AGENDA
C AC E 2 0 2 6 A N N UA L C O N F E R E N C E
UNDER THE DESERT SKIES O CTO B E R 2 1 - 2 3 , 2 0 2 6 | PA L M S P R I N G S , C A
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2026 10:00 a.m.
Registration
11:30 a.m.
Networking and Lunch with Colleagues – Sponsored by PARS
12:15 p.m.
Opening Remarks and Welcome CACE President Scott De Moss Welcome by Riverside County Supervisor Manuel Perez Comments from Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh
12:45 p.m.
Sponsor Introduction of Keynote Speaker – DLR Group
12:50 p.m.
Opening Keynote Wiring Your Brain for Performance Under Pressure Dan Dworkis, MD, PhD.
2:15 p.m.
Refreshment Break
2:45 p.m.
General Session Crisis Response Revisited: What We Did and What We Learned, and What We’d Do Differently Riverside County Staff and CEO/CAO Panel
3:45 p.m.
Refreshment Break – Sponsored by Schneider Electric
4:15 p.m.
Roundtables CEO/CAO: President Scott De Moss, Facilitator Assistant/Deputy CEO/CAOs: Andrew Sturmfels, Facilitator Brandi Hopkins and Erin Mettler, Breakout Leaders
5:30 p.m.
Hosted Reception – Loop Capital and Vanir Construction Management
www.calcountyexecs.com
Indicates "CACE Member Only" event.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2026 8:30 a.m.
Networking Breakfast – Sponsored by Baldwin Group
9:00 a.m.
Opening Comments – President Scott De Moss
9:15 a.m.
HBE Public Policy Update
10:00 a.m.
General Session H.R. 1 Strategy Session – Protecting the Safety Net Moving Forward Kelly Brooks-Lindsey, HBE, Facilitator
11:15 a.m.
Break – Sponsored by KNN Public Finance
11:45 a.m.
CSAC/RCRC Update Pat Blacklock, Executive Director, RCRC Chastity Benson, COO and Kimberly Rodriguez, Chief Legislative Advocate
12:30 p.m.
Lunch – Sponsored by STV Group Celebrating 2026 CSAC Institute Graduates
2:00 p.m.
General Session Executive Leadership Trends and Impacts Paul Danczyk, Ph.D., California Counties Foundation
3:00 p.m.
Break – Sponsored by Energy Systems Group
3:30 p.m.
CACE Forum Jeff Van Wagenen, Facilitator
5:00 p.m.
Adjourn
6:00 p.m.
Reception and CACE Annual Dinner Spencer’s Restaurant 701 W. Baristo Road Palm Springs Reception sponsored by SiteLogIQ Annual Dinner sponsored by CSAC Finance Corporation, Liberty Vote, and Enterprise Mobility
www.calcountyexecs.com
Indicates "CACE Member Only" event.
C AC E 2 0 2 6 A N N UA L C O N F E R E N C E
UNDER THE DESERT SKIES O CTO B E R 2 1 - 2 3 , 2 0 2 6 | PA L M S P R I N G S , C A
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2026 7:30 a.m.
Breakfast – Sponsored by Multnomah Group
8:00 a.m.
CACE Business Meeting
8:30 a.m.
Adjourn/Closing Remarks
Thank You to Our Sponsors!
www.calcountyexecs.com
Indicates "CACE Member Only" event.