Golf

7:30 a.m. Westin La Paloma Golf Course

Golf registration will be separate at this training. If you are interested in golfing, please contact Brian Wright at bwright@eloyaz.gov or 520-251-0028.

Registration and Platinum Sponsor Set-Up

8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Arizona Foyer

CPFO Exam

8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Aster

GFOAz will host the GFOA CPFO exam at the training. If you would like to participate in the exam, please complete the GFOA application at www.gfoa-cpfo.org.

Education Committee Meeting

11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. Ironwood

If you are interested in participating in the GFOAz Education Committee meeting to plan the upcoming trainings and conferences, please e-mail info@gfoaz.org.

PSPRS Update

1:00 - 2:30 p.m. Grand Ballroom

1.5 CPEs

Speaker: Scott McCarty, Finance Director/CFO, Queen Creek

Most employers are facing increasing pension contributions. The past two years have seen many changes to the Arizona Public Safety Personnel Retirement System. This session will review recent reform (i.e. SB 1428 and Prop 124) and discuss the factors contributing to the increases (i.e. Hall V. Elected Officials' Retirement Plan case and reductions to the assumed earnings rate). It will also discuss strategies for managing your pension costs long-term such as the the ability to make a one-time election to extend your amortization period up to 30 years.

Refreshment Break and Network with Sponsors

2:30 - 2:50 p.m. Arizona Foyer

Please take this time to network with the platinum sponsors at their booths in the Lobby Foyer.

Leaving a Legacy

3:00 - 4:30 p.m. Grand Ballroom

1.5 CPEs

Keynote Speaker: Chad Hymas

A motivating presentation must be accompanied with solutions that change and inspire lives. Today more than ever, people are looking not simply for entertainment, but for direction and solid answers. Chad Hymas has spent the last ten years developing solutions that transformed his life. His stories are moving, his courage unprecedented, and his insights profound. His accomplishments provide a powerful litmus test to the validity of these dynamic principles! In this presentation Chad will teach how to:

Membership Committee Meeting

4:35 - 5:15 p.m. South Rim

If you are interested in participating in the GFOAz Membership Committee meeting, please e-mail info@gfoaz.org.

New Member Meet and Greet

5:15 - 5:30 p.m. Arizona Foyer & Deck

Reception

5:15 - 6:45 p.m. Arizona Foyer & Deck

Continental Breakfast

7:30 – 8:20 a.m. Arizona Foyer

President's Welcome and Keynote Speaker Chad Hymas

8:20 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Grand Ballroom

1.5 CPEs

Eagles Don't Fly in Flocks, but Seagulls Never Get Lonely
Speaker: Chad Hymas

How do you find the golden egg without ruffling people's feathers? Every person on your team has a unique personality. Each task therefore, creates a dilemma! In this presentation, especially for leadership, Chad teaches the four "flight" personality types that exist in every office, every corporation and even every family. Your team will laugh at themselves while they're learning new ways of relating to one another and capitalizing on individual contribution. Understand your team players so that the entire team performs best. See how:

GPLET 101: What is it and How Does it Work?

10:10 – 11 a.m. Grand Ballroom

1 CPE

Speaker: Eric Johnson, Deputy Director, Community Development Division, City of Phoenix

Learn about what Government Property Lease Excise Tax is, how it works, impacts (policy, community, education, property taxes) and what the recent legislative changes mean. Hear case studies and the use of GPLET by the City of Phoenix.

What Your County Assessors Want You to Know

11:10 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Grand Ballroom

1 CPE

Speakers: Armando Ruiz, Assessor, Coconino County

Have you wondered about the annual assessed valuation calendar and process in your County Assessor's Office? Interested in how net new construction is calculated? How are property exemptions factored into the values? Do tax roll corrections impact your annual levy? What are the definitions of full cash, limited property, primary and secondary taxes, net assessed value? How can you prepare for/plan for a significant drop (or significant increase) in assessed value between February and August?

Plated Lunch

12:00 p.m. – 12:50 p.m. Sonoran Ballroom

All conference attendees are invited to attend the luncheon.

Direct Bank Placement

1:00 – 1:50 p.m. Grand Ballroom

1 CPE

Speakers: Larry Given, Director, FirstSouthwest, a division of Hilltop Securities Inc.
Logan McKenzie, Managing Director, CoBiz Public Finance, Inc.
Zach Sakas, Gust Rosenfeld P.L.C.

Since the Great Recession, bond sales via direct bank placements have seen a rise in popularity among issuers. This panel includes representatives from bond counsel, financial advisors, banks, and issuers to discuss how these transactions are accomplished today, recent updates and best practices, and how these transactions might change in the near future based on regulatory changes.

The panel plans to discuss:

CIP Panel of Experts

2:00 – 2:50 p.m. Grand Ballroom

1 CPE

Speakers: Candace Cannistraro, Office of Management and Budget Director, Mesa
Donna Meinerts, Finance Director, Apache Junction
Kelly Pfost, Office of Management and Budget Director, Gilbert

Managing an effective capital planning program is essential to the long-term financial health of an organization. This session will review best practices in identifying and communicating capital needs, developing a long-term capital plan, prioritizing projects, and preparing and monitoring a capital budget.

Refreshment Break and Network with Sponsors

2:50 - 3:15 p.m. Arizona Foyer

Please take this time to network with the platinum sponsors at their booths in the conference prefunction.

The Best Things in Life are Free, but There is no Such Thing as Free Federal Money

3:15 – 4:45 p.m. Grand Ballroom

1.5 CPEs

Speakers: Michael L. Lauzon, CPA, MBA, Partner, Heinfeld, Meech & Co
Jill A. Shaw, CPA, Partner, Heinfeld, Meech & Co.

Receiving federal funds often comes with strings attached, one of which is the possibility of a Single Audit. During this session we will cover the fundamentals of expenditure reporting with a particular emphasis on federal expenditures and helpful tips to prepare an accurate Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA). In addition, we will spend some time covering common findings over the preparation of the SEFA.

GFOAz Board Meeting

5:00 – 5:45 p.m. Ironwood Room

Reception

5:45 – 7:15 p.m. Terrace Level Foyer and Deck

Breakfast Buffet

8:00 - 8:50 a.m. Arizona Foyer

Economic Update

9:00 - 9:50 a.m. Grand Ballroom

1 CPE

Speaker: Dennis Hoffman, L. William Seidman Research Institute Director, Arizona State University W. P. Carey School of Business

This session will provide an update on the national economy and some perspective into Arizona-related economic topics.

Update on Changes to CFD Legislation

10:00 - 10:50 a.m. Grand Ballroom

1 CPE

Speakers: Michael Cafiso, Esq., Bond Counsel, Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Mark Reader, Managing Director, Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Inc.
Randie Stein, Consultant, Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Inc.

This session will provide an update of actions taken by the Arizona legislature during its last session including changes to the Community Facilities District (CFD) Act regarding district formation, governance and other new limitations; technical changes for issuance of general obligation bonds to address amortization of premium in certain cases and limitations on effects of bankruptcy of issuers; treatment of tax collection fund balances in connection with setting levies and more.

Legislative Update

11:00 - 11:50 a.m. Grand Ballroom

1 CPE

Speakers: Tom Belshe, Deputy Director, League of Arizona Cities and Towns
Craig Sullivan, Executive Director, County Supervisors Association

This panel will provide an update for members on a variety of timely legislative issues. Representatives from the League of Arizona Cities & Towns and County Supervisors Association will provide an overview of the 2017 legislative session, and explain the challenges and opportunities we currently face.

Conference Adjourns and Platinum Sponsor Exhibit Tear-Down

12:00 p.m.

CPE forms will be available at the registration table immediately following conference conclusion.