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AGA Announces Audio Conference Schedule for 2008–2009 Program Year

Performance Reporting Experiences Topic of Aug. 20 Audio Conference
AGA, in conjunction with the National Association of State Auditors Comptrollers and Treasurers (NASACT) and the Association of Local Government Auditors (ALGA) is pleased to announce a new audio conference, Everything You Wanted to Know About Performance Reporting, But Were Afraid to Ask, set for 2 – 3:50 p.m. Aug. 20. Three performance report preparers will explain the positive results achieved through use of a performance report. Join Drummond Kahn, CGFM, CIA, Director, Audit Services, Portland, OR; Rebekah Stephens, Planning and Performance Coordinator, Metro Nashville, TN; and Mike Taylor, CPA, CIA, City Auditor, Stockton, CA. Stephens and Taylor, first-time recipients of AGA's Certificate of Achievement in Service Efforts and Accomplishments, will explain why their municipalities needed a performance report to drive changes within government. Kahn will share how the Portland performance report has matured over the past 17 years and how it is being used to improve government services today.

Cost: $249 per site (UNLIMITED ATTENDANCE) if you register by Aug. 15 and $299 thereafter. SPECIAL PROMOTION: Register five or more offices from your government agency or CPAG firm and receive a 20 percent discount.

Free PAR Training
AGA's Certificate of Excellence in Accounability Reporting (CEAR) Program has set its annual Preparers' Training, worth 3 CPE hours, for 9 a.m. to noon, Friday, Aug. 15, at the Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave., SW, Washington, D.C. This training is designed for preparers of Performance and Accountability Reports (PARs). Register by Aug. 8. If you are interested in learning more about the CEAR Program and the complimentary training, contact Eveanna Barry.

Save the Dates for Upcoming AGA Conferences
Professional Development Conference
July 27–30, 2008
"Building on the Dream: Shaping a Culture of Accountability,"
Marriott Atlanta Marquis, Atlanta, GA

National Internal Control and Fraud Conference
Sept. 22–23, 2008
Wyndham Phoenix Hotel, AZ

National Performance Management Conference
Oct. 27–28, 2008
Seattle, WA

National Leadership Conference
Feb. 19–20, 2009
Ronald Reagan Building, Washington, D.C.

Professional Development Conferences
June 21–24, 2009
New Orleans Marriott, New Orleans, LA

July 11–14, 2010
Orlando World Center Marriott, Orlando, FL

Training Opportunities

Looking for a Job

Member News
Sean Hoffman, a member of AGA's Washington, D.C. Chapter, has been named to the position of Mid-Atlantic risk management partner for KPMG's advisory services. Hoffman joined KPMG in 1989 and was admitted to partner in 2000. He has worked in the firm’s federal advisory practice in Washington, D.C., since 2001 and has led engagements with the Department of Defense as well as civilian agencies. Congratulations!

Connie J. Kubat, 58, a founding member of AGA’s Lincoln Chapter and its membership director, died on July 3 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. She served for more than 36 years as an accountant in the Budget and Fiscal Division of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. She oversaw the work of the accounts payable section, and was known for her strong work ethic, professional expertise and high ethical standards.

In honor of his outstanding contributions to the internal audit profession, William "Bill" Taylor, CGFM, CPA, a member of AGA's Washington, D.C. Chapter and longtime member of the Professional Certification Board, was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award from The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) at its 2008 International Conference, held in San Francisco this week. The Lifetime Achievement Award is given to an IIA member who has shown extraordinary leadership and dedication over a lifetime of service to The IIA, and has had a major impact on the development of internal auditing.

"I am honored to recognize Bill, who has devoted his life to this profession and The IIA," said IIA Chairman of the Board Gerald D. Cox, CIA. "He has been truly selfless in his time and is considered by many at The IIA to be a friend. I cannot think of anyone more willing to serve The IIA when asked—and no one more deserving of this award."

W. Eddie Vasquez Jr., 28, CGFM, CPA, President-Elect of AGA's Albuquerque Chapter, passed away on June 11. He is survived by his wife, Jena Marquez de Vasquez, his parents Eddie and Evelyn Vasquez and sister Arianna Vasquez. He worked for Meyners + Company LLC for four years, earning his CPA and CGFM in 2007. He was recently promoted to manager, and had been an AGA member since 2005.

PMC Set for Seattle Oct. 27–28
Join government professionals who have a keen interest in government performance in Seattle on Oct. 27–28, 2008, for the Fourth Annual Performance Management Conference, Promoting Government Accountability Through Performance Management. This year's event will focus on federal, state and local performance management and reporting with speakers who are involved in day to day decision making using information gathered through performance data. First time preparers to veterans in performance management can benefit by hearing Ron Sims, county executive, King County, Washington; Robert Attmore, CGFM, chairman, Governmental Accounting Standards Board; and Jonathan Walters, staff correspondent, Governing magazine, share their knowledge in this important area of government. Read more.

AGA Advertising Opportunities!
Advertise in AGA's electronic newsletters—TOPICS and AGA Today! Get maximum exposure and build your brand. Find out what's available in an upcoming issue. Click here for all the information you need to run your ad. Or, you can contact April Force Pardoe.

Volume 48: Issue 14, July 21, 2008

TOPICS is Brought to You by AGA Corporate Partner Grant Thornton

Grant Thornton Global Public Sector delivers financial, technology and performance management solutions to federal, state and local government clients, and international organizations. Call us to see if we can help your agency manage its resources more efficiently and effectively at 703.637.2750.

There’s Still Time to Register for AGA’s PDC in Atlanta
If you’ve already registered for our 57th Annual Professional Development Conference & Exposition (PDC), July 27-30, at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis, we look forward to seeing you! You’ve made a smart investment in yourself and your organization.

But if you have not yet registered, don’t worry… there’s still time! PDC 2008 promises to be bigger and better than ever. This event is packed with dynamic speakers, hot topics and informative sessions. Earn up to 24 CPE hours, get technical training and lessons learned from the best in the business. Join us in Atlanta to hear from the top financial management and accountability leaders and industry experts.

In addition to an outstanding technical program, the AGA PDC offers a multitude of opportunities to network, mix and mingle with colleagues and meet new friends.

PDC 2008: What to Know Before You Go

PDC Program Now Available Online—Why wait? View the program to check out the complete list of speakers and education sessions or find your room assignment. You can also use the program to find specific exhibitors and learn more about this year’s awards recipients. Take a look at the program before arriving in Atlanta.

Speaker PowerPoint Presentations—In our efforts to conserve resources, AGA does not provide copies of speaker presentations onsite. However, any presentations made available to us are posted on our website. Registered attendees received an e-mail providing a link to the Attendee Resources and PowerPoint presentations. This page is updated on an ongoing basis to include new presentations as they are received. So please check the Attendee Resources page before you leave to ensure you have the handouts you need for each session. Please remember that not all speakers use PowerPoint and/or do not give copies of their presentation to AGA. We do not require speakers to use or provide their PowerPoint presentations for posting on the website. PowerPoint presentations are provided as a service to conference registrants only and are not available to the public.

Getting There—Attendees can rely on the area's taxi, shuttle and public transportation services for getting to the conference. Please refer to the information below when planning your trip.

Taxis: More than 1,500 taxis are available to take you to and from your hotel and throughout the city. From the airport, the fare to downtown Atlanta is a flat rate of $30 for one person, with a $2 charge for each additional person.

MARTA: The trains begin service at 5 a.m. and continue until 1 a.m. The fare is $1.75 and it’s only a 20-minute trip to downtown Atlanta. The Peachtree Center MARTA station is connected to the Atlanta Marriott Marquis.

The Atlanta Link Airport Shuttle is the exclusive shuttle bus provider at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and operates seven days a week between the airport and downtown Atlanta. Shuttles leave the airport every 15 minutes, between the hours of 6 a.m. and 12 a.m. The cost per person is $16.50 one way and $29 round trip. Since this is a shared ride service, shuttles may make several stops before arriving at your hotel.

Save Time and Money Book Online: Receive an additional $2 off the round-trip fare from the airport to your hotel through when you purchase your ticket online. Reserve your spot now.

Take Time Out to Have Fun in Atlanta
Atlanta offers southern hospitality and warm service with a decidedly international flair. It’s rich with history, culture and heritage and is the ideal host city for PDC 2008. While you’re here we invite you to take time to enjoy some of the sights, sounds and history that Atlanta has to offer. Come early, stay late and enjoy your trip and be sure to experience some of the city’s most popular attractions.

Win Recruitment Prizes During the 2008 PDC
While you are packing your bags for the 2008 PDC, start thinking about all the potential new members you can recruit while you are there. Why recruit at PDC? Because when you dream big and participate in the 2008 PDC Membership Campaign, you become eligible for great prizes. This year, everyone who recruits a member during the PDC will be entered in a drawing for a Nintendo Wii. The more members you recruit, the more chances you get to win. Also, our Top Recruiter at PDC will receive a $200 American Express gift card. So make the most of your time at the 2008 PDC—make a new friend and recruit a new member, and you might just receive a dreamy prize as well.

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Register Now for AGA’s 2008 Internal Control & Fraud Conference
Enhance your existing skills and gain a deeper understanding of fraud, ethics and internal controls by attending AGA’s Third Annual Internal Control & Fraud Conference, to be held Sept. 22-23, 2008 in Phoenix.

This event focuses on management's responsibility for ensuring a good system of internal controls and the role of accountability professionals in minimizing the risk of fraud, waste and abuse.

Hear from leaders in federal, state and local government, the private sector and academia who are on the forefront of fraud prevention and detection. Earn 14 CPE hours at educational sessions covering relevant and timely topics. Learn about the latest discovery techniques and tools and meet your private sector partners. Share best practices and discuss what works and what doesn't.

Join us in Phoenix to hear from the top financial management and accountability leaders and industry experts, including:

Mark Funkhouser, DPA, Mayor of Kansas City and former Kansas City Auditor
Marianne Jennings, JD, Professor of Legal and Ethical Studies in Business, Arizona State University
John Radford, CGFM, CFE, CIA, Controller, State of Oregon
Brian Miller, JD, Inspector General, U.S. General Services Administration
Kim Wallin, CPA, Controller, State of Nevada
James Taylor, MPA, Principal Deputy Inspector General, U.S. Department of Homeland Security
David Hancox, CGFM, CIA, Audit Director, New York State Comptroller's Office
Michael Piazza, MBA, Director, Institute of Internal Controls

Don’t miss this opportunity to recharge professionally, gain useful information and expand your network of colleagues—register today!

Reserve Your Room Early in Phoenix
AGA’s Internal Control & Fraud Conference will be held at the Wyndham Phoenix, 50 E. Adams St., which is centrally located in the city's vibrant core. The Wyndham Phoenix is just a short walk from numerous attractions including the shops and restaurants of Arizona Center, America West Arena, Bank One Ballpark, Herberger and Orpheum Theaters, Symphony Hall and Dodge Theatre. Tastefully appointed guest rooms are spacious and comfortable.

The room rate is $102 (plus tax) for single and double occupancy. Rates are guaranteed until Aug. 29, 2008, or until the block is sold out. We encourage you to make your hotel reservations early, for the best price and availability.

To make reservations, please call the hotel directly at 800.359.7253 and mention you are attending the “AGA Fraud Conference” to receive the discounted rate.

TOPICS is Brought to You by AGA Corporate Partner IBM Global Business Services
IBM Global Business Services currently has opportunities in our Public Sector Financial Management practice. We need professionals to join our practice of over 600 consultants – including many CPAs, CGFMs and ex-auditors – to help our Federal clients improve financial management. If you are interested, please email your resume to ibmhire@us.ibm.com.

This Week on the AGA Blog
Visit the AGA Blog at http://aga.typepad.com/aga/.
Monday: Eric Berman, Deputy Comptroller, Commomwealth of Massachusetts and AGA GASAC Representative, on "Whither Fund Types? And Other Musings from GASAC in Kansas City"
Tuesday: Sam Mok, CGFM, CIA, Managing Member, Condor International Advisors, LLC, AGA National President-Elect, on "AGA and You"
Wednesday: Mark Odell, Chief Architect, TASCSD/Northrup Grumman, on "IT Modernization: Does it have a Business Architecture?"
Thursday: Juan DeJesus, Director of Electronic Commerce, U.S. Army Financial Command, U.S. Department of Defense, recipient of AGA's Achievement of the Year Award
Friday: Ken Smith, Ph.D., CPA, Assistant Professor of Accounting and Information Science, Willamette University, on "Using Web 2.0 to Learn: Prospects for a Clinical Model?"

Questions about how to post a comment or how to subscribe to the feed that sends blog entries straight to your e-mail address? Find out more. Want to spend a day as our guest on the blog? Contact Marie Force, communications director.

Discounted Audio Conferences Available
AGA is pleased to again announce a special offer exclusively for AGA chapters and ADVANTAGE group membership agencies. Purchase three, four or five AGA audio conferences as a package and you will receive a 10 percent discount on the early registration rate offered by the AGA. Purchase six, seven or eight AGA audio conferences for a 15 percent discount. Purchase nine or 10 audio conferences for a 20 percent discount. AGA plans to produce as many monthly audio conferences as possible each year that offer chapters and group membership agencies a cost-effective and convenient way to provide quality education for members and others in the government accountability profession.

This offer is available until Aug. 15. Contact Maria Lucas at 800.AGA.7211, ext. 308, to register. Download the registration form. If you have any questions about any of the audio conferences, contact Ray Harris, Director of Chapter Operations, at 800.AGA.7211, ext. 339.

Not sure what is involved in becoming an ADVANTAGE group membership agency? Visit our website at for all of the details.

From the National Office
AGA is pleased to welcome Jennifer Varua to the staff as the Meeting and Expositions Manager. Originally from Yonkers, N.Y., Jennifer moved to the Alexandria, VA, area in January 2008 from Chicago, IL. She comes to AGA after taking some time to start her family; however she spent 10 years of her career with Renaissance Hotels and Resorts (part of Marriott International), holding positions from front office manager to event manager. "I love being able to bring my hotel experience to AGA and getting to see it from a whole new angle," she said. Jennifer’s husband, Bobby, is the executive chef of Washington D.C.’s 701 Restaurant and they have a daughter, Sophia, who is 18 months old, and a bulldog named Munson. Welcome Jennifer!

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