"Economic Update"

Mr. Michael Ryan, CFA, Chief Fixed Income Strategist, UBS Financial Servicves, Inc. New York

In this session, we find out what is happening in the investment community. Learn about the current economic environment and its affect on business and investing.

"Build America Bonds"

Mr. Christopher Mier, Managing Director, Loop Capital Markets, Chicago

The Internal Revenue Service issued guidance on the new Build America Bond program. This program allows state and local governments to issue taxable bonds for capital projects and receive a new direct federal subsidy payment from the Treasury Department for a portion of their borrowing costs. This new program is intended to assist state and local governments in financing capital projects at lower borrowing costs and to stimulate the economy and create jobs. "These innovative bonds give state and local governments an important new tool to help finance public capital projects that will benefit communities in challenging times," said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman.

"Bond Issuance Process" - Panel

Mr. Robert Henderson, Managing Director, RBC Capital Markets, Houston

Mr. David Holland, Managing Director, Coastal Securities, Houston

Mr. Joe Morrow, Sr. Vice President, First Southwest Company, Houston

This panel discussion covers debt issuance, the process of issuing debt and current events in municipal bond markets.

"Monetary Policy-Understanding the Federal Reserve System"

Mr. Sanford Leeds, Senior Lecturer, McCombs School of Business, University of Texas, Austin

Examine the Federal Reserve System and how it has changed since the recent financial crisis.

Concurrent Sessions

Advanced Track - Greenway Ballroom I

Basic Track - Greenway Ballroom II

Basic Track: "How Do You Benchmark Your Portfolio"

Hon. Suzanne Kucera, CIO, Retired Matagordo County Treasurer

Are you reaching for excessive yield in today's low interest rate environment? Better check your benchmark!

Advanced Track: "Lockbox Services Increase Cash Flow"

Ms. Sheri Barnhart , Sr. Vice President & Chief Operations Officer, First National Bank of Lake Jackson

Hon. Ro'vin Garrett, Tax Assessor/Collector, Brazoria County

Do you have tax payments delivered by mail that sit in your office waiting to be processed? A lockbox process will enable payments to be processed more quickly providing faster collection of the funds. In addition, it reduces the number of payments that your employees must process in order that they can deal with problems and questions that taxpayers may have.

Basic Track: "Risk"

Hon. Vergie Moreland, Treasurer, Orange County

You can't eliminate risk in an investment portfolio but you can control it. Find out how.

Advanced Track: "Collateral -- What Do You Mean By That?"

Mrs. Martha Martin, Senior Vice President/Texas Public Sector, Frost Bank, Dallas

With all the headlines about "troubled assets", mark-to-market valuations of securities and bank bail-outs and closures, is your collateral providing you adequate "protection"? What types of collateral are available? Should you accept non-traditional types of collateral? What are the alternatives?

Basic Track: "Public Funds Investment Act Update"

Mr. Neil Thomas, Attorney at Law, Fulbright & Jaworski, L.L.P., Houston

Mrs. Heather De La Garza, Fulbright & Jaworski, L.L.P., Houston

A review of the Texas public funds investment act in a fun atmosphere.

Advanced Track: "Due Diligence, Disclosure, Compliance"

Hon. Vivian Wood, Treasurer, Williamson County

Due diligence, disclosure and compliance; are they new terms for investment officers? Media headlines over the past several months have been cause for concern for anyone investing public funds. The workshop provides definitions of the terms "due diligence, disclosure and compliance" as they apply to the investment of public funds. The session reviews how each term can be applied to your investment activity.

"The Texas Economic Outlook: Last In, Last Out"

Mr. Robert (Bill) Gilmer, Vice President in Charge, El Paso Branch, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas

This presentation provides an overview of the Texas Economy, focusing on the current business cycle. Key drivers for the Texas economy are examined, including energy, technology, and the recovery of the national economy. The outlook for selected key metro areas is briefly discussed, as well as the outlook for the state as a whole.

"Comparing Pools and Money Market Fund"

Mr. Jerry Landrum, Vice Presiden, TexPool Relations for Federated Investors

Mr. Landrum will share Federated's insights on public sector investment practices relative to the use of pooled vehicles, separate accounts, and registered funds. Federated frequently consults with public sector clients on optimizing investment results with these tools.

"Investing in the Current Economy"

Mr. Meredith Allen, Investment Strategies, Vining Sparks, IBG, Memphis

Hear a discussion of the current state of Fannie, Freddie and the FHLB system and what to expect in the future and the effects of recent Federal Reserve open market operations (quantitative easing). Learn about balancing risk and the reward in the portfolio given current yield levels and the high uncertainty surrounding future rates.