Instructor
Gain critical insights for improving government audit quality at the annual COCPA Governmental Conference. Every year, there are new and emerging developments. This conference will give you clarity and help you anticipate what’s ahead.
This conference will give you clarity about what’s happening now and help you anticipate what’s next.
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Practitioners and governmental accountants wanting an overview of specialized subjects in the governmental arena.
Scott Reeser is a senior project manager with the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) in Norwalk, Connecticut. He is currently working on GASB projects related to the reexamination of the financial reporting model and infrastructure assets. Previously, he has worked on several projects, including those leading to statements on accounting and financial reporting for post-employment benefits, public-private partnerships, fiduciary activities, and transactions reported as deferred outflows of resources and deferred inflows of resources.
Before joining the staff of the GASB in 2010, Mr. Reeser spent ten years working for the Office of the Comptroller in the State of Illinois. During that time, Mr. Reeser was responsible for the coordination and preparation of the state's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report and the development of statewide accounting policies. His previous experience also includes over five years with a public accounting firm performing financial and compliance audits of not-for-profit entities and governmental agencies.
Mr. Reeser is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Illinois CPA Society.
Get up to speed on the latest Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) developments that matter most to your financial reporting. This session will walk through key standards currently in implementation, including GASB Statement 101 on compensated absences and Statement 102 on improvements to the financial reporting model. We’ll also look ahead at the GASB’s current technical agenda, offering insights into potential future standards and their anticipated impact. Attendees will leave better equipped to prepare for both current compliance requirements and what’s coming next. Key takeaways include understanding the scope and application of Statements 101 and 102, as well as gaining awareness of emerging topics under GASB consideration.
Dr. Johnnie Bejarano is a Program Directorate Analyst for the Strategic Energy Analysis Center, with the Alliance for Sustainable Energy. Alliance is the management and operating contractor for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), in Golden, Colorado. NREL is owned by the U.S. Department of Energy and is a Federally Funded Research and Development Center. It is the nation’s primary research and development laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency. At Regis University, he teaches forensic and fraud audit, accounting ethics, governmental and non-profit accounting, financial communication, and other accounting courses. In the local community, he conducts public presentations on anti-fraud and ethics-related topics. In 2022, he earned the Professional Practice Achievement Award, Anderson College of Business and Computing, Regis University, and other numerous teaching excellence awards from other universities. His area of interest is in ethics and anti-fraud mitigation techniques. He holds DBA, MBA, and MA degrees.
He’s a combat veteran with 26 1/2 years of service in the U.S. Air Force, Arizona, and Colorado Air National Guard units. He spent three years as base comptroller at Buckley Air Force Base and was involved in inspector general investigations and reports of surveys as an assistant U.S. property fiscal officer. Over his part-time career, he spent multiple tours in Arizona, Alaska, Florida, New York, Georgia, New Mexico, Wisconsin, HQ/Washington DC, HQ/PACAF Hawaii, and HQ/USAFE Germany. He served a final tour of duty as deputy base commander for support in the Sultanate of Oman during Operation Enduring Freedom in 2002 under combat field conditions. He retired as a lieutenant colonel in 2003.
In 2011, Dr. Bejarano was elected to the Board of Regents of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), which is the largest anti-fraud-fighting organization in the world with over 90,000 members worldwide. At ACFE, he worked with Cynthia Cooper, author, and WorldCom whistleblower. He recently completed a four-year gubernatorial appointment with the State Board of Accountancy. He is also a member of the editorial advisory committee for Fraud Magazine, a board member for the ACFE’s Colorado Chapter, and involved with the American Institute of CPAs, the Colorado Society of CPAs, Association of Military Comptrollers, Government Finance Officers’ Association, and member of the U.S. Golf Association. For fun, he enjoys spending time with his family and two granddaughters, plays golf, loves sports, and is an avid semi-pro photographer. He studied professional photography at the New York Institute of Photography and Digital Photography at Cornell University (eCornell). He is a firm believer in continuous improvement and is an advocate for lifelong learning. “Never stop learning.”
Ethical decision-making involves more than following rules—it requires insight, judgment, and an understanding of what drives our choices. This session introduces Ethical Intelligence as a foundation for navigating dilemmas and explores multiple ethical frameworks to expand your perspective. Using the "abacus" model and Dimensions of Moral Intensity, participants will identify critical factors that influence ethical behavior and examine how fraud risks can emerge subtly within decision-making processes. Key takeaways include the ability to compare ethical models, recognize factors that shape ethical choices, understand how intensity affects moral judgment, and strengthen fraud awareness. Attendees will leave better equipped to apply a thoughtful, principled approach to complex professional situations.
Crystal Dorsey is the Local Government Audit Manager for the Colorado Office of the State Auditor (OSA). The Local Government Audit Division tracks over 4,000 Colorado local governments for compliance with the Local Government Audit Law, which requires submission of an annual independent financial audit to the OSA. Crystal and her team review audit reports and requests for exemption from audit for compliance with generally accepted accounting and audit principles, and state statutes.
Prior to joining the OSA in February 2008, Crystal first started her career in governmental accounting with the City of Golden. After nearly 13 years there, she worked for a CPA firm auditing local governments in Colorado for 4 years.
Crystal holds a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Regis University, and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in Colorado. Crystal and her husband have three daughters and six grandchildren.
Stay current with the latest developments from the Colorado Office of the State Auditor (OSA) in this timely session focused on legislative updates and audit insights. Participants will gain clarity on recent exemption threshold changes and their impact on local governments, explore hot topics in single audits, and review common issues identified in local government audit reports. The session will also cover key findings from the annual school district fiscal health analysis, equipping attendees with a deeper understanding of financial risk indicators and trends. Walk away with actionable knowledge to ensure compliance, strengthen fiscal oversight, and stay ahead of evolving audit requirements.
With nearly two decades of expertise in governmental and nonprofit accounting, Alex helps facilitate the development of governmental training programs for Galasso Learning Solutions. Her engaging presentation style, passion for connecting with attendees, and ability to make complex topics accessible have made her a sought-after educator in the field.
Prior to joining GLS, Alex served in executive leadership roles, including Chief Financial Officer and Director of Finance, within governmental entities, worked as an auditor for a public accounting firm, and earned both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Accounting from Colorado State University. Her contributions to the accounting field have been widely recognized, including being named one of the Top 50 Women in Accounting (2022, 2023) and receiving the AICPA’s Outstanding Young CPA Award in 2022.
Alex serves on AICPA Council and is a member of the Governmental Performance Accountability Committee. She previously served on the Emerging Professional Initiative Committee of the AICPA. She is currently serving as the Vice President of the Educational Foundation Board of Trustees for the Colorado Society of CPAs and is a member of their Young Professional Council. Alex loves Disney and running so in January 2024, she completed the 48.6 mile Dopey Challenge at Walt Disney World!
Stay ahead of the curve with the latest developments in governmental accounting and auditing. This timely session will unpack the 2024 Uniform Guidance and the 2025 Compliance Supplement, examining how each influences Single Audit requirements and compliance testing procedures. We’ll also explore the evolving Yellow Book, with particular attention to the new Quality Management standards set to take effect later this year. Participants will gain clarity on what’s changing, why it matters, and how to apply the updates in practice. Key takeaways include recognizing the impact of the 2024 Uniform Guidance, identifying changes in Single Audit protocols, and understanding the components of quality management now required under the updated Yellow Book.
This panel will discuss challenges and opportunities facing local governments and their partners.
Join Allison Slife with Principle, State and Local Government - CLA
Morgan Mauricio - Controller at Cherry Creek School Districts
Justin Sykes - Denver's Budget and Management Director
Please come prepared with questions and look forward to a great discussion.
Richard L. Wobbekind is Associate Dean for Businesss and Government Relations, Associate Professor of Business Economics and Finance, and Faculty Director of the Business Research Division at the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
He participates annually in the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank Regional Economic Roundtable and is a contributor to the Western Blue Chip forecast newsletter and the National Association for Business Economics (NABE) economic outlook and policy surveys. He is a member of the Boulder Economic Council. He serves as a board member for the Western Regional Science Association. Rich is past President of the NABE.
He is frequently interviewed by local and national broadcast and print media. He has received numerous awards for his teaching research and service including the University of Colorado Community Outreach Award (1997); member of Distinction by the Boulder Chamber of Commerce (2002); the Robert L. Stearns Award from the University of Colorado Alumni Association for career achievement in teaching, research and service(2006); the Thayne Robsen award from the Association for University Business and Economics Research for career achievement in applied regional economic analysis (2008); key contributor by the Boulder Chamber of Commerce(2010); and named a fellow by the National Association for Business Economics. (2011). In 2022 and 2023 he was been named to the top 50 list of influential business leaders in Northern Colorado by Bizwest.
Dr. Wobbekind teaches MBA students in macroeconomics and public policy. He has received four awards for teaching excellence from the students of the Leeds School of Business. Richard Wobbekind has lived in Colorado for over 43 years and has spent much of his time studying the development of the Colorado and regional economies. Dr. Wobbekind received a BA in Economics from Bucknell University and an MA and Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Colorado-Boulder.
Economic trends don’t just shape markets—they drive decisions at every level of government. This session offers a focused look at Colorado’s economy through the lens of public finance and planning. Attendees will explore how shifts in employment, education, income, and prices influence government revenue and expenditures, and how consumer and business confidence can impact budget forecasting. We’ll assess the effects of monetary policy, interest rates, and debt on municipal borrowing and long-term investment decisions. Key takeaways include: understanding how population and labor market trends affect regional planning, evaluating the fiscal implications of changes in real estate and construction activity, and applying economic indicators to support more informed, resilient public sector decision-making.