Public Funds Summit East 2023

Newport Marriott, Newport, RI
July 10, 2023 - July 12, 2023

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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 a Morning Harbor Excursion, a refreshing and invigorating start to the event, providing an opportunity for networking, relaxation, and a memorable experience for all attendees.

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 1, 2023

8:00 am

MORNING HARBOR EXCURSION NETWORKING EVENT

10:00 am

Exhibit Set Up

11:30 am

Registration & Information Desk & Exhibit Hall Opens

1:15 pm

Welcoming Remarks

Xay Khamsyvoravong, Mayor of Newport, RI

James A. Diossa, General Treasurer, State of Rhode Island

1:30 pm

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

Moderator

Sarah Hammer, Executive Director, The Wharton School

Panelists

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

Stacey Dion, Partner, Head of Global Government Affairs, The Carlyle Group

Michael Acton, CFA, Managing Director, Head of AEW Research, AEW Capital Management, L.P.

2:25 pm

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

Moderator

Joe Matthews, CFA, CFP, Senior Institutional Consultant, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management

Panelists

William Beck, Senior Vice President, Wilshire

Scott Kimball, CIO, Loop Capital Asset Management

Russ Kamp, Managing Director, Ryan ALM, Inc.

Alan Hickey, Director, Setanta Asset Management

3:10 pm

Futuristic Suburbanism: Putting Unity Back Into Community

Presented by

Ari Rastegar, Founder & CEO, Rastegar Property

3:40 pm

Networking Refreshment Break

4:00 pm

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

Moderator

Brian Green, Partner, Consulting Department, AndCo Consulting

Panelists

Jim Robertson, Executive Vice President – Private Debt, ATEL Growth Capital

Brian Sunday, Managing Director & Portfolio Manager, AEW Capital Management, L.P.

Jim Schnorf, Investment Committee, Eastern Illinois University Foundation

Paul Whiting, CEO, Farsight Partners

4:40 pm

Portfolio and Investment Risk Management: What Are You Ignoring?

Moderator

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

Panelists

Floyd Simpson CFA, CAIA, Director, PFM Asset Management

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

Irv Lowenberg, City Treasurer, City of Southfield Fire & Police Retirement System

5:20 pm

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

Moderator

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

Panelists

Sriram Lakshminarayanan, CIO, Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System

Steve Delaney, Chief Executive Officer, Orange County Employees Retirement System (OCERS)

6:00 pm

Networking Cocktail Hour

8:40 am

Registration/Information Desk Opens

8:40 am

Networking Breakfast

9:35 am

Welcoming Remarks

9:40 am

Keynote Fireside Chat:

 

State and Future of Community and Regional Banking

Speaker

Adrienne Harris, Superintendent, New York State Department of Financial Services

Moderator

Sarah Hammer, Executive Director, The Wharton School

10:10 am

Recovering Damages from Frauds in Non-Conventional Investments and the Current Banking Crisis

Moderator

Kurt Vroman, Chairman, Deltona Firefighters Pension Plan

Panelists

Serena Hallowell, Member, Motley Rice

Chet Waldman, Senior Partner, Wolf Popper LLP

Scott Foglietta, Partner, Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossmann LLP

11:10 am

Real Estate & Real Asset Investing for Institutional Investors

Moderator

William Veliz, Trustee, El Paso Firemen and Policemen's Pension Fund

Panelists

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

Eliza Bailey, Managing Principal, Belay Investment Group

Dean Crombie, Trustee, New Hampshire Municipal Retirement System

12:00 pm

Crisis Communications: Reflections and Lessons Learned from the Highland Park, Ill., Parade Shooting. What your Comms team wants you to know and steps you can take to prepare for the unthinkable

Presented by

Michelle Holleman, Director of Communications, Chicago Teachers’ Pension Fund

12:30 pm

Networking Luncheon

1:50 pm

Opportunities in Credit & Private Debt: A Mature Asset Class for Pensions

Moderator

Kevin M. Nichols, CPWA®, CAIA®, CIMA®, QPFC, Financial Advisor, Senior Investment Management Consultant, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management

Panelists

James Parker, Co-Founder, Leonid Capital Management

Ken Kencel, President and CEO, Churchill Asset Management

Peter Gleysteen, CEO/CIO, AGL Credit Management

2:50 pm

Private Equity and Venture Capital: Where Are The Opportunities in the Private Markets?

Moderator

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

Panelists

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

Dail St. Claire, President & Sr. Advisor, St. Claire Consultants, LLC

Svetlana Loshakov, Senior Managing Director, Head of Investment Office, Clearstead

3:30 pm

Networking Refreshment Break

4:00 pm

Integrating ESG Investment Strategies and Policies for Pensions

Moderator

Oliver Fadly, Principal, Head of Private Debt, NEPC, LLC

Panelists

Timothy Schantz, Chairman of the Investment Committee, Historical Society of Pennsylvania

Laura Weeks, Relationship Manager, UN Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI)

Francie Heller, Member Board of Trustees, Furman University Endowment

5:00 pm

Panels Conclude

5:30 pm

Shuttle Bus Service to Summer Social Bash

6:10 pm

Summer Social Networking Bash

8:30 am

Registration Desk Opens & Networking Breakfast

9:30 am

Breakfast with Consultants: Gatekeepers vs. Outsourced Due-Diligence

Moderator

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

Panelists

Daniel Johnson, Partner, Consulting Director, AndCo Consulting

Oliver Fadly, Principal, Head of Private Debt, NEPC, LLC

Christopher S. Tessman, Senior Vice President, Wilshire Advisors, LLC

Christopher Cutler, CFA, Founder, Manager Analysis Services

10:10 am

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

Moderator

Kurt Vroman, Chairman, Deltona Firefighters Pension Plan

Panelists

Steve Delaney, Chief Executive Officer, Orange County Employees Retirement System (OCERS)

Irv Lowenberg, City Treasurer, City of Southfield Fire & Police Retirement System

10:40 am

Learning from Actuaries: Actuarial Science and Your Pension Plan

Moderator

Greg Knoll, Beneficiary Trustee & Board Treasurer, Illinois Fire Pension Investment Fund / IPFA Executive Director

Panelists

Michelle Boyles, Consulting Actuary, Bolton

William Fornia, FSA, President, Pension Trustee Advisors

11:20 am

Practical Tools to Improve Governance, Fiduciary Responsibility & Avoid Conflicts

Moderator

Michael Grodi, Board Chair, Monroe County Employees Retirement System

Panelist

Jillean Battle, Chief Deputy Treasurer, General Counsel and Chief Privacy Officer, Office of the Indiana State Treasurer

12:00 pm

Conference Concludes

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


Rate
Newport Marriott $469++

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