Buyer Trailblazing Women in Finance Award 2021 and the Minnesota Top Ten Women in Finance 2010; and
Resolution:
BE IT RESOLVED, the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners does hereby express appreciation to Katherine Kardell for her dedication to the county and its residents, thanks her for her commitment to strong financial management and public service, recognizes her for nearly 40 years of leadership in public finance, and wishes her well in retirement.
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Background:
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Recommendation from County Administrator: Recommend Approval