CSMFO visits the Capital…for the 2025 GFOA Annual Conference!

CSMFO visits the Capital…for the 2025 GFOA Annual Conference!

By: Jennifer Becker, Communications Committee Chair

As the fiscal year came to a close, a contingent of CSMFO members left their year-end woes behind and traveled to our nation’s capital for the 2025 GFOA Annual Conference that took place on June 29-July 2 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. While the east coast summer storms caused many a flight delay, everyone eventually arrived ready to brave the DC heat and humidity and experience all that GFOA 2025 and Washington, DC had to offer.

At the close of the first full day of conference activity, attendees from the states of California, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska gathered for the first ever West Coast Alliance (WCA) reception. The event took place at the Lucha Rosa Rooftop Bar, just a few short blocks from the convention center at the Moxy Hotel. Members packed the bar to enjoy colorful margaritas and other creative cocktails, while others braved the steamy summer night to enjoy the view from the rooftop patio. Partygoers polished off trays of tacos and bowls of chips and guacamole while catching up with old colleagues and meeting new ones from up and down the west coast. Many thanks go out to CSMFO Executive Director Margaret Moggia and CSMFO President Jennifer Wakeman for organizing such a fantastic event! And, of course, the event would not be possible without our generous sponsors: Chandler Asset Management, ClientFirst, Eide Bailey, HdL, LSL, MGO, Piper Sandler, PTMA, Strada, Stifel, US Bank, and Workday.

It's safe to say that CSMFO was well represented at the conference, with dozens of members in attendance, ready to learn, network, and be inspired. But our members weren’t just receiving the education and inspiration – they were providing it! Despite the travel distance, Californian speakers were prevalent throughout the conference and presented sessions on a wide variety of topics, including the items shown below:

• Jason Al-Imam, City of Newport Beach – Information from the Real World: Understanding Public Priorities
  
  
• Lynne Chaimowitz, Pasadena Water & Power – Unknown Unknowns: How to Plan for New Risks
  
  
• Drew Corbett, DKG Consultants – Level Up: How to get your Budget Stakeholders to Stop Playing Games
  
  
• John Hess, Tulare County – Homemade Solutions: Working to Solve the Housing Crisis
  
  
• Dennis Kauffman, City of Roseville (2 sessions!) – From Errors to Excellence: Correcting Common ACFR Deficiencies, and Implementing Customer-Focused Treasury Technologies
  
  
• Chuck Maurer, City of Oakland – Target Practice: The Timeless Techniques of Revenue Forecasting
  
  
• Elizabeth Milwee, City of Santa Cruz – Good, Bad, and Ugly: The Debate with Using Cooperative Procurement Agreements
  
  
• Don Patterson, Las Virgenes Municipal Water District – If It’s Not Broke, Fix It: Proactive Asset Management
  
  
• Caroline Santos, Riverside County Auditor-Controller’s Office – Rise Together: Leadership Through Collaboration with GFOA’s WPFN
  
  
• Michelle Wilson, City of Long Beach – Essentials of a Modern Procurement Function

CSMFO also led the way when GFOA honored the recipients of the Recognition for Outstanding Public Service at their annual business meeting, with over twenty percent of the awardees hailing from California. This award honors individual GFOA members for their dedication to the profession, their colleagues, their organizations, and their communities. Congratulations to the following CSMFO members who exemplify public service by supporting others, leading organizations through both good times and challenges, and making a positive impact on those they serve.

• Ken Al-Imam, Chief Financial Officer, City of San Juan Capistrano, CA
  
  
• Tracy Bowman, Director of Finance, Orange County Employees Retirement System, CA
  
  
• Buffy Bullis, Administrative Services Director, City of Monrovia
  
  
• Anna Dowleski, Finance Officer – Payroll, City of Costa Mesa
  
  
• Dennis Kauffman, Assistant City Manager, City of Roseville
  
  
• Rosa Lara Rios, Director of Finance, City of Delano
  
  
• Pearl Lieu, Director of Finance, City of Alhambra
  
  
• Roberto Manchia, County Chief Financial Officer, County of San Mateo
  
  
• Becky Robertson, Finance Manager, City of West Sacramento
  
  
• Tommy Ryan, Procurement Analyst, City of Long Beach
  
  
• Maureen Singleton, Chief Operating Officer, San Francisco Public Library
  
  
• Kim Sitton, Finance Director, City of Corona

CSMFO is so proud of all these distinguished members who represented California at the 2025 GFOA Annual Conference!

Of course, any CSMFO member knows these events aren’t all work and no play – and no one makes a public finance conference more fun than we do! On Tuesday evening, attendees hopped on buses to The Wharf, a recently redeveloped waterfront neighborhood in DC. Guests arrived early to grab a drink or dine on fresh seafood at one of the many restaurant options or stroll the mile long walkway along the Potomac River while awaiting the main event – a private concert by heavy hitting rock band, Night Ranger, at the beautiful Anthem Theater! Those of us who were alive in 1983, when their famous power ballad, “Sister Christian” dominated the airwaves, rocked out in nostalgic fashion while the younger generation played along in amusement while enjoying the free drinks and finger foods. When the concert concluded, partygoers spilled out into the DC night looking for the next location to continue the fun. With body clocks still on Pacific time, the CSMFO crew arrived at Old Ebbitt Grill to take advantage of their late-night happy hour and enjoy a nightcap and some fresh oysters before calling it a night (or morning).

We hope CSMFO members return to GFOA next year as we trade seafood for deep dish pizza at the 120th Annual Conference in Chicago! It’s an event you won’t want to miss!

Jennifer Becker is the Financial Services Director for the City of Burbank and has been with the City for over two decades. She currently serves as Chair of the CSMFO Communications Committee and Vice Chair of the San Gabriel Valley CSMFO Chapter. She is also a member of GFOA and active participant in their “Rethinking Financial Reporting” working group. Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Southern California. She is an avid Trojan football fan, and on non-football weekends you can find her skiing in Mammoth or hiking around Southern California with her husband and daughter.