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SUMMIT SPRING

TECH SAVV Y, HR WI SE & FI SCALLY READY

AGENDA AT A GLANCE

DAY 1 – MONDAY, MAY 19, 2025

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM

Sponsor/Exhibitor Set Up

9:00 AM – 9:45 AM

Registration & Light Breakfast

9:45 AM – 10:00 AM

Welcome & Opening Remarks

– Puneet Behl, Finance Chair

– Nicole Montalvo, Technology Chair

10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Opening Keynote: AI Possibilities in Pooling

– Ann Gergen, AGRIP

11:00 AM – 11:30 AM

Networking Break

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM

A Deeper Dive into financial and Actuarial Requirements in CAJPA Accreditation

– Jim Marta, James Marta & Co

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM

Lunch

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM

Benchmarking 2.0 - the Metrics Risk Pools Should Be Using

– Dan Steele, ACWA JPIA

– Puneet Behl, PRISM

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM

The Future of AI in Risk Pools: Strategy, Partnerships, and Beyond

– Feras S. Gharfeh, FPOV

2:30 PM– 3:00 PM

Networking Break

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Understanding Loss Trends & Risk Financing Alternatives

– Mike Harrington, Bickmore Actuarial

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Budget Friendly Resources Roundtable

– Speakers TBD

4:00 PM – 5:30 PM

Networking Reception

DAY 2 – TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2025

8:00 AM – 8:30 AM

Registration & Full Breakfast

8:30 AM – 9:30 AM

Navigating the Many Types of Risk in Investment Portfolios

– Carlos Oblites, Chandler Asset Management

– Kara Hooks, Chandler Asset Management

– Dan Byrnes, AAM

– Mallory Sampson, PFM

8:30 AM – 9:30 AM

AI Dos and Don’ts: Best Practices and Pitfalls to Avoid

– Martin Ronquillo, ASCIP

9:30 AM – 9:45 AM

Networking Break

9:45 AM – 10:45 AM

Financial Closing Roundtable

– Ritesh Sharma, James Marta & Co

– Min Su, Sedgwick

– Alana Theiss, PRISM

9:45 AM – 10:45 AM

ADA Compliance Regulations & Impacts

– John Northup, WebAIM

10:45 AM – 11:00 AM

Networking Break

11:00 AM – 12:30 PM

AI Presentation Panel

– Erik Kowalewski, ACWA JPIA

12:30 PM – 1:15 PM

Lunch

1:15 PM

Sponsor/Exhibitor Break Down

1:15 PM – 2:15 PM

Communication Tools for Productivity

– Karen Antunes, NBSIA

– Sam Adams, GSRMA

2:15 PM – 3:15 PM

Employee Engagement and How it Relates to Organizational Culture

– Karen Antunes, NBSIA

3:15 PM – 3:30 PM

Closing Remarks

– Puneet Behl, Finance Chair

– Nicole Montalvo, Technology Chair

FULL CONFERENCE AGENDA

DAY 1 – MONDAY, MAY 19

9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Registration Hours

9:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.

Light Breakfast

GENERAL SESSIONS

9:45 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Welcome and Opening Remarks

Puneet Behl, Finance Committee Chair, PRISM

Nicole Montalvo, Technology Committee Chair, PRISM

10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

AI Possibilities in Pooling

Ann Gergen, Executive Director, AGRiP

As AI continues to expand its reach, there are endless possibilities in pooling! Attend this session to learn how AI is already having an impact, where it’s expected to grow within pooling, and what your pool can do now to prepare for its AI enabled future.

11:00 a.m.– 11:30 a.m.

Networking Break

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

A Deeper Dive into financial and Actuarial Requirements in CAJPA Accreditation

Jim Marta, Managing Partner, James Marta & Company

Understanding the standards

How to meet the standards What is the value of these requirements

• Finance

• Financial Reporting

• Sufficiency of capital

• Reporting of trends

• Understanding rate setting vs funded confidence levels

• Benchmarking worksheet

12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Lunch

CONCURRENT SESSIONS

8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Navigating the Many Types of Risk in Investment Portfolios

Carlos Oblites, Senior Portfolio Strategist, Chandler Asset Management

Mallory Sampson, PFM Asset Management

Kara Hooks, CTP, Portfolio Strategist, Chandler Asset Management

Dan Byrnes, CFA, President, AAM

This panel discussion will examine the different risks pools have faced in the past, managed in the present, and planned for in the future. Looking back over the last 50 years, we will examine the best and worst calendar years for pools and how they may have navigated their ways through them. Ww will discuss the risks of today that may add more pressure to the liquidity and return objectives of portfolios as we are seeing more geopolitical risk as well as risk related to what different pools may cover. In order to prepare for additional risk, we will discuss how pools are now exploring the use of captives for a portion of their investment portfolios. Captives have systemic and un-systemic risks that we will segment into those that can and cannot be diversified away.

8:30 a.m.– 9:30 a.m.

AI Dos and Don’ts: Best Practices and Pitfalls to Avoid Martin Ronquillo, Director of Cyber Risk, ASCIP

In this session, we’ll explore the key dos and don’ts of AI implementation, helping organizations navigate ethical considerations, compliance, and best practices. Attendees will gain insights into leveraging AI responsibly, avoiding common pitfalls, and ensuring transparency, security, and fairness in AI-driven decisionmaking. Whether you’re integrating AI into risk management, operations, or customer service, this session will provide practical guidelines to maximize benefits while mitigating risks.

9:30 a.m.– 9:45 a.m.

Networking Break

9:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

Financial Closing Roundtable

Ritesh Sharma, Accounting Manager, James Marta & Company LLP

Min Su, Finance Director, Sedgwick

Alana Thiess, Director of Financial Operations, PRISM

Drawing on their combined 50-plus years of experience, the speakers will discuss best practices and potential pitfalls in closing and financial reporting for public entity risk pools.

9:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

ADA Compliance Regulations & Impacts

John Northup, Director of Evaluations, WebAIM

An overview of accessibility laws, principles, guidelines, and techniques in the context of last year’s ruling from the Department of Justice.

10:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Networking Break

GENERAL SESSIONS

11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

AI Presentation Panel

Erik Kowalewski, IT Manager, ACWA JPIA

Additional Speakers TBD

Session Description Coming Soon

12:30 p.m.– 1:15 p.m.

Lunch

SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES

Sam Adams, IT Manager, GSRMA

While Sam’s formal education is in Computer Engineering, he has worked in the pooling industry for 6 years, currently as the IT Manager for GSRMA and NCSDIA pools. Sam also serves as the vice chair on the Technology Committee for the California Association of Joint Powers Authorities (CAJPA).

Karen Antunes

Karen Antunes is the Human Resources/Operations Manager at North Bay Schools Insurance Authority (NBSIA). She has over 25 years of human resources experience in the private and public sectors. Karen’s experience includes benefits, payroll, employee relations, training and development, and recruitment. Karen graduated from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo with a B.A. in Business Administration Management and holds her HR certificate through the HR Certification Institute.

Puneet Behl, CFO, PRISM

Puneet is a senior finance executive with 24 years of multinational experience across various business sectors, with a focus in insurance and risk management. Prior to joining CSACEIA, she worked with Bickmore for fourteen years with heavy focus on operations and finances of California Joint Powers Agencies. Ms. Behl, a masters in accounting and finance, CPA and an ARM, is an expert in financial analysis and reporting for government entities, internal controls review, risk assessment, GAAP & GASB compliance, policy development and business process reengineering.

Dan Byrnes, CFA, President, AAM

Dan is a Principal and President at AAM with 22 years of investment experience. Dan is responsible for constructing portfolios based on client-specific objectives, constraints, and risk preferences. He is also responsible for communicating market developments and portfolio updates to clients. Dan oversees these processes across the firm. Prior to joining AAM, he worked as an accountant at CNA Insurance. A CFA Charterholder and a member of the CFA Society of Chicago, Dan earned a BS in Finance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an MBA from the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago.

Ann Gergen, Executive Director, AGRiP

Ann oversees AGRiP operations, governance, and member service delivery. She has twenty-five years of direct public sector employment and experience in local government management, emergency services, risk management, primary and reinsurance claims, pooled insurance services and operations. Ann has both direct and service administrator experience in multiple local government and public pooling environments. She was associate pool administrator (P/C and work comp), program manager (employee benefits pool), and director of technology at the League of Minnesota Cities and League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust. She also served as director of the Arizona Municipal Risk Retention Pool (AMRRP) and director of the Social Services Contractors Insurance Pool (SSCIP), also in Arizona. Ann’s background includes reinsurance and commercial industry experience. She was Vice President of Claims and Loss Control at NLC Mutual, and was the first Director of NLC-RISC in a combined staffing structure with NLC Mutual. Ann was Managing Director of the Alternative Markets Division of Berkley Risk, a W.R. Berkley company, where she served a variety of public and not-for-profit pools and self-insured groups. Ann is an attorney licensed in the State of Minnesota and holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration. She teaches risk management to public safety graduate students and is herself a former EMT.

Feras S. Gharfeh, MHA, Senior Consultant, FPOV

Feras S. Gharfeh, MHA is a senior consultant at FPOV specializing in artificial intelligence, supply chain management, lean operations, acquisitions, and multimillion dollar profit and loss management. He has over fifteen years’ experience in nationally acclaimed healthcare systems where he was committed to revolutionizing the industry by integrating artificial intelligence to dismantle disparities and eliminate barriers in medical services. Feras has worked with elite practices such as Baylor Scott & White, Allergy & Asthma Care, Texas Children’s Hospital, and Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

Mike Harrington, President, Bickmore Actuarial Mike has over 30 years of experience in both the insurance industry and consulting, the majority of which is with public entities. He specializes in reserve and rate analysis for selfinsured public entities and risk pools for all property and casualty coverages. Mike has presented at numerous conferences including CAJPA, PARMA, AGRIP, and PRIMA, and is known for his informative and down-to-earth presentation style, with some good “actuarial humor” thrown in. He enjoys Microsoft Excel, the Dallas Cowboys, Ford Mustangs, and pretty much any buffet meal!!

Kara Hooks

Kara Hooks, CTP, Portfolio Strategist, joined Chandler Asset Management in 2012 as an administrative assistant and has had a front row seat to the firm’s growth ever since. Within a year of joining the team, she was tapped to help build and grow the firm’s client service function, instilling the values of proactive communication, fiduciary responsibility, and doing right by every client into the company’s core values.

When Kara moved from the Client Service Director role to the investment side of the business to become a Portfolio Strategist in 2022, she took those client-centric fundamentals with her. Today, she serves as a primary contact for public agency finance staff across the Western region of the U.S., helping clients understand current market dynamics, choose appropriate investment strategies, update investment policies in line with government code, and build investment programs that benefit their communities.

Kara graduated with her B.A. in communication, emphasis in public relations, from University of the Pacific and earned her M.A. in communication from San Diego State University. Kara was awarded the CFA Institute’s Investment Foundations Certificate (formerly Claritas® Investment Certificate) in 2013, has received the designation as a Certified Treasury Professional (CTP®) from the Association for Financial Professionals and holds FINRA 65 registration. She is a frequent speaker for various local and national organizations.

Erik Kowalewski, IT Manager, ACWA JPIA

Erik Kowalewski has worked in the technology field for 28 years, with the past 22 focused on the pooling industry. He currently serves as the IT Manager for the Association of California Water Agencies Joint Powers Insurance Authority (ACWA JPIA), where he leads IT strategy and operations. With a background in Accounting, Erik brings a unique blend of financial insight and technical expertise to his role.

James Marta, CPA, CGMA, ARPM, Managing Partner, James Marta & Company LLP

James Marta is the Managing Partner of James Marta & Company LLP, a CPA firm headquartered in Sacramento California. James has degrees in Accounting and Finance Law. In addition, Jim earned his associate in risk management (ARM) and an associate in pool management (ARPM) and is a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA). He taught the ARM courses and is the author of the Pool Manager Course. He speaks annually at various pooling conferences on pool management, analysis and finance issues. His firm performs financial consulting, accounting, audit and tax work for over 40 insurance pools and captives in eight States. Jim also is the Accreditation Manager for the California Association of Joint Powers Authorities.

Nicole Montalvo

With over 22 years of experience in the pooling industry, Nicole excels in web development, software implementation, administration, and support, while also driving process improvements and digital transformations. Her journey began in the mortgage and investment sectors, leading her to embrace continual learning and earn notable certifications. Outside of work, Nicole and her family love camping, amusement parks, and traveling to new destinations.

John Northup

John has worked in web development since 2000, in roles including design, coding, usability, and accessibility. He thrives on the challenge of facilitating delightful, engaging experiences for aural and visual users alike. He holds a master’s in information science from the University of Michigan School of Information and an undergraduate degree in mass communications from Goddard College. He has also earned a CPACC certification from the International Association of Accessibility Professionals.

Carlos Oblites, Senior Portfolio Strategist, Chandler Asset Management

Carlos is responsible for building and maintaining client relationships with public agencies along with participating actively in the portfolio management process. Carlos has 28 years of investment and financial experience, focused largely on managing short-term fixed income and pension strategies for governmental and institutional non-profit clients. Carlos currently serves as Co-Chair of the firm’s Multi Asset Class Committee.

Prior to joining Chandler, Carlos served as the Administrative Services Manager at Central Marin Sanitation Agency (CMSA) and was responsible for all aspects of the Agency’s financial, human resources, administrative support, and information systems activities. He also has significant expertise in serving California public agencies, healthcare, and insurance clients through his roles as Director at PFM Asset Management, and as a Principal at Wells Capital Management. Carlos holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and earned a Master’s degree in Business Administration from San Francisco State University.

Martin Ronquillo, Director of Cyber Risk, ASCIP Martin joined ASCIP in 2010, as the Information Technology Manager supporting ASCIP staff and providing guidance in cybersecurity. Martin is currently the Director of Cyber Risk, leading the support for all members by providing guidance in all cybersecurity related matters. Prior to ASCIP, Martin spent over 10 years as an information technology professional at various organizations. Martin holds a Master’s Degree in Cybersecurity & Information Assurance, and Bachelors of Science in Business Information Systems. In addition, Martin, completed Certificates in Chief Risk Officer Program and Chief Information Security Officer from Carnegie Mellon University and has obtained certifications as a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and a Certified School Risk Manager (CSRM).

Mallory Sampson, PFM Asset Management

Mallory is a director and member of the investment advisory team at PFM Asset Management, a division of U.S. Bancorp Asset Management, Inc. She is responsible for managing institutional fixed income and multi-asset class relationships across the nation with a focus on government, captive insurance and higher education entities. She is a frequent speaker at various industry conferences and contributes to thought leadership within the firm. Outside of work, Mallory is involved in the animal welfare community across Texas.

Ritesh Sharma, Accounting Manager, James Marta & Company LLP

Ritesh has 20 years of experience in accounting, audit, consulting and strategic planning. Ritesh provides CFO services for several Joint Powers Authorities and is a resource to his clients. Ritesh has provided executive leadership, accounting system design, risk management and board responsibilities. He is a participating member of the finance and technology committee of CAJPA (California Association of Joint Powers Authorities) as well as a regular presenter at the conferences.

Dan Steele

Dan has served 11 years in the Finance Department of ACWA JPIA, overseeing accounting operations as Senior Accountant, eventually being promoted to Finance Manager in 2020. He has also served on the CAJPA Finance Committee since 2016. Dan’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Sacramento State University, along with a master’s in business administration with a concentration in Accounting.

Min Su, Finance Director, Sedgwick

As a member of the Sedgwick Pooling division, Min serves as the finance manager for several joint powers authorities in northern California. He brings over 13 years of accounting and finance experience from various industries, including public and private expertise, to public entity pooling. Min recently assisted with creating a captive for an excess liability pool and led the implementation of a new accounting software across Sedgwick’s three national pooling offices.

Alana Thiess, Director of Financial Operations, PRISM

Alana Theiss is a CPA and currently PRISM’s Director of Financial Operations. She previously worked in public accounting providing individuals, businesses, nonprofits, and governments with audit, accounting, and consulting services. Alana has worked with 30 different risk pools since entering the industry nearly 20 years ago.

MODERN TIDES

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