About the Presentation and the Presenters:

Jim Koetting is a nationally known author on the subject of public fund investing.  With his technical expertise of video presentation, he has built the entire program on Keynote (which is like powerpoint on steroids).   Each slide is done in 1080p (a very high resolution) and is filled with animation.   Mr. Koetting has an edge when it comes to presenting complex financial materials, while keeping the interest of the audience. His experience in Toastmasters, and his past membership in the National Speakers Association, makes him a very effective communicator.   

The CPFIM program has adopted the investment philosophy of Jim Koetting’s book, “Public Fund Investing For Dummies”.   Mr Koetting works with public institutions to minimize and expose investment risks that are often missed, implement investment strategies with reporting systems, and find hidden money in portfolios. His most appreciated service is reducing often-overlooked negative arbitrage in bond issues. Inspired by an “epidemic” of investment and portfolio management ignorance in the public sector, Mr. Koetting wrote “Public Fund Investing For Dummies”, introducing it in May, 2007.   “Public Fund Investing For Dummies” emphasizes writing a plan, building a strategy, and finding competent help in order to maximize opportunities in a public budget, as well as picking investments to match that strategy.

Douglas Gasher has over 24 years experience in institutional fixed income. His comprehensive knowledge of fixed income and other products has come from managing the sales and distribution of securities to municipalities and asset managers with firms such as, Dain Rausher, First Tennessee Capital Markets, Morgan Keegan and most recently, Calamos Investments.  He was recruited by Calamos to launch sales and marketing efforts for Calamos Investments fixed income products; Calamos Government Money Market Fund (CGMMF), and Calamos Total Return Bond Fund. While with Calamos he successfully achieved AAA ratings from S & P and Moody’s rating agencies for the CGMMF in July, 2007.  He also drove the initiative to establish retail share classes for the CGMMF resulting in over 1000 new accounts and more than $88mm in assets.  He attended California State University of Long Beach and currently holds NASD Securities licenses Series 7, 24 & 63. He is a member of many leading governmental associations including, Association of Public Treasures of the United States and Canada, National Association of State Treasurers and Government Finance Officers Association to name a few.