Newport Marriott, Newport, RI
July 16, 2018 - July 18, 2018
Opal Financial Group’s annual public funds conference addresses issues that are critical to the investment success of senior public pension fund officers and trustees in the new millennium. Concerns of funding liabilities for beneficiaries in a world of declining returns yet maintaining a balance between the risk/ reward paradigms is center in the mind of many trustees and representatives of pension plans around the country. The exchange of ideas both in and out of the session halls are key in educating and identifying viable alternatives that will address these concerns. We will discuss how surplus returns should affect employee benefit plans; closely examine the processes for selection and evaluation of investment managers. Beyond the investment sphere we also address legal issues facing pension plans, ethic regulations and the importance of on-going education for plan sponsors and their fiduciaries. Although attendance is not limited to those in the public sector, the conference takes aim at topics that are of particular relevance to public pension funds. By focusing on an atmosphere of education rather than sales or marketing, the Public Funds Summit provides a unique environment in which members of the public sector can exchange ideas and learn from other delegates, money managers and consultants. Opal will kick off the event with its Annual Regatta Cup, in which attendees will have the opportunity to work with a professional sailing charter crew while competing against industry peers.
CONFERENCE FORMAT
This conference will exclusively feature dialogue driven panel discussions led by consultants and family offices. Power Point presentations are prohibited during the sessions but may be made available on our mobile app. Please send in PDF or PowerPoint format if you would like to have presentation included on App. *Only Standalone Speakers will be allowed to use PowerPoints, but cannot pitch products or advertise anything with their firms.*
7:30AM |
America’s Regatta Cup Networking Event (Shuttle Service Begins at 7:15 AM)
7:15 am – 8:30 – Shuttle Service begins Boat Sponsors include: TerraCap Management, LLC
Limited space available. Advanced registration required. |
9:00AM |
Exhibitor Setup |
9:00AM |
Conference Registration Desk Opens |
11:00AM |
Closed Door Pre-Conference Workshop and Luncheon (Investors ONLY)
Part 1: Private Markets – A Case for the Lower-Middle Market Presented by:
Part 2: What Factors are Driving Factors Presented by: |
1:00PM |
Welcoming Remarks Russ Kamp, Managing Partner, Kamp Consulting Solutions, LLC |
1:15PM |
State of the US Retirement System: What are the challenges pensions are facing and what does the future look like?
Moderator
Russ Kamp, Managing Partner, Kamp Consulting Solutions, LLC
Panelists
Leonard Gilroy, Senior Managing Director, Pension Integrity Project, Reason Foundation
Panelists
James Maloney, Board of Directors, Illinois Public Pension Fund Association (IPPFA)
Panelists
Steve Nelsen, Executive Director, Washington State Law Enforcement Officers' and Fire Fighters' (LEOFF) |
2:15PM |
Unique and Attractive China A-Shares Market for the Global Investors Vivian Lin Thurston, Partner, Global Research Analyst, William Blair & Company, LLC |
2:45PM |
Gold as a strategic tool to address the challenges pension funds face
Presenters
Matthew Mark, Director, Asset Owners, World Gold Council
Presenters
Juan Carlos Artigas, Director, Investment Research, World Gold Council |
3:15PM |
Refreshment Break
|
3:45PM |
Equity Investing Strategies and Their Role in Today’s Pension Portfolio
Moderator
Kevin Nichols, Senior Investment Management Consultant, The Forma Group – Morgan Stanley Consulting Group & Institutional Services
Panelists
Richard Bernstein, CEO, Richard Bernstein Advisors
Panelists
Pete Lelek, Director, Allianz Global Investors
Panelists
Nadine Pfeifer, Consultant, Chartwell Consulting
Panelists
Andrew Smith, Associate Portfolio Manager and Senior Equity Analyst, DuPont Capital Management
Panelists
Ryan Myers, Portfolio Strategist, Causeway Capital Management LLC |
5:00PM |
Investment Officers’ Roundtable: A Conversation with Pension CEOs, CIOs and Executive Directors This panel will consist of investment officers and executive directors from highly respected institutions. The panelists will discuss the investment strategies and industry sectors that they expect will drive their investments in the years to come, as well as a series of key issues facing plan sponsors in the current investment environment.
Moderator
Eileen Neill, CFA, Managing Director, Senior Consultant, Verus
Panelists
Derek Dobson, CEO and Plan Manager, CAAT Pension Plan (Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology Pension Plan)
Panelists
Gary Draghi, Chief Investment Officer, Hartford Municipal Employees' Retirement System
Panelists
Gerry Fleury, Executive Director, Manchester Employees' Contributory Retirement System
Panelists
Daniel Miller, MPA, Deputy Executive Director, Board of Education Retirement System of the City of New York
Panelists
Alec Stais, Chief Investment Officer, Employees' Retirement System of Rhode Island |
6:15PM |
Cocktail Reception
|
7:45AM |
Breakfast in Exhibit Hall |
8:20AM |
Welcoming Remarks |
8:30AM |
Opportunities in the Fixed Income Marketplace for Pension Investments
Moderator
Mark Meyers, Trustee, Dearborn Heights Police & Fire Retirement System
Panelists
Michael Salice, Director of Research, SKY Harbor Capital Management, LLC
Panelists
Troy Dixon,Managing Partner, Chief Investment Officer, Hollis Park Partners LP
Panelists
Anthony Lombardi, Associate Partner, Vision Emerging Manager Platform, Aon Hewitt
Panelists
Sam Dunlap, Managing Director, Senior Portfolio Manager, Angel Oak Capital |
9:30AM |
Real Estate Markets and your Pension System: What should you be looking for?
Moderator
Robert Grden, Executive Director, Wayne County Employees Retirement System
Panelists
Michael Acton, Managing Director, AEW Capital Management, L.P.
Panelists
Steve Hagenbuckle, Founder and Managing Partner, TerraCap Management, LLC
Panelists
Jeff Mayer, Managing Director, Cerberus Capital Management, L.P. |
10:15AM |
Refreshment Break
|
10:30AM |
Investing in Private Debt and Direct Lending (or Opportunities in Credit Investing)
Moderator
Ziv Ehrenfeld, Managing Director, Private Debt, PSP Investments USA
Panelists
Timothy J. Conway, Head of Private Credit, NewStar Financial, The Alternative Credit Group of First Eagle
Panelists
Walter Jackson, Portfolio Manager, ONEX CREDIT
Panelists
Brian G Reynolds, Managing Partner, Chatham Capital John Liguori, Co-Founder & Chief Investment Officer, Direct Lending, Jefferies Finance |
11:30AM |
Today’s Digital CIO is Using Technology to Break Down Silos John Pettit, CTO, Backstop Solutions Group, LLC |
12:00PM |
Pension Fund Asset Allocation Valerie Sill, CFA, CAIA, President and CEO, DuPont Capital Management |
12:30PM |
Networking Luncheon |
1:45PM |
Opportunities, Strategies, Risks & Rewards Investing in Real Assets
Moderator
Don Ruiter, Trustee, Daytona Beach Police and Fire Pension Fund
Panelists
Ted Brooks, Portfolio Manager, CenterSquare Investment Management
Panelists
Mark Foley, Managing Director, CIO, Domain Timber Advisors
Panelists
Larry Pokora, Director, Institutional Sales and Consultant Relations, Tortoise
Panelists
Nancy Davis, Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer, Quadratic Capital Management LLC |
2:45PM |
Private Equity and Venture Capital: How to Extract New Alpha
Moderator
Will Buividas, Trustee, City of Phoenix Police and Pension Board
Panelists
Marty Dirks, Trustee, Federated Retirement System for the City of San José
Panelists
Maria del Carmen López, CTP, Executive Director, University of Puerto Rico Retirement System
Panelists
Managing Director, VCFA Group |
3:30PM |
Investing in Niche Strategies and Emerging Managers
Moderator
Doug Watler, Board Member & Trustee, Deerfield Beach Fire Pension
Panelists
C. Laroy Brantley, Principal, Meketa Investment Group
Panelists
George M. Douglas, CFA, Chief Investment Officer, SSI Investment Management
Panelists
Sheryl Mejia, Director of Emerging Managers, New York State Common Retirement Fund
Panelist
Daniel Johnson, Director of Consulting/Senior Consultant, AndCo Consulting |
4:30PM |
Portfolio Harmony: Balancing Your Asset Allocation and Portfolio Construction While Managing Risk to Maximize Investment Returns
Moderator
Matthew Lay, Trustee, Oklahoma Firefighters Pension & Retirement System
Panelists
Robert Appling, Managing Director, Wilshire Consulting
Panelists
Max Giolitti, Chief Risk Officer, Verus
Panelists
James Perry, Head of Institutional Investor Solutions, Maples Fund Services
Panelists
Matt Moran, Head of Global Benchmark Indexes Advancement, Cboe Global Markets |
5:30PM |
Role of Treasurers in Pensions
Moderator
Lily Cavanagh, Treasurer, Redford Township Police & Firemens Retirement System
Panelists
Michael Fitzgerald, State Treasurer, State of Iowa
Panelists
Curtis Loftis, Jr., State Treasurer, State of South Carolina
Panelists
Seth Magaziner, State Treasurer, State of Rhode Island Treasurer's Office |
6:15PM |
Summer Social Networking Bash Join us and unwind with fellow industry professionals for Live Music, Great Food, & Refreshments during our Networking Party Featuring Live Music
|
8:00AM |
Breakfast in Exhibit Hall |
8:20AM |
Welcoming Remarks |
8:30AM |
Best Strategies for Proper Manager Selection
Moderator
Jack Frost, Trustee, West Palm Beach (FL) Police Pension Fund
Panelists
Ed Burton, Trustee, Virginia Pension Reform Commission Scott Schaefer, Senior Investment
Panelists
Scott Schaefer, Senior Investment Officer, Office of Investment and Innovation | SBA
Panelists
Darryl Walker, Board Trustee, Alameda County Employees Retirement Association |
9:15AM |
Learning from Actuaries: Actuarial Science and your Pension Plan
Moderator
John Girard, Trustee, Boca Raton Police and Firefighters’ Retirement System
Panelist
Brad Heinrichs, President/CEO, Foster & Foster, Inc.
Panelists
Ronald Ryan, CEO, Founder, Ryan ALM, Inc.
Panelists
Greg Knoll, Executive Director, Illinois Professional Firefighters Association
Panelist
Tayt Odom, Chief Operating Officer, Actuary and Principal, Nyhart Company, Inc. |
10:15AM |
The Role Consultants Play with Pension Funds and How They Make Decisions
Moderator
John Agenbroad, Chairman, Inter-Local Pension Fund
Panelists
Thomas Forma, Senior Vice President - Senior Institutional Consultant, The Forma Group - Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
Panelists
Russ Kamp, Managing Partner, Kamp Consulting Solutions, LLC
Panelists
Julian M. Regan, Senior Vice President, Segal Marco Advisors |
11:00AM |
Practical Tools to Improve Governance, Fiduciary Responsibility & Avoid Conflicts
Moderator
Art Alfaro, Former City Treasurer, Austin Firefighters' Retirement & Relief Fund
Panelists
Mark Eisner, Chairman, Daytona Beach Police and Fire Pension Fund
Panelists
David McConico, Chairman, City of Aurora (CO) General Employees' Retirement Board
Panelists
Jim Strouse, Chairman, Burlington (VT) Employees' Retirement System
Panelists
Dana Blydenburgh, Director, City of Lakeland Retirement System |
12:00PM |
Conference Concludes |
Earlybird Rate III (exp 5/31/18) | Standard Rate | |
---|---|---|
Managers/Service Providers | $2,695 | $2,895 |
Investors: Plan Sponsors, Pension Trustee & Staff, Non-Discretionary Consultants, True End Only Family Offices, Endowments and Foundations* | ---- | Complimentary* |
*Subject to Opal Group’s verification and approval. Only individuals who are solely investing on their own behalf can be verified for a complimentary pass. Solution Providers or Fund Providers to 3rd parties will not be able to receive complimentary access. As investment portfolios/strategies are constantly changing, we reserve the right to re- verify past delegates for future complimentary passes.