Team

Cindy Harris joined the Iowa Finance Authority as Chief Financial Officer in September 2012. From 1998 to 2012, Cindy served as a Senior Consultant at cfX Incorporated, a company based in New York City and solely dedicated to providing quantitative and strategic support to state housing finance agencies. Prior to cfX, she was a Research Assistant for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

Cindy is an Iowa native and a graduate of Grinnell College where she earned a B.A. in Economics. She also has a M.S. in Economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Mark Fairley joined the Iowa Finance Authority in July of 1997. Mark is involved in the financing of the Single-Family, Multifamily and State Revolving Fund programs. He helps financially manage the Authority’s mortgage pipeline, debt and derivative portfolio, and investment portfolio.

Prior to joining the Iowa Finance Authority, Mark worked at an accounting firm performing audits of governmental entities across the State of Iowa. He received a B.A. in Accounting from Central College and a Master of Financial Management from Drake University. He has earned a Certified Public Manager designation from Drake University, as well as the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Treasury Professional (CTP) designations.

Mr. Benson is the Financial Analyst at the Authority and join the Authority in December 2019. Prior to joining the Authority, he worked as an Investment Director at Principal Real Estate Investors for 35 years, and was involved with the origination of commercial mortgages for a variety of lending programs including permanent loans, construction loans, bridge loans and CMBS. Mr. Benson received his B.B.A. in Finance from the University of Iowa and his M.B.A. from Drake University.

Mr. Smith joined the Authority as the Chief Bond Programs Director in March 2021. He oversees the Iowa State Revolving Funds for Clean Water and Drinking Water, the Private Activity Bond Program, the Homeownership Program, and the Beginning Farmer Loan Program. Mr. Smith holds master’s degrees in Finance and Business Administration from Creighton University and a B.A. from MidAmerica Nazarene University.