Honoring Leadership and Innovation: Jeanette W. Weldon Recognized with the 2025 Freda Johnson Award

When the Northeast Women in Public Finance announced that Ms. Jeanette W. Weldon had been selected as the 2025 public-sector recipient of the Freda Johnson Award, the CHEFA community felt a deep sense of pride. The recognition stands as a testament not only to Ms. Weldon’s achievements, but to the philosophy and values that have guided her work.

After earning her MBA in Finance and Master of Public Health from Columbia University, Ms. Weldon entered the field of public finance with an understanding of the important role it plays in strengthening communities. Her early experience at Moody’s, Bank of Boston, and P.G. Corbin helped lay the groundwork for a leadership style defined by technical expertise and human-centered impact.  

Throughout her tenure at CHEFA and its subsidiaries, Ms. Weldon has cultivated an environment where creativity thrives. She encourages staff to bring forward new ideas—many of which have evolved into some of CHEFA’s most meaningful initiatives. The formation of the CHEFA Community Development Corporation (CHEFA CDC), for example, was originally proposed by a staff member and embraced under her leadership.

Her passion for mentorship is equally pronounced. Whether she is serving as a role model for young professionals in NEWPF, mentoring staff, or speaking with CHESLA scholarship recipients, Ms. Weldon encourages young people to find their voice. She challenges them not to blend into the background, a message rooted in her belief that innovation comes from those willing to speak up and offer new perspectives.

What makes the Freda Johnson Award particularly meaningful for Ms. Weldon is the example Freda Johnson set for women in public finance. As Ms. Weldon shared, when she joined Moody’s, her first job in public finance, Freda Johnson led the department.  “Freda’s confidence and leadership style really influenced my career development and helped shape the advice I now give to those entering the field.

The CHEFA community celebrates this milestone, recognizing it as a reflection of Ms. Weldon’s dedication to fostering opportunity, advancing access, and strengthening the institutions at the heart of Connecticut’s quality of life.

From left to right: Kim Mooers (Assistant Treasurer for Debt Management for the State of Connecticut), Vivian Altman (Past Co-President of NEWPF), Keisha Palmer ( Partner at Robinson + Cole), Jeanette W. Weldon (Executive Director for CHEFA), and Sarah Sanders (Deputy Treasurer for the State of Connecticut).