Platinum Sponsor Set-Up

7:00 a.m. Arizona Foyer

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 Opens

8:00 a.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

11:00 a.m. - 12:30 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.

GASB Update

1:00 - 1:50 p.m. Grand Ballroom

1 CPE

Speakers: Jessica Andersen, CPA & Partner, Vavrinek, Trine, Day & Co.
Kinnaly Soukhaseum, CPA & Partner, Vavrinek, Trine, Day & Co.

This session will provide an update on the new GASB standards.

Refreshment Break & Network with Sponsors

2:00 - 2:30 p.m. Arizona Foyer

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

Me, We, and Glee, You Need All Three!

2:30 - 4:30 p.m. Grand Ballroom

2 CPEs

Speaker: Nick Arnette, Keynote Speaker

This fun and interactive session is all about how to have a great attitude, work as a team, and keep your sense of humor. It’ll make you better at your job! In this session, Nick will share: how to have a great attitude even when things are going wrong, how to be in charge of your thoughts, how not to let knuckleheads get to you, why happiness is overrated (and what’s even better), how to be a more effective communicator in the office, what teamwork really is, how to really know you’re working as a team, the importance of humor in your life, the health benefits of humor, examples of well-placed humor, and how humor will make you more productive.

Membership Committee Meeting

4:35 - 5:15 p.m Acacia

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

New Member Meet & Greet

5:00 – 5:30 p.m. Arizona Foyer & Deck

Join new and current GFOAz members in a 30-minute meet and greet with the GFOAz Membership Committee. We'd love to see you there!

Welcome and Sponsor Reception

5:30 - 7:00 p.m. Arizona Foyer & Deck

Continental Breakfast

7:30 – 8:00 a.m. Arizona Foyer

President’s Welcome, GFOA Update & Keynote Speaker

8:00 – 9:30 a.m. Grand Ballroom

1.5 CPEs

Speakers: Bonny Lynn, GFOAz President; CFO/Finance Director, Coconino County
Chris Morrill, CEO, Government Finance Officers Association

Humor Workshop
Speaker: Nick Arnette, Keynote Speaker

This one-hour interactive workshop is designed to give you some good ideas and examples of how to use humor appropriately and effectively. Here are some of the things you’ll learn:

Tax Reform: The New Reality for Municipal Bonds

9:40 – 10:30 a.m. Grand Ballroom

1 CPE

Speakers: Kurt Freund, Managing Director, RBC Capital Markets
Kathryn Pong, Vice President, Investment Banking, RBC Capital Markets

Tax-exempt municipal bonds were significantly impacted in an adverse way by passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in December 2017. Come learn from Arizona’s leading experts on municipal bonds regarding the impact of tax reform on State and local governments and what it means from an issuer’s standpoint. Strategies and best practices for governmental issuers in issuing municipal debt in light of tax reform, as well as possible future changes in federal law that may impact tax exemption and borrowing costs for State and local governments, will also be highlighted and addressed.

WIFA Mythbusters

10:40 a.m. – 12:20 p.m. Grand Ballroom

2 CPEs

Speakers: Howell Lindsay, Budget Coordinator, City of Peoria
Lily Quezada, Communications Director, WIFA
Angie Valenzuela, Senior Loan Officer, WIFA
Brian Wright, City of Eloy, Finance Director

Presentation will kick off with WIFA’s very own version of MYTHBUSTERS, which will review the most common misconceptions about WIFA and uncover the facts. This will be followed by two current WIFA borrowers who will provide an overview of their experience utilizing WIFA to finance their water infrastructure projects. They will share their stories, and provide tips and best practices for reporting requirements, further uncovering myths about WIFA.

Top Five Takeaways:

Lunch

12:20 – 12:50 p.m. Canyon Ballroom

Best Practices for Electronic Payment Reconciliation

1:00 – 1:50 p.m. Grand Ballroom

1 CPE

Moderators: Jeff Sundheimer, Relationship Executive, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
Dan Warren, Vice President-Relationship Manager, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

Speakers: Doug Airulla, Collections Product Specialist, JPMorgan Chase Bank
Clark Partridge, Controller, State of Arizona
Bill Patchett, Revenue Accounting Manager, Salt River Project
Joe Scalmato, Assistant Finance Director, City of Mesa
Tyler Sisneros, Treasury Management Officer, Wells Fargo Bank

During this session, we will discuss data flow, robotic process automation, and common types of incoming electronic payments (including utility, grants, and tax distributions). Discover best practices for effectively and cost-efficiently auto-reconciling incoming electronic payments and learn from the challenges and success stories of a governmental entity.

Development Impact Fees, Continued Challenges and Successes

2:00 – 2:50 p.m. Grand Ballroom

1 CPE

Speakers: Kevin Burnett, Senior Project Manager, Willdan Financial Services
Scott McCarty, Finance Director, Town of Queen Creek

It is now over three years since the implementation of the revised ARS §9-463.05 and many cities and towns are still facing challenges meeting the requirements of the statute for developing, implementing, monitoring, accounting, reporting and auditing impact fees. As a result of these challenges, many communities have not adopted development impact fees but there can be a successful outcome by collaboration involving citizens and the development community throughout the process. The speakers in this session will address some of these challenges communities face and where “focus groups” were used in a collaborated effort to work towards a successful outcome.

Refreshment Break & Network with Sponsors

2:50 – 3:10 p.m. Arizona Foyer

Perfecting the Presentation: Communicating via the CAFR, PAFR, and Web

3:15 – 4:45 p.m. Grand Ballroom

1.5 CPEs

Speakers: Lindsey Duncan, Finance Director, City of Avondale
Scott Huizenga, Budget Officer, Kansas City, MO
Bob Scott, Chief Financial Officer, Carrollton, TX

How transparent is your government? GFOA has long advocated for transparency in financial reporting. For governments, this means reporting to a variety of various stakeholders each with unique needs and interests. In this session, speakers will provide their lessons learned and experiences in communicating financial information through a comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR), popular annual financial report (PAFR), website dashboard, social media, or other tool. Speakers will also discuss how to engage stakeholders, be proactive with communication efforts, and the benefits to your government of doing so.

GFOAz Board Meeting

4:50 – 5:30 p.m. Aster Room

Reception

5:30 – 7:00 p.m. Terrace Foyer & Deck

Breakfast

8:00 – 8:50 a.m. Arizona Foyer

Economic Update

9:00 – 9:50 a.m. Grand Ballroom

1 CPE

Speaker: George Hammond, Director of Economic and Business Research Center, Eller College of Management, University of Arizona

This session will provide an update on current economic outlook nationally and in Arizona and some issues of particular interest regarding Arizona's current and near-term economic circumstances.

Performance Measures

10:00 – 10:50 a.m. Grand Ballroom

1 CPE

Speaker: Christian Williams, Executive Management Assistant, City of Goodyear

This session will look at ways to improve local government performance through collaborative data sharing and analysis.

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 of Arizona

Representatives from the League of Arizona Cities & Towns and County Supervisors Association will provide an overview of the 2018 legislative session, and explain the challenges and opportunities we currently face.

Conference Concludes & Platinum Sponsor Exhibit Tear Down

12:00 p.m.