Conference of the County Investment Academy

June 27 - 29, 2022

(In-Person Only)

Moody Gardens Hotel
Seven Hope Blvd.
Galveston, TX 77554

For more information, contact Deanna Auert or Nino Miranda at (800) 456-5974.

Moody Gardens Hotel (SOLD OUT)
7 Hope Blvd.
Galveston, TX 77554
(409) 741-8484

Education Co-Sponsor: McCoy College of Business Administration at Texas State University

The Conference of the County Investment Academy brings together investment officers, economists and other experts to discuss the leading influences on the economy and trends in investing. This training is open to all county officials and staff members who want to learn more about county investment operations. The annual conference features roundtable discussions by portfolio size to meet your investing needs. Join us for 15 hours of discussions on timely public-funds investing topics.

Continuing Education/Prerequisites

The McCoy College of Business Administration at Texas State University is the education co-sponsor of the Conference of the County Investment Academy. There are no prerequisites to attend this program.

Fifteen hours of continuing education are approved for County Investment Academy members. CPAs, auditors, treasurers, clerks, commissioners and tax assessor-collectors may also earn credit toward mandatory continuing education requirements.

County Investment Academy

The County Investment Academy is a partnership between the Texas Association of Counties and the McCoy College of Business Administration at Texas State University to work together in the planning of education programs for county officials and employees.

  • Membership in the academy is acquired through completion of the Basics of County Investments Course or completion of a previous County Investment Officer (CIO) Level I course.
  • Fifteen academy hours per calendar year are required to maintain membership, with five outside hours and five carryover hours allowed per year.

Registration Fees

Registration Type Early Bird After June 2
County Official or Employee $225 $250
City, School or Special District $280 $305
Nongovernment $500 $500
     
1-Day Registration, Tuesday, June 28, Only $125 $125

Please make checks payable to Texas Association of Counties.

Sponsors and Vendors

For information on sponsorship opportunities, please click here or contact Deanna Auert.

Special Services

To ensure that our conference is ADA-accessible to all, please contact Deanna Auert or Nino Miranda at (800) 456-5974 if you need assistance.

Moody Gardens Hotel (SOLD OUT)
7 Hope Blvd.
Galveston, TX 77554
(409) 741-8484

The Moody Gardens Hotel is the host hotel. To receive the $179 single/double conference room rate, call (409) 683-1299 and ask for the “Texas Association of Counties” room block. Please reserve your hotel room before the group rate cutoff of June 2, after which availability and rates are no longer guaranteed. Or click here to reserve your room online.

Parking:
Self-parking: Complimentary
Valet parking: $22 per night

Overflow Hotel
Courtyard by Marriott & TownePlace Suites by Marriott Galveston Island
9550 Seawall Blvd & 9540 Seawall Blvd
Galveston, TX 77554

TownePlace Suites by Marriott $179 king beds room rate
Courtyard by Marriott $189 king beds room rate

Call (409) 497-2850 and ask for the "Texas Association of Counties" room block. Please reserve your hotel room before the group rate cutoff of May 20, after which availability and rates are no longer guaranteed. Or click here to reserve your room online.

  • Complimentary, daily hot breakfast (Towneplace)
  • Complimentary Parking
  • Complimentary High-Speed Internet Access

If you need to cancel your room or be added to the waitlist, please contact Deanna Auert or Nino Miranda.

Monday, June 27
5-6:30 p.m. Welcome Reception
Here's a great opportunity to network with fellow attendees over beverages and hors d'oeuvres.
Tuesday, June 28
11:40 a.m.-1 p.m. Recognition Luncheon
All conference attendees are invited to this special luncheon honoring those who have pursued excellence in investment education for five, 10, 15, and 20 years. Those who completed the Basics of County Investments Course in 2022 and are new members of TAC's County Investment Academy will also be recognized.
Monday, June 27
10 a.m.-5 p.m. Registration and Information Desk (Moody Ballroom Foyer)
Moody I Ballroom
1 p.m. Welcome
1:10-2 p.m.

Vendor Payment Fraud - A Timeline of Lessons Learned
After nearly losing $888,000 in a vendor payment fraud attempt in 2017, the Harris County Auditor's Office implemented a number of robust controls that, to date, have thwarted over $3 million in additional fraud attempts. This session will cover a timeline of events that have occurred since 2017, including lessons that continue to be learned about business email compromise (BEC) and the controls necessary to mitigate the financial and reputational risk that these types of fraud schemes present to local governmental entities.

Ms. Leslie Wilks Garcia, CPA, M.Jr., First Assistant County Auditor, Harris County

2-2:10 p.m. Break (Moody Ballroom Foyer)
2:10-3 p.m.

Tales from the Crypto
Since its introduction in 2009, Cryptocurrency is becoming increasingly mainstream and government entities are facing the realization that it will likely impact the way that they conduct business. This session will provide an overview of how governments are beginning to incorporate cryptocurrency into their business model, a quick tutorial on crypto-terminology, and why Texas is becoming known as "Bitcoin Country."

Mr. Tim Pinon, Consultant, Valley View Consulting, LLC

3-3:50 p.m.

The Economic Outlook for the Texas Economy
This session will offer a perspective on the current state of the Texas economy and the factors influencing future growth, including major policy issues. Mr.
Perryman will also summarize his projections for key economic indicators as well as the industries and geographic areas likely to lead the way.

Dr. Ray Perryman, President/CEO, The Perryman Group

3:50-4:10 p.m. Break (Moody Ballroom Foyer)
4:10-5 p.m.

Inflation: Practical Considerations and Prospects
Should we be planning for a continued elevated rate of inflation? Will the Fed's current monetary policy actions bring inflation into check?  In this session we examine these questions and look at current market measures of inflation expectations.

Dr. Holland Toles, Senior Lecturer, McCoy College of Business Administration, Texas State University

5-6:30 p.m. Welcome Reception (Viewfinders, 9th floor)
Here's a great opportunity to network with fellow attendees over beverages and hors d'oeuvres.
Tuesday, June 28
7:30-8 a.m. Coffee and Continental Breakfast (Moody Ballroom Foyer)
7:30 a.m.-3:50 p.m. Registration and Information Desk (Moody Ballroom Foyer)
8-8:50 a.m.

What to Do in a Rising Rate Environment
In a rising rate environment, it is critical to have an adaptive strategy as markets transform. Having a strategy, being nimble and positioning your portfolios appropriately will assist in successfully navigating this rising rate environment.

Mr. Wes Rager, CPA, Portfolio Manager, Invesco

8:50-9:40 a.m.

Cyber Security for Everyone
This session will explore practical skills for the non-technical user that you can take with you, to minimize the likelihood you will ever fall prey to a Cyber attack! We will also discuss real-world examples of recent incidents and exploits, as well as provide an open forum for your questions and comments about threats and how to avoid them.

Mr. Sean Trachtman, Cyber Security Analyst, Cochise County IT (Bisbee, Arizona)

9:40-10 a.m. Break (Moody Ballroom Foyer)
10-10:50 a.m.

Fed Fund Rates VS Local Government Investment Pool's (LGIP) Pool Rates
In this session there will be a review of all Texas Local Governmental Investment Pools (LGIP) and how they coincide with Fed Fund rates. Will review Govt Pools VS Prime Pools.

Mr. Tony Sekaly, Regional Director – Marketing, Texas CLASS

10:50-11:40 a.m.

Bond Financing — A Behind-the-Scenes Look
This session will provide a detailed overview of the roles that each service provider plays in connection with a typical bond financing. The session will also include an update of relevant new laws enacted during the 87th legislative session that relate to bond election and financings.

Mr. Derrick Mitchell, Partner, Holland & Knight LLP

11:40 a.m.-1 p.m. Recognition Luncheon (Moody II Ballroom)
All conference attendees are invited to this special luncheon honoring those who have pursued excellence in investment education for five, 10, 15, and 20 years. Those who completed the Basics of County Investments Course in 2022 and are new members of TAC's County Investment Academy will also be recognized.
1-1:50 p.m.

A Banking Deep Dive
Fees with the new rate environment, new and changing services and evaluating your choices is the focus of this session.

Ms. Linda Patterson, President, Meede4r Public Funds | Patterson Group

1:50-2:10 p.m. Break (Moody Ballroom Foyer)
2:10-3:50 p.m. Roundtable Discussions by Portfolio Size
Here's a great opportunity to discuss with your peers timely topics in county investments. Take advantage of this guided discussion to learn what other counties of similar portfolio size are doing and share your ideas.
  • Small Portfolio: Less than $25 million (Ivy Room)
  • Medium Portfolio: $26 to $99 million (Moody I Ballroom)
  • Large Portfolio: $100 million or more (Vine Room)
Wednesday, June 29
7:30-8 a.m. Coffee and Continental Breakfast (Moody Ballroom Foyer)
7:30-11:40 a.m. Registration and Information Desk (Moody Ballroom Foyer)
8-8:50 a.m.

Fixed Income: Economist Update and Opportunities
Join PNC as they discuss the current market conditions and the driving forces that impact Texas county investments.

Mr. Kurt Rankin, Vice President and Senior Economist, PNC Capital Markets LLC
Ms. Marlena Stevens, CTP, Liquidity Investments Group, PNC Capital Markets LLC

8:50-9:40 a.m.

Advanced Liquidity Management
This presentation will focus on how to obtain a clear picture of your liquidity needs, how to use data to communicate those needs to internal & external stakeholders, and how to meld cash flow management into liquidity management.

Mr. Garrett McDonald, CTP, FPAC, Senior Vice President, three+one
Mr. Mike Ablowich, Vice President, three+one

9:40-10 a.m. Break (Moody Ballroom Foyer)
10-10:50 a.m.

Economic Update
Hear the latest on the economy and what important events are on the horizon.

Dr. William Chittenden, CTP, Associate Professor of Finance, McCoy College of Business Administration, Texas State University

10:50-11:40 a.m.

Public Funds Investing: The Final Challenge
Come prepared to use your knowledge of public funds investing with this interactive quiz game. Bring your A-game to compete in multiple choice questions that are designed to test your knowledge on what was presented the last day and a half. Questions will also cover investment risks, controls and compliance with the Public Funds Investment Act. In addition to bragging rights, the top three winners will receive cool prizes.

Mr. Carlos A. Pereda Jr., Dimmit County Auditor
Mr. Jeff May, Denton County Auditor

11:40 a.m. Closing Remarks and Adjourn

*Agenda is subject to change

The McCoy College of Business Administration at Texas State University is the education co-sponsor of the 2022 Conference of the County Investment Academy.

Continuing Education Type Hours
CPA/Auditors 15
Treasurers 15
Commissioners 14.50
County and District Clerks 12:40
Tax Assessor-Collectors 15
County Investment Academy members 15

All cancellation and refund requests must be received in writing (fax or email acceptable). Refunds requested before June 1 are subject to a $10 processing fee. Refunds after June 1 will be subject to an administrative fee equal to one-half of the registration fee. No refund requests will be honored after July 15. Please email Nino Miranda at ninom@county.org or fax (512) 477-1324 to cancel your conference registration.

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