City of Philadelphia Department of Aviation Senior Director of Capital Finance Christina Saggiomo was named one of the Bond Buyer’s Rising Star Award honorees. The Rising Stars program recognizes municipal finance professionals under the age of 40 who have made positive contributions to their community while demonstrating exceptional leadership, excellent collaboration skills, innovation and creativity in their roles. The 2026 Rising Stars were honored at an awards dinner at the Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel on September 15.
“I am incredibly honored to be recognized by the Bond Buyer with such an impressive group of colleagues throughout the Public Finance industry,” said Saggiomo. “To me, this recognition is really a testament to our whole PHL finance team that works incredibly hard for the benefit of our travelers, airport partners and the entire Philadelphia region. I am extremely thankful to all my PHL colleagues that both support and push me to be better daily.”
Saggiomo joined the Department of Aviation in 2022 as Airport Treasury Manager. In her role as Senior Director of Capital Finance, she is responsible for providing financial program management to ensure sufficient funds are available to meet ongoing operational and capital investment needs for Philadelphia International Airport’s (PHL) and Northeast Philadelphia Airport’s (PNE) multi-billion-dollar capital improvement program. Christina also works closely with the City Treasurer’s Office on the Airport’s debt issuance. During her time with PHL and PNE, Saggiomo has led an effort resulting in the Airport’s three successful rating upgrades, evaluated and executed creative solutions for PHL’s borrowing needs, and overseen the Airport’s growth in both its grants and investment portfolios.
Chief Financial Officer and Interim CEO Tracy Borda nominated Saggiomo for the Rising Star Award along with supporting nominations from a number of financial industry leaders. “In every aspect of her work, Christina demonstrates the leadership, creativity, and collaborative spirit that define the next generation of municipal finance professionals,” said Borda. “Her ability to bring structure and clarity to complex financial issues has strengthened our planning, improved decision‑making, and ensured that the City’s largest aviation investments are grounded in sound fiscal strategy. She consistently balances big‑picture thinking with exceptional command of detail, and that combination has elevated the airports’ overall financial stewardship.”
