8:30 - 9:45 am
General Session: The Power of Energy Intelligence: Staying Grounded, Focused & Fully Charged in Demanding Roles
Marli Williams
In a world that never slows down, energy—not time—is your greatest asset. Board Secretaries / Clerks carry significant responsibility, navigating complex regulations, political dynamics, public scrutiny, and constant change while serving as a steady, trusted presence for others. Through this powerful and practical keynote, Marli Williams introduces Energy Intelligence, a human-centered framework for understanding, managing, protecting, and directing your energy with intention. Designed for service-based professionals, this session offers a sustainable alternative to burnout and overwhelm, focusing on how to stay grounded, focused, and resilient in high-pressure environments.
This keynote isn’t just a talk—it’s a reset. Participants will gain simple, actionable tools to protect their energy, respond with clarity and confidence, and reconnect with purpose in the essential work they do. Attendees leave feeling validated, re-energized, and fully charged to meet what’s next.
9:45 - 10:15 am
Break and Networking with the Exhibitors
10:15 am - 12:15 pm
Board Secretary / Clerk Foundations
David Aranda, CSDM, Retired General Manager
The board secretary in a special district plays a multifaceted role that is also one of the most highly visible in the district. Board members, the public, and staff turn to the board secretary as a resource for information and assistance. The board secretary must ensure the district’s compliance with extensive legal requirements, handle contentious situations, respond to the needs of board members and the public, document board activities and decisions, and meet multiple deadlines. Start your first-time attendee journey here and together, we'll explore the job description and role of the clerk, as well as policies and procedures needed for your district to effectively serve its community.
12:15 - 1:30 pm
Networking Luncheon
1:30 - 2:45 pm
Staying in Compliance: Understanding Special District Laws (part one)
Jeff Hoskinson, Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo
As times change, so does the need to re-interpret and review the laws governing special districts. This workshop covers crucial areas of the law as they relate to all types of special districts. Those areas include general compliance, answering specific questions about items such as communications through email, special meetings, economic conflicts of interest, and much more.
2:45 - 3:30 pm
Break and Networking with the Exhibitors
3:30 - 5:00 pm
Advanced Training in the California Public Records Act
Christine Wood and Jennifer Ransom, Best Best & Krieger LLP
If you are involved with a special district, you need to understand the scope and application of the California Public Records Act (CPRA) to your agency’s records, including best practices for records retention as well as responding to public records requests. This training is primarily intended for public agency personnel who have some knowledge of and experience with the CPRA, and who are seeking to expand their understanding of the law. This session will cover advanced concepts in the CPRA, including when an applicable exemption may give an agency the right to withhold a particular record or a portion of a record. The presenters will use case studies to take you through the entire process from the initial records request to response options. There will also be updates on recent developments in the interpretation and application of the CPRA.
5:30 - 7:00 pm
Networking Reception: Gratitude and Glow
Join us for a relaxed evening designed to recognize and appreciate the important work you do every day. Join colleagues for a casual reception featuring a canned food drive supporting the local community—plus, bring a canned food donation to be entered to win fun prizes! Enjoy a well‑deserved break with mobile chair massages, capture a lighthearted moment with a live caricature artist, and unwind in a welcoming space focused on connection, appreciation, and giving back.