First, I want to start out with kudos to Marcus Pimentel and the 2021 Host Committee for the amazing result that came out of a frequently changing situation that created a great many challenges in planning CSMFO’s first ever virtual conference. The end result was what I can safely say was the best virtual conference experience I have seen in the past year. Whether it was the unique but effective interactions with vendors or the ability to engage virtually with the breakout session panelists, the format delivered more than I would have thought possible given the circumstances. Feedback that I have heard has been very positive, and we are considering how a virtual component can fit into the 2022 conference and beyond.

For 2022, the conference is scheduled for February 16th to the 18th in San Diego. The exact format of the events has yet to be determined, but we are planning for the conference to be primarily in-person. There may well still be COVID-related restrictions in place at that time, and our conference planning will be flexible to accommodate whatever restrictions remain in place. The Host Committee also hopes to take what was learned this year about virtual sessions and vendor interactions to enrich the conference experience for attendees in the long-term. An even wider audience may be able to gain access to our conference program content with a continued virtual component, thanks to the innovation that we saw in the 2021 conference experience.

As the year progresses, I will be providing updates to you via the CSMFO News on the latest developments with the 2022 conference and the specifics of the planned format, theme, keynote speakers, and events. The Host Committee, comprised of volunteer government and commercial members, is already hard at work planning the conference. I look forward to seeing you all in San Diego in 2022!

Scott Catlett, 2022 CSMFO President