SUMMIT SPRING
TECH SAVV Y, HR WI SE & FI SCALLY READY
MARCH 23–24, 2026
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Sacramento | 2001 Point West Way | Sacramento, California 95815
FULL CONFERENCE AGENDA
SUMMIT SPRING
TECH SAVV Y, HR WI SE & FI SCALLY READY
AGENDA AT A GLANCE
DAY 1 – MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2026
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Registration Hours
9:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
Light Breakfast
9:45 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Welcome and Opening Remarks
– Puneet Behl, CAJPA Finance Committee Chair
– Nicole Montalvo, CAJPA Technology Committee Chair
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Keynote Presentation
– Robert Sheesley, Senior Consultant, Future Points of View
11:00 a.m.– 11:30 a.m.
Networking Break
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Proceed With Caution – The Risks of AI
– Tom Pelster, Chief Information Officer, PRISM
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Lunch
1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Right, Wrong, or Recommended: Clarification on Investment Reporting for Public Agencies in California.
– Steve Huntley, Senior Portfolio Strategist, Chandler Asset Management
1:30 p.m. – 2:30 pm
Beyond the Buzzwords: How We Actually Secure GenAI
– Mohana Balakrishnan, CTO, SIA JPA
– Dan Low, Digital Intelligence Manager, SIA JPA
– Gustavo Mastroianni, CISO, SIA JPA
– Jonny Norris, Account Director, Concentric AI
2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Networking Break
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
GASB Updates
– James Marta, Managing Partner, James Marta & Company LLP
– Raul Hernandez, CPA, Gilbert CPAs
3:00 p.m.– 4:00 p.m.
Understanding and Stopping Phishing Attacks
– Hunter Sargent, Cybersecurity Risk Specialist, ACWA JPIA
4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Networking Reception
Location: Capitol Patio
DAY 2 – TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2026
8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Registration Hours
8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
Light Breakfast
8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Estimating Claim Liabilities Without a Crystal Ball
– Kim Santin, Accounting Manager, James Marta & Company
– Mike Harrington, President and Managing Partner, Bickmore Actuarial
– Phil Brown, Chief Financial Officer, Schools Insurance Authority
8:30 a.m.– 9:30 a.m.
Building Smarter Cyber Policies and Vendor Management for the AI Era
– Maria Cantera, Business Systems Analyst, NBSIA
– Ben Rodriguez, Technology Projects Manager, CJPIA
9:30 a.m.– 9:45 a.m.
Networking Break
9:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
The Current and Future State of our Health & Healthcare
– Adam Dedmon, Benefits Manager, ACWA JPIA
– Tom Sher, SVP, Alliance Insurance
9:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Stronger Data. Stronger Insights. Stronger Reform. Real Savings.
– Sonya Wytnick, EVP of Data and Insights, POLCO
– Danielle Heim, Senior Database Developer, PRISM
– Margaret Crossland, Senior Business Analytics Developer, PRISM
10:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Networking Break
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
I’ve Got Public Investing Down—What About My Own Investments?
– Carlos Oblites, Senior Portfolio Strategist, Chandler Asset Management
12:00 p.m.– 12:45 p.m. Lunch
1245 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Change is Constant - But Capacity is Not
– Allison Bateman, HR Director/Firm Administrator, Porter Scott Attorneys
1:45 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
AI General Discussion Panel
2:45 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Legislative Updates and Closing Remarks
– Faith Borges, Lobbyist, Public Policy Partnerships
– Puneet Behl, CAJPA Finance Committee Chair
– Nicole Montalvo, CAJPA Technology Committee Chair
DAY 1 – MONDAY, MARCH 23
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, CAJPA Finance Committee Chair
Nicole Montalvo, CAJPA Technology Committee Chair
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Keynote Presentation
Robert Sheesley, Senior Consultant, Future Points of View
Description Coming Soon
11:00 a.m.– 11:30 a.m.
Networking Break
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Proceed With Caution – The Risks of AI
Tom Pelster, Chief Information Officer, PRISM
AI is quickly becoming part of our daily lives. Along with the amazing power to enhance productivity are significant risks. Learn what those risks are and strategies to deal with them.
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Lunch
CONCURRENT SESSIONS
1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Right, Wrong, or Recommended: Clarification on Investment Reporting for Public Agencies in California.
Steve Huntley, Senior Portfolio Strategist, Chandler Asset Management
This presentation provides a clear, structured overview of investment reporting requirements for California local governments. Attendees will learn about the statutory obligations outlined in California Government Code §53600 et seq. and contrast them with best practice guidance from CDIAC, CMTA, GFOA, and CSMFO. Participants will learn what must be included in quarterly investment reports, how to interpret authorized investment rules, and how to enhance reporting with risk metrics, performance benchmarks, and transparent communication. The session is designed to help finance professionals strengthen compliance, improve reporting quality, and build trust with governing bodies and the public.
1:30 p.m. – 2:30 pm
Beyond the Buzzwords: How We Actually Secure GenAI
Mohana Balakrishnan, CTO, SIA JPA
Dan Low, Digital Intelligence Manager, SIA JPA
Gustavo Mastroianni, CISO, SIA JPA
Jonny Norris, Account Director, Concentric AI
Join SIA’s CTO, CISO, and Business Intelligence lead, along with Concentric AI, for a practical playbook on taming “bring-yourown AI.” Instead of chasing every tool or writing policies no one reads, we’ll show how to put controls where the work happens: in the browser. See how real-time extensions intercept prompts and file uploads, automatically redact or obfuscate PII/PHI, watermark outputs, and log activity for audit, across ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, and whatever pops up next.
2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Networking Break
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
GASB Updates
James Marta, Managing Partner, James Marta & Company LLP
Raul Hernandez, CPA, Gilbert CPAs
This session will provide an overview of key Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) pronouncements effective in 2026, with a primary focus on GASB Statement No. 103 and its impact on governmental financial reporting. The session will cover the intent of the standard, significant presentation and disclosure changes, and common implementation considerations observed in practice.
3:00 p.m.– 4:00 p.m.
Understanding and Stopping Phishing Attacks
Hunter Sargent, Cybersecurity Risk Specialist, ACWA JPIA
This presentation provides a practical overview of phishing attacks, what they are, why they work, and how they impact organizations of all sizes. Attendees will learn to recognize common phishing indicators, understand why even experienced users fall victim, and know exactly what to do when a suspicious message appears. The session also includes a simulated phishing attack to demonstrate how realistic modern phishing attempts can be and to reinforce real-world detection and reporting best practices.
4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Networking Reception
Location: Capitol Patio
Join attendees for an opportunity to engage your peers and exchange challenges and solutions during the evening’s networking reception. This is regularly identified as one of the most valuable parts of the workshop! There will be drinks and appetizers served, and workshop speakers will be available to interact with.
DAY 2 – TUESDAY, MAY 20
8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Registration Hours
8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
Light Breakfast
CONCURRENT SESSIONS
8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Estimating Claim Liabilities Without a Crystal Ball
Kim Santin, Accounting Manager, James Marta & Company
Mike Harrington, President and Managing Partner, Bickmore Actuarial
Phil Brown, Chief Financial Officer, Schools Insurance Authority
Estimating claim liabilities is more than a technical and mechanical exercise—it requires a clear understanding of claims activity, coverage structure, and risk retention within a JPA. This session explores how claim liabilities are developed by examining the interaction between claims experience, policy structure, and program design, rather than relying on prediction or intuition. Participants will gain practical insight into how actuarial estimates, accounting calculations, and audit evaluation come together to produce a claim liability that is reasonable, defensible, and compliant with financial reporting standards.
8:30 a.m.– 9:30 a.m.
Building Smarter Cyber Policies and Vendor Management for the AI Era
Maria Cantera, Business Systems Analyst, NBSIA
Ben Rodriguez, Technology Projects Manager, CJPIA
As organizations embrace AI, governing cyber risk requires a new level of clarity and control. This session explores the importance of designing effective cyber policies that address AI usage, data protection, and automation risks. We’ll also provide tools for managing third party vendors and their AI usage and practices. Attendees will leave with actionable steps to strengthen governance and reduce organizational risk.
9:30 a.m.– 9:45 a.m.
Networking Break
9:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
The Current and Future State of our Health & Healthcare
Adam Dedmon, Benefits Manager, ACWA JPIA
Tom Sher, SVP, Alliance Insurance
America’s health is at a crossroads. Nearly one in four adults now lives with a diagnosable mental or physical health condition, and chronic illnesses are rising across all age groups. Despite record spending—over $5 trillion annually—the U.S. healthcare system remains fragmented, costly, and frustrating for patients and providers alike.
Change is inevitable - driven by unsustainable costs, shifting demographics, and new policy reforms. We’ll discuss why transformation is necessary and what it could look like in the near future with empowered consumers, AI-supported decision-making, and seamless digital platforms that put people at the center of care. Join us for a candid, data-driven look at where we are, why change is coming, and what public agencies can do to lead the way toward a healthier future.
9:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Stronger Data. Stronger Insights. Stronger Reform. Real Savings.
Sonya Wytnick, EVP of Data and Insights, POLCO
Danielle Heim, Senior Database Developer, PRISM
Margaret Crossland, Senior Business Analytics Developer, PRISM
Most public entities want to reduce claims costs and improve outcomes, but the first step is being able to see the full picture. This session explains why high-quality claims data is essential for understanding risk, planning effectively, and driving advocacy for reform. PRISM will share firsthand lessons from normalizing data across hundreds of members, and how they can help improve your data quality at the source, while Polco will demonstrate how clean data powers descriptive, predictive, and causal analytics that reveal the impact of large claims. Participants will learn about small improvements in data capture that can produce big gains in insight, credibility, and advocacy.
10:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Networking Break
GENERAL SESSIONS
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
I’ve Got Public Investing Down—What About My Own Investments?
Carlos Oblites, Senior Portfolio Strategist, Chandler Asset Management
This session will focus on the investment world beyond what is allowed in CA Govt Code 53601, as it relates to public employees and their personal finances. Topics covered will include typical retirement investment portfolio options, considerations when planning for retirement, and a brief overview of how pension plans fit in.
12:00 p.m.– 12:45 p.m.
Lunch
1245 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Change is Constant - But Capacity is Not Allison Bateman, HR Director/Firm Administrator, Porter Scott Attorneys
This session challenges the idea that resistance is the problem and reframes change fatigue as a leadership signal. Designed for leaders, HR, and IT professionals, it offers practical strategies for implementing change that preserves trust, energy, and performance.
1:45 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
AI General Discussion Panel
Join us for a practical look at how some JPAs are using generative AI in day-to-day work. We’ll follow with a panel discussion sharing lessons learned so far—what’s working, what isn’t, and the questions we’re still navigating. The session will wrap up with an open Q&A to encourage shared learning and conversation around AI adoption and implementation across pools.
2:45 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Legislative Updates and Closing Remarks
Faith Borges, CAJPA Legislative Advocate, Public Policy Partnerships
Puneet Behl, CAJPA Finance Committee Chair
Nicole Montalvo, CAJPA Technology Committee Chair
SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES
Allison Bateman
Allison Bateman is an experienced human resources leader with more than 25 years of HR experience across the public and private sectors. She brings a practical, people-centered approach to workforce strategy, compliance, and organizational change, shaped by a strong foundation in public-sector operations and governance. Currently serving as HR Director and Firm Administrator at Porter Scott, Allison oversees human resources, operations, and culture-building initiatives. She is known for translating policy into practice, leading change thoughtfully, and supporting sustainable, high-performing teams. When she’s not navigating HR challenges, Allison is a true sports mom—most often found on the sidelines with a folding chair, snacks, and a running commentary—where she continues to refine her skills in teamwork, time management, and patience.
Puneet Behl
Puneet is a senior finance executive with 25 years of multinational experience across various business sectors, with a focus in insurance and risk management. Prior to joining PRISM, 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.
Mohana Balakrishnan
Mo Balakrishnan is the CTO at SIA (Schools Insurance Authority), a seasoned technology executive with more than 15 years of hands-on security engineering and GRC experience. Mo is passionate about the responsible applications and advancement of AI and Cybersecurity. His career has spanned multiple verticals from mineral exploration to education to finance and at every scale from Fortune 50 to midsize Universities to scrappy startups. Mo was formerly the CISO at the University of the Pacific and is an active CISSP.
Faith Borges
Faith Borges is a seasoned lobbyist with over a decade of experience in government affairs, specializing in insurance, public entity liability, and business management policy. As a senior advocate, she has successfully advanced and defended key legislation on healthcare, transportation, privacy, and housing, representing clients ranging from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies. Faith holds a B.A. in Political Science from UC Santa Barbara and a graduate certificate in Applied Policy and Government from Sacramento State University, where she served as a California Senate Fellow.
Maria Cantera
Maria Cantera is the Business Systems Analyst for North Bay Schools Insurance Authority. She has worked in the insurance industry for 25 years and has been with NBSIA for the past 23 years focusing on finance, data analytics, risk management, IT, business systems and workflow analysis. Maria is also a member of the CAJPA Technology Committee, and chair of their member education subcommittee.
Margaret Crossland
Margaret is a Senior Business Analytics Developer at PRISM Risk, where she has spent the past five years building impactful, datadriven solutions for PRISM’s members. With over a decade of experience across the retail, dental, and pharmaceutical industries, Margaret brings a broad perspective to her analytics work in the public risk sector. She holds a Master’s in Business Analytics (MSBA) and is a certified Qlik Business Analyst and Qlik AI Specialist. At PRISM, Margaret leads the development of member-facing dashboards in Qlik Sense—tools designed to empower public entities with insights that drive smarter decision-making. Passionate about user-centered design, she actively incorporates member feedback to ensure the dashboards are both relevant and actionable.
Adam Dedmon
Adam Dedmon is the Employee Benefits Manager at ACWA JPIA where he manages medical, dental, vision and ancillary plans for over 20,000 lives across 270 member agencies. Adam has been with the JPIA for two years. Prior to joining the JPIA, Adam was an educator for 20 years working as a teacher, a middle school principal, and an assistant superintendent in Douglas County, Nevada. He is also a published writer, most recently on the subject of linguistics with the Cambridge University Press. Adam attended the University of Pau, France and is a graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno and holds SHRM and CEBS certifications.
Raul Hernandez
Raul Hernandez, CPA, is a Shareholder at Gilbert CPAs where he specializes in audit and assurance services for Joint Powers Authorities and other complex governmental and nonprofit entities. He brings nearly nine years of public accounting experience with deep expertise serving governmental entities, JPAs, special districts, and risk-sharing organizations. Raul has extensive experience in audit planning and execution, GASB compliance, internal controls, risk assessment, and financial reporting, and is frequently relied upon by boards and management as a trusted advisor on complex accounting, regulatory, and governance matters. He has worked extensively with specialized structures such as captive insurance programs and risk pools and regularly guides clients through technical accounting changes and heightened regulatory environments.
Steve Huntley
Steve Huntley joined Chandler in March of 2025 as a Senior Portfolio Strategist. Prior to joining Chandler, Steve served as the Director of Finance and Administration at the City of Farmersville in Central California while holding multiple leadership roles in the broader financial industry. He served on the Board and the Executive Committee of Central San Joaquin Valley Risk Management Authority (CSJVRMA) for more than a decade, including terms as President from 2020 to 2022. He also served on the board of the California Affiliated Risk Management Authority (CARMA, an excess liability JPA), from 2019-2025, and helped found CARMA’s captive insurance company, California Affiliated Risk Management Authority Captive (CARMAC). Steve has six years of private-sector investment experience from Capital Group and Cambridge Investment Research.Steve currently serves on the Finance Committee for CAJPA and the Professional Standards Committee for CSMFO.
Mike Harrington
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 self-insured 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 cozying up with a good math book!
Danielle Heim
Danielle Heim is a Senior Database Developer at PRISM Risk and has been with the organization since 2011, working in the D&A department since 2017. Her role extends far beyond building and maintaining databases. She seeks out and analyzes information, designs database architecture, and develops processes to intake, clean, process, and convert data. Danielle also creates reports and visualizations to bring data to life, making her well-versed in every stage of the data lifecycle. She hopes to one day integrate all PRISM systems into a single database to automate information flow and make data readily accessible across the organization, and she feels fortunate to work on PRISM’s proprietary DnA database.
SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES
Dan Low
Dan Low is the Digital Intelligence Manager at the Schools Insurance Authority (SIA), leading data, automation, and AI efforts for risk management and claims at SIA. With over 15 years of experience at SIA and multiple roles across the organization, Dan brings a deep understanding of both enterprise technology and the business processes it supports. He focuses on modernizing systems, building scalable data platforms, and responsibly applying AI to improve efficiency, compliance, and service delivery.
Jim Marta
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 and 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.
Gustavo Mastroianni
Gustavo Mastroianni is an Information Technology professional with 18 years of experience specializing in networking, Wi-Fi, and cybersecurity. Originally from Brazil, he holds industryleading certifications including CISSP, CISM, C|CISO, and CWNE (#225). As Chief Information Security Officer at the Schools Insurance Authority (SIA), Gustavo leads the organization’s cybersecurity program, aligning business risk with appropriate security controls while ensuring people, processes, and technologies work together effectively.
Nicole Montalvo
With more than two decades in the pooling industry, Nicole routinely evaluates new technologies and operational workflows to drive efficiency and modernization. She specializes in web development, system implementation, and application administration, and is known for her practical experimentation and focus on aligning new tools to real operational needs.
Jonny Norris
Jonny is an Account Director at Concentric AI, a US-based data security governance company. Born and raised in Silicon Valley, he graduated from the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business and began his career in technology consulting at Deloitte. He then spent several years in Madrid working in education before returning to the Bay Area to join CrowdStrike, where he supported Fortune 100 customers and later helped launch the company’s log management product (now next-gen SIEM) following the acquisition of Humio.
Carlos Oblites
Carlos Oblites is Senior Portfolio Strategist and Investment Pool Strategist at Chandler Asset Management, where he builds client relationships with public agencies and supports portfolio management. He brings more than 30 years of experience managing short-term fixed income and pension strategies for governmental and nonprofit clients. Previously, Carlos held leadership roles at Central Marin Sanitation Agency, PFM Asset Management, and Wells Capital Management. He holds a B.A. from UC Santa Barbara, an M.B.A. from San Francisco State University, and FINRA Series 7, 63, and 65 licenses.
Tom Pelster
Tom Pelster serves as Chief Information Officer for Public Risk Innovation, Solutions and Management (PRISM), bringing over 30 years of experience in California’s public sector technology leadership. He specializes in implementing strategic technology solutions that deliver measurable business value and enhance service delivery across state and local government organizations. Tom is recognized for his collaborative approach to technology innovation and his expertise in driving digital transformation initiatives that improve operational efficiency and public service delivery.
Ben Rodriguez
Ben Rodriguez, Technology Projects Manager, joined the California JPIA in 2024. He oversees the Authority’s software, hardware, and telecommunications platforms and manages the implementation and support of new technology projects.
Hunter Sargent
Hunter Sargent joined ACWA/JPIA in June 2025 as a Cybersecurity Risk Specialist, bringing a strong background in both government and private-sector cybersecurity. His experience includes service in the U.S. Air Force and the National Security Agency as a Cyber Warfare Operator, followed by work in the insurance industry as a cybersecurity analyst protecting internal systems and infrastructure.
Kim Santin
Kim Santin, CPA, is a finance and risk management executive with more than 40 years of experience serving public agencies, joint powers authorities, and self-insured risk pools. As an Accounting Manager at James Marta & Company, she partners with pooling organizations on financial strategy, governance, and long-term sustainability. Kim has held roles as executive director and finance director and is known for her board-focused approach to risk financing, investment oversight, and organizational transitions. She has completed Risk Management and Risk Financing examinations toward the ARM designation.
Tom Sher
Tom Sher is the Senior Vice President and a Partner in the Public Entity Benefit Group of Alliant Insurance Services, Inc. based in San Francisco. Tom has been a benefits consultant for over 48 years and joined Alliant in 1998. His clients include Public Colleges and Schools, California Joint Powers Authorities such as PRISM and ACWA JPIA as well as numerous Counties, Cities and Special Districts. Tom works with public employers both in and out of the CalPERS health benefits plans and extensively with management and labor unions in the context of Joint Labor-Management processes. Tom is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, the European Institute of Business Administration (INSEAD) and served with the U.S. Navy in the Gulf of Tonkin in 1972-1974.
Robert Sheesley
Robert Sheesley is a technology and transformation executive and U.S. Marine Corps veteran with deep experience leading largescale business, data, and AI initiatives. Formerly CIO of Wrench Group, he helped guide rapid growth from $220M to $2B in revenue across 30+ brands nationwide. Robert now serves as a Fractional CIO, advising companies on technology and AI strategy, and sits on the board of Bump Connect. He is a 2024 Global CIO 100 honoree and 2023 Georgia CIO ORBIE winner.
Sonya Wytinck
Sonya Wytinck is Executive Vice President of Data & Insights at Polco, leading data science, survey research, and customer success teams to help public entities rely on credible data for better decision-making. With a master’s degree in applied economics and 25 years of experience, she has led complex research and analytics efforts for governments across North America and internationally. Sonya specializes in improving data quality, translating complex analyses into actionable insights, and supporting evidence-based policy, reform, and risk assessment.
A HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR 2026 SPONSORS & EXHIBTORS!
