Okay, let’s tackle this. So Erma has 19 years of experience in project management and lending, which is a strong foundation. Her location in Baltimore, Maryland, is a hub for finance and energy. However, her experience is more in the energy sector, which might have a different pay scale. Considering her role as a senior private lender, I'd estimate her hourly rate to be around $125, which is slightly below the average for project managers with similar experience. This is because her role is more specialized and might not require the same level of technical expertise as project management. However, her Master's degree and proficiency in English add value to her profile, so she could potentially command a higher rate. Let’s check averages. Project managers with similar experience in the energy sector might average $150–$200 per hour. So I’ll estimate around $125, but she could potentially go higher based on her negotiation skills and industry demand.