Chapter Roundup: Inland Empire Chapter Hosts Back-to-Back Events in Ontario, CA

Chapter Roundup: Inland Empire Chapter Hosts Back-to-Back Events in Ontario, CA

By: Heidi Schoeppe, President/Managing Director, Webb Municipal Finance, LLC 

The Inland Empire Chapter recently wrapped up an exciting back-to-back series of summer meetings, delivering powerful insights, engaging discussions, and plenty of networking — all within two months. With nearly sold-out attendance at both events, the Chapter once again proved its reputation for creating top-tier professional development experiences with a side of fun.

Event 1: Summer Meeting at Top Golf – July 10, 2025

The first event kicked off at Top Golf in Ontario, where 50 finance and technology professionals gathered from across the region. The sold-out event combined technical insights with networking and entertainment — a signature experience for the Inland Empire Chapter community. (Who says government finance can’t come with a side of golf swings and donuts?)

This year’s featured presentation, "The Journey From Legacy ERP to Cloud ERP: Tips, Traps & Lessons Learned," was delivered by James Harris, Senior Manager in Workday’s Strategy and Value Consulting Practice. Harris brought over 27 years of public sector finance and consulting expertise, offering attendees a grounded, system-agnostic view of ERP modernization — especially within agencies still dealing with outdated infrastructure.

Highlights included:
• Clarifying the differences between legacy ERP and cloud-based systems
• Walking through the cloud journey: pre-acquisition, implementation, and governance
• Hands-on group exercise on forming a steering committee
• Tips for building a compelling business case to win leadership support

Attendees earned 1 CPE credit in the technical category and walked away with real-world guidance they could apply within their own organizations.

And Then Came the Golf…

After the educational portion, attendees hit the bays for some light-hearted competition. With mystery swings, leaderboard banter, and summer-themed refreshments, the evening embodied the Chapter’s “Come for the learning, stay for the fun” philosophy.

The Chapter extends its thanks to Platinum Sponsors, The Pun Group and Cognizant, and Silver Sponsor RAMS, for making the event possible. Special kudos go to Event Organizer Tori Roberts and Chapter leaders Matthew Shenk, Sid Jain, Evelyn Morentin-Barcena, and Heidi Schoeppe for their exceptional planning and execution.

About a month later, the Inland Empire Chapter hosted its second consecutive event at Dave & Buster’s in Ontario, where finance professionals gathered for a deep-dive into California’s municipal bond market — and a delicious BBQ-themed lunch.
The session, led by Anna Sarabian and Tom Jacob, explored the 2025 performance of the municipal bond market, with a focus on national trends and how they’re playing out specifically in California.

Topics covered included:

• Recent issuance volumes and refunding activity
• Investor appetite amid fluctuating interest rates
• What’s expected for the remainder of 2025
• The surge in land-secured financing, including:
  • Number of CFD bonds issued
  • Types of funded projects
  • Regions showing the most growth

With a blend of charts, market color, and thoughtful insights, Sarabian and Jacob helped attendees demystify the current landscape and prepare for what’s ahead. The interactive discussion also brought a "crystal ball" view of potential policy shifts and economic signals.

Participants left with a full belly and a well-earned CPE credit, proving that top-notch education and networking don’t have to come at the cost of great food and atmosphere.    

Momentum and Community

These back-to-back events not only showcased the Inland Empire Chapter’s commitment to delivering high-impact content — they also reflected the strength of its professional community. With registration at or near capacity for both meetings, it’s clear there’s a growing appetite for relevant education and real connection in the public finance space.

Stay tuned for future Chapter meetings, where insights meet impact — and sometimes a golf club or game token, too.

Heidi Schoeppe is the President/Managing Director and Chief Compliance Officer for Webb Municipal Finance, LLC. She is a registered principal municipal advisor representative and a leader in the development of innovative solutions for the formation and administration of special financing districts for municipalities throughout California and Nevada.

Heidi has nearly 20 years of experience in providing full program management, administration, annexation, district auditing, constituent relations, and consulting services. Heidi has authored disclosure, debt, and land secured special financing district policies, staying in front of legislative updates to ensure her clients are receiving sound guidance.

Heidi currently serves as Vice Chair to the Communication Committee and as an Advisor to the CSMFO Professional Standards Committee. In addition, Heidi is a member of the Leadership Team for the Inland Empire Chapter of CSMFO.