2026 KSGFOA Spring Symposium

The 5th Annual KSGFOA Spring Symposium is an opportunity to connect with public finance professionals from across the region to learn about the latest topics and trends relevant to you.

April 27, 2026

8:00am – 5:00pm

Where: Rhatigan Student Center at Wichita State | 1845 Fairmount St Wichita, Kansas 67260

8:00 Registration & Continental Breakfast

8:30 – 5:00 Symposium

Aloft Hotel

3642 N Oliver Ave

$130.00 a night

Book until 4/15/2026

Pricing

Early Bird Registration is $175 Member/$200 Non Member (through midnight February 28th)

Member Registration is $185 Member/$210 Non Member

Student/Intern $25

Registration Closes Midnight 4/17

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Sponsorships

Sponsorships due April 10, 2026

Keynote Speakers

Kate Nygren

Kristi Northcutt

Presentation Description

Narrative Leadership

Narrative leadership (storytelling) is a public servant’s responsibility and best means to protect democratic norms and standards. Storytelling is a deeply human practice, and stories are inherently about social interactions and their consequences. Narrative leadership, then, is purposefully using stories to highlight and defend democratic values and community. Public administrators can do narrative leadership in many, many ways, including by:

  • Appealing to tradition – “In our community, we have a long tradition of….”

  • Highlighting times your community has come together across broad differences to address a shared issue.

  • Finding opportunities to educate the community about how government works, how policies are formed, etc.  (for the symposium, we will tighten this framing to finance topics, specifically how to use storytelling to create and deliver a budget to the community.)

  • Telling stories about times when your community was at its best.

    Schedule

    April 27SpeakerTopicRoom
    8:00 AM Registration & Networking 

    8:25 AM

    Welcome from KSGFOA

     

    		Barry Smith, KSGFOA President 
    8:30 AM – 9:30 AM

     

     

     

     

    KEYNOTE

    		Kristi Northcutt and Kate Nygren, KU PMCResponding to Incivility in the Public Sector: Narrative Leadership 
    9:30 AM – 9:45 AM Visit Vendors 

    9:45 AM – 10:45 AM

    Breakout Session #1

    		Kristi Northcutt and Kate Nygren, KU PMCApplying Narrative Leadership 

    9:45 AM – 10:45 AM

    Breakout Session #2

    		Ross VogelReinvestment Housing Incentive District (RHID): Why Incentives are Needed, How RHID Works 
    11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

     

     

     

     

    General Session #1

    		Spencer Duncan, LKM What Just Happened? 2026 Legislature and Beyond 
    12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

     

    		Visit Vendors 

    12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

    		 Lunch 

    1:15 PM – 2:30 PM

    General Session #2

    Dr. Guo

    Regents Distinguished Professor of Public Finance

    Hugo Wall School of Public Affairs, Wichita State University

    		What Voters Support: Evidence from Local Option Sales Tax Ballots 
    2:30 PM – 2:45 PM Visit Vendors 

    2:45 PM – 3:45 PM

    Breakout Session #3

    		Kolbe Kryzanowski, Baker TillyFundamentals of Kansas Economic Development Finance 

    2:45 PM – 3:45 PM

    Breakout Session #4

    		Kayla Williams

     

    Government Affairs Director/Mayor

    Swindoll, Janzen, Hawk & Loyd

    		Safeguarding your Assets – Internal Controls that Work  

    4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

    General Session #3

    		Dr. Shelley Kneuvean, Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City KansasUG Case Study: Benefits to Local Governments from Economic Incentives 

    5:00 PM

    Closing

    		 Barry Smith, KSGFOA President 

     

    CANCELLATION/REFUND POLICY

    All conference registration cancellations must be in writing, which can be mailed, faxed or sent via email. Cancellations 10 days or more prior to the event will receive a 75% refund. There will be no refunds for cancellations less than 10 days prior to the event. Any exception is subject to review by the event policy committee.