During the 1980s, Sam Antar helped mastermind (with his cousin Eddie Antar and Uncle Sam M. Antar, co-founders of the company – Crazy Eddie, Inc.) one of the largest frauds of its time. Crazy Eddie Antar was coined by U.S. Attorney Michael Chertoff as, "the Darth Vader of Capitalism." This securities fraud cost investors and creditors hundreds of millions of dollars, cost many people their life savings, and cost many people their jobs and careers. Mr. Antar believes in overcoming past misdeeds and wrongdoing and trying to do something positive out of it without any personal gain. He feels that it is his obligation and responsibility to educate society, so that society can avoid future perils caused by a new generation of criminals.

Sam E. Antar, former Chief Financial Offi cer of Crazy Eddie, Inc.

How do we motivate employees to continue to do a good job? How do we hire and retain the "Employee of Choice" in the face of competition from private sector employers? Join us in discussing no-cost incentives that create the drive and excitement in employees you’re looking for and motivational strategies that government employers can utilize to recruit, retain and recognize the best performers.

Elizabeth Moore, City Auditor, City of Memphis, TN
Michael McAnally, Compensation Manager & Entry-Level Hiring Manager, City of Philadelphia, PA   ppt   pdf

Grants are increasingly important as a funding source for local governments. Do you know how well your organization manages this function? This presentation will lead you through the journey of evaluating every aspect of the grant administration life cycle.

Cathy Criswell, Internal Audit Manager, City of Tulsa, OK  ppt pdf

�� Auditing What Matters

Gary Blackmer will talk about the importance of "large effect" auditing to achieve the expectations of the profession as well as the public interest. Umesh Dalal will discuss adding value by focusing on issues of interest to the stakeholders.

Gary Blackmer, City Auditor, City of Portland, OR ppt pdf
Umesh Dalal, City Auditor, City of Richmond, VA ppt pdf

�� Excel Pivot Tables

Pivot tables can quickly summarize and present data. See how pivot tables can be used in practice and get some recommendations on usage. We will explore how best to set up your data and move through the basics to more intermediate techniques to get the most out of this tool and your data.

David Givans, County Internal Auditor, Deschutes County, OR ppt pdf

CONCURRENT SESSIONS 1:20 − 3:00 p.m.

This presentation will show how to evaluate contracts and contract implementation, going beyond "ontime"and "on-budget" audits. Was the award process legitimate? Was the contract a good idea? Was it effective and effi cient? We’ll offer tools and techniques for performance audits that add more value than traditional contract audits.

Drummond Kahn, Director, Audit Services, City of Portland, OR
Beth Woodward, Management Auditor, City of Portland, OR
Gary White, City Auditor, Kansas City, MO  ppt pdf

�� AGA Citizen Centric Program and SEA Review

Governments exist to serve their citizens. Citizen taxpayer groups, citizens and governing bodies have a right to understand how their governments operate and if their tax dollars are being spent effi ciently and effectively. Management needs data to communicate their specifi c program needs, and governments have a responsibility to make smart decisions when allocating precious resources to meet those needs. AGA’s performance and accountability program has two projects which encourage the accountability and ransparency of government performance. Learn about the Citizen-Centric Program and the Service Efforts and Accomplishments Certifi cate of Achievement Review Program. Both are designed to increase respect of the citizens, media and government leaders. Come learn how your government can produce these reports.

Evie Barry, Director of Performance Reporting, Association of Government Accountants
Susan Fritzlen, Deputy Executive Director of Programs, Association of Government Accountants

Citizen Centric Reporting ppt pdf

�� Peer Review Team Leader

In this session, participants will gain an understanding of peer review team leader responsibilities. Session facilitators are experienced ALGA Peer Review Committee members who have served as review team coordinators, leaders and members. Participants are encouraged to come armed with questions.

Jim Williamson, Assistant City Auditor, City of Oklahoma City, OK doc doc
Bill Greene, Deputy City Auditor, City of Phoenix, AZ  ppt pdf

GENERAL SESSION 3:20 − 5:00 p.m.

�� A Brief History of ALGA

Panelists will discuss the events that led to the founding of the Association. In addition, the panel will address the challenges and issues that ALGA has faced. The panel will also highlight the Association’s accomplishments. Finally, it will attempt to provide insight on how ALGA can best address the future.

Joanne Griggs, former City Auditor, City of Virginia Beach, VA (ret.)
Jerome Heer, Director of Audits, Milwaukee County, WI
Roland Malan, Consultant, Sandpiper Consulting, WA
Debbie Taylor, County Auditor, Jackson County, OR
Dick Tracy, Lifetime Member, OR

TUESDAY, MAY 20

GENERAL SESSION

What is the right thing to do? Do ethical principles vary from person to person, or do they apply to all of us, no matter where we’re from or what we personally believe? Are there right and wrong answers to ethical questions? This practical, interactive presentation from The Ethics Guy®, Dr. Bruce Weinstein, begins with a "What would you do?" multiple choice quiz targeted to the needs and interests of auditors and other fi nancial professionals. Dr. Weinstein then presents a modern code of ethics with rules such as "Always keep your promises, unless something better comes along." He then shows why no one would reasonably want to live in a society with such rules and how living ethically is the best way to be at our best professionally and personally. The next portion of the presentation is an overview of the fi ve ethical or "life" principles that have stood the test of time. Revisiting the quiz, he shows how these principles point us in the right direction in each scenario. He ends by offering a simple checklist that each attendee can use each day to live an ethical life. This is an ethics presentation with the uplifting tone and message of a motivational speech.

Dr. Bruce Weinstein, The Ethics Guy

CONCURRENT SESSIONS 10:00 − 11:40 a.m.

�� Knighton Award Winners

This session will feature presentations from winners of ALGA’s 2007 Knighton Awards. Hear from the Gold Award winners of the small, medium and large audit shop report categories.

Maricopa County (AZ), Project: Environmental Services Review of Selected Areas within the Maricopa County Environmental Services Department ppt pdf

City of Portland (OR), Project: Sexual Assault Response and Investigation: Portland efforts fall short of a victim-centered approach ppt pdf

METRO (Portland, OR), Project: Natural Areas Program: Improved Transparency Recommended ppt pdf (2mb)

�� Analyzing Law Enforcement Services: Cutting Through the Fog

This presentation provides tools and tips for auditors to deal with one of the most challenging areas of policy and resource analysis in government. Because of citizens’ crime fears and police managers’ demands for more resources, an analytically strong and independent ability is needed to assess real needs and choices.

Richard Brady, Matrix Consulting Group, CA   ppt   pdf

GENERAL SESSION 1:00 − 2:40 p.m.

�� New Perspectives: From City Auditor to Mayor

Hear from one of ALGA’s founding fathers Mark Funkhouser on his transition from city auditor to mayor of Kansas City, Missouri. Mark will share why he ran for mayor, some of his campaign strategies and tactics, what he has learned during his fi rst six months in offi ce, and what he thinks elected offi cials need from local government auditors.

Mark Funkhouser, Mayor of Kansas City, MO  doc

CONCURRENT SESSIONS 3:00 − 4:15 p.m.

�� Audit vs. Management: When Management Says "Show Me"

Auditors face the struggle between what is audit responsibility versus what is management responsibility everyday. This presentation discusses one of the worst possible scenarios when an auditor is faced with being requested (required?) to "fi x" the problem by actually managing the area that has failed and implementing her own recommendations. The situation: a city that bills $13-$17 million dollars per month in utility revenue hasn’t billed for 6 months; management asks the internal auditor to fi x it. This session shares (1) what went wrong, (2) lessons learned from the experience, and (3) how to avoid being put in the position.

Susan Croff, Utility Process/Quality Control Auditor, City of Denton, TX ppt pdf (2mb)

�� Auditing in an Interactive Online Environment: The Web 2.0 Challenge

Web 2.0 is not just new technology; it is using the technology differently. Web 2.0 represents a shift to websites where online communities are sharing and creating content. Some examples are YouTube, Facebook, blogs and Wikipedia. Learn how auditors can adapt to and use this new environment.

Suzanne Flynn, Metro Auditor, Metro, Portland, OR
Kristin Lieser, Senior Management Auditor, Metro, Portland, OR pdf (7mb)

Government auditors provide management with information to help yield effective and effi cient operations, as well as minimize organizational risks. Charged with this responsibility, it is crucial that auditors have the right standards and guidance to help get the job done. GAO’s Yellow Book and the IIA’s Red Book are the premier resources for government auditors. Ms. Buchanan will provide insight on the key similarities and difference between the two sets of standards and how auditors can use both sets of standards together.

Marcia Buchanan, Assistant Director, Government Auditing Standards, U.S. Government Accountability Office ppt pdf