2025 GFOAT Fall Conference
November 19-21, 2025 • Embassy Suites, Denton
Agenda
Speakers and sessions are subject to change. All events are at Embassy Suites Denton unless otherwise noted.
Handouts will not be provided on site.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19 |
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| 9:00 a.m-2:00 p.m. | Bruce Testa Golf Tournament We’re excited to invite you to the Bruce Testa / GFOAT Semi-Annual Golf Tournament on Wednesday, November 19, at Wildhorse Golf Club, Robson Ranch (9448 Ed Robson Circle, Denton, TX 76207). The tournament will begin with an 8:00 a.m. shotgun start. Tournament Details:
To reserve your spot, contact Tony Sekaly at tony.sekaly@texasclass.com or call/text 713-502-8575. Please note: The tournament is limited to 48 players, so early registration is encouraged! |
| 12:00-6:00 p.m. | Registration |
| 1:00-3:30 p.m. | Committee Meetings |
| 1:00-5:00 p.m. | Turning It Up Without Blowing a Fuse – Using Internal Controls to Accomplish Maximum Results This four-hour pre-conference session covers both internal control theory and practice with an emphasis on those issues most relevant to Texas governments. Bob Scott, Assistant City Manager, City of Prosper |
| 3:30-5:00 p.m. | Moving from Fan to the Stage: Introduction to Being a Finance Rockstar! Tired of being a groupie? Come join the band! Welcome current students and new professionals to a career in local government finance. Blu Kostelich, GFOAT President, and GFOAT Board |
| 5:00-6:00 p.m. | GFOAT Welcome Social |
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20 |
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| 7:00-9:50 a.m. | Registration | |||
| 7:00-8:00 a.m. | Networking Breakfast | |||
| 8:00-9:30 a.m. | President’s Address – Blu Kostelich, GFOAT President Welcome Remarks – Dr. Robert Bland, Retired Executive Director Remarks – Martie Simpson, Executive Director, GFOAT Website Update – Nathan Manlove, President, The Ammo Group TML Update – Monty Wynn, Grassroots and Legislative Services Director, TML |
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| 9:30-9:50 a.m. | Coffee Break/Sponsor Networking | |||
| 9:50-10:40 a.m. Concurrent Sessions |
Another Brick in the Wall … Or Comfortably Numb? Economic Update The economy and markets are struggling to deal with a combination of slowing activity and rising inflation. We will review our current thoughts on the state of the US economy, the outlook for Inflation and the Fed, and what we think it means for the markets headed into 2026. Eric Kelly, Executive VP & Chief Investment Officer, UMB |
AI vs ERP Fraud: Leveraging AI to Detect and Prevent Financial Manipulation ERP systems are the backbone of financial operations in public sector organizations, managing everything from payroll to procurement. However, their central role and vast data access make them prime targets for fraud and cyberthreats. From vendor payment fraud to insider threats and privilege misuse, bad actors exploit weaknesses in ERP environments to siphon funds and manipulate data. Learn how AI is actively addressing these issues, hear real-world public sector examples, and discover how Tyler can help you combat fraud, vulnerabilities, and more. Sam Hamilton, Sales Manager Cybersecurity, Tyler Technologies |
Getting the Band Back Together – The Importance of Trust and Collaboration in Budgeting As budget professionals, sometimes it feels like involving departments can make our jobs harder instead of easier. However, earning the trust of departments during your budgeting process is key to getting a successful implementation of that budget once it’s been approved. This session will discuss GFOA’s Financial Foundations Framework for collaboration, methods to build collaboration during the budgeting process, and the benefits of budget collaboration across your whole local government. Sam Naik, Senior Consultant, GFOA |
Money in Motion – Unlocking the Power of Treasury Solutions Description coming soon! Michael Kerner, Managing Director, Texas Capital |
| 10:55-11:45 a.m. Concurrent Sessions |
GASB Update Description coming soon! Emily Paul, Senior Project Manager, GASB |
Rockin’ the Sales Tax Stage: Keeping Your Compliance in Tune Get ready to turn up the volume on your tax knowledge! This high-energy session breaks down the hottest sales tax issues hitting Texas finance pros today. We’ll jam through recent regulatory changes, forecasting riffs, and best practices to help you collect, analyze, and fine-tune your sales tax data — keeping your compliance performance chart-topping. Marlon Castillo, Data Analyst, Azavar |
Arbitrage Description coming soon! Brian Helming, Managing Director, Hilltop Securities |
Peeling Back the Curtain – Demystifying Credit Card Processing Costs for Municipalities In this session, attendees will gain a clear, insider’s understanding of how the payments industry works and how to ensure their organization is paying fair and appropriate rates. We’ll break down the often-confusing world of credit card processing, uncover hidden cost drivers, and share proven strategies for controlling expenses. We’ll also explore convenience fees and surcharging—what they are, how they work, and whether they could be a beneficial solution for your town. Attendees will leave with actionable insights to make informed, cost-effective decisions. Colin O’Keefe, Co-Founder, Merchant Cost Consulting |
| 12:00-12:50 p.m. | Delegate Luncheon Business Meeting TMRS Update – Anthony Mills, Senior Regional Manager, TMRS |
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| 1:15-2:05 p.m. Concurrent Sessions |
Gimmee Some Money – Expanded Revenue Options for Municipalities Municipalities today find themselves, like Spinal Tap, singing “Gimmee Some Money.” With continued limitations placed on their ability to generate revenue, municipalities must be creative in revenue generation and diligent in service execution. This session will explore the intersection between municipal service levels and the cost of providing municipal services, along with the impact of continued unfunded mandates. It will examine how municipalities are being creative as they seek to do more with less, and access previously untapped sources of funds. Finally, it will explore the implications, and potential advantages, of service level reduction, and how mobilizing community engagement may help cities strike the right chord. Chris Ekrut, CFO, NewGen Strategies & Solutions |
Best Practices for Modernizing Financial Reporting, ACFR, and Transparency ACFRs aren’t your grandparents’ oldies anymore. Learn about changing that radio dial to modernize your annual financials, including industry challenges, trends, and best practices. Dennis Maher, Solutions Advisor, ClearGov and Mary Beth Gunderson, Sr. Account Executive, Gravity |
Welcome to Here: Retirement Description coming soon! Keith Dagan, Happily Retired |
Legislative Legends: The Greatest Hits from the Session Get ready to jam through the top bills, regulations, and rulings that rocked this legislative session. We’ll break down what passed, what flopped, and how the new laws will impact your day-today operation – no filler tracks, just the hits. Bill Longley, General Counsel & Monty Wynn, Director – Grassroots & Legislative Services, TML | >
| 2:20-3:10 p.m. Concurrent Sessions |
Keeping the Beat when Harmony is Out of Sync – Federal Update Trouble picking out what’s music to your ears and what’s out of tune? We’ll have the national expert on hand to help you make sense of the jazz being played at the federal level. Emily Brock, Director of Federal Liaison Center, GFOA |
From Sheet Music to Statements: Mastering GASB 103’s New Score Join us for an insightful session exploring the key changes introduced by GASB Statement No. 103 and its implications for governmental financial reporting. This presentation will break down the statement’s core provisions, highlight how it affects your Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), and provide practical guidance on implementation strategies and deadlines. Attendees will gain a clear understanding of the changes, along with actionable steps to prepare for implementation. Whether you’re in finance, accounting, or operations, this session will equip you with the knowledge needed to navigate the evolving reporting landscape confidently. David Bullock, Partner, MGO |
Conducting the Band: Putting Together the Pieces of the Tax Rate Calculation Learn about the different pieces of the tax rate calculation so you can make beautiful music instead of chaotic noise. John Zagurski, CFO, Town of Flower Mound & Cayce Lay Lamas, Director of Finance, Town of Westlake |
Disaster Preparedness Description coming soon! Julie Behrens, Dalton, & TEDM |
| 3:10-3:45 p.m. | Refreshment Break/Sponsor Networking | |||
| 3:45-5:00 p.m. | The Power of Emotional Intelligence Emotional intelligence is the capacity to be aware, understand, and manage your emotions for the best possible outcome. It is essential for personal and professional success. Emotional intelligence is not simply about feelings or just being in a good mood. It is about behaviors and choices. It is about decisions. In this immersive and engaging session, Dr. Menefee will help you learn how to harness emotions and monitor their impact on the work environment and overall team performance. You will also learn to regulate stress and focus on building positive relationships that benefit you and your small city. Arturo Menefee, PhD, Leadership Empowerment Strategies, LLC |
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| 5:00-6:00 p.m. | Networking/Sponsor Reception | |||
| 6:00-9:00 p.m. | GFOAT Social | |||
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21 |
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| 7:00-8:00 a.m. | Networking Breakfast | |||
| 8:00-8:50 a.m. Concurrent Sessions |
Purchasing/Procurement Description coming soon! Glenn Mizell, Purchasing Manager, City of Grand Prairie |
Utility Revenue Loss Description coming soon! Chad Nobles, Sr. Account Executive, Ameresco, and Shane Sangalli Business Development Associate, Water Company of America |
Your Cyber Soundcheck: Cybersecurity Power Chords for Finance Leaders Cybersecurity isn’t just a technology issue. It’s about protecting public funds and city operations. This session will equip finance officers with practical, non-technical questions to guide oversight, validate readiness, and manage risk. Learn how to safeguard budgets, strengthen insurance positions, and ensure continuity of critical services against disruption. Ryan Burns, Cyber Risk Services Manager, Mike Bell, Senior Cybersecurity Advisory, and Scott Houston, Intergovernmental Relations Manager, TML Intergovernmental Risk Pool |
Title Coming Soon! Description coming soon! Speaking coming soon! |
| 9:00-9:55 a.m. Concurrent Sessions |
Municipal Mixtape: Blending Strategy with Finance Too often, finance is seen as background music—but in strategic planning, finance directors belong front and center. In this session, discover how Flower Mound has brought finance into the mix to harmonize long-term goals with financial reality, fine-tune decision-making with data, and ensure sustainability stays on tempo. Leave inspired to remix your own planning process, so finance and strategy play together like a well-made mix tape. JP Walton & Meg Jakubik, Town of Flower Mound |
Harvest Your Voice: Public Speaking Skills for the Season Description coming soon! Rachel Ormsby, Partner & Market Sector Leader, and Tyler Hoffman, Audit Manager, FORVIS MAZARS |
ERP Replacement: Planning, Staffing, and Budgeting for Success Replacing an ERP system is complex and impactful for an organization. This session will walk through the full lifecycle of ERP replacement—from defining requirements and issuing an RFP to evaluating vendors, conducting demonstrations, and contracting. Beyond the selection process, we’ll explore critical implementation considerations, including staffing your project team and what to account for when setting a budget. Michael Gomez, Senior Technology Advisor, Eide Bailly LLP |
Never Played Guitar: Charge Ahead Anyways! Technology plays an increasingly big part of local government finance departments. Learn about how internal controls can be implemented into your systems and line up with your general technology needs. Bob Scott, Deputy Town Manager, Town of Prosper |
| 9:55-10:15 a.m. | Coffee Break/Sponsor Networking | |||
| 10:15-11:00 a.m. | Mentoring President’s General Session Suzanne Castle, and Blu Kostelich, Assistant City Manager/CFO, City of Waco |
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| 11:00 – 11:45 a.m. | Under the Microscope Tour: HB 1851 and the New Audit Era Get ready for the spotlight! We’ll be doing a soundcheck on the new audit mandates to help you know how to stay compliant and avoid any off-key scrutiny. Bill Longley, General Counsel, TML, Keith Dagen, Retired, & Cayce Lay Lamas, Director of Finance, Town of Westlake |
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| 11:45 a.m. -12:00 p.m. | Closing Remarks GFOAT President Blu Kostelich, Assistant City Manager/CFO, City of Waco |
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