Freda Johnson Award Nominations

12th Annual Freda Johnson Awards 
Honoring Trailblazing Women in Public Finance

2022 NOMINATIONS ARE CLOSED.

NEWPF is proud to announce that The Bond Buyer will present the 12th annual Freda Johnson Awards at their Annual Deal of the Year Awards, to be revealed on December 6, 2022. The Freda Johnson Award has been created in honor of NEWPF Founding Board Member Freda Johnson, whose highly successful career in public finance has been an inspiration to many people, particularly women in the industry.

The award recognizes a woman serving or who has served in a position for a public or non-profit issuer who exemplifies the qualities that Freda brought to our industry as a trailblazer, leader, innovator, and mentor.   We are honoring a leader and trailblazer representing public finance from the private sector in addition to honoring a woman from the public sector.

In addition to the Freda Johnson Awards, NEWPF will also recognize several Trailblazers for their outstanding commitment to the industry as a whole and the role of women within it. The Trailblazers will also be recognized at the Deal of the Year event.

To learn more about Freda Johnson, please click here.

Who is Eligible for this Award?

In keeping with tradition, the winners of the Freda Johnson Awards will be selected jointly by The Bond Buyer and NEWPF. Women who were recognized as Trailblazers in previous years may have their names submitted for consideration.

Candidates for the Freda Johnson Public Sector Award and the Freda Johnson Private Sector Award will have demonstrated the following: 

• Been a "trailblazer" and a recognized leader in the public finance industry;
• Taken initiative with respect to her career and has served as a role model as to how to be a leader;
• Introduced innovative practices, financings and/or programs that have provided benefits to constituencies that the municipal industry serves;
• Developed individuals in the industry, actively serving as a mentor and teacher;
• Promotes the participation and professional growth of women generally throughout the public finance industry; and,
• Demonstrates the highest levels of professionalism and integrity, reflecting positively on the public finance industry as a whole.