Chicago Department of Aviation First Deputy Commissioner Michael Boland was a guest speaker recently for the SMITH’s 2010 Infrastructure Finance Conference at the Standard Club in Chicago.

Boland participated in the Air Transportation panel along with Peter Stettler, director, Ricondo & Associates, and Seth Lehman, senior director, Fitch Ratings.

The session focused on new challenges for airports and investors, and the latest trends and outlook for the air transportation industry.

Boland provided an update on the O’Hare Modernization Program (OMP), and discussed OMP funding sources, recent O’Hare International Airport bond issuances, OMP future issuances and the proposed Midway International Airport bond deal.

SMITH’s Conferences bring together some of the nation’s largest institutional investors, issuers, investment bankers, sellside firms, rating agencies and other municipal finance professionals to discuss topics of mutual importance.

The two-day conference in Chicago explored the current state of American infrastructure, including roads and highways; bridge and tunnel repairs; mass transit; airports and airport security; water and sewer; public power; rail projects; revenue bonds; and the relationship to General Obligation Bonds and Build America Bonds.