Wilmington Trust Adds Six New Members of Public Finance Team

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Wilmington Trust, a division of M&T Bank Corp. (NYSE:MTB), has announced the addition of six new Public Finance executives across the United States to strengthen its corporate and institutional trust services. The expansion, led by Michael Countryman, includes experienced professionals who will serve clients nationwide in sectors such as Healthcare, Multi-family Housing, Higher Education, Charter Schools, PACE, and Tax-Exempt Conduit Financing.

The new team members include Elijah DeSolace, Julia Hommel, Adriana Marshall, Hong Nguyen-Dao, Ben Saarion, and Jason Stephens, bringing collectively over 80 years of combined experience in corporate trust and public finance. They will be based across key locations including Costa Mesa, Minneapolis, and Dallas, supporting various issuances such as Private Activity Bonds, Conduit Financing, General Obligation and Revenue Bonds, and Custody Receipts.

Hires expand firm's presence throughout the United States

WILMINGTON, Del., July 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Wilmington Trust, a leader in corporate and institutional trust services, announced today the recent hiring of six new Public Finance executives across the U.S., as the firm bolsters its presence in this critical business.

The six new team members will work with Public Finance clients across the country and will all engage closely with clients and other financial partners to provide consistent and efficient client experiences for all facets of transactions.

Wilmington Trust's Public Finance business specializes in Healthcare, Multi-family Housing, Higher Education, Charter Schools, Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE), and Tax-Exempt Conduit Financing. Across these, it has extensive experience with a variety of issuances, including Private Activity Bonds, Conduit Financing, General Obligation and Revenue Bonds, and Custody Receipts.

These hires come as Wilmington Trust -- a division of M&T Bank Corp. (MTB-NYSE) -- continues to expand its Public Finance presence under Michael Countryman's leadership.

"With the depth of industry knowledge and experience these six hires bring to our team, we have added exactly the right people for this business," Countryman said. "I'm looking forward to working closely with our growing team around the country while helping provide our customers and clients with the great level of service they deserve and have come to expect from us."

The new team members include:

Elijah DeSolace
Elijah DeSolace rejoined Wilmington Trust this year as a Client Administrator in our Costa Mesa, California office. Elijah is a returning employee who had previously spent four years with the bank. He brings prior experience in public finance and administering various deal structures for clients including municipalities, charter schools, and PACE. Elijah earned a bachelor's degree in business accounting from California State University-Fullerton.

Julia Hommel
Julia Hommel recently joined Wilmington Trust as a Vice President and Relationship Manager and is also based in Costa Mesa. She has over 30 years' experience in Corporate Trust work and most recently served as a Relationship Manager at US Bank for a portfolio of over 250 municipal trust accounts encompassing Trustee, Fiscal Agent, Escrow Agent, Paying Agent, Dissemination Agent and Custodial services for various financings including: Assessment Districts, Tax Allocation Bonds, Lease Revenue Bonds, Certificates of Participation, and a wide variety of Multi-Family Bond and Note structures. She earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

Adriana Marshall
Adriana Marshall is a Vice President and Relationship Manager and works with institutional clients to provide tailored trust and agency solutions. Also based in Costa Mesa, she has over three decades of experience in corporate trust and public finance, specializing in managing complex municipal bond portfolios, regulatory compliance, and client relationships. Previously, Adriana was a VP and Client Service Manager at Bank of New York. She spent more than 25 years at US Bank Global Corporate Trust Services, overseeing multibillion-dollar portfolios, interpreting bond financing documents, and leading process improvements. She is recognized for her problem-solving skills and commitment to delivering exceptional client service. 

Hong Nguyen-Dao
Hong Nguyen-Dao is a Client Administrator in Public Finance and is also based in Costa Mesa. She manages complex municipal bond finance accounts, supporting regulatory compliance, accurate cash and asset management, and execution of debt service activities. Previously, Hong spent over 21 years at US Bank Corporate Trust in Los Angeles. Earlier roles included positions at Bank of America's Personal Trust division and Security Pacific State Trust. Hong has earned multiple awards recognizing her excellence in corporate trust services.

Ben Saarion
Ben Saarion is responsible for managing client relationships -- including daily administration duties and operational/risk management -- and is based in Minneapolis. He serves as the main point of contact for all internal and external parties delivering a range of services for his assigned account portfolio. He has spent 15 years in the financial services industry. Prior to Wilmington Trust, he spent 11 years with US Bank on the Municipal/Public Finance team. He earned a bachelor's degree from the Labovitz School of Business and Economics at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.

Jason Stephens
Jason Stephens joined Wilmington Trust as a Vice President and Relationship Manager and is based in Dallas. Jason has over 18 years' experience in the financial services industry, both at BNY Mellon and Comerica, with a focus on public finance, corporate trust, fiduciary services, portfolio management, compliance monitoring and legal document negotiation. Jason has been engaged in municipal financings across multiple sectors, including muti-family housing, military housing, higher education, healthcare, energy and transportation. Jason earned his JD from Southern Methodist University Law School.

To learn more about Wilmington Trust's services, visit the firm's Public Finance page.

About Wilmington Trust
Wilmington Trust, N.A. provides Corporate and Institutional Services including institutional trust, agency, and administrative services for clients worldwide who use capital markets financing structures. Wilmington Trust provides direct trust, custody, and fiduciary services for U.S retirement plans, companies, foundations, organizations and financial institutions.

Wilmington Trust also provides Wealth Advisory services in the Americas with a wide array of personal trust, financial planning, fiduciary, asset management, and family office solutions designed to help high-net-worth individuals and families grow, preserve, and transfer wealth.

About M&T Bank

M&T is a financial holding company headquartered in Buffalo, New York. M&T's principal banking subsidiary, M&T Bank, provides banking products and services with a branch and ATM network spanning the eastern U.S. from Maine to Virginia and Washington, D.C. Trust-related services are provided in select US markets and abroad by M&T's Wilmington Trust-affiliated companies and by M&T Bank.

For more information about M&T Bank, visit www.mtb.com.  

MEDIA CONTACT: Patrick Fitzgibbons, Senior Public Relations Manager -- Pfitzgibbons@mtb.com

© 2025 M&T Bank and its affiliates and subsidiaries. All rights reserved.

Wilmington Trust is not authorized to and does not provide legal, accounting, or tax advice.

Investment and Insurance Products • Are NOT Deposits • Are NOT FDIC-Insured • Are NOT Insured by Any Federal Government Agency • Have NO Bank Guarantee • May Go Down in Value

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SOURCE Wilmington Trust

FAQ

Who are the six new executives joining Wilmington Trust's Public Finance team in 2025?

The new team members are Elijah DeSolace (Client Administrator), Julia Hommel (VP & Relationship Manager), Adriana Marshall (VP & Relationship Manager), Hong Nguyen-Dao (Client Administrator), Ben Saarion (Relationship Manager), and Jason Stephens (VP & Relationship Manager).

What sectors does Wilmington Trust's Public Finance business specialize in?

Wilmington Trust specializes in Healthcare, Multi-family Housing, Higher Education, Charter Schools, Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE), and Tax-Exempt Conduit Financing.

Where are MTB's new Public Finance team members located?

The team members are based in Costa Mesa, California (4 members), Minneapolis, Minnesota (1 member), and Dallas, Texas (1 member).

What types of financial instruments does Wilmington Trust handle in its Public Finance business?

Wilmington Trust handles Private Activity Bonds, Conduit Financing, General Obligation and Revenue Bonds, and Custody Receipts.