On behalf of the CSMFO’s leadership team, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to everyone who joined us for our Annual Conference, held February 24–27, 2026 in Palm Springs! Your participation, enthusiasm, and commitment made this year’s conference an incredible success.

We were thrilled to welcome 1,924 registered attendees, including more than 500 first-time participants. Seeing so many new faces alongside long-time members was a powerful reminder of the strength and continued growth of our community.

This year’s conference featured an outstanding lineup of featured speakers who inspired and challenged us to think differently. We are grateful to Melissa Stockwell, Michael Coleman along with Kyle Packman and Ben Triffo, and Dr. Christopher Thornberg for sharing their insights, experiences, and perspectives with our attendees. We also had many great pre-conference sessions and over 50 concurrent sessions. Thank you to each of the 140 unique speakers and moderators for providing wonderful topics and content to continue pushing our industry forward.

Beyond the educational sessions, the conference provided many opportunities to connect, celebrate, and have fun. Our pickleball tournament and golf outing were both highly successful and gave participants a great way to network while enjoying some friendly competition.

The week was filled with meaningful moments of the week including the Presidents Dinner, where we reflected on the extraordinary contributions of past leaders whose vision and dedication helped shape our association into what it is today. On Thursday we recognized our distinguished service award to a long-time contributor and volunteer to the association and two agencies were awarded the Innovation Award. We also had the wonderful privilege of honoring the individuals who give their time and energy through our Volunteer Recognition Event, celebrating the volunteers whose commitment drives so much of our success.

Thursday night’s Fund Fest was a highlight of the conference. With its vibrant Coachella-inspired theme, the evening featured light-up swings, food truck-style stations, a photo station, a DJ, yard games, and even karaoke. It was wonderful to see so many attendees enjoying the relaxed atmosphere and celebrating together.

Finally, we extend our heartfelt appreciation to our generous sponsors, whose support helped make this conference possible. Their partnership plays a vital role in allowing us to deliver meaningful programming and memorable experiences for our members. We had record numbers with 119 sponsors including 21 new sponsors.

Thank you again to everyone who attended, presented, volunteered, and supported this year’s Annual Conference. Your engagement and dedication continue to move our association forward, and we look forward to building on this momentum together in the year ahead.

With gratitude,

Stephen Parker
CSMFO President