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A Century of Progress in Government FinanceOur 100th Anniversary! May 7 – 10, 2006 Montréal, Quebec Palais des congres de Montreal |
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Monday, May 8, 2006• 8:30 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. 2 CPE Dr. Uwe Reinhardt (2.3 Mb PDF) Noted Princeton professor and esteemed writer on the economics of healthcare and the future of the healthcare industry Tuesday, May 9, 2006 • 9 a.m. - 10 a.m. 1 CPE Pulitzer-prize winning political columnist for the Washington Post, author, and television commentator
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Preconference Seminar |
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Concurrent Sessions Create your own curriculum from among concurrent sessions in seven tracks offered over three days. Sessions cover the following areas: - Accounting, Auditing, and Financial Reporting - Budgeting and Financial Planning |
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Discussion Groups | |
| On Tuesday, May 9 from 3:50 p.m. to 4:50 p.m., you will have an opportunity to exchange ideas about day-to-day challenges in small groups of your colleagues. | ||
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CPE Credit | |
| It is possible to earn up to 20 CPE credits at GFOA’s annual conference. Additional CPE credits can be earned by attending one or more of GFOA’s preconference seminars. | ||
| Accounting, Auditing, and Financial Reporting | |
Time to Go! New Guidance on Accounting for Termination Benefits Sunday, May 7, 2006 • 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. 1 CPE The GASB recently released Statement No. 47, Accounting for Termination Benefits . The new standard provides guidance on accounting for the cost of both voluntary and involuntary terminations. This session will examine in detail the provisions of the new standard and how it relates to GASB's existing guidance on accounting and financial reporting for pensions and other postemployment benefits. Speakers: K. Lee Carter, Vice President, Capital Management of the Carolinas, Cary, North Carolina Rosalynd C. Homer, Division Manager, Accounting, Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, West Palm Beach, Florida Mortgaging the Future: Selling and Pledging Receivables and Future Revenues Sunday, May 7, 2006 • 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. 1 CPE The GASB has issued an exposure draft (ED) on the appropriate accounting and financial reporting for sales and pledges of receivables and future revenues. This session will explore the proposed new guidance in detail, emphasizing points of similarity and dissimilarity with both private sector guidance and current public sector practice. Moderator/Speaker: Michele Mark Levine, Director of Accounting Services, New York City Office of Management and Budget, New York, New York Speaker: Gerry C. Boaz, Technical Analyst, Tennessee Division of State Audit, Nashville, Tennessee Getting the Word Out: Advances in Popular Reporting Sunday, May 7, 2006 • 2:45 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. 1 CPE Well over 100 governments participate each year in GFOA's Popular Annual Financial Reporting Program. This session will use examples drawn from that program to highlight key advances and creative options available to governments that wish to prepare popular reports. Moderator/Speaker: Sheri L. Rockburn, Comptroller, State of New Hampshire, Concord, New Hampshire Speaker: Paul E. Glick, Principal, Glick Consulting Group, Orange Lake, Florida Paying through the Nose: Accounting for the Cost of Pollution Remediation Sunday, May 7, 2006 • 2:45 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. 1 CPE The GASB plans to issue an ED on accounting for the cost of pollution remediation obligations. The proposed guidance will mark a significant departure from traditional practice in regard to accounting for contingencies (FASB Statement No. 5), and is likely to have implications well beyond the specific issue of pollution remediation. This session will explore the proposed new guidance in detail, with special emphasis on key changes from present practice. Moderator: J. Virgil Moon, Support Services Agency Director, Cobb County Support Services Agency, Marietta, Georgia Speaker: Wesley A. Galloway, Project Manager, Governmental Accounting Standards Board, Norwalk, Connecticut What a Year! An Accounting and Auditing Perspective Monday, May 8, 2006 • 10:30 a.m. - 12:10 p.m. 2 CPE This session will provide a concise overview of key developments in accounting, auditing, and financial reporting during the past year. The Executive Director of the National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers, and Treasurers will focus on recent and pending changes in auditing standards. GFOA's Director of Technical Services will review authoritative standards of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) that are currently in the process of being implemented. Finally, the GASB's newest member will examine where the Board is heading in its ongoing deliberations and research. Moderator: Linda C. Davidson, OMB Director, City of Boca Raton, Florida Speakers: Stephen J. Gauthier, Director of Technical Services, GFOA, Chicago, Illinois R. Kinney Poynter, Executive Director, National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers and Treasurers, Lexington, Kentucky Marcia L. Taylor, Assistant Manager, Mount Lebanon, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Avoiding the Potholes: How to Collect and Maintain Infrastructure Data Monday, May 8, 2006 • 1:25 p.m. - 3:05 p.m. 2 CPE What kind of specific data need to be collected for different types of infrastructure? For what purposes? What is the best way to collect and maintain such data? Are there effective shortcuts? What are the pitfalls to be avoided? This session will explore the practical challenges of collecting and maintaining infrastructure data. Moderator: Mary Leonard, Assistant Director, Comptroller of Maryland General Accounting Division, Annapolis, Maryland Speakers: Edward P. Chait, Independent Consultant, Rockville, Maryland Gwen Perlman, Chief Financial Officer/Assistant Commissioner, New York City Department of Transportation, New York, New York Craig Rudolphy, Controller, Arizona Department of Transportation, Phoenix, Arizona Stop Thief! Practical Guidance on Fraud Detection and Prevention Monday, May 8, 2006 • 1:25 p.m. - 3:05 p.m. 2 CPE While there will always be a certain degree of luck involved with fraud detection, one simple fact remains: the more you know, the luckier you get! This session focuses on practical tips on how to improve your chances of detecting fraud or, better yet, preventing it from occurring in the first place. The session also will consider the appropriate way to deal with indications of potential fraud that are uncovered. Moderator: Barbara De Laine Jumper, Associate Chief Financial Officer, DC Government, Government Operations Cluster, Washington, D.C. Speakers: Frank W. Crawford, President, Crawford & Associates P.C., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Mary A. O'Connor, Commissioner of Accounts and Finance, Village of Palos Park; Director, RGL--Forensic Accountants and Consultants, Chicago, Illinois Howard S. Weitzman, Comproller of Nassau County, Mineola, NY Make a Note of It! Best Practices in Note Disclosure Monday, May 8, 2006 • 3:20 p.m. - 5 p.m. 2 CPE A significant portion of the basic financial statements is devoted to note disclosure. Recent GASB pronouncements, such as GASB Statement No. 34 (new reporting model), GASB Statement No. 38 (reexamination of note disclosures), GASB Statement No. 40 (revised disclosures for deposits and investments), and GASB Technical Bulletin 2003-1 (derivatives disclosures) have only added to the importance of the notes to the financial statements. This session will use examples of best practice drawn from GFOA's Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting Program (Certificate Program) to help participants improve their own note disclosures. Moderator: Bob Biles, Finance Director, City of Little Rock, Arkansas Speaker: Gregory S. Allison, Assistant Director, University of North Carolina, School of Government, Chapel Hill, North Carolina In Our Opinion … The Auditing Year in Review Monday, May 8, 2006 • 3:20 p.m. - 5 p.m. 2 CPE This session will review the key auditing developments of the past year. Discussion will focus on the efforts of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the U.S. Government Accountability Office, and the Office of Management and Budget as they affect generally accepted auditing standards, Government Auditing Standards, and the Single Audit. Special emphasis will be placed on the pending “suite” of pronouncements from the Auditing Standards Board devoted to risk. Moderator: Deborah D. Girard, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, City of Orlando, Florida Speakers: Mary M. Foelster, Director, Governmental Auditing and Accounting, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Washington, D.C. Kristine G. Devine, Partner, Deloitte & Touche, Columbus, Ohio Reading the Fine Print: Preparing to Implement OPEB Accounting Tuesday, May 9, 2006 • 10:15 a.m. - 11:55 a.m. 2 CPE The GASB has updated its Comprehensive Implementation Guide to provide detailed guidance on a variety of issues involving the implementation of the board's new guidance on accounting and financial reporting for other postemployment benefits (OPEB). This session will examine this detailed new guidance and how it can best be implemented. Moderator/Speaker: Robert B. Scott, Assistant City Manager/Chief Financial Officer, City of Carrollton, Texas Speaker: James Rizzo, Senior Consultant and Actuary, Gabriel, Roeder, Smith & Company, Southfield, Michigan From the Tiny Acorn … The Shadow of Sarbanes-Oxley Tuesday, May 9, 2006 • 10:15 a.m. - 11:55 a.m. 2 CPE Although the direct effect of the federal Sarbanes-Oxley legislation is essentially limited to publicly traded companies, its shadow is beginning to fall on state and local governments as well. This session will examine the effect Sarbanes-Oxley has had to date on state and local governments and explore the likely direction of future developments and how governments can best prepare for them. Moderator: Frank C. Gambosi, Director of Finance, City of Bedford, Ohio Speakers: David R. Hancox, Director, State Audit Bureau, Office of the New York State Comptroller, Division of State Services, Albany, New York David L. Dennis, Partner, KPMG, LLP, Orlando, Florida Keeping Stats: Implementing the New Statistical Section Tuesday, May 9, 2006 • 1:55 p.m. - 3:35 p.m. 2 CPE The GASB has updated its Comprehensive Implementation Guide to provide detailed guidance on a variety of issues involving the implementation of the board's new guidance on the statistical section of the comprehensive annual financial report. This session will explore this detailed new guidance and how it can best be implemented. Moderator/Speaker: J. Dwight Hadley, Chief Financial Officer, Albany County Airport Authority, Albany, New York Speakers: Thomas P. Klinker, Assistant County Manager/CFO, Osceola County, Kissimmee, Florida Charles A. Tegen, Comptroller, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina What's It All About? Interpreting Financial Data in the Public Sector Tuesday, May 9, 2006 • 1:55 p.m. - 3:35 p.m. 2 CPE While government financial reports provide a wealth of information on a government's finances, users are often at a loss as to how to interpret the data contained in such reports. This session is specifically designed to help any interested party, regardless of whether they have experience with governmental accounting, to get the most from a comprehensive annual financial report. Moderator/Speaker: Anne A. Fritz, Director of Finance, City of Westlake, Ohio Speakers: Frank W. Crawford, President, Crawford & Associates P.C., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Karl R. Jacob, Director, Standard and Poor's, New York, New York Hedging Your Bets: Proposed New Reporting for Derivatives Wednesday, May 10, 2006 • 8:30 a.m. - 10:10 a.m. 2 CPE The GASB will soon release an ED on accounting and financial reporting for derivatives. This session will examine the proposed new guidance in a way specifically designed to be accessible for those without special expertise or experience with derivatives. Moderator: Henry W. Mosley, Chief Financial Officer, Washington Convention Center Authority, Washington, D.C. Speaker: Randal Finden, Project Manager, Governmental Accounting Standards Board, Norwalk, Connecticut By the Book: GFOA's New Publication on Capital Assets Wednesday, May 10, 2006 • 8:30 a.m. - 10:10 a.m. 2 CPE The GFOA will soon issue a new book-length publication devoted to all aspects of accounting and financial reporting for capital assets. Topics addressed in that publication will include: categorization, valuation, depreciation, lifing, use of the modified approach, managerial information needs, the creation and maintenance of a capital assets system, maintaining control over capitalized and noncapitalized items, and financial reporting. This session will examine some of the key guidance that will be offered in the new publication. Moderator: Stacie Talbert, Director of Financial Services, Rock Valley College, Rockford, Illinois Speakers: Stephen J. Gauthier, Director of Technical Services, GFOA, Chicago, Illinois David M. Schoen, Director, BearingPoint, Inc., Dobbs Ferry, New York As Easy as ABC! News from the Frontlines of Cost Accounting Wednesday, May 10, 2006 • 10:25 a.m. - 12:05 p.m. 2 CPE There is no denying the importance of relevant, reliable cost data for effective decision making. Many believe that ABC costing holds special promise for providing just such high-quality, decision-relevant data. This session will focus on the practical lessons learned by governments on the frontlines of ABC costing in both the United States and Canada. Moderator: Gail Murchison, Senior Fiscal Administrator, Mecklenburg County, Charlotte, North Carolina Speakers: Scott Tipping, Coordinator, Current Budget and Policies, City of Burlington, Ontario John G. Nelson, General Manager of Corporate Services, Resort Municipality of Whistler, Whistler, British Columbia Jeffrey Wong, Senior Manager, KPMG, LLP, Chicago, Illinois What Were We Thinking! Avoiding Common Reporting Deficiencies Wednesday, May 10, 2006 • 10:25 a.m. - 12:05 p.m. 2 CPE More than 3,000 governments participate in GFOA's Certificate Program. Each year, GFOA staff compiles a list of the most common reporting deficiencies encountered in reviews of reports submitted to the program. This session will use this list to help participants avoid the most common traps facing today's financial statement preparers. Moderator: Jennifer O. Fung, Executive Director - Finance and Administration, City of McKinney, Texas Speakers: Bert G. Nuehring, Executive, Crowe Chizek, Oak Brook, Illinois Donald Rahn, Partner, Virchow, Krasue & Company, LLP, Madison, Wisconsin
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| Budgeting and Financial Planning | |
Presenting Budgetary Information in the Information Age Sunday, May 7, 2006 • 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. 1 CPE For many years GFOA has encouraged state and local governments to prepare budget documents that effectively communicate financial plans and policies to stakeholders. Advances in desktop publishing software have greatly facilitated this effort, and now the Internet has opened up a new world of possibilities for presenting budgetary information. This session will present real-life examples of effective communication of budgetary information through both the traditional budget document and new media, drawing on a new GFOA book on budget presentation. Moderator/Speaker: John Fishbein, Senior Manager, GFOA, Chicago, Illinois
No News Is Good News: Keeping Large Capital Projects On Time and On Budget Sunday, May 7, 2006 • 2:45 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. 1 CPE Making sure that large capital projects are completed on time and on budget can be a daunting—not to mention career altering—task for finance officers. Big projects like stadiums, convention centers, and transportation initiatives tend to draw a lot interest from citizens, the media, and elected officials. Learn tools and techniques for keeping large capital projects within budget and off the front page of the papers. Moderator: Marcia Maurer, Chief Financial Officer, Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District, Sacramento, California Speakers: Barbara Mikolajczyk, Financial Management Supervisor, Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Waukesha, Wisconsin Randy Sherman, Deputy Finance Director, City of Manchester, New Hampshire Designing Performance Measurement and Management Systems with Staying Power Monday, May 8, 2006 • 10:30 a.m. - 12:10 p.m. 2 CPE Many governments initially undertake performance measurement and management systems as an initiative of a newly elected or appointed official or to satisfy a requirement of an external agent. When the initial change agent moves on or the excitement (and fear) wears off, however, these initiatives often die a slow death or become static. Learn how to create an effective performance measurement and management system that will not only outlive its founders, but also stand the test of time. Moderator: Marianna A. Marysheva, Assistant City Manager, City of Lynwood, California Speakers: John Butler, Vice President-Elect, Chartered Institute of Public Accountancy, Molescroft, Beverley Larry Clay, Director, Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Toronto, Ontario Lisa R. Parker, Finance Director, City of Saco, Maine Bohden, Wynnycky, Manager-Measures & Best Practices, Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Toronto, Ontario
Linking Budgeting to Results – Really Monday, May 8, 2006 • 1:25 p.m. - 3:05 p.m. 2 CPE Government organizations across the country are modifying their budget processes to focus on outcomes instead of inputs and outputs. Of course, achieving a results orientation is much easier said than done. Drawing on case studies from state and local governments, presenters will demonstrate how to design a true performance budgeting system—one that links specific budget requests to performance and allows managers and policymakers to make resource allocation decisions based on results rather than custom. Moderator: Margaret V. Browne, Director of Finance, City and County of Denver, Colorado Speakers: Charles L. Curry, Senior Managing Consultant, Weidner, Inc., Austin, Texas John Dunfield, Senior Financial Planner, Calgary, Alberta Larry Maholland, Director, Governmental Strategic Planning and Performance Measures, Sikich, LLP, Aurora, Illinois Planning for Long-Term Fiscal Stability Monday, May 8, 2006 • 3:20 p.m. - 5 p.m. 2 CPE Multi-year financial planning is not just a best practice—it is necessary for survival in this era of economic volatility, globalization, and political unpredictability. Governments must constantly be peering around the corner, anticipating legislation or events that will impact their financial condition and then taking appropriate action. There is no magic formula for fiscal stability—it takes constant attention, dialogue, informed decisions, and many actions over time. Learn some of the principles and practices experienced finance officers have used to guide their jurisdictions toward a sound financial position. Moderator/Speaker: Craig Clifford, Chief Financial Officer, City of Scottsdale, Arizona Speakers: Mary J. Bradley, Finance Director, City of Sunnyvale, California Eric R. Johnson, Director of Management and Budget, Hillsborough County, Tampa, Florida Listen Up! Involving Citizens in Performance Measurement Tuesday, May 9, 2006 • 10:15 a.m. - 11:55 a.m. 2 CPE During a time of growing citizen cynicism and increasingly high expectations for service delivery, performance measurement offers useful tools for presenting accomplishments to citizens. But how do you know if your organization is measuring things that are most important to citizens and other stakeholders? And how do you communicate performance results to citizens? A panel of experts will address these and other key questions about the role of citizens in performance measurement. Moderator: David Tyerar, Budget Director, County of Prince William, Woodbridge, Virginia Speakers: Barbara Cohn Berman, Vice President, Fund for the City of New York, New York David R. Eichenthal, President and CEO, Community Research Council, Inc., Chattanooga, Tennessee Ted Greenwood, Program Director, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, New York, New York Sharing Costs and Sharing Services Tuesday, May 9, 2006 • 1:55 p.m. - 3:35 p.m. 2 CPE Faced with a variety of pressures to provide more efficient and economical services, a growing number of local governments are turning to cooperative arrangements with neighboring jurisdictions. “Shared services” represents a continuum of practices and takes many forms, ranging from handshake agreements between two villages to share equipment to the formal consolidation of two or more governments. Most arrangements fall somewhere between these extremes. Nearly every service provided by local governments—from human resource administration to public safety services – are provided cooperatively somewhere in the country. This session will introduce the concept of service and cost sharing arrangements and present case studies of successful design and implementation at the local level. Moderator: Ari Sky, Budget Director, Loudoun County, Leesburg, Virginia Speakers: William A. Holdsworth, Deputy Director, Office of Management and Budget, Oakland County, Pontiac, Michigan Jerry Isler, Director of Finance/CEO, City of Gahanna, Ohio Mary Jo Jenkins, Management Services Director, City of Flagstaff, Arizona Meeting the Infrastructure Challenge with Sound Capital Planning and Budgeting Wednesday, May 10, 2006 • 10:25 a.m. - 12:05 p.m. 2 CPE As the public infrastructure ages in older communities and newer communities work to cope with rapid growth, many local governments are finding it increasingly difficult to find funding for necessary improvements. An effective capital planning and budgeting process is key to ensuring that a government has the physical foundation necessary to deliver services to constituents. This session will offer specific guidance on how to develop, finance, monitor, and report on a capital program and budget. Moderator: Catherine O'Connor, Assistant City Manager, City of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Speakers: Allan Carmody, Budget Manager, Chesterfield County, Chesterfield, Virginia Jeff Tyne, Budget Director, City of Peoria, Arizona Nicole Westerman, Chief of Staff to the Secretary of Budget , Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania The Supply Side: Revenue Strategies for State and Local Governments Wednesday, May 10, 2006 • 8:30 a.m. - 10:10 a.m. 2 CPE Over the last several years, much has been said about the cutback strategies state and local governments have used to balance their budgets. Less has been reported about what governments are doing to preserve, expand, and diversify their revenues. This has become a critical issue in light of property tax limitations, the loss of sales tax revenues to Internet sales, and legislative attempts to preempt local taxing authority over telecommunications services. Learn what governments are doing to ensure they have the necessary revenues to pay for ongoing expenditure requirements. Moderator: Jeremy Willmoth, Budget Administrator, Jackson County, Kansas City, Missouri Speakers: Craig Lesner, Director of Revenue Analysis, Office of Budget and Management; City of Chicago, Illinois Sean P. McNeeley, Director of Policy - Mayor's Office, City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Mark Nicolini, Budget and Management Director, City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
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| Cash Management and Investing | |
Pay Up! Tools and Techniques for Collecting Delinquent Revenues Sunday, May 7, 2006 • 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. 1 CPE Looking for ways to increase your revenue collection rate? In this session, leading practitioners will share proven technologies and techniques for collecting delinquent revenues. Speakers will highlight tools such as high-tech scanners for finding delinquent taxpayers and parking ticket amnesties, and suggest tips and traps based on their experience. Moderator/Speaker: Kevin Appel, Legal Counsel, Arlington County, Arlington, Virginia Speaker: Arnold Scott Harris, Attorney, Harris & Harris, Ltd., Chicago, Illinois Economic Outlook Monday, May 8, 2006 • 10:30 a.m. - 12:10 p.m. 2 CPE The current economic expansion has weathered significant shocks, including a devastating hurricane in the Gulf region of the United States and high energy costs. In addition, the threat of future terrorist attacks continues to pose significant risks to the economy. What will happen to economic growth, inflation, and interest rates over the next 12 months? In this session, economists provide their forecasts of economic growth, inflation, and interest rates, and highlight the key factors to watch over the next year in both the U.S. and Canadian economies. Moderator: José M. Cisneros, Treasurer, City and County of San Francisco, California Speaker: Peter Kretzmer, Senior Economist, Bank of America, New York, New York Avery Shenfeld, Senior Economist, CIBC World Markets, Toronto, Ontario Cash Investment Strategies for Today's Interest Rate Environment Monday, May 8, 2006 • 1:25 p.m. - 3:05 p.m. 2 CPE Investors are facing a mature economic cycle and a flattened yield curve. Which money market investment instruments tend to perform best in this environment, and how should public investors shift their investment strategy to match the current economy? In this session, speakers will discuss prudent investment strategies to maximize liquidity and yield in the present interest rate environment. Moderator/Speaker: Joya C. DeFoor, City Treasurer, Los Angeles, California Speakers: Timothy M. Johnson, Investment & Debt Management Officer, Hennepin County, Minneapolis, Minnesota Frank G. Puryear, Director of Research and Senior Portfolio Manager, Weaver C. Barksdale & Associates, Brentwood, Tennessee Peaks and Valleys: Optimizing Funds with Cash Flow Forecasting Monday, May 8, 2006 • 3:20 p.m. - 5 p.m. 2 CPE Effective cash flow forecasting is a critical component of a public investment program, as it provides an estimate of how much money is available for investing for given period. Cash flow forecasting can also help your government meet its liquidity needs without short-term borrowing or prematurely cashing in long-term investments. This session will introduce key concepts and techniques of cash flow forecasting and highlight useful software tools. Speakers will incorporate the guidance in the new GFOA recommended practice “Use of Cash Flow Forecasts in Operations.” Speakers: Tracey L. Ferguson, Director, Thomson Financial, Frisco, Texas Ken Kandeepan, Manager of Cash Management, Ontario Financing Authority, Toronto, Ontario John I. Payne, Deputy Treasurer, Clark County Treasurer's Office, Vancouver, Washington Joseph R. Rulison, Commercial Market Executive, Bank of America, Rochester, New York Comparison Shopping: Advice on How to Procure Banking Services Tuesday, May 9, 2006 • 10:15 a.m. - 11:55 a.m. 2 CPE Governments rely on many different service providers to carry out their financial operations, but none is more important than their depository bank. It follows, then, that selecting a bank warrants careful planning and consideration. This session will walk through the process of procuring banking services, including developing an RFP, evaluating responses to the RFP, conducting credit analysis on banks, and transitioning to a new bank. Speakers will also show how to evaluate the relative benefits and costs of paying for services through direct fees, compensating balances, or a combination of the two. Speakers: Kristy B. Duncan, President, Duncan Consulting, Toronto, Ontario Steven A. McArthur, Vice President, AMCORE Bank, Rockford, Illinois John A. Sofley, Management Services Director, City of Salisbury, North Carolina Steven Szymanski, Accounting Manager, City of Glendale, Arizona Advanced Public Funds Investing: A Risk-Return Balancing Act Tuesday, May 9, 2006 • 1:55 p.m. - 3:35 p.m. 2 CPE If you are a seasoned public investor, this session is for you. Portfolio management is a risk-return balancing act, and this session will address both risk concepts and reward metrics. Speakers will offer advice on how to select an appropriate benchmark for measuring your portfolio's performance and will discuss different investing strategies, including active, passive, and hybrid. Attendees will also receive instruction in tools such as yield curve analysis and the various types of spread analysis (credit, maturity, sector). Moderator: Lisa Marie Harris, Deputy Treasurer, San Diego County, San Diego, California Speakers: Kay Chandler, President, Chandler Asset Management, San Diego, California Doug Extine, Deputy State Treasurer, Washington State, Olympia, Washington Margaret Kerins, Managing Director, RBS Greenwich Capital, Chicago, Illinois On Guard: Protecting Against Check and Electronic Payment Fraud Wednesday, May 10, 2006 • 8:30 a.m. - 10:10 a.m. 2 CPE Does your government have adequate security measures in place to avoid becoming a victim of payment fraud? This session will highlight tools and techniques to help your government prevent payment fraud associated with paper checks and electronic payments, incorporating the guidelines from the new GFOA recommended practice, “Electronic Commerce and Cash Management.” This session will cover fraud-prevention tools such as account reconciliation, ACH blocks and filters, positive pay, and paper check security features. Moderator/Speaker: Ann Marie S. Ricardi, Finance Director, City of Naples, Florida Speakers: Robert D. Sheehy, Special Investigator, U.S. Attorney's Office, Baltimore, Maryland Barbara I. Weiss, Senior Vice President, Bank of American, Hicksville, New York |
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| Debt Management | |
You've Got Mail! What To Do When You Receive an Audit Letter from the IRS Sunday, May 7, 2006 • 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. 1 CPE In recent years, the Internal Revenue Service has been aggressively auditing tax-exempt bond issues to evaluate their compliance with federal tax law. Now more than ever, issuers need to know what to expect in the event that the IRS audits their bonds. This session will examine the reasons the IRS selects a particular issuer for an audit, the question of whether to disclose an audit to investors, selection of counsel, the negotiation process, and the issuer's right to appeal. Moderator/Speaker: Julianna Ebert, Partner, Quarles & Brady, Milwaukee, Wisconsin Speakers: Mary Reichert, Partner, Bryan Cave, St. Louis, Missouri J. Ben Watkins III, Director, Division of Bond Finance State of Florida, Tallahassee, Florida Continuing Disclosure Guidelines for Infrequent Issuers Sunday, May 7, 2006 • 2:45 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. 1 CPE The adequacy and completeness of continuing disclosure documents has been an important issue in the municipal bond market for many years now. While frequent issuers provide annual financial information to the market as a matter of course, infrequent issuers need to be aware of the disclosure requirements affecting them. Intended for infrequent issuers, this session will review continuing disclosure requirements and tools available to facilitate compliance, namely the newly created Central Post Office. Moderator/Speaker: Alan Anders, Deputy Director of Finance, New York City Office of Management and Budget, New York, New York Speaker: Kathryn Kasza, Treasurer/Comptroller, Village of Brown Deer, Wisconsin Branching Out: Fundamentals of Debt Issuance and Management Monday, May 8, 2006 • 10:30 a.m. - 12:10 p.m. 2 CPE For many finance officers who specialize in a particular area of finance—whether it be accounting, budgeting, or some other area—the capital markets and the debt issuance process can be a bit of a mystery. This session is for non-debt professionals seeking a better understanding of debt management so as to further their own professional development and add value to their organizations. From the decision to borrow to the selection of advisors, the investment of bond proceeds, and compliance with continuing disclosure requirements, this session will cover the essential concepts of tax-exempt debt financing. Speakers: Pat Born, Chief Financial Officer, City of Minneapolis, Minnesota Debra Hinsvark, Chief Financial Officer, City of Kansas City, Missouri Tom Lanctot, Principal, William Blair & Company, Chicago, Illinois Understanding Interest Rate Swaps Monday, May 8, 2006 • 1:25 p.m. - 3:05 p.m. 2 CPE The use of derivative products continues to be a key issue for state and local government issuers, as an increasing number of entities of all types and sizes execute these transactions. Particularly popular are interest rate swaps, which are two-party agreements to exchange payments based on periodic changes in interest rates. In this session, municipal issuers and industry professionals will explain what swaps are and how they are best used, identify the risks involved in swap transactions, and offer guidance on how to develop an effective derivatives policy. Moderator/Speaker: Roger Anderson, Executive Director, New Jersey Educational Facilities Authority, Princeton, New Jersey Speakers: Patrick McCoy, Director of Finance, Metropolitan Transportation Authority, New York, New York Frank Oh, Vice President, Goldman Sachs, New York, New York Circular 230 and Other Regulatory Concerns Monday, May 8, 2006 • 3:20 p.m. - 5 p.m. 2 CPE This session will review new and forthcoming federal regulations impacting tax-exempt bonds. Experts will give considerable attention to Circular 230—a regulation with significant implications on the relationship between issuers and their bond counsel, and the manner in which bond opinions are provided to governments. The session will also address changes to the State and Local Government Series (SLGS) program as well as possible changes to record retention guidelines and allocation guidelines that would benefit public-private partnerships. Moderator/Speaker: Timothy Firestine, Director of Finance, Montgomery County, Rockville, Maryland Speakers: Mitch Rapaport, Partner, Nixon Peabody LLP, Washington, D.C. Walt St. Onge, Partner, Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge, Boston, Massachusetts The Who, What, Where, When, and How of the Bond Rating Process Tuesday, May 9, 2006 • 10:15 a.m. - 11:55 a.m. 2 CPE Given the high stakes involved in a bond rating, elected officials, chief administrative officers, and finance officers naturally have many questions about the ratings process. What factors determine a bond rating? What materials should be presented to the rating agencies and in what form? How long should a rating agency presentation be? How much information should be shared? In this session, representatives from the rating agencies will answer these questions and others about the rating process. They will also address current issues such as the rating impacts of tight local budgets and the high rate of debt issuance, as well as exposures to natural disasters and other threats. Moderator: Steve Berna, Executive Director, Municipal Finance Authority of British Columbia, Victoria, British Columbia Speakers: Peter Block, Director, Standard and Poor's Credit Market Services, Chicago, Illinois Joe O'Keefe, Senior Director, Fitch Ratings, Chicago, Illinois Jonathan North, Vice President/Senior Analyst, Moody's Investors Service, Chicago, Illinois Connecting the Dots: Debt Management and Financial Planning Wednesday, May 10, 2006 • 8:30 a.m. - 10:10 a.m. 2 CPE Issuing debt commits a government's revenues for many years into the future, limiting to some degree its flexibility to add or expand services or to respond to economic downturns and other problems. For this reason, a government's debt program should be fully integrated with its financial planning systems and processes. This session will offer advice on how to link debt issuance and management to budgeting and financial planning in a manner that helps maintain a sound fiscal position. Moderator/Speaker: Julia Cooper, Deputy Director of Finance, City of San Jose, California Speakers: Eric Johansen, Debt Manager, City of Portland, Oregon Karen Wagner, Vice President, Public Finance, National Tax-Backed Group, MBIA, Armonk, New York
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| Management and Policy | |
Economic Development for Smaller Governments Sunday, May 7, 2006 • 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. 1 CPE Most discussions of economic development focus on big-ticket projects managed by sophisticated development professionals. For many local governments, however, development occurs on a much smaller scale, guided by the chief executive and several key officials, including the finance director. This session will address the economic development concerns of smaller governments. Moderator: Duane Jenkins, Senior Manager, Grant Thornton, Alexandria, Virginia Speakers: Tammy E. Clayton, Director of Finance, Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Palmer, Alaska Robert A. Hartwig, Finance Director, City of Lafayette, Colorado We're on Your Side! Changing Organizational Perceptions of the Finance Office Sunday, May 7, 2006 • 2:45 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. 1 CPE Operating departments often view the finance office as an organizational police officer responsible for ensuring that they stay within budget and comply with policies and procedures. While this may be true to a certain extent, today's finance office is more appropriately viewed as a strategic partner, a decision-support center, a source of business-critical information, and an internal customer service provider. This session will explore the “new” finance office and how you can get your organization to view the finance office more as a partner and less as simply a regulator. Moderator: Robert Bishop, Director of Finance and City Treasurer, City of St. John's, New Foundland Speakers: Perry James, Chief Financial Officer, City of Raleigh, North Carolina Shelley Senova, (#2) Managing Consultant, IBM Business Consulting Services, Ottawa, Ontario How to Analyze Developer Proposals Monday, May 8, 2006 • 10:30 a.m. - 12:10 p.m. 2 CPE Finance officers are becoming increasingly involved in matters of economic development. This is partly explained by the fact that financial expertise is essential when it comes to analyzing the financial structure of a deal as outlined in the developer's pro forma statement. In this session, experienced professionals will offer tips on how to analyze a pro forma so that you can make an informed decision about whether public financial assistance is warranted. Moderator: Patricia A. Phillips, Director of Finance, City of Virginia Beach, Virginia Speakers: David MacGillivray, Chairman, Springsted, Inc., St. Paul, Minnesota Timothy H. Riordan, Assistant City Manager and Finance Director (retired), City of Cincinnati, Ohio Wanted: Ability to Communicate Effectively Both Verbally and in Writing Monday, May 8, 2006 • 1:25 p.m. - 3:05 p.m. 2 CPE It seems that no job description is complete without a reference to communications skills. Even in the public finance profession, where quantitative and analytical skills are emphasized, effective communication is a must. This is especially true of managers and those with managerial aspirations. Learn proven communication techniques that you can take back to the office. Moderator: Larry G. Fry, Finance Director, City of Roswell, New Mexico Speaker: William H. Baker, Professor of Organizational Leadership and Strategy, Marriott School of Management, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah Preparing for the Financial Aftermath of a Disaster Monday, May 8, 2006 • 3:20 p.m. - 5 p.m. 2 CPE State and local governments devastated by natural or manmade disasters are often eligible for federal financial assistance. This assistance usually comes in the form of reimbursement for costs documented in accordance with the requirements of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Too often, governments do not have systems and procedures in place to properly document disaster-related expenditures, thus jeopardizing reimbursable dollars. This session will offer guidance on how to prepare for the financial aftermath of a disaster. Moderator/Speaker: Ed Harrington, Chief Financial Officer, City and County of San Francisco, California Speakers: Roy Block, President, R.W. Block Consulting, Inc., Mark Blumkin, Senior Manager, Deloitte Financial Advisory Services, LLP, New York, New York Shirley D. Hughes, Finance Director/City Treasurer, City of Vista, California Property Insurance 101: Strategies for Insuring Your Assets Tuesday, May 9, 2006 • 10:15 a.m. - 11:55 a.m. 2 CPE Recent events in the Gulf Coast have underscored the importance of properly insuring government property. In this session, risk management experts will cover the basics of property insurance, including loss exposures, coverage parts, exclusions, limitations, and endorsements. Various property insurance program designs and negotiating strategies will also be covered. This session is a must if you want to better understand how to protect your organization’s property treasures when the wind blows, the ground shakes, or the water rises. Moderator: Robert Curry, Director of Finance, City of Meriden, Connecticut Speakers: Bill Mason, Risk Manager, City of Sunrise, Florida Richard M. Terlecki, Area Senior Vice President - Public Entity Specialist, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., Orlando, Florida Relax! Stress Management Techniques for the Busy Finance Officer Tuesday, May 9, 2006 • 1:55 p.m. - 3:35 p.m. 2 CPE One of the realities of life in the 21 st century is that work pressure is a constant challenge. This is certainly true for finance officers, who work in an environment in which customer expectations always exceed fiscal capacity. Even so, too many of us allow work pressures to control us instead of the other way around. This session will offer practical techniques for proactively managing stress at the office. Moderator: Marty Scott, Controller, City of Portland, Oregon Speaker: Julius Rhodes, (#2) Founder and Principal, mpr group, Chicago, Illinois So You're the Boss … Now What? Wednesday, May 10, 2006 • 8:30 a.m. - 10:10 a.m. 2 CPE Many accountants, budget analysts, and other highly skilled financial professionals aspire to lead a finance operation. They have the necessary technical skills and experience. How do they handle the new challenges of managing and leading employees, developing organizational plans and budgets, and participating in organizational strategy development? In this session, seasoned finance managers and leadership experts will discuss principles and practices of leadership, interpersonal skills, and organizational strategy. Moderator: Leslie Pellegrino, Director of Accounting, Frederick County, Frederick, Maryland Speakers: Joseph P. Casey, Deputy County Administrator, Hanover County, Hanover, Virginia William D. Taylor, Professor of Management, John Molson School of Business, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec Nancy Zielke, Assistant Vice Chancellor, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri
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| Pensions and Benefits | |
Smart Compensation Strategies for Public Sector Employees Sunday, May 7, 2006 • 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. 1 CPE What is the best compensation package to offer today's public sector workforce? How does it makes sense to best structure the benefit package that makes it a win-win for employers and employees alike? This session will lay down principles for designing or redesigning employee compensation to stay competitive and retain a skilled workforce. Moderator: Cynthia B. Alexander, Assistant City Manager/CFO, City of LaPorte, Texas Speaker: Robert J. Lavigna, Senior Manager - Client Services, CPS Human Resource Services, Madison, Wisconsin Sarbanes-Oxley: What Does It Mean for Pension Board Governance? Sunday, May 7, 2006 • 2:45 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. 1 CPE In the past five years, corporate boards have been taken to task for insufficient diligence in overseeing staff, with the landmark Sarbanes-Oxley legislation an outcome of the demands for better oversight. Will the spotlight be turned onto pension boards? What are their fiduciary duties? What have been areas where they have been over-involved or under-involved in the daily dealings of the pension organizations they oversee? This session will address these difficult but crucial questions. Moderator: Maryann Motza, Director/Manager, Public Employees' Social Security, State of Colorado, Department of Labor, Aurora, Colorado Speakers: John D. Driscoll, Commissioner, San Francisco Employees' Retirement System, San Francisco, California John T. Por, President, Cortex Applied Research, Toronto, Ontario Rx for Prescription Drug Costs Monday, May 8, 2006 • 10:30 a.m. - 12:10 p.m. 2 CPE Health care costs continue to confound governments, and prescription drugs have been the driving force behind cost inflation. What are the benefits and costs of prescription drugs? Can they actually help substitute for other forms of higher-cost treatments? What is the role of pharmacy benefit managers and are their interests aligned with the government's? What impact will new Medicare regulations have? This session will tackle these questions. Moderator: Mike P. Kier, Finance Director, City of Tulsa, Oklahoma Speakers: Kaye Pestaina, Vice President and Senior Health Compliance Specialist, Segal Company, Washington, D.C. Scott Streator, Director of Health Care, Ohio Public Employees Retirement System, Columbus, Ohio Kathryn Usrey, Director of Human Resources, City of Carrolton, Texas Coping with the Budgetary Implications of Pension Funding Volatility Monday, May 8, 2006 • 1:25 p.m. - 3:05 p.m. 2 CPE One of the most challenging aspects of DB pension plans is the volatility in providing budgetary appropriations. In the 1990s, some governments had the enviable position of not needing to fund their pension plans, essentially getting a “funding holiday.” The perfect storm of negative investment returns, benefit enhancements (driving liabilities higher), and lowered discount rates have created spiraling increases in funding requirements. Is there a better way to handle this volatility? This session will address the problem and identify possible solutions. Moderator: Terrance R. Stefanski, Executive Director, Municipal Employees Annuity and Benefits Fund, Chicago, Illinois Speakers: Mike Heale, Partner, CEM Benchmarking, Inc., Toronto, Ontario Paul M. Zorn, Director, Governmental Research, Gabriel, Roeder, Smith & Company, Southfield, Michigan Richard A. Schnuer, Finance Director, City of Champaign, Illinois Just Do It: Implementing GASB's OPEB Mandates Monday, May 8, 2006 • 3:20 p.m. - 5 p.m. 2 CPE With the imminent implementation of GASB 43 and 45, governments will be costing their liabilities and ultimately facing up to them. Key to compliance is hiring an actuary and building an RFP for OPEB actuarial services. This session will provide very practical guidance in managing the selection process so that you get OPEB data in time for your next annual report. In addition, it will examine financial management tools that governments may need to begin evaluating: debt financings, redesign of benefits, negotiating cost sharing with bargaining units, etc. Moderator: Catherine E. Walker, Deputy General Manager, Alameda County Employees' Retirement, Oakland, California Speakers: Amy S. Doppelt, Managing Director, Fitch Ratings, San Francisco, California Richard Feller, President and CEO, Lynchval Systems Worldwide, Chantilly, Virginia Thomas S. Hamilton, Director of Finance, City of Norwalk, Connecticut Assessing the Impact of the Baby Boomers on Pension Systems Tuesday, May 9, 2006 • 1:55 p.m. - 3:35 p.m. 2 CPE This session will examine myths and facts about the impact of baby boomer retirements on pension systems. Concerns often expressed include the fear that baby boomers directly or indirectly will “cash out” of the stock market, depressing valuations and that the retirement of baby boomers will create both worker shortages and a service delivery crunch for pension systems processing retirement applications. These and other concerns will be shared and discussed at this session. Moderator: Speakers: Girard C. Miller, Denver, Colorado Rhonda S. Smith, Deputy Director, Houston Firefighters' Relief and Retirement Fund, Houston, Texas Doing It Right: Designing a State-of-the-Art 457 Plan Wednesday, May 10, 2006 • 10:25 a.m. - 12:05 p.m. 2 CPE Many public sector employees are not saving enough for retirement, so 457 deferred compensation plans offer a great opportunity to augment their other retirement assets and achieve retirement security. This session zeroes in on the following issues: gaining employee participation, understanding the black box of fees that government and plan participants incur, understanding fiduciary responsibilities, managing the RFI / RFP procurement process, and transitioning to new vendors. Moderator: Johnetta B. Bond, Deputy Director, Office of Pay and Retirement Services, Washington, D.C. Speakers: Thomas J. Glaser, Chief Financial Officer, Cook County, Chicago, Illinois John Saeli, Director, Marketing Services, ICMA Retirement Corporation, Washington, D.C. Mary Willett, Consultant, Willett Consulting, Oregon, Wisconsin |
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| Technology and Digital Government | |
Using Technology to Control Personnel Costs Sunday, May 7, 2006 • 2:45 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. 1 CPE Personnel is the largest expenditure category for most government organizations, and it is often a difficult area of cost to control. This session will investigate technology solutions designed to control the cost of labor and achieve maximum value from what is not only government's most expensive asset, but also its most valuable. Moderator: Todd L. Rydstrom, Director of Budget and Analysis, City and County of San Francisco, California Speakers: Philip Puccia, Executive Director, Springfield Finance Control Board, Massachusetts Department of Revenue, Springfield, Massachusetts David Wyatt, Director of Public Sector, ADP, Inc., Waltham, Massachusetts A New Era of E-Government Monday, May 8, 2006 • 10:30 a.m. - 12:10 p.m. 2 CPE E-government has moved well beyond its original incarnation of the Web site that simply displays information and is now even moving beyond online transaction processing. E-government is coming to mean fully integrated online service delivery, enhancement of democracy, improved learning opportunities for all citizens, and new responsibility for care of constituent data on the part of government. This session will examine how leading jurisdictions are moving into this new era of digital government. Moderator: Edward. L. Long, Chief Financial Officer, Fairfax County, Fairfax, Virginia Speakers: William D. Eggers, Global Director, Deloitte Research-Public Sector, Washington, D.C. David J. Molchany, Deputy County Executive/CIO, Fairfax County, Fairfax, Virginia Technology for Smaller Governments Monday, May 8, 2006 • 1:25 p.m. - 3:05 p.m. 2 CPE Smaller governments cannot afford the sophisticated systems typically operated by larger governments, yet smaller governments still need technology to help them provide the most effective stewardship of taxpayer dollars possible. This session will explore the various technology options available to smaller governments for enhancing financial management and, ultimately, service delivery to constituents. Moderator: Lynne A. Beck, Finance Director, Town of Telluride, Colorado Speakers: Louis J. Boglioli, Financial Services Assistant Director, City of Stuart, Florida Ken Lang, Vice President, New World Systems, Troy, Michigan Richard J. Mertz, Chief Technology Officer, City of Evanston, IL Realizing and Demonstrating Value from Technology Investments Monday, May 8, 2006 • 3:20 p.m. - 5 p.m. 2 CPE Despite the promise of new technologies, many government managers have been disappointed by the level of benefit realized from these tools. In many cases, it is not the technology itself that is at fault, but rather the failure to adapt the people and processes that interact with the technology. This session will explore project management and technology governance techniques that can be used to increase the value received from all types of technology investments and demonstrate value to important stakeholders such as elected officials and citizens. Moderator: Robert Scott, Director of Finance, City of Brookfield, Wisconsin Speakers: Phillip R. Bertolini, Deputy County Executive/CIO, Oakland County, Pontiac, Michigan Per Robertsson, Sales Manager, WM-data, Stockholm, Sweden Nancy L. Zielke, Assistant Vice Chancellor, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri
Technology's Role in Disaster Preparedness Tuesday, May 9, 2006 • 10:15 a.m. - 11:55 a.m. 2 CPE Technology plays an integral role in the typical day-to-day operation of government. It can play an equally vital role when government must respond to a disaster situation. This session will describe two key aspects of the role of technology in disaster preparedness: how governments can ensure the continuity of their technology infrastructure during a disaster, and how technology can be leveraged to improve emergency response. Moderator: Michael A. Genito, Assistant City Manager/Comptroller, City of Rye, New York Speakers: Danelle E. Daley, Vice President, ASP Operations, Tyler Technologies, Inc., MUNIS Division, Falmouth, Maine Kristin M. Gonzenbach, Director of Process Improvement, DeKalb County Government, Decatur, Georgia Anne Pickren, Senior Vice President Software Products, SunGard Availability Services, Wayne, Pennsylvania Tomorrow's Technologies Today Tuesday, May 9, 2006 • 1:55 a.m. - 3:35 p.m. 2 CPE Over the past decades, technology has primarily been used as a tool for improving transaction-processing efficiency. Moving into the future, however, technology will play an increasingly important role in all aspects of government administration and service delivery. This session will explore new and anticipated trends in government technology, such as business intelligence, customer information systems, mobile computing and Wi-Fi, application hosting, and open-source systems. Moderator: John B. Bond, Chief Deputy Treasurer, Weber County, Ogden, Utah Speakers: Ron Budreau, President, Diamond Municipal Solutions, Paris, Ontario Tim G. Hoechst, Senior Vice President, Public Sector, Oracle Corporation, Reston, Virginia David P. McDonald, Architect, Microsoft Corporation, Reston, Virginia John Q. Porter, Deputy Superintendent, Office of Information and Organizational Systems, Montgomery County Public Schools, Rockville, Maryland Technology Project Management Essentials Wednesday, May 10, 2006 • 10:25 a.m. - 12:10 p.m. 2 CPE Technology implementations require a discipline in project management—a skill that is markedly different from day-to-day management of a finance organization. As such, many finance professionals may not be adequately prepared when faced with a major technology implementation. This session will outline the essentials of project management and provide useful advice for typical trouble spots encountered during technology projects. Moderator: Janet J. Kennedy, Finance Director, Arapahoe County, Littleton, Colorado Speakers: Heather A. Reed-Fenske, Manager, Enterprise Suite Program, City of Calgary, Alberta Ken Vallejos, Senior Consultant, CGI, Golden, Colorado Marjorie Windelberg, Former Program Manager, National Do Not Call Registry, Alexandria, Virginia
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| Discussion Groups - Tuesday, May 9 • 3:50 p.m. - 4:50 p.m. | |
Accounting, Auditing, and Financial Reporting The Ongoing Challenges of Preparing Government-wide Financial Statements Discussion Leader: Robert J. Freeman, Distinguished Professor of Accounting, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas Using Data Bases to Facilitate Intergovernmental Comparisons Discussion Leader: Terry Adams, Director of Finance, County of Hanover, Hanover, Virginia Practical Steps Toward Improving Internal Control Discussion Leader: James B. Pyers, Senior Audit Manager, State of Ohio, Auditor of State, Cleveland, Ohio Writing an Effective Management's Discussion and Analysis Discussion Leader: Michael A. Genito, Comptroller, City of Rye, New York Identifying Spreadsheet Errors Discussion Leader: Stephen W. Blann, Partner, Government Services, Rehmann Robson, Jackson, Mississippi Budgeting and Financial Planning Performance Management and Budgeting in Smaller Communities Discussion Leader: Robert Scott, Finance Director, City of Brookfield, Wisconsin Up, Up, and Away! Coping with Runaway Costs Discussion Leader: Paul Menter, Director of Finance and Administrative Services, City of Aspen, Cololrado Just for You: GFOA's Recommended Practices on Budgeting and Financial Planning Discussion Leader: Randy Moravec, Director of Financial and Strategic Services, Town of Addison, Texas Cash Management and Investing The Investment Portfolio Game: Putting Your Strategies to the Test Discussion Leader: Steven Alexander, Managing Director, PFM Asset Management, LLC, Orlando, Florida Debt Management Issuer Forum – Smaller Governments and Infrequent Issuers Discussion Leader: Steve Teiper, Treasurer, City of Plano, Texas Issuer Forum – Larger Governments and Frequent Issuers Discussion Leader: Frank Hoadley, Capital Finance Director, Wisconsin Department of Administration, Madison, Wisconsin
Management and Policy Your Personal Strategic Plan: Getting Ahead in Government Finance Canadian Update Members of the Committee on Canadian Issues will lead the discussion on the challenges that face the committee, its future objectives, and its most recent accomplishments. This discussion group will provide Canadian finance officers the opportunity to discuss their ideas and concerns with committee members. Discussion Leaders: Jo-Anne Ferrier, City Treasurer, Winnipeg, Manitoba Lloyd W. Russell, Commissioner of Finance & Treasurer, Regional Municipality of York, Newmarket, Ontario Pension and Benefits Pay Me Now or Pay Me a Lot More Later: Wellness Programs that Work Discussion Leader: Wayne S. Davis, Finance Director, City of Montgomery, Ohio Technology and Digital Government No Pain, No Gain: Maximizing Technology Returns and Minimizing Risk Budgeting and Performance Measurement Systems: Has Their Time Come? Discussion Leader: Grace K. Wilcox, Manager of Budget, Denver Water, Denver, Colorado |