GFOAT Fall 2025 Conference

GFOAT > Calendar > GFOAT Fall 2025 Conference

ABOUT THE CONFERENCE

Join your GFOAT bandmates at the Fall 2025 Conference in Denton! It’ll be a Financeapalooza of networking, sessions, sponsor meetings, and plenty more.

Conference Scholarships
Two scholarships are awarded annually for each Spring Institute and the Fall Conference. The Scholarships are for current governmental employees in the financial area who intend to continue to progress professionally in the field of government finance. If you are not currently a member of the GFOAT and receive a scholarship, the Scholarship/Fellowship Committee will also provide a one-year membership to GFOAT. GFOAT pays the conference registration fee, lodging, and travel expenses. Applications must be submitted to scholarship@gfoat.org.

Continuing Education Credit
All sessions do not require prerequisites.

- CPE/CEU Credit: You will earn a maximum of 15 hours of CPE/CEU credit by attending a GFOAT Preconference and the entire Fall Conference. GFOAT is a sponsor of continuing professional education with the Texas State Boards of Public Accountancy (TSBPA). State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit.
- CGFO Credit: You will earn a maximum of 15 hours of credit by attending the entire Fall Conference. GFOAT has final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CGFO credit.

Conference App
Be sure to download the conference mobile app ahead of time. On the mobile app, you can view the schedule, make a personalized schedule, look up attendees and sponsors. Printed programs will not be available. An email will be sent to registrants before the conference with information on how to download the app.

Handouts
All available handouts will be posted here.

Meeting Accommodations/Dietary Restrictions
Meeting accommodations requests such as dietary restrictions must be submitted to Lavern Gaines by October 27.

Attire
The conference attire is CASUAL so please plan for comfort. Be sure to bring a sweater or jacket to the sessions, in the event the meeting rooms are cold.

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:

Entry Fee: $75 per player
4 Par 3 Contests
Long Drive Contest (Men’s and Women’s divisions)
Bubba Drive and Tiger Drive on Par 5 (second shot from 100 yards) – $20 per team
Par is Your Friend (no mulligans)

Registration:
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!

Dates

November 19 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
November 20 7:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. (7:00 a.m. Breakfast)
November 21 7:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. (7:00 a.m. Breakfast)

Location

Embassy Suites by Hilton Denton Convention Center
3100 Town Center Trail
Denton, TX 76201

Registration Cost

Registration is limited to 80 registrants. Remember, there will be no waiting list.

BY OCTOBER 27

Members: $550

Non-Members: $675
AFTER OCTOBER 27

Members: $675

Non-Members: $675

Online registrations only will be limited to the first 80 registrants, and we will not maintain a waiting list.

Cancellation

Cancellation & Substitute Policy: If you are registered and cannot attend, we encourage you to send a substitute. If you cannot send a substitute, a $100 cancellation fee will be assessed if written cancellation is received by October 27. No refunds will be honored after October 27. Contact lavern@tml.org for assistance.

Speakers

Blu Kostelich, MBA
President, GFOAT

Chief Financial Officer and Assistant City Manager, City of Waco

Blu received his Bachelor’s Degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point and his Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Southern Methodist University.

Blu brings over 15 years of service and experience in both finance and operations roles, with 6 of those years in public sector finance for Bridgeport, Texas and Lubbock, Texas. In Lubbock, Blu also serves as a Board Member for the Lubbock Fire Pension Fund and as the Co-Chair of the Governmental Affairs Committee for GFOAT. Prior to transitioning to the public sector, Blu held roles in the private sector as a Manufacturing Plant Operations Manager for TAMKO Building Products and a Senior Financial Analyst for Lennox International.

Blu spent the first five years of his post-graduate career as an Armor and Calvary Officer in the United States Army, including a thirteen month deployment to Baghdad from 2008-2009. Throughout his service, Blu was awarded the Bronze Star and two Army Commendation Medals. Blu also received his Air Assault Badge and the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge.

Outside of work, Blu enjoys spending time with his wife, Callie, and his daughter Juliana.

Martie Simpson
Executive Director, GFOAT

Martie Simpson is the Executive Director for the Government Finance Officers Association of Texas. She started her municipal finance career with the City of Killeen in 1997 and finished her career with the city in 2014 as the executive director of finance. Martie served as the finance director for the City of New Braunfels from 2014 to 2018. Martie is a Certified Public Accountant with a degree from Baylor University and is a past president for GFOAT.

Nathan Manlove
Hunky Marketing Guy

A Vernon, Texas native, he studied Advertising Design at Oklahoma Christian University and began his career in advertising before moving to Austin—and later San Antonio—to work in marketing. After being laid off in 2001 (the day before his wedding to Tammy), Nathan launched a freelance business called AMMOadvertising, which has since grown into AMMO, a thriving agency with a talented team and its own office in New Braunfels.

Nathan credits his success to God’s grace and the support of Tammy and their son, Hudson. He serves on several community boards and committees, including the New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce, and is active in Rotary. His family attends the New Braunfels Church of Christ.

When he’s not at AMMO, Nathan enjoys family time, tennis, reading, road trips, Disney+, and tinkering with his stubborn 1958 Chevy Apache.