2025 CSMFO Conference Magazine by CSMFO Magazine

2025 Annual Conference Magazine

Jennifer Wakeman, President City of Lafayette

Director

Jason Al-Imam, Director City of Newport Beach

Ernie Reyna, Past-President City of Perris

Kyle Johnson, Director City of Glendora

Tim Seufert, Director NBS

Debbie Rosales, Director Las Virgenes Municipal Water District

Karla Romero, President-Elect Coachella Valley Water District

Amber Johnson, Director Central Contra Costa Transit Authority

Daniel Buffalo, Director City of Ukiah

Margaret Moggia Executive Director CSMFO

2025 COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE

Jennifer Becker, Chair

Heidi Schoeppe, Co-Vice Chair

Erika Gomez, Co-Vice Chair

Drew Corbett, Senior Advisor

Will Fuentes, Senior Advisor

Alberto Preciado, Board Liaison

Karla Romero, Member

Ernie Reyna, Member

James Russell Field, Member

Joan Michaels Aguilar, Member

Wing-See Fox, Member

Rich Lee, Member

Thomas Leung, Member

Neil Murthy, Member

Emily Heitman, CSMFO Staff

Editorial Design - Impact AMC

Alberto Preciado,

City of Citrus Heights

Photography by Tim Pryzbola

INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MESSAGE PRE-CONFERENCE SESSIONS

CONFERENCE

CAMP® is a registered trademark and the CAMP logos and designs are trademarks owned by the California Asset Management Trust (Trust). This information is for institutional investor use only, not for further distribution to retail investors, and does not represent an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any fund or other security. Investors should consider the Trust’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses before investing in the Trust. This and other information about the Trust is available in the Trust’s current Information Statement, which should be read carefully before investing. A copy of the Trust’s Information Statement may be obtained by calling 1-800-729-7665 or is available on the Trust’s website at www.camponline.com. While the Cash Reserve Portfolio seeks to maintain a stable net asset value of $1.00 per share and the CAMP Term Portfolio seeks to achieve a net asset value of $1.00 per share at the stated maturity, it is possible to lose money investing in the Trust. An investment in the Trust is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Shares of the Trust are distributed by U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc., member FINRA (www.finra.org) and SIPC (www.sipc.org). PFM Asset Management is a division of U.S. Bancorp Asset Management, Inc., which serves as administrator and investment adviser to the Trust. U.S. Bancorp Asset Management, Inc. is a direct subsidiary of U.S. Bank N.A. and an indirect subsidiary of U.S. Bancorp. U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc. is a subsidiary of U.S. Bancorp and affiliate of U.S. Bank N.A.

Specialized support for government entities

Wells Fargo is a proud sponsor of the CSMFO Annual Conference.

Wells Fargo Government Banking provides access to specialized products and services to address the distinctive needs of local and state governments, with a focus on building long-term relationships.

• Government Banking and Public Fund Deposits

• Municipal Credit & Direct Purchase Facilities

• Specialized Treasury Management Services

• Public Finance & Bond Underwriting

• Fixed Income Investing

Kristen Boudreau Trivison

Commercial Relationship Management

Government Banking

kristen.m.trivison@wellsfargo.com

Manager

President’s Message Educated. Connected. Empowered.

Jennifer

Wakeman, 2025 CSMFO President

What an incredible conference! It is so difficult to sum up the experience from my perspective, having spent eleven months working with dozens of leadership volunteers and staff to hammer out every detail. None of this could have happened without the dedicated efforts of the Host Committee, the Program Committee, Harriet Commons, and Meeting & Association Management Services (MAMS). Thank you to the following committee members who gave extra time and work for CSMFO to have a successful conference!

Host Committee: Craig Boyer, Sarah Brown, Will Fuentes, Amber Johnson, Nick Kurns, Andrew Leal, Pauline Marx, Neil Murthy, Lily Ng, Margaret O’Brien Biddle, Marcus Pimentel, Diana Ramos, Victor Shin, Susan Talwar, and Brandon Young

Program Committee: Stephen Parker (Chair), Grace Castaneda (Vice Chair), Karla Romero (Vice Chair), Dennis Kauffman (Board Liaison), Laura Nomura (Senior Advisor), Mary Bradley, Viki Copeland, Rich Lee, Margaret Moggia, Margaret O’Brien Biddle, and Karan Reid

Our Wednesday general session kickoff with the national anthem was not just an incredible vocal performance, but also a testament to the strength of our commercial member relationships, when Brianna Schultz of RAMS took the stage. Then, as we have done in the past, we recognized the changeover in board members and the president role.

A couple notes about the board members who rolled off the Board: Dennis Kauffman (North): I acknowledge my bias, as Dennis has been my mentor going on 4 years now, but he is one of the most selfless and thoughtful leaders that I have encountered in my career. He has created a relationship of such safety and trust that I am certain he has counseled me in far more areas of my life than he ever anticipated.

Stephanie Reimer (South): What I noticed consistently about Stephanie is her ability to pull discussions out of the weeds and address things at the 10,000-foot level in order to bring the item to resolution. She also has a talent for doing it in the gentlest of ways so that no one feels dismissed or unheard.

Kyle Johnson (South) and Alberto Preciado (North) made their debuts as Board members and rounded out this ambitious and fun group.

Then Featured Speaker Shabnam Mogharab showed audience how to harness the power of joy through The Joy Toolkit. I hope everyone is still reflecting on her themes today.

-What are you doing to express gratitude today?

-Do you know your why?

-Relationships matter - which are the key ones on which you depend?

-Friendships matter more - where are your friends?

-Every effort and every moment matters.

On Thursday, we heard about California’s financial situation and forecasts, in addition to information on legislation under discussion, from Michael Coleman, and his friends, Kyle Packham and Ben Triffo. It is always helpful to gain insight into what is going on in Sacramento, as well as behind the scenes.

This year’s 52 concurrent sessions in the large rooms of the San Jose Convention Center offered great opportunities for learning technical and leadership skills. Sessions spanned a variety of topic areas, including accounting & auditing, budgeting, financial reporting, information technology, and much more.

Thursday night’s conference event at the Tech Interactive was a hit, with a multitude of activities to please all attendees; from individual activities to physically engaging displays, to a massive dance party that lasted until closing.

Friday’s session concluded with an update from everyone’s favorite economist, Dr. Christopher Thornberg, who provided a thorough and rapid-fire presentation on social narratives and economic realities as they relate to the California economy.

As I shared, my time on stage was the source of most of my conference anxiety. Thanks to the support and encouragement of my peer network and many new friends that I made during conference week, I grew through that experience and look forward to approaching next year’s conference with a new level of confidence.

At the end of the week, I could not have hoped for better outcomes! Everyone who attended this year’s CSMFO Conference received valuable education from our excellent presenters and had plentiful opportunities to network with colleagues - growing the two most important resources for our profession. I hope that each of you returned to your respective agencies with the sense of empowerment to advance your goals with CSMFO as a solid partner beside you in your journey.

President-Elect’s Message

Karla Romero, President-Elect

As I step into my role as 2025 PresidentElect of CSMFO, I am filled with gratitude for the opportunity to give back to the organization that has profoundly shaped my career. My leadership term will focus on expanding our community of finance professionals, strengthening succession planning, and celebrating the diversity that makes our field stronger.

Every CSMFO Annual Conference brings a renewed sense of inspiration, camaraderie, and professional growth, and 2025 in San Jose provided attendees many exceptional opportunities to educate, connect, and empower. Whether through engaging training sessions, meaningful conversations over meals, or the laughter shared at networking events, each experience enhances our collective knowledge and strengthens our commitment to excellence in government finance.

During my term, I will prioritize expanding the leadership and volunteer team. Volunteers are the backbone of CSMFO, and bring in fresh perspectives and ideas which ensure our organization continues to evolve and meet the needs of our members. Whether you’re new to government finance or a seasoned professional, your voice matters, and I encourage you to get involved.

Additionally, I will focus on succession planning to support knowledge transfer and innovation within our profession. As financial requirements grow more complex, preparing the next generation of leaders is essential to maintaining the high standards that define CSMFO. Through mentorship, education, and leadership development, we will continue to build a strong foundation for the future.

Finally, I am committed to celebrating the diversity of CSMFO and the government agencies we serve. Embracing diverse perspectives leads to more effective and equitable public service, ensuring we meet the needs of all communities.

I look forward to an incredible year ahead and encourage everyone to mark their calendars for the 2026 CSMFO Annual Conference in Palm Springs from February 24-27, 2026. Let’s continue to come together to learn, evolve, and inspire the future of government finance!

Interim Executive Director Message

Margaret Moggia, Interim Executive Director

After 20 years as volunteer and conference goer, the 2025 CSMFO Annual Conference experience hit differently as CSMFO’s interim Executive Director. While the training is always important to me, this year’s experience was built on developing relationships.

The start of the new year can bring new things into one’s world, and this year brought together a new association management company, Impact Association, to CSMFO. The transition has brought in new ideas and new faces who are already committed to elevating the member experience. It was also a time to form new partnerships with our other support team, including Harriet Commons, our program coordinator, and Meeting and Association Management Services (MAMS), our events coordinator. It was seamless and incredible to observe what these individuals do to enhance the member experience, and I feel honored to work alongside them.

This year afforded me more time to connect with our vendors and sponsors. Our sponsors provide tremendous value through their time and resources that gives CSMFO a highquality conference experience. Over the last few years, the

presence of our vendor community has increased through the addition of their own standing committee and a commercial Board representative. I wanted to learn more about their value proposition on how to best meet their contributions both financially and professionally. CSMFO is fortunate to have devoted commercial partners, and the hope is that we can find the balance to engage our newest vendors with long time supporters at the conference and throughout the year.

An important part of CSMFO’s success is the strategic partnerships formed with our counterparts in the association space. Through frequent conversations, we are continuing to build out how we can support each association. Each association brings insight and perspective that enhances member engagement. The West Coast Alliance is currently comprised of five states (Alaska, California, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington) with the objective of increasing exposure to each other’s conferences and learn from their technical knowledge on the similarities and differences between how the states engage in local government. There has been a long tradition of the presidents attending each other’s conferences, and now the opportunity is expanded for all members.

We are also fortunate to have built partnerships with other state associations, including the California Municipal Treasurer Association (CMTA), California Special District Association (CSDA), and League of California Cities, and we look forward to building relationships with the counties too. These partnerships help build our capacity to engage on more diverse topics. While finance is the heart of what our members do, understanding the broader perspectives of local government and issues strengthens our ability to deliver to our communities.

Lastly, CSMFO is also fortunate to have built relationships at the national level and appreciate the dialogue with Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA). We are grateful to have so many of their key leaders participate in our conference sessions to expands our members’ knowledge on advocacy, accounting, and their Rethinking initiatives. These important conversations began before the conference with Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB) and GFOA to better articulate the local government perspective on the implementation of GASB pronouncements. I want to personally thank Chris Morrill (GFOA Executive Director),

Pre-Conference Sessions

Continue to Expand to Meet Demand

Drew Corbett, 2017 CSMFO President

Although the CSMFO annual conference in San Jose officially began on Wednesday, February 19th, nearly 250 finance professionals arrived early to attend the ever-popular pre-conference educational sessions. Pre-conference sessions have been a staple of the CSMFO conference for years, and the offerings have continued to expand as demand has increased. The 2025 conference featured five options -- up from the four sessions that had been available over the past few years.

This year’s pre-conference offerings featured sessions on public speaking, foundational responsibilities in a Finance Department, fundamentals of municipal taxation, fraud prevention, and artificial intelligence. The artificial intelligence session proved to be popular amongst the attendees, as it had the highest number of registrations this year. The session on foundational responsibilities in a Finance Department was perhaps the most ambitious, featuring six different speakers over the course of the day and covering accounting, budget, financial policies, and taxes. I took the opportunity to check in with several of the speakers from this session during the day, and they were all excited to be part of this initiative.

It’s worth noting that the session on foundational responsibilities was built from the ground-up for this conference, conceptualized by the Program Committee and ultimately becoming a successful pre-conference session that is likely to be offered again in the future. If you ever

wondered what goes into determining the content provided at the conference, the foundational responsibilities class is a good example. CSMFO’s vision is to be the preeminent resource for promoting excellence in government finance, and a significant part of promoting that excellence is the training and education programs offered. These programs are developed and offered based on feedback from CSMFO members and are often delivered by its robust group of volunteers that fuel the organization. We’re fortunate to have these volunteers who have developed a level of expertise in one or more areas of municipal finance and are willing to share that expertise with our membership, including during the pre-conference sessions.

As we look forward to next year’s conference in Palm Springs, I hope you will consider taking advantage of the amazing opportunity (and CPE credits) by arriving at the conference a day early and attending a pre-conference session. There will definitely be a session of interest to you, and I know that you won’t leave disappointed!

Volunteer of theYear Award

CSMFO Honors 2024 Volunteer of Year

James Russell-Field, Chair of the Recognition Committee

The CSMFO Volunteer of the Year Award recognizes outstanding volunteers for going above and beyond the call of duty for the benefit of the CSMFO members.

The CSMFO 2024 Volunteer of the Year Award is being awarded to Jennifer Ustation, Finance Director of the City of Beaumont. At the City of Beaumont, Jennifer manages all Finance Department activities including financial reporting, purchasing, investing, debt management, budgeting, revenue collection, and accounting. Her career has also included tenures at the City of Calimesa and the Moreno Valley Unified School District.

A proud alumna of California State University, San Bernardino, Jennifer earned her Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with a concentration in accounting. She is also a Certified Public Finance Officer (CPFO), a testament to her expertise and commitment to public finance.

Jennifer has dedicated a significant amount of time and effort to furthering CSMFO’s mission and resources. As the Chair of the Membership Committee, she has been instrumental in enhancing member engagement, refining program evaluations, and bolstering both the Mentorship and Cohort Programs. Notably, in addition to leading, Jennifer is a proactive participant. She was one of the first members to engage in CSMFO’s Cohort Program and has become a strong advocate for the benefits of participation.

Jennifer has a can-do attitude and is always willing to roll up her sleeves and pitch-in on behalf of CSMFO when the need arises. A fun fact about her is that she is one of four Jennifers in leadership to come up through the Cohort Program, including our very own President, Jennifer Wakeman, as well as Jennifer Fillinger (Career Development Committee) and Jennifer Becker (Communications Committee).

The award was kept a secret from Jennifer and presented as a surprise at the 2025 Annual Conference in San Jose. We are grateful for Jennifer’s outstanding leadership, unwavering dedication to CSMFO, and her incredible ability to energize and inspire our members to get involved!

Since 1972, Urban Futures, Inc. (UFI), has provided municipal advisory and financial consulting services to hundreds of California cities, special districts, redevelopment agencies, and school districts.

Cosumnes Community Services District Fire Station 77 Project Rendering

Cosumnes Community Services District Fire Station 77 Final Project Photo

Hackers Love Old Software—It’s as Secure as Old Tires. Is Your Agency Playing it Safe with Citizen Data?

Relying on outdated software is like driving on old, wornout tires—dangerous, unreliable, and bound to fail. For local government agencies, the stakes are even higher. Your citizens trust you to safeguard their sensitive information, but old software leaves you vulnerable to daily cyber threats.

Enter Springbrook’s Cirrus: Modern, MultiTenant SaaS Financial Cloud-Based ERP.

Springbrook’s Cirrus is designed specifically for local government agencies. Cirrus offers a secure, cloudbased ERP solution that shields your agency from the ever-growing threat of cyberattacks. With Cirrus, you benefit from state-of-the-art cybersecurity measures, continuous updates, and a dedicated team focused on keeping your data safe.

Enterprise Class Software for Local Government Agencies

Learn more about Cirrus here:

Featured Speaker Report

Insights on Leadership, Joy, and Economic Resilience

Thomas Leung, Communications Committee

This year’s CSMFO Conference featured three outstanding keynote speakers who left a lasting impact on attendees: Shabnam Mogharabi, a dynamic entrepreneur and media executive, Dr. Chris Thornberg, a leading economist and founder of Beacon Economics, and Michael Coleman, the principal fiscal policy advisor to CSMFO and the League of California Cities. Their thought-provoking presentations provided valuable insights into leadership, workplace culture, and economic trends affecting public finance professionals.

Shabnam Mogharabi: The Power of Joy and Retention in Leadership

Shabnam Mogharabi delivered one of the conference’s most engaging and inspiring talks. She emphasized the power of joy in the workplace and its direct impact on employee retention and productivity. When employees find joy in their work, they are more engaged, more productive, and more likely to stay with an organization—a crucial factor in preserving institutional knowledge.

Mogharabi encouraged leaders to align company values with workplace culture. She also spoke about the importance of hope in leadership, urging organizations to integrate it into their mission statements. A key takeaway from her session was her slogan, “Seed of Truth”, emphasizing authenticity and purpose in leadership.

Drawing from her Buddhist beliefs, she shared a thoughtprovoking quote: “Know the why, but why?”—a reminder to seek deeper purpose in both professional and personal life.

She also highlighted the power of gratitude, encouraging attendees to express appreciation not just in the workplace but also with family and friends. She left attendees with a profound reminder: “Comparison is the thief of joy.”

Michael Coleman & Friends

Michael Coleman and his colleagues from the League of California Cities and the California Special Districts Association delivered one of the most highly anticipated sessions of the conference, a perennial favorite among attendees. Year after year, finance professionals from cities, counties, and special districts eagerly look forward to this insightful update on California local revenues, legislation, important legal cases, financial conditions, and other pressing issues. The session once again lived up to its reputation, providing valuable discussions on the rules and trends in taxes, fees, and other city revenues, the state budget relationship, and prospects for reform.

The session concluded with the eagerly awaited Q&A segment, offering attendees the opportunity to delve deeper into the pressing fiscal issues facing California governments today. This engaging finale provided a fitting conclusion to an already insightful and dynamic discussion.

Dr. Chris Thornberg: Economic Trends Shaping Public Finance

Dr. Chris Thornberg captivated the audience with his candid and data-driven analysis of the economic landscape. As the founder of Beacon Economics, he provided a clear-eyed view of inflation, labor markets, and fiscal sustainability, helping attendees make sense of the challenges and opportunities ahead.

Thornberg addressed key issues affecting local governments, including interest rates, job markets, and long-term fiscal stability. He debunked common economic misconceptions, explaining how media narratives often distort economic realities. His analysis provided finance professionals with actionable insights to navigate economic uncertainty, ensuring their agencies remain financially resilient.

With his trademark wit and sharp analysis, Thornberg challenged conventional thinking and provided a refreshing perspective on economic trends. His session left attendees with a stronger understanding of financial planning in an unpredictable economy, urging finance professionals to rely on data, not headlines, when making financial decisions.

A Lasting Impact

All three speakers delivered impactful presentations, equipping attendees with valuable strategies for leadership, employee retention, and financial resilience.

2025 CSMFO President’s Dinner

The President’s Dinner Was a Hot Meso—In

the Best Way!

Wing-See Fox, Chair of the Commercial Partner Committee

This year, the President’s Dinner was co-hosted by current President Jennifer Wakeman and Past President Marcus Pimentel. Jennifer graciously invited Marcus to share in hosting the event since his 2021 CSMFO Conference (also slated for San José) was reimagined as a virtual conference. This meant a missed opportunity to break bread the night before the official kickoff of the conference at a local hot spot with esteemed VIPs. However, with two hosts bringing double the fun, we more than made up for this missed moment in 2025!

Jennifer and Marcus selected Meso Modern Mediterranean in Santana Row to celebrate past CSMFO Presidents for their commitment to leadership. After hopping off the shuttle and checking in, everyone was ready to partake in a drink during the cocktail hour. There was an impressive offering of non-alcoholic refreshers, including the Hibiscus Yuzu Spritz and Mediterranean Mint Lemonade, as well as dynamic cocktails, including the Aegean Sunset (with Aperol, bourbon, cranberry, cinnamon, citrus, and mint) and the Four Card Monte (with whiskey, brandy, Montenegro amaro, and coffee liqueur).

The Moroccan inspired décor and ambiance were as bright and sophisticated as our hosts. Tiles, tapestry, and glass arabesque chandeliers drew guests to an appetizer table

teeming with spinach and feta tarts, mini kabobs, and falafel bites—which were only a start to the starters! Hummus and spicy beet labneh spreads accompanied by pita (of the soft and crunchy varieties) were awaiting at each table, and a fresh Fattoush salad was served ahead of the entrees.

And the headliner dishes! They certainly lived up to Meso’s self-ascribed menu as a vibrant take on the flavors and ingredients of the Mediterranean. Highlights included the Lamb Shank “Tagine”—perfectly spiced, tender, fall-offthe-bone carnivore heaven on a bed of fluffy couscous; the Mediterranean Branzino “A La Plancha” accompanied by spicy zhoug that packed a zing and lemon garlic tzatziki; crispy Brussels Sprouts with a feta dip that were as irresistible as chips at a Super Bowl party; and well-seasoned oven roasted Harissa Potatoes. As we were dining, the aforementioned appetizer table was readorned with sweet, syrupy baklava and dainty chocolate date cake to top off the dining experience.

As indulgent as the meal and cocktails were, the conversations were even more tantalizing. It was a joyous occasion where we allowed ourselves to step away from the daily grind and get a little fancy. In fact, I was told so many times I cleaned up nicely that I began to really wonder how I look on the daily!

Jennifer and Marcus successfully cultivated lighthearted laughter and meaningful connection. They truly personify their “Educate, Connect, Empower” and “Together Toward Tomorrow” conference themes. The event was a hot Meso in the best possible way!

Financial Reporting Pain

Carpal tunnel syndrome from manual data entry

Exhaustion from working evenings and weekends

Headache from GASB 87/94/96

Hypertension due to SEFA

Closing package indigestion

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, call us for a Workiva Health Check.

Serving California Communities with Leadership in Capital Financing and Institutional Investing

Public Finance

Working with California communities that range from its largest cities and counties to school districts and small towns and nearly everything in between, Stifel’s municipal banking and underwriting groups are helping them raise the capital needed to build and maintain essential infrastructure and services.

Helping Build Communities

Fixed Income Investments*

Stifel knows that capturing income, while mitigating risk and securing regular cash flows, is critically important for municipalities. In providing access to fixed income investment products, our representatives are backed by seasoned financial strategists and advanced analytics.

More Resources for Your Portfolio

Expertise structuring and selling general infrastructure financings, water and sewer bonds, and development district credits

California-based underwriting, sales and trading teams, providing local knowledge of California communities

Private client network throughout California facilitating local interest in communities’ bonds

Vast market insight as the #1 underwriter of California negotiated issuances1

Investment advisory services available through Stifel Capital Management

Access to economists, market/financial strategists, and investment professionals to understand investment environment, assess appropriate securities, and construct portfolios that will perform across range of conditions

Liquidity provider offering a broad menu of investment grade fixed income products

Investment grade corporate research ranked #4 in U.S. by Institutional Investor2

#1 underwriter of GSE debentures, providing variety of structures at different maturities for investment opportunities3

*Fixed income broker-dealer services are provided by Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated. Member FINRA/SIPC.

Thursday Night Event

Jennifer Becker, Chair of the Communications Committee

More than 1600 public finance professionals descended upon downtown San Jose for the 2025 CSMFO Annual Conference at the San Jose Convention Center. Attendees were excited to network with their peers, expand their knowledge at one of the many informative sessions, stroll the exhibit hall for products and services that could improve their workplaces, and be inspired by excellent keynote speakers. But CSMFO members also know that the one of the most anticipated highlights of any annual conference is the Thursday night event. Our coworkers never believe us when we tell them how much fun a public finance party can be, but they don’t really need to know. We’re here on business, after all.

The event took place at the Tech Interactive Museum just a short stroll from the Convention Center. The Tech Interactive is a family-friendly science and technology center in the heart of downtown San Jose. Attendees entered the venue to the wafting smell of movie theater style popcorn, as rows of bags awaited those desiring a snack as they strolled through the museum’s many interesting and educational exhibits. Those who headed upstairs encountered the Body Worlds Decoded exhibit, where a world-famous collection of plastinated human bodies and anatomical specimens piqued their curiosity. Others lounged in the Dream Garden, an AI-powered immersive exhibit that transforms your ideas

and movements into a vibrant, surreal ecosystem. Back on the main floor, a variety of food stations awaited guests, with offerings spanning a wide range of cuisines from crab cakes to tacos to pasta. Event goers also had several opportunities to cash in their drink tickets, with friendly bartenders awaiting them in multiple locations throughout the venue.

But that’s not all, more food, more cocktails, and more exhibits awaited guests on the lower level, including the Pixel Playground, an interactive gallery featuring hands-on exhibits that blend technology with physical play, and a whole wing dedicated to space exploration. Attendees embarked on an exhilarating journey into the heart of environmental innovation at the Solve for Earth exhibit and navigated weightlessness like an astronaut as they explored a futuristic Martian habitat in the Space Exploration zone. But as is CSMFO tradition, the real action on the ground floor took place right in front of the DJ booth. Dozens of attendees danced the night away to an eclectic mix of upbeat tunes while onlookers watched over the railings from the floors above while they snacked on dessert and coffee. The lively event didn’t end until the last song was played, and the Tech Interactive staff ushered guests out of the building and into the cool San Jose night.

Those who kept the party going at a variety of downtown watering holes could have used a bit more sleep before the conference got back to business the next morning. But there’s no doubt we are already looking forward to a great event in Palm Springs in 2026!

Special thanks, as always, to Tim Pryzbola and Danny Jasper for his photos of the event.

Conference Scholarships,First-Time

Attendee & Student Recap

Steve Heide, 2020 CSMFO President

Some 476 first-timers were in attendance at the 2025 CSMFO San Jose conference. CSMFO President Jennifer Wakeman and the 2025 Conference Host Committee were intentional in their focus on students and other first-time conference attendees.

Each year CSMFO provides first-time attendee scholarships for the annual conference. In 2025, there were a total of 37 scholarships awarded for full complementary registrations to the conference. The recipients included 20 members from cities, 10 from special districts, three from counties, and four from school districts. The diversity in scholarship recipient member agencies is reflective of CSMFO’s broad range of government sector members. Scholarship recipients were paired with experienced volunteer CSMFO leaders as part of a conference mentorship initiative.

From the conference mentor support provided to scholarship recipients, to a conference breakout session geared toward first-timers at the conference, as well as a pre-event meet-up for first-timers attending the Thursday night Tech Interactive social gathering, there were a multitude of strategies implemented in an effort to positively engage first-time conference attendees.

“As a first-time attendee at the CSMFO conference, I found the experience both inspiring and invaluable. The sessions I attended not only helped me gain knowledge in my profession but also sparked a desire to further my professional growth. In particular, learning about the CSMFO Cohorts program encouraged me to sign up for the program! I’m excited to expand my network, continue learning alongside peers who share similar goals and challenges, and I’m already looking forward to next year’s CSMFO conference.” Vivian Pedroza, Accountant, Cucamonga Valley Water District.

Student attendee Peyton Ewing, from the Master’s University, added, “The conference was an eye-opening experience and a glance into the public finance world that allowed me to connect with so many new people. It also allowed me to realize that I could see myself working in public finance for years to come alongside many of the individuals I was able to meet.” Ewing is also an intern with the City of Ukiah.

Andrea Navarro, a first-time attendee working as a Principal Management Analyst with Butte County Administration also provided a testimonial regarding her conference experience. “Attending the CSMFO conference was an amazing experience where I not only gained valuable knowledge but also created great connections that will last for many years to come.”

Rayanne Lulay, Senior Accounting Assistant from the City of San Rafael shared her conference observations. “I had a blast at the CSMFO Conference in San Jose. To start, I was glad that we were assigned a mentor to help us know what to expect and be a go-to for anything. As a first-time attendee I was anxious that first morning but as I went through each session and walked around the exhibit hall to network with other attendees and vendors, I felt welcomed and excited for the rest of the week.

I appreciated the opportunities to connect with so many professionals and experts in finance; no matter the question someone was there. They offered great advice, tips, and just overall expertise. I enjoyed the class setup where we had functional classes or advanced classes to choose from, but my favorite classes were the ‘panel style’ or what I liked to call them the ‘Ted Talks.’ Being able to network and get to know other financial officers outside of the classroom environment was also a great way to make connections and give us an opportunity to ask different questions than what is normally asked in learning sessions. I am looking forward to next year’s conference!”

Scott Michael Meyer-Mina from the Fresno Irrigation District, and a panelist in the conference breakout session for firsttime attendees, remarked, “Someone actually reached out to me on LinkedIn and told me they were in the session and that I was able to make them feel much more comfortable partaking in the conference as a first-time attendee.”

Hopefully a good number of this year’s conference first-timers will be willing to pay it forward for the ‘newbies’ at next year’s annual conference in Palm Springs. Given that several we spoke to mentioned that they are already looking forward to next year’s conference, by all accounts, this year’s efforts to engage first-time conference attendees in a meaningful way were highly successful.

Since 1948, RAMS CPA has been a trusted partner to California cities and special districts, providing expert auditing, accounting, and consulting services. Our deep understanding of municipal ﬁnance helps you navigate evolving regulations, safeguard public funds, and strengthen ﬁnancial operations.

Specialized Services for Municipal Finance Professionals:

Financial Statement Audits

Internal Audit Services

Financial Statement Preparation

Accounting Support Services

Compliance Audits

Agreed-Upon Procedures

Year-End Close Assistance

Piper Sandler has helped state and local governments of all sizes with municipal bond financings for over 50 years.

We take the time to understand the specific needs of your community, form long-term partnerships and provide tailored solutions that meet your unique goals.

Our public finance bond underwriting and fixed income sales professionals have the resources and experience to help serve your community vision.

MEET THE TEAM

Reach out to the California public finance banking team and realize the power of partnership!

ralph.holmes@psc.com (415) 616-1720 Renee Vancho renee.vancho@psc.com (949) 494-6115

Conference Golf Tournament

Heidi Schoeppe, Vice Chair of the Communications Committee,

and Will Fuentes, Senior Advisor of the Communications Committee

The CSMFO 2025 Annual Conference Golf Tournament was held on Tuesday, February 18, 2025 – the day before the official conference kick-off – at the challenging, but beautiful Coyote Creek Golf Club in Morgan Hill, near San Jose. It was a picture-perfect, sunny day where participants were able to enjoy a round of golf, comradery, and a little friendly competition with their colleagues. Established in 1980,

Coyote Creek, recently voted as one of the top golf courses by Metro “The Best of The Silicon Valley″, has been rated 4 1/2 Stars by Golf Digest.

Coyote Creek is a two-time host to the PGA Champions Tour. Featuring two top-notch 18-hole golf courses designed by golf legend Jack Nicklaus, Coyote Creek is a golfer’s dream. These two golf courses offered tournament participants relaxing views of the rolling hills and sweeping meadows across the southern tip of the Silicon Valley.

Due to the generosity of our corporate sponsors, we were again able to buy out the course for the day which made for a faster pace of play and all-around relaxing time. We had

eighty participants starting the morning with breakfast burritos, coffee, and juice. Boxed lunches were provided on the course with plentiful drinks of all kinds, aka “swing juice.”

President Elect Jennifer Wakeman provided the opening remarks and thanked the corporate sponsors for their continued support of this favorite event. Plenty of sun and clear blue skies throughout the day led to some great scores being posted, with the winning foursome coming in at 11.

Despite plenty of best and worst play conversation in the background, Brandon Young from LSL, the tournament organizer, presented awards to the winners. The first-place team, with a score of 61, was Bobby Young, Ron Trimmer, Nick Nelson, and Craig Hill. Coming in second place with a score of 65, was the team of Terry Shea, Matt Schenk, Brent Mason, and Will Fuentes. The remaining prize winners are listed below:

Longest Drive (Men’s) Matt Schenk

Longest Drive (Women’s) Jennifer Ustation

Closest to the Pin (Hole #17)

Closets to the Pin (Hole #2)

Brandon Young

Greg Eansor

Most Accurate Drive (Hole #12) Ross McCarthy

The annual tournament is an amazing opportunity to network with peers in a relaxed environment outside of the office. Golfers’ experience ranged from first time players to dedicated hackers who have chased the dream for decades. It has been rumored that many first-time attendees were impressed by the comradery and friendly competition, and plan to participate again next year. If you are up for a relaxing and competitive day socializing with both public and private municipal finance professionals, we’ll see you in Palm Springs in 2026!

Lastly, this always fantastic tournament would not be possible without our sponsors, and we are grateful for their continued support. They provided a wonderful experience for our participants at this popular event. Please join us in thanking our sponsors below:

•HDL Companies

•PARS

•Springbrook

•LSL CPAs and Advisors

•NHA Advisors

•Eide Bailly CPA & Business Advisors

•FORVIS

•The Pun Group

•Webb Municipal Finance

•Empower

•Rogers, Anderson, Malody & Scott, LLP

Conference Pickleball

Pickleball Fun at the Sunnyvale Tennis Center

Rich Lee, 2023 CSMFO President

Before the official kickoff of the annual CSMFO conference, Lily Ng and her team at Bank of Montreal (BMO) hosted a fantastic pickleball mixer at the Sunnyvale Tennis Center. This friendly event brought together 44 CSMFO members for an afternoon of camaraderie, competition, and laughter.

The weather was picture-perfect, with moderate temperatures and clear skies providing an idyllic setting for the event. Participants were grouped into A, B, and C flights based on their skill levels, ensuring a fun and competitive environment for everyone. As a pickleball novice, I planned to join the C flight, but with the B flight short one player, I was “voluntold” (an official CSMFO term!) to step in. My sincere apologies go out to the B flight players who had to pair up with me!

The courts were alive with energy and humor, punctuated by spirited soundbites like “For the big bucks!”, “I stepped in the

kitchen,” and “My first ace…wait… it may be my last one!” These moments of joy and good-natured banter embodied the essence of the event—a blend of learning, laughter, and networking.

Participants had nothing but praise for the event:

•“It was a great event for networking in a very mellow and friendly way. The pickleball was fun and made for great stories and conversation once the conference started!”

•“Fun, fun, fun… learned a new sport with great coaching and an awesome group of CSMFO people from all over the state!”

•“This was really a fun and high-energy event. It was a great opportunity to socialize and network with agencies and vendors. It’s definitely better to sweat on the pickleball court than in the office over frustrating finance issues.”

•“This is my fifth year participating in the CSMFO pickleball mixer. This is a great event that provides an opportunity to connect with vendors and colleagues in a more casual setting. I enjoy re-connecting with people that return year after year as well as seeing new faces at this event. Huge thanks to Lily, BMO, and sponsors for making this an annual tradition at CSMFO.”

Congratulations to the champions, finalists, and inspirational players who stood out in their respective flights:

The pickleball event proved to be an excellent start to the conference, setting the tone for meaningful connections and conversations. It’s no surprise that this beloved tradition continues to be a highlight year after year.

Managing public funds requires specialized knowledge across a range of financial and compliance disciplines. Finding the right partner is key. For 79 years, HilltopSecurities has been that partner, providing governmental entities in California and across the nation with a fully integrated portfolio of municipal advisory, underwriting, cash management, and compliance services. Our legacy of success is built on service and delivering reliable results for our clients.

Out of State VIPs

Building Our Strategic Relationships

Margaret Moggia, Interim Executive Director

As we gathered California public finance professionals and commercial partners to learn and grow, a small group of leaders from the California Municipal Treasurers Association (CMTA), Government Finance Officers of America (GFOA), and our West Coast Alliance of state finance associations also came together to discuss our strategic partnerships. These leaders provide us a perspective of the issues facing their agencies and a diverse range of viewpoints as to how they engage their memberships at conferences and throughout the year. Each of these VIP guests were connected with one of CSMFO’s volunteer leaders to be a resource for navigating the conference and accompany them to conference events. In addition to inviting our guests to attend the conference sessions, CSMFO hosted a special dinner on Wednesday night which gave this group of distinguished leaders valuable time to connect.

This year’s list of VIP guests and CSMFO liaisons was as follows:

We also had the pleasure of hosting GFOA Executive Director Chris Morrill, Chair of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) and first time attendee Joel Black, and GASB Director of Research and Technical Activities Alan Skelton to engage in thought provoking discussions around the effectiveness of the rollout and implementation of GASB pronouncements.

The feedback from our VIPs is that CSMFO prepares a wellrun conference experience and welcoming environment for its guests. Our state representatives were really impressed with the sheer size of our conference, and this afforded them the opportunity to take notes (along with pictures and videos) of the things we did as an association that they felt could enhance their own conferences. One of the topics of discussions was the cross-promotion of conference dates on

our respective calendars so that members from any state can consider attending other states conferences for CPE credits or to just learn about current issues in those regions. It was also an opportunity to hear about how the various groups organize their leadership or how their individual states may run. Interesting fact from Washington representative Sandi Roberts – Washington uses a single chart of accounts that all municipalities must use.

For Jordan Nelson, our Alaska representative, the CSMFO conference provides an alternative option to the national GFOA conference, as traveling east of the Mississippi can be cost prohibitive. As an added bonus, traveling to California in February may be a welcome change from the long Alaska winters. On the other side, Californians may welcome attending their conference to experience the combination of snow, aurora borealis, and moose that are central to Alaska life.

CMTA representative, Nadia Feeser enjoyed the opportunity to see a large-scale conference and provided insight on how CSMFO and CMTA can better partner together especially on their shared key topics such as investments, treasury, and debt. Nadia extended an offer for CSMFO Members to attend their 2025 conference on April 23-25 in Monterey (visit cmta. org for more information). She also is active within her local CSMFO chapter and is fully aware of how to maximize the benefits between the two associations.

While our VIP guests certainly had a positive experience, our CSMFO liaisons also captured the excitement these partnerships can bring. Each pairing provided an opportunity to connect on a personal level and share their journeys in supporting their local government.

•Steve Heidi enjoyed the time to connect with Nadia from CMTA and appreciates their mutual understanding of the value of each association to our shared members. They discussed opportunities for both associations to pool resources to offer members a deeper dive into debt, treasury and investments.

•Nick Kurns and Jordan Nelson talked about how the water situations in California and Alaska may be quite different, but the budget process or financing process for capital improvement programs is quite similar. They both found all of the training to be extremely valuable.

•Being a CSMFO conference liaison to an out of state VIP guest is a privilege, and CSMFO President-Elect, Karla Romero noted that it was great to get to know the PresidentElect from GFOA, Lunda Asmani. Association leadership members take great pride in the organizations they serve and represent, which means we are a little competitive and inspired by one another. We all progress by sharing how our agencies work, are structured, and how we develop programming for our members.

These moments and connections are impactful and provide a common ground to learn and expand our knowledge of how local government issues are managed at each state and across the nation. It helps us understand the greater role we play in advocating for and engaging with our governing boards and learn how we can come together to dialogue on best practices in accounting, budgeting, financial reporting, debt/treasury, and other significant topics to public finance. CSMFO looks forward to maintaining these relationships and working with our association partners to find ways to become more effective in our delivery of service to our communities.

Thank you to our VIP guests for taking the time out of their busy schedules to attend our conference and to our liaisons for providing them with a warm CSMFO welcome.

PROVEN FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS TO ELEVATE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITIES

Envision a world where information flows securely across your organization. A world where you have access to real-time data. Your decisions are better informed. Your residents have access to services at their fingertips. And you’re all working together to empower your community. Tyler Technologies’ integrated financial ERP software and payment solutions were designed to connect and elevate your organization.

Learn more

The CSMFO Chapter Experience

Alberto Preciado, CSMFO Board Member

The 2025 CSMFO Conference in San Jose had over 1,600 registered attendees. With that many interesting people to talk to, it can be easy to miss seeing people from our own chapters at the conference. In recognition of the importance of the chapter connection, one of the CSMFO meals has typically been reserved for chapter members to meet and catch up. This year, that meal was the Friday breakfast.

Though many conference attendees had attended the wildly successful reception at the Tech Interactive Museum the previous evening, the early breakfast was buzzing with exciting conversations. Whether we were getting to know chapter members we had just met, catching up with colleagues from neighboring agencies, or discussing interesting conference sessions we had attended, one thing was certain: the energy level was high as we prepared to close out the conference in style. The time allotted seemed to be too little as our phones chimed with notifications from the conference app alerting us to the start of the first morning session.

As our breakfast came to a close, I recommended to the people at my table what I will recommend to you now, with a paragraph break for dramatic effect.

Keep the conference spirit going by attending your next chapter meeting!

While the conference can only come once a year (I’m sorry, but it’s true - I checked), our chapter meetings happen much

more frequently and feature some of the same high-quality speakers that you will find at the conference. As a bonus, they’re typically held at locations not too far from your agency! As a double-bonus, those fun people you talked to that Friday morning in San Jose are likely to be there too (double bonus means double exclamation points!!) Call them and ask them, they’ll tell you!

CSMFO’s dedicated Chapter Chairs and Vice-Chairs start planning these local events months in advance. In fact, during the conference, the chapter leadership met with Past-President Ernie Reyna, the Board of Directors, Interim Executive Director Margaret Moggia, and partners from CSMFO’s association management partner, Impact Association Management, on Thursday morning to discuss successes and challenges, coordinate meeting dates, and energize for the year ahead.

Friends, let me tell you, 2025 is going off! Your chapter leadership is thrilled for the events that they will be bringing to you this year. In fact, by the time you read this, five chapters will have already met, with the Desert Mountain, Channel Counties, San Gabriel Valley, Orange County, and North Coast chapters all hosting March meetings. April and May chapter meetings have already been scheduled, and you can find these meetings and register to attend via the CSMFO website (https://csmfo.org/events/event_list.asp).

I have one last recommendation for you. Don’t be afraid to get involved with your local CSMFO chapter. Yes, it is a gateway involvement, frequently leading to being asked to get involved in other ways at CSMFO and then to you saying, “yes.” However, if you have previously felt too intimidated to volunteer with CSMFO in other ways, this is a good baby step. Chapter Chairs are friendly and appreciate your help, whether you are checking people in at meetings, planning meals, suggesting speakers, or doing any of the other tasks that go into running a successful chapter meeting. Trust me, they will happily give you as much to do as you’re open to doing.

It was fantastic to see you all in San Jose to Educate, Connect, and Empower each other. I hope to see you soon at a chapter meeting before seeing you in Palm Springs in 2026!

Dan Buffalo, North Coast Chapter

Dave O’Toole, Sacramento Valley Chapter

Margaret O’Brien, SGV Chapter Chair

Sara Castro Central Valley Chapter

Will Fuentes, Peninsula Chapter

Tracy Cole, Monterey Bay Chapter

Margarita Moreno, South San Joaquin Chapter

Nicole Valentine, Central Coast Chapter

Debbie Rosales, Channel Counties Chapter

Rae Bowman, San Gabriel Valley Chapter

Monica Lo, Central Los Angeles Chapter

Jeff Muir, South Bay (L.A.) Chapter

Cristian Dominguez, Desert Mountain Chapter

Michelle Bannigan, Orange County Chapter

Tori Roberts, Inland Empire Chapter

Claudia Martinez, Coachella Valley Chapter

Mehrnoush Jamshidi, San Diego County Chapter

Margaret O’Brien, East Bay Chapter

Volunteer with CSMFO Keep the Connection Going

Gomez, Vice Chair of the Communications Committee

I was invited to attend “Empowerment 2025: Leveraging Your Conference Experience and your CSMFO Membership Benefits” as my first session of the 2025 conference. I have been a CSMFO member, conference attendee, and volunteer for a few years now, so I thought I had my bearings about what CSMFO has to offer. I had nothing to lose except a little shuteye (it was an Early Bird Session, after all), so I braved the dawn and learned that I still had much to learn.

The session was led by Vanessa Ramirez, Craig Boyer, and Scott Michael Meyer-Mina. Scott serves as the Vice Chair for the South San Joaquin Chapter of CSMFO, and his presentation focused on volunteer opportunities. Scott initially got involved with the Chapter when he was contacted by the Chapter Chair based on the recommendation of mutual connections. After understanding the requirements, Scott accepted the assignment, deciding that he would make it his hobby. Through his involvement with CSMFO, Scott not only occupies his free time doing something he enjoys, but he has also been fulfilled and encouraged by the connections he has made along the way. His resounding recommendation based on his experience? Just say YES!

There are three primary ways to volunteer with CSMFO: Committee Participation, Chapter Support, and Budget Review. CSMFO has ten standing committees spanning a wide array of interests. Do you enjoy writing? The Communications Committee is for you (shameless plug). Are you an accounting virtuoso? The Professional Standards

Committee could use your expertise. If event planning is more your style, consider supporting your local chapter. Chapter volunteers identify the date, location, topic, and speaker for their local chapter meetings. If you’re not sure if you’re ready to fully commit, you can provide support on a per-meeting basis. Finally, CSMFO receives approximately 120 budget award submissions annually. Volunteers receive one budget to review between the months of September through January to determine if it meets the criteria for recognition. Bonus: this is a great way to hone your expertise and garner ideas for submitting an award on behalf of your own agency.

If you are ready to take on a greater role and begin contributing to the strength of the government finance profession, I encourage you to volunteer for one of the many opportunities available. Scan the QR code for access to the Volunteer Interest Form and to view the Volunteer Opportunities Flyer.

In addition to volunteer opportunities, the session also covered training and networking opportunities, member-only resources such as the CSMFO Knowledge Base, and student benefits. Be sure to download the presentation from the conference app to find out more about these great ways to connect with CSMFO.

I hope that you will also consider saying “yes” to one of these exciting opportunities!

Erika

Conference Testimonials Impressions from CSMFO 2025

Jennifer Becker, Chair of the Communications Committee

The 2025 CSMFO Annual Conference most certainly fulfilled its mission of “Educate, Connect, Empower”, leaving a lasting impression on its 1,600 attendees, returned home from San Jose with practical knowledge, deeper connections, and renewed enthusiasm for the field of public finance. But you don’t need to take my word for it – read on for some inspiring testimonials from this year’s conference attendees.

“It was a pleasure to be surrounded by like-minded individuals and begin to build not only work relationships, but also lasting friendships. I was impressed by each presentation I attended and was extremely thankful to bring this newfound knowledge back to my organization and learn from such experienced finance professionals. I enjoyed seeing the professionalism and commitment CSMFO has to not only their members, but also to the many thousands of people their member agencies serve.” -Brian Egan, Accounting Specialist, City of Simi Valley and first-time attendee

“The three-part series on ERP Implementations was incredibly valuable. Breaking it into three sessions allowed for a deeper dive into the complexities of the topic, particularly in addressing change management. I walked away with practical takeaways and tools that will be instrumental as we begin our own ERP implementation journey.” -Carrie Matson, Deputy Finance Director, City of Thousand Oaks

“This year’s CSMFO Annual Conference couldn’t have come at a better time. As someone involved in a new ERP

implementation, it was incredible to gain valuable insights from professionals who have recently navigated the entire process. The presenters highlighted key considerations and potential challenges to be mindful of, from the initial vendor selection process to post go-live. The non-technical but equally important presentations from Shabnam Mogharabi’s, ‘The Power of Joy’ and Marcella Marlowe’s, ‘Wait… I Manage PEOPLE Now???’ provided new perspective on workplace soft skills to someone transitioning to the supervisory role. CSMFO is an excellent opportunity to connect with new and familiar faces while gaining knowledge from talented professionals in our field. I highly encourage everyone to attend.” -Emer Shum, Senior Accountant, City of Burbank and first-time attendee

“CSMFO is an incredible resource for all municipal finance professionals, whether you’re a current Director of Finance, strive for that position one day, or have since moved up to the CEO role at your organization. In my opinion, no other resource in California offers such a broad yet relevant array of resources regardless of whether you come from a city, county, special district, or are in the private sector supporting them. If you’re hesitating on attending, be like Nike and JUST DO IT! – you won’t regret it.” -T. Kevin Mizuno, CPA, Finance Manager, Central Contra Costa Sanitary District

CSMFO is grateful to these members for taking the time to share their impressions of this year’s conference. We hope it inspires you to share your own thoughts with your colleagues and make a plan for staff from your agencies to attend as you develop your training budgets for the upcoming fiscal year. I can assure you, CSMFO 2026 in Palm Springs is an event you won’t want to miss!

EMPOWER COLLABORATE SUCCEED

Gallery

Photo

Let’s Educate While We Connect

Margaret Moggia, Interim Executive Director

As we gathered in San Jose to Educate, Connect and Empower, a key component of the conference experience was the programming. With a diverse set of speakers and topics, CSMFO delivered on the conference theme. The threeday program was comprised of relevant concurrent sessions, mock interview opportunities, and even the ability to meet your CalPERS actuary.

The Conference Program Committee begins planning the next year’s conference just as the conference concludes. It starts with an evaluation of the sessions and attendee feedback to help guide the schedule, topics, and notable speakers. A call for sessions brings over 100 submissions that need to be reduced to fill the 52 time slots available. The Committee aims to select sessions that cover a wide range of topics, including accounting and auditing, financial planning, budget, debt & treasury, leadership, and technology.

This year’s sessions brought 149 speakers, including 71 individuals representing local governments, GFOA representatives, and GASB. They were complemented by experienced commercial members who support local governments and bring perspectives and solutions to the everyday challenges facing public sector finance professionals. Session attendance varied by topic, with the accounting sessions (including updates from GASB and GFOA) drawing a large audience eager to hear about the accounting impacts and challenges that we are facing every day to continue to meet the high standards of financial reporting. Technology was also a big focus, with a series of ERP sessions offered as well as session covering other topics such as AI and IT master plans. Other sessions covered stories from the front lines of agencies who are meeting the challenges in their communities with revenue measures or debt strategies. For those needing inspiration and guidance with leadership, there were shared experiences for mentoring, staff oversight, and building your communication skills for public settings.

This conference also brought a valuable experience for three individuals who participated in mock interviews and received feedback on how to shine when they are ready to explore new opportunities. Additional participants were invited to observe both the interviews and the feedback so that they too can benefit from this learning opportunity. These moments are critical to the success of members seeking to grow in their careers and to ready the next generation of public finance professionals in California and beyond.

Missed a session or need to revisit what you heard? You can access the session presentations from the conference app, and they are also available on the CSMFO website at https:// csmfo.org/page/conference-presentations

CSMFO Conference App

Keep the momentum alive year-round!

For over 30 years1, we have proudly served local California government investment needs. Our differentiated approach to fixed income and risk management seeks to deliver precise outcomes and customized solutions.

To find out more, please contact dave.witthohn@insightinvestment.com

1 Years referenced include time at a predecessor firm. © 2025 Insight Investment. All rights reserved. Insight North America LLC (INA) is a registered investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and regulated by the US Securities and Exchange Commission. INA is part of ‘Insight’ or ‘Insight Investment’, the corporate brand for certain asset management companies operated by Insight Investment Management Limited including, among others, Insight Investment Management (Global) Limited (IIMG) and Insight Investment International Limited (IIIL) and Insight Investment Management (Europe) Limited (IIMEL).

To learn more about J.P. Morgan, contact: Andrea Beard Commercial Banker 415-772-3205 andrea.h.beard@jpmorgan.com or visit: jpmorgan.com/industries-we-serve/public-sector/government

Need an A udit or A greed U pon P rocedure?

We a re the e xperts!

Have a vacant position or need a hand completing special project s?

Ask about our professional staffing serv ic es.

Not ready for the audit?

Ask how we can help you get there!

With 160+ years of combined public finance experience, NHA Advisors consistently ranks as one of the most active municipal advisors in California.

Exploring Connections and Solutions

Highlights from the CSMFO Exhibit Hall

Neil Murthy, Communications Committee Member

Conference attendees braved the hard concrete exhibit hall floors in search of practical solutions to government finance challenges and numerous swag items.

The CSMFO member booth, a feature of the exhibit hall, welcomed members and served as a resource to enhance CSMFO members’ experience and access to subject matter experience.

A short walk provided attendees with access to coffee, giving them the social energy needed to navigate the 1,600 attendees at this year’s conference. Friends and colleagues could sit in the lounge or roundtable to discuss their families, a recent vacation, or issues at their agencies.

The exhibit hall at CSMFO’s annual conference has been a great opportunity for municipal members to get a question

answered, connect with commercial partners, and learn more about new products and services to support their agencies. Over 90 exhibitors assembled their booths with marketing flyers, giveaway items, and came prepared to greet attendees. CSMFO’s sponsored exhibit hall game afforded the opportunity for commercial partners to make new connections and for the municipal members to get a shot at great prizes. Several exhibitors got creative with stuffed lions, basketball hoops, and putting games.

Now that the booths have been taken down, raffle prizes given away and the swag items made it to their final homes, it was clear the exhibit hall in San Jose was a great success. Looking forward to another successful conference in Palm Springs!

BECOME A MEMBER!

CSMFO is California’s premier statewide association for finance professionals.

Over two thousand members strong, we promote excellence in financial management through innovation, continuing education and the professional development of our members. CSMFO members are deeply involved in the key issues facing cities, special districts and counties today. We value honesty and integrity, and strive to adhere to the highest ethical standards.

Embark on a journey of professional growth and collaboration by becoming a part of CSMFO’s vibrant community.