Steven A. Baffico
Director
BlackRock Investments

Steven A. Baffico, Director, is a member of the BlackRock Private Client Group, and serves as the firm's National Product Sales Manager. His responsibilities include marketing and sales across all investment products and platforms including mutual funds, separately managed accounts and closed-end funds.

In addition, Mr. Baffico heads the closed-end fund business unit, where he acts as a direct liaison with retail broker-dealers, industry research analysts, as well as syndicate and investment banking channels regarding all aspects across a suite of 56 CEF's managed by BlackRock, totaling over $18 billion in assets. His responsibilities and those of his team include product development, coordination of sales and marketing of all initial public offerings, as well as overseeing secondary marketing capabilities, materials, and value-added collateral.

Prior to heading the CEF team in mid-2003, Mr. Baffico was a Regional Wholesaler for BlackRock from 2000 - 2003 and in covering Florida, represented all lines of retail business (open-end and closed-end funds, separately managed accounts) for the Private Client Group. He started with BlackRock in 1999 as an Internal Wholesaler.

Mr. Baffico earned a BA degree in History and Political Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1995. He has successfully completed the NASD Series 6, 7, 63 examinations.