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Annual Grants Training


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2025 NGMA Annual Grants Training

March 12-14, 2025 | Washington, D.C.

Annual Grants Training (AGT) is a three-day, in-person event ideal for grants management professionals at all career levels. It is the largest grants management-focused training event in the nation. Event agenda includes keynote speakers, plenary panels, 50+ breakout sessions, expo hall with NGMA CAPP partners and more.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Registration fees include entry into education sessions, expo hall, receptions and meals (breakfast and lunch on Thursday, March 13 and Friday, March 14).

ONLINE REGISTRATION IS CLOSED.
TO ATTEND THIS EVENT, PLEASE REGISTER ONSITE.
Registration hours on Wednesday, March 12: 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. (Terrace Foyer)

RATES (through February 19)

$1,069 per person (Members) | $1,243 per person (Non-Members)* 

LATE REGISTRATION (February 20 - March 12)
$1,099 per person (Members) | $1,273 per person (Non-Members)*

* Non-member registration fee includes complimentary 1-year individual NGMA membership.

DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE FOR LARGE GROUPS:

10+ employees from same organization: $50 discount/person
20+ employees from same organization: $100 discount/person

Qualifying employees must be part of the same NGMA group membership and be billed together under one invoice.

 
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2025 AGENDA
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Schedule of Events
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
Time Sessions
 Speakers Course Level
7 a.m. - 6 p.m. Registration Open    
Time Pre-Conference Sessions Speakers  
10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. Auditor vs. Entity - Round 1 Single Audit Readiness from Two Perspectives
 Kathleen Kizior
and Zach LeMorta,
Cherry Bekaert		 Intermediate
 
 Building a Career in Grants:
What You Need to Know		 Mara Ash,
BFS Strategic Partners		 Basic
  Federal Grant Myths and Misunderstandings Jerry Bertrand, CGMS, Public Impact Advisors LLC Basic
  Tactics for Using and Documenting Federal Policy & Performance-Based Funding Jeffrey Thomas and Thomas Staton, KPMG LLP, Gina Salazar-Love and Stacey Alles, Colorado Dept of Personnel and Administration Update
  Uniform Guidance Revisions Adopted - Now the Real Work Begins Jennifer Keller and Troy Rector, Clark Nuber, PS Update
1:30 p.m. - 3 p.m.
 Opening Session and Keynote
Sponsored by: KarmaSuite		  Keynote: Frank Abagnale
 Overview
3 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. Break    
3 p.m. - 7 p.m. CAPP Expo Hours    
Time Breakout Sessions Speakers Course Level
3:15 - 4:15 p.m. Broadband Expansion Grants: Building Digital Equity and Managing Complex Programs Angie Brown and Jane Clark, EisnerAmper Intermediate
  Indirect What? A Beginner's
Guide to Indirect Costs		 Johna Rodgers, Partners for Rural Impact Basic
  Procurement Playbook: Navigating the Uniform Guidance and Buy America Act Sarah Legner, CGMS and Daniel Dahmash, CPA, HORNE LLP Basic
  Preparing for Success in Pre-Award David Clark, BDO USA Basic
  Solo & Small Team Success: Grants Management Strategies that Work Patrick Swinick and Tim Cutler, BerryDunn Intermediate
  Strengthening Fraud Prevention: Key Lessons from COVID-19 Grants Programs Irene Pasternak, Guidehouse and Ken Dieffenbach, Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) Intermediate
  Roundtable Discussion: Higher Education Sector Meeting Lashon Brown, CGMS, Valencia College Overview
  Roundtable Discussion: Public Health Grants Rochelle McLaurin, Heluna Health Overview
4: 15 - 4:45 p.m. Break    
4:45 - 5:45 p.m. ARPA/SLFRF Innovation: Local Government Successes and How We Did It Eric J. Russell, ENJ PLLC, Alyssa Hernandez, City of Cleveland (OH), and Brittany Cobb, City of Dallas (TX) Basic
  Ethical Challenges in Grants Management: Updates, Risks, and Opportunities Brian Kamoie and Kelley Grow,
Deloitte & Touche, LLP		 Basic
  Leveraging Analytics and Artificial Intelligence to Optimize Grants Impact Amy Jones, Ernst & Young Basic
  Noncompliance: Now What? Bonnie Graham and Madelaine Cleghorn, The Bruman Group, PLLC Basic
  Mastering Procurement Fraud Prevention: Practical Strategies for Nonprofits
(Yes, You Can!)		 Rebecca Silva and Ivan Gonzalez, Falcon Sanchez & Associates, PSC Basic
  Navigating Grant and Agreement Terminations Kathleen Kizior, CGMS and Paula Heller, Cherry Bekaert Lincoln
  Roundtable Discussion: Nonprofit Sector Meeting Julie Assel, CGMS, Assel Grant Services and Scott Sweatman, CGMS, NEW Solutions Overview
  Roundtable Discussion: Developing Your Personal Brand Kim Joyce and D'Laun Oubre, Kim Joyce & Associates Overview
Time Sessions Speakers  
5:45 - 7 p.m. Reception    
Thursday, March 13, 2025
Time Sessions Speakers Course Level
7 a.m. - 5 p.m. Registration Open    
7 a.m. - 8 a.m. Breakfast    
7 a.m. - 4:15 p.m. CAPP Expo Hours    
8 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Plenary Panel
Compliance Conversations: Understanding & Navigating the Current Grants Environment		 Panelists:
Phillip Escoriaza, Esq., Partner, Feldesman Leifer LLP
Matthew Hanson, CGMS, Managing Associate Director, Witt O'Brien's
Kim Joyce, GPC, CEO, Kim Joyce & Associates LLC
Lisa Stinson, CPA, Managing Director, Crowe LLP
 
Moderator:
Paula Heller, Grants Management Solutions Lead, Cherry Bekaert Advisory		 Overview
9:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. Break    
9:45 - 10:45 a.m. Audit Findings: Friend or Foe?
You'd Be Surprised!		 Jenniffer Wilson, Crystal Wolf, Akela, LLC
Intermediate
  Beginning With the End in Mind: Program Design Documents and Best Practices Zein Jivani and Joseph Simon, Deloitte Intermediate
  Managing Change in Changing Times with Tried & True Best Practices Jillian Neimeister, CGMS, AmpliFund Intermediate
  Mixology: Combining the Right Professionals to Provide Administrative Grants Oversight Nicole Turner and Jeannie Sutton, Lee County, Florida Overview
  The Shocking Reality of Infrastructure
Grants Funding		 Michelle Little, Witt O'Brien's and Phillip A. Escoriaza, Feldesman Leifer LLP Overview
  Roundtable Discussion:
State and Local Sector Meeting		 Matthew Hanson, CGMS, Witt O'Brien's, Stacie Massey, State of Ohio Office of Budget and Management Overview
10:45 a.m. - 11 a.m. Break    
11 a.m - Noon OIG Plenary Panel: 
Current State of Oversight  and Emerging Trends		 Panelists:
Jeffrey Stitz, Director of Public Health and Human Services Programs in the Office of Audit Services
Chuck Ward, Assistant Inspector General for Audit Operations and Special Reviews, OIG, U.S. Department of Transportation
Laura Rousseau, Special Agent, USAID OIG
Hong (Jo) Zhou, Chief Data Officer, Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC)
 
Moderator:
Ken Dieffenbach, Executive Director, Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC)		 Overview
12 p.m. - 1:30 p.m, Lunch    
1:30 - 2:30 p.m. Beyond the Numbers: Grant Evaluation That Tells Your Story Brandi Roberts, Graduate School USA Intermediate 
  Designing an Effective Subrecipient Monitoring Framework: Lessons Learned from Compliance Failures Stacie Massey, State of Ohio Office of Budget and Management Intermediate
  Don’t Be the Next Story: Buying Into Procurement Internal Controls to Prevent Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Tiffany Kesslar, The Bruman Group, PLLC and Lashon Brown, Valencia College Intermediate
  Modified Total Direct Costs (MTDC) Explained Carla Crowe, Crowe LLP, and Lisa Andrew, Prevention First Basic
  Using Compression Planning to Maximize a Small Grants Management Team Jillain Veil-Ehnert, Concordia College Basic
  Roundtable Discussion: An Honest Conversation About Burnout Johna Rodgers, Partners for Rural Impact Overview
  Roundtable Discussion: Public Safety/Justice Grants Lynn Miller, CGMS, Honolulu Police Dept (Retired) Overview
2:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. Break    
2:45 - 3:45 p.m. From Paper to Practice: Animated Case Studies of Procurement and Equipment Policies Loreana Gonzalez-Lazzarini and Alejandro Camporreale, Ad Astra Solutions LLC Intermediate
  Grant Oversight: A Fresh Perspective on Risk, Process, and People C.A. Cruthird and Tikera Chisley, Dallas College Update
  Internal Controls: Your Blueprint to Maintaining Accountability of Federal Grants Rachel Werner, MyFedTrainer Basic
  Leveraging Indirect Cost for Maximum Return Nicolie Cass Lettini, Aptemiz, Inc.
Intermediate
  The Art of Spinning Plates: Solo and Small Teams Grants Management Whitney Gentry, City of Huntsville, Alabama Basic
  Where Is Your Hall Pass? Strategies for Subrecipient Monitoring Glenn McCormick, Tim Thorson, Thorson Grants LC Basic
  Roundtable Discussion: K-12 Sector Meeting Steve Spillan, Esq., CGMS, The Bruman Group, PLLC Overview
  Roundtable Discussion: Tribal Sector Meeting Maria Howeth, CGMS, Ascension Health and DeMakus Staton, D&G Associates Overview
3:45 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. Break    
4:15 - 5:15 p.m. Better to Ask for Permission,
NOT Forgiveness!		 Tonia Brown-Kinzel, The Grant Plant, Inc. Intermediate
  Bridging the GAAP in Grant Accounting Practices: Systems, the GL, & UG Compliance Jennifer Keller and Shareen Corlett, Clark Nuber Basic
  Strategies For Better Stewardship of Grants Dollars Through Effective Subrecipient Oversight and Monitoring Irene Pasternak, Vasanth Ganesan, CGMS, and Sarah De Wolf, Guidehouse Basic
  Successful Field Monitoring for Federal Broadband Grants Nicolas Koniski and Jason Lorentz, KPMG LLP, Alison Terry, Broadband Office, State of Colorado Basic
  The Little Golden Book: Conveying Grants Management & Compliance Guidelines to Diverse Stakeholders Jacqui May, Stantec Consulting
and Patrick Ballinger, ResolveSoft		 Basic
  Working Across the Aisle: How and Why Pre- and Post-Award Grant Departments Should Work Together Kim Joyce and D'Laun Oubre, Kim Joyce & Associates Intermediate
  Roundtable Discussion: Scaling Independence: Insights for Growing Your Consulting Business Carmen (Mely) Torres, On Point Strategy LLC Overview
5:15 p.m. - 6:15 p.m. CGMS Reception (Invitation Only)    
Friday, March 14, 2025
Time Sessions  Speakers Course Level
7 a.m. - 5 p.m. Registration Open    
7 a.m. - 8 a.m. Breakfast    
7 a.m. - 2:15 p.m. CAPP Expo Open    
8 a.m. - 9 a.m. Breakout Sessions:
Current State of Grants Management		    
  Changing Approaches to
Grant Applications		 Rachel Werner, MyFedTrainer and Julie Assel, CGMS, Assel Grant Services Update
  Managing Up in Uncertain Times: Communicating Funding Disruptions to Stakeholders Mara Ash and Cindy Watson, BFS Strategic Partners Intermediate/Advanced
  Navigating Grant Terminations and Closeouts Pushmeet Bhatia, BDO USA Intermediate
  Navigating Indirect Cost in the Changing Grants Landscape... NIH and Beyond Nicolie Cass Lettini, MBA, Aptemiz, Inc. Basic
  Opportunities and Ideas for Organizational Sustainability and Funding Diversification Tim Cutler, Zeb Letourneau, Patrick Swinick, Aaron Crawford, BerryDunn Intermediate
  Tribal Governments & Grant Changes Jane Clark, MPA, CPS, EisnerAmper Overview
  Roundtable Discussion: Documentation and File Organization Cassandra Kokoski, Aspire Grant & Development, LLC  
9 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. Break    
9:15 - 10:15 a.m. Beware of Ethical Minefields: Conflicts of Interest Rules in Federal Grants Management
 Edward T. Waters and Phillip A. Escoriaza, Feldesman Leifer LLP Intermediate
  Building Resilience in Grants Management Rob Hogan, DRS Overview
  Insights and Advice:
Building a Career in Grants Management		 Megan Otto, Moss Adams, LLP, Cynthia Branch, American Medical Association, Lynn Miller, CGMS, Honolulu Police Dept (Retired), Stacie Massey, State of Ohio Office of Budget and Management, Amy Bicek-Skog, Minnesota Department of Health  
  Mastering BEAD Grant Compliance: Navigating Federal Regulations and Audit Readiness Ashley Swain, Lindsey Howard,, HORNE LLP Overview
  Staying on Track: Effective Time and Effort Reporting for Federal Grant Success Abby Rollins, Carson Phillips, CohnReznick, and Nicole Barnes, City of Atlanta Basic
  The Future of Education and Grants Tiffany Kesslar, Steve Spillan and Bonnie Graham, The Bruman Group, PLLC Intermediate
  Roundtable Discussion: Federal Sector Meeting Christian Jones, U.S. Department of State Overview
  Roundtable Discussion: Bringing Your Authentic Self to Work Mara Ash and Cindy Watson, BFS Strategic Partners Overview
10:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Break    
10:30 - 11:30 a.m. Behind the Scenes - Practical Insights Into the FEMA Process & Disaster Recovery Vicky Cooper and Christine Sebastian, Lee County Utilities Basic
  Buy & Comply:
Navigating the Revised Federal Procurement Standards		 Ed Girovasi, Graduate School USA Overview
  Expanding the Horizons: the Evolving Role of Emergency Management Grants in a Complex Threat Landscape Michael Byrne, Deloitte Intermediate
  Navigating Compliance and Transparency of the SF-425 Molly Moss, Crowe LLP
Basic
  Navigating SLFRF Reporting and Closeout: Best Practices and Pitfalls to Avoid Brandon Tanous and Jenn Garrett, Weaver Basic
  State Panel: Approaches to
Statewide GMS Implementation		 Lori Beeler, GATU, Illinois Governor's Office of Management and Budget, Amy Edmondson, State of Idaho, State Controller's Office, Jamdan Clang, Nebraska Dept of Economic Development, Casey Foster, Nebraska Dept of Agriculture, and Jillian Neimeister, AmpliFund Intermediate
  Roundtable Discussion: Disaster Relief Grants Stan Gimont, Haggerty Consulting Overview
  Roundtable Discussion: Nonprofit Funding Strategies Brent Ramsey, CGMS, SCORE Overview
11:30 a.m - 1 p.m. Lunch    
1:00 - 2:00 p.m. Getting Up to Speed: What Your Colleagues Need to Know About Grants Management Joseph O'Keefe, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research Intermediate
  Building and Financing Integrated Data Systems for Better Outcomes:  The What, Why, and How Kathy Stack, Pari Sabety, and Robert McGough, U.S. Digital Response Update
  Funding with Purpose: Strategies for Effective Subrecipient Support Michael Miranda-Moore, and Megan Otto, Moss Adams, LLP Intermediate
  Maximizing Grant Impact During Uncertain Times Emiliano Segura, Hagerty Consulting Intermediate
  OIG Audits, Findings and What to Do Each Step of the Way Catherine Gilpin, Forvis Mazars and Edward T. Waters, Feldesman Leifer LLP Intermediate
  Roundtable Discussion: Procurement Sarah Legner and Daniel Dahmash, Horne LLP Overview
2 p.m - 2:15 p.m. Break    
2:15 - 3:15 p.m. Preventing Fraud, Waste, and Abuse in Grants: Tools for Detection and Mitigation Brandon Tanous and Jenn Garrett, Weaver Basic
  Strategic Grant Funding Capture Management Timothy Cutler and Patrick Swinick, BerryDunn Intermediate
  Strategies for Scaling Up a Grants Office Without Burning Out: A "Fireside Chat" Taylor Collins, Tennessee Dept of Economic and Community Development, Jeni Brinkman and Edwige Stephen, Accenture Intermediate
  We Have the Grant, Now What?  A Toolbox for Grant Intake and Audit Preparation Carla McMullen, Wake Technical Community College Basic
  What Happens When Big Money Comes to Small Teams Chrisanne Christensen, Houston Advanced Research Center Basic
3:15 p.m. - 3:45 p.m Break    
3:15 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. Grants Attorney Panel
Hosted by the American Bar Association
Grant Law Committee
 Panelists:
Jayna Rust, Partner, Thompson Coburn
Edward T. Waters, Esq. Managing Partner, Feldesman Leifer LLP
Wendel Askew, Assistant General Counsel for Assistance Law, US EPA
Isaac Natter, Senior Associate General Counsel (Acquisition & Logistics) at Office of the Secretary of Defense
 
Moderator:
Tiffany Kesslar, Esq., CGMS, Partner, The Bruman Group, PLLC		 Overview
7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Closing Party
Sponsored by: EUNA Solutions		    
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Attendees may earn up to 18 CPE credits. 
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HOTEL INFORMATION

Annual Grants Training is held at:

Washington Hilton
1919 Connecticut Ave. NW | Washington, D.C. 20009

The Washington Hilton is located within blocks of Dupont Circle and Adams Morgan. It is six (6) miles from Reagan National Airport and within walking distance of the DC Metro subway system. About the hotel 

RESERVATIONS

Attendees are responsible for booking their own hotel rooms. NGMA's room block at the Washington Hilton is SOLD OUT. Overflow accommodations at the Normandy, Churchill, Generator and Line hotels are also SOLD OUT. 

OVERFLOW ACCOMMODATIONS

Additional overflow accommodations are available at:

Omni Shoreham (located 0.8 miles from the Washington Hilton)
2500 Calvert St. NW
Washington, D.C. 20008
Omni Shoreham - NGMA Overflow Reservation Link
OR call 1 (800) 843-6664 and ask for group code "NGMA National Grants Management Association"
 
About NGMA room blocks: NGMA's room blocks are negotiated rates with the hotel that are generally lower than those advertised on the main hotel website. Please book your room through NGMA's reservation links to ensure you receive our negotiated rate. 

Note: The Churchill, Normandy, Generator, Line & Omni Shoreham hotels are the only locations at which NGMA has overflow room blocks. 

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Who Should Attend
  
Grants professionals, including Grants Specialists, Administrators, Managers, Program Officers, Grant Officers, Auditors

  
Program Level
   Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced
  
Delivery Method   Group Live
  

Cancellations & Transfers
  

Cancellation Policy

All AGT registration cancellation requests must be submitted by the registrant by email to [email protected]. NGMA will not accept requests by an employer.

  • Cancellations received by midnight ET, Wednesday, February 19, 2025, will be eligible for a full refund minus a $50 service fee.

  • After February 19, 2025, no refunds or credits will be issued.

  • No credits or refunds will be given to no-shows.

  • Cancellations made due to unforeseen circumstances that fall outside of the cancellation policy dates: Proof/documentation backing up the reason for cancellation must be submitted with the cancellation via email to [email protected]. NGMA’s Executive Director will review the request and provide a final decision within 30 days of the event’s conclusion.

  • No credits will be given in lieu of refunds. Refunds by check may not be issued until the conclusion of the event.


Notice of cancellation or substitution to NGMA does not include hotel accommodations. Please contact the hotel directly to change or cancel reservations.

Substitutions/Transfers Policy

Requests for transfers/substitutions must be made in writing directly by the registrants; NGMA will not accept requests by an employer. The below transfer/substitution policy applies:

By midnight ET, February 19, 2025 – Transfers/substitutions may be made at no cost; should a non-member substitute for a member, the difference between fees will be due at the time of transfer.

After February 19, 2025 – Transfers/substitutions will incur a $50 service fee.

  

Cancellation Policy - Federal Employees Affected by Travel Mandate		  


NGMA is aware that some federal employees may be facing travel restrictions due to potential temporary freezes as the new administration transitions. We understand this can cause uncertainty regarding upcoming training events.
 
Federal employees registered for the Annual Grants Training (March 12-14) and/or Grants Management Body of Knowledge Training (March 15-16):
 
If the travel restrictions remain in place as of February 12, NGMA will accept written cancellation requests for cancellation without penalty from affected federal employees. To qualify, you may submit a cancellation request via email to [email protected] along with documentation verifying the travel restriction. Cancellation requests must be submitted directly from the registered employee.
 
The window for cancellations without penalty will be between February 12-19. Requests after February 19 will not be considered for full refund.

  

Technology Consent		  
Registration, attendance at, or participation in any NGMA-sponsored activity constitutes an agreement by the registrant to the use and distribution (both now and in the future) of the registrant or participant’s image or voice in photographs, videotapes, electronic reproductions and audiotapes of such activities by NGMA and other third parties, including but not limited to the event app or other software utilized. Your registration may include technology that monitors your activities, such as session attendance, public chats, Q&A during sessions, and booths visited.

  

Data and
Usage Disclosure		  
By registering for Annual Grants Training, you agree to allow your data to be collected by NGMA and be transferred securely to and stored by third-party technology providers and/or event partners, including but not limited to meeting app providers (Personify and Conference I/O), payment processors (Payscape), the host hotels (Washington Hilton, Omni Shoreham, The Generator, The LINE DC, The Normandy), and CAPP partners.

The purpose is for the fulfillment of the service(s) related to event registration and attendance; these may include but are not limited to processing payments, confirming hotel reservations/rooming needs, tracking session attendance and continuing professional education (CPE) credits. Additionally, NGMA CAPP partners may rent attendee data for marketing purposes under a single-use agreement.

All third-party providers and/or event partners have their own privacy and collection practices; NGMA is not responsible for their independent policies.

If you wish to opt out of any data collection regarding your Annual Grants Training registration, email [email protected].


  
Communicable
Disease Policy		   All attendees agree to adhere to the NGMA’s Duty of Care, Waiver and Release of Liability for Communicable Disease.  

Code of Conduct

  
All attendees agree to adhere to NGMA’s In-Person Meeting Code of Conduct.		  

 

 
 


National Grants Management Association is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State Boards of Accountancy have the final authority on the acceptance of individual course for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org.