Public Funds Summit East 2022

Newport Marriott, Newport, RI
July 18, 2022 - July 20, 2022

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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 pension funds/plan sponsors. 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.

Current as of July 12, 2022

8:00am

AMERICA’S REGATTA CUP NETWORKING EVENT

10:00am

Exhibit Set Up

10:30am

Registration/Information Desk Opens

1:20pm

Welcoming Remarks

1:25pm

A Global Macroeconomic Outlook: State of the Global Economy, US Retirement System and Future Forecast

Moderator

Greg Knoll, Trustee & Executive Director, The Firefighter Pension Investment Fund / IPFA

Panelists

Stacey Dion, Managing Director & Global Head of Government Affairs, The Carlyle Group

Jonathan Ward, Founder, Atlas Organization; Author China's Vision of Victory

Kurt Winkelmann, CEO, Navega Strategies, Senior Fellow, University of Minnesota

Marcia Peters, CFA, Senior Financial Advisor, CAPTRUST

2:25pm

Traditional Allocation Strategies: Where are the Equity and Fixed Income Markets Heading and How Should Pensions Allocate Moving Forward?

Moderator

Joseph J. Matthews, CFA, CFP, Sr. Investment Management Consultant, Alternative Investments Director, First Vice President – Financial Advisor, Morgan Stanley

Panelists

Russ Kamp, Managing Director, Ryan ALM, Inc.

Dirk Hofschire, CFA, Senior Vice President, Asset Allocation Research, Fidelity Institutional Asset Management

Brian Green, Partner, Consulting, AndCo Consulting

Frederick Bailey, Trustee & Chairman of Investment Committee, City of Savannah Employee's Retirement Plan

3:10pm

How Public Pension Funds Can Maximize ROI in the EV Transition

Presented by

Shane McMahon, Executive Chairman, Ideanomics

Alf Poor, CEO, Ideanomics

3:40pm

Networking Refreshment Break

 

Sponsored by: Ideanomics

4:00pm

Alternative Ideas for Alternative Thinkers: Emerging, Niche, & Non-Correlated Alternative Strategies for Pension Plans

Moderator

James Maloney, Board of Directors, Illinois Public Pension Fund Association (IPPFA)

Panelists

David Thomas, Chief Executive Officer, Founder, & Senior Investment Management Consultant, Equitas Capital Advisors

Marc Friedberg, Managing Director & Principal, Wilshire Private Markets

Floyd Simpson CFA, CAIA, Director, PFM Asset Management

4:40pm

Portfolio and Investment Risk Management: What Are You Ignoring?

Moderator

Guy Pinkman, Trustee, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation / Lincoln Fire & Police Retirement System

Panelists

Michael Ashmore, Finance & Investment Committee Chair, University of Waterloo

Adam Bonarek, Finance/Risk/IT Director, Charter Township of Redford

Robert Butler, Investment Risk & Compliance Officer, Arizona State Retirement System

Brad Berggen, Managing Partner, volScout LLC

5:20pm

LP Roundtable: A Conversation with Pension CEOs, CIOs, Executive Directors & State Treasurers

Moderator

Michael Grodi, Board Chair, Monroe County Employees Retirement System

Panelists

Bryan Lewis, Vice President & Chief Investment Officer, United States Steel Corporation

Scott McCarty, Chairman, Arizona Public Safety Personnel Retirement

Michael Fitzgerald, State Treasurer, State of Iowa

6:00pm

Networking Cocktail Hour

9:00am

Registration/Information Desk Opens

9:00am

Networking Breakfast

10:05am

Welcoming Remarks

10:10am

Best Practices for Securities Litigation & Portfolio Monitoring for Public Pensions

Moderator

Robert Grden, Executive Director, Wayne County Employees Retirement System

Panelists

Jeffrey Lubitz, Managing Director, ISS Securities Class Action Services

Serena Hallowell, Member, Motley Rice LLC

Guillaume Buell, Counsel, Labaton Sucharow LLP

Kevin Ruf, Partner, Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP

11:00am

Real Estate Investing for Institutional Investors

Moderator

Dean Crombie, Trustee, New Hampshire Municipal Retirement System

Panelists

Jack Frost, Trustee, West Palm Beach (FL) Police Pension Fund

Tony Crooks, Senior Portfolio Manager, AEW Capital Management, L.P.

Greg Friedman, CEO, Peachtree Hotel Group

Cameron Gunter, Founder & CEO, PEG Companies

12:00pm

Masterminds: How To Add $100K+ In Profit To Your Bottom Line and Increase Your Impact In 5-10 Hours a Month

Presented by

Brad Hart, Founder, Make More Marbles

12:20pm

Networking Luncheon

1:50pm

Opportunities in Credit Lending: Private Debt and Direct Lending

Moderator

Alex Dauria, Senior Portfolio Advisor, Aksia

Panelists

Zack Ellison, CFA, CAIA, Managing Director & CIO, A.R.I. Venture Debt Opportunities Fund

Scott Schaefer, Senior Investment Officer, Office of Investment and Innovation | SBA

Ken Kencel, President & CEO, Churchill Asset Management

Mike Fang, Senior Portfolio Manager, Maryland State Retirement and Pension System

2:40pm

Driving Returns with Private Equity and Venture Capital: Growth Opportunities

Moderator

Jim Schnorf, Investment Committee, Eastern Illinois University Foundation

Panelists

Eric Newman CPA, CGMA, Treasury Manager, City of Stamford (Connecticut)

Dana Callow, Managing Partner, Boston Millennia Partners, Trustee and Former Chair of Investment Committee, Tufts University

Bryan Lewis, Vice President & Chief Investment Officer, United States Steel Corporation

3:30pm

Networking Refreshment Break

4:00pm

Integrating ESG Investment Strategies and Policies for Pensions

Moderator

Julian Regan, Senior Vice President, Public Sector Market Leader, Segal Marco Advisors

Panelists

Rebecca E. Lilly, Financial Advisor, Investing with Impact Director, U.S. Government Entity Specialist, Morgan Stanley

Carol Jeppesen, Head of the US, Signatory Relations, UN Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI)

4:40pm

Institutional Education on Digital Assets – Investing in the Blockchain and Web 3.0

Moderator

Doug Watler, Trustee, Broward Firefighters Health Trust

Panelists

Sarah Hammer, Managing Director, Initiative on Diversity & Inclusion, The Wharton School

Keli Callaghan, Partner, Arrington Capital

5:40pm

Panels Conclude

6:00pm

Summer Social Networking Bash

8:30am

Registration Desk Opens & Networking Breakfast

9:30am

Breakfast with Consultants: Gatekeepers vs. Outsourced Due-Diligence

Moderator

Henry Wilson, MPA, Chairman-Trustee, Wayne County Employees Retirement System

Panelists

Daniel Johnson, Director, AndCo Consulting

Marcia Peters, CFA, Senior Financial Advisor, CAPTRUST

C. LaRoy Brantley, Principal, Meketa Investment Group

10:10am

Non-Investment Challenges: 5+ Questions Facing Pension Plans and How to Handle Them

Moderator

Robert Grden, Executive Director, Wayne County Employees Retirement System

Panelists

Scott McCarty, Chairman, Arizona Public Safety Personnel Retirement System (PSPRS)

Justin Maistrow, CFA, Senior Investment Strategist, State of Rhode Island

10:40am

Learning from Actuaries: Actuarial Science and Your Pension Plan

Moderator

Greg Knoll, Trustee & Executive Director, The Firefighter Pension Investment Fund / IPFA

Panelists

Lorie Barnwell, City Treasurer, City of Warren

Michelle Boyles, Consulting Actuary, Cheiron

11:20am

Practical Tools to Improve Governance, Fiduciary Responsibility & Avoid Conflicts

Moderator

Kurt Vroman, Chairman, Deltona Firefighters Pension Plan

Panelist

Darryl Walker, Trustee, Alameda County Employees Retirement Association

11:50am

Conference Concludes

4star
Newport Marriott, Newport, RI
25 America's Cup Avenue, Newport, Rhode Island 02840 USA


Room / Rates
Newport Marriott
25 America's Cup Ave Newport, RI 02840
$379
The Hotel Viking
One Bellevue Avenue Newport, RI 02840
A daily Resort Charge, currently $30.00 per room, per night plus tax will be added.
$429
The Newport Harbor Hotel & Marina
49 America’s Cup Newport Newport, RI 02840
A daily amenity fee, currently $20.00 per room, per night plus tax will be added.
$329 Standard
$529 Balcony Room
Friday / Saturday night, is subject to availability at a higher rate. Please contact Marcela Celma | mcelma@opalgroup.net for additional information
*Prices exclude taxes

NO-SHOW POLICY:
If a guest does not check-in on the reserved check-in date (and has not notified the hotel of any changes), the room will be subject to release. If the room is released, deposits will not be returned and guest credit card will be charged for the entire stay.

Upon the conclusion of the conference, all reservations will be reviewed and any additional nights and/or misc. charges to prepaid reservations will be charged to your credit card as well.

Registration Pricing

Standard Rate
Managers/Service Providers $2,895
Plan Sponsors, Pension Trustee & Staff, Non-Discretionary Consultants, Endowments, and Foundations can be verified for complimentary access* (must be allocators to 3rd party fund managers) 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 third 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.

Sponsorship, Exhibition & Speaking Opportunities 212.532.9898 info@opalgroup.net
  • Pension Outlook: The State of the U.S.Retirement System
  • New Styles and Strategies for Investing
  • Asset Allocation best Practices
  • Ongoing Education for Plan Fiduciaries and Participants
  • Challenges facing Public Pension Plans
  • Risk Management
  • Manager Selection
  • Equity Investing
  • Securities Lending
  • Hedge Funds
  • Private Equity/Venture Capital
  • Real Estate
  • Real Assets – precious metals, timber, infrastructure, agriculture, managed futures, etc.
  • Emerging and Frontier Markets
  • Choosing the right advisor/consultant
  • and many more!
  • Pension Rep – Trustee, Administrators, Commissioners, Staff
  • Consultants
  • Attorneys
  • Taft Hartley Reps – Trustee, Administrators, Commissioners, Staff
  • Accountants
  • Hedge Funds
  • Fund of Funds
  • Real Estate Managers
  • Equity Managers
  • Venture Capitalists
  • Private Equity
  • Insurance Companies
  • Benefit Companies
  • Public Service Administrative Providers

Manager vs. Investor Breakdown

    Investor Breakdown