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Reaffirming the Purpose of Local Government

In a time of rapid change, increasing demands, and rising public scrutiny, this year’s ACMA Summer Conference invites local government professionals to pause, reflect, and reconnect with the core purpose of our work: serving communities with integrity, resilience, and vision.

Through timely sessions on housing challenges, innovations in infrastructure, and building strong leadership pipelines, we’ll explore how local government continues to shape the places we call home. We’ll take a closer look at the relationships that anchor effective governance—including the critical dynamics between managers and attorneys, and between managers and elected officials.

As organizations grapple with workplace culture and the need for civil discourse—both internally and in the public sphere—this conference offers space to rediscover the values that ground our profession and the practical tools to lead with intention. Whether you're navigating tough decisions, mentoring the next generation, or simply reconnecting with your “why,” this year’s theme is about celebrating the enduring value of local government and those who make it work.

Draft Agenda: Wednesday

Wednesday, July 16, 2025

Golf Tournament
8:00 AM | Ventana Canyon Club & Lodge (6200 N. Club House Lane, Tucson, AZ 85750)

This tournament is geared toward relaxation, fellowship and fun for all. With an 8 a.m. shotgun start, the tournament’s scramble format allows inexperienced golfers to join the fun as you will be paired with experienced golfers on a four-person team. Green fees, practice balls and cart are $80 for 18 holes and participants pay at the course on the day of the tournament. Rental clubs are $75, and the driving range will be open before the round. The course is located on-property just a shuttle ride from the conference hotel. It is recommended that players arrive no later than 7:30 a.m. Prizes for first and second places, along with individual prizes, will be awarded at the bar following play. To sign up for the golf tournament please contact Tim Pickering at Tim@IPMaz.com or 480-577-0949 no later than Tuesday July 8, 2025.

Pickleball Tournament
9:00 AM | Pickleball courts near the Hotel (Follow the signs to Kevia/Tennis Courts/Pickleball Courts down the left ramp near the Flying V restaurant and go past the tennis courts to the 4 pickleball courts)

This is a new recreational opportunity for ACMA conference attendees.  We will meet at 9 am and play until 11 am in a round robin fashion.  Bring your partner or pair up when you arrive.  Cost is $10 per participants paid at the racquet shop the day of the event and paddle rental is $10 per paddle if you can’t bring your own.   To sign up for the pickleball tournament please contact Tim Pickering at Tim@IPMaz.com or 480-577-0949 no later than Tuesday July 8, 2025.

Registration Opens
10:00 AM | Foyer - A

Lunch featuring Lunch with a Mentor
11:30 AM - 12:15 PM | Salon C

Innovative Community-Led Solutions to Address Housing 
12:30 - 1:30 PM | Grand Ballroom

This session will explore a community-led approach to addressing the housing crisis through strategic partnerships, innovative financing, and community-driven development, featuring insights from the City of Tucson and City of Flagstaff. Panelists will discuss creative solutions and best practices for addressing various housing needs.

Facilitator:
Stephanie Zamora, Assistant to the City Manager, Tucson
Speakers:
Ann Chanecka, Housing and Community Development Director, Tucson
Sarah Darr, Housing and Community Development Director, Flagstaff

Break & Network with Sponsors
1:30 - 1:40 PM | Foyer - Triangle

Innovations in Infrastructure
1:40 - 2:35 PM | Grand Ballroom

Water, stormwater and solid waste management are major services cities and counties provide to protect human health and the environment. The growing population, costly infrastructure, and arid environment are just some of the challenges cities and counties face to maintain these critical services for their residents. In response, cities across Arizona are incorporating innovative infrastructure and technologies for advanced water purification, green stormwater, and recycling.

This session will highlight City of Scottsdale’s approach to advanced water purification and City of Tucson’s Storm to Shade Green Stormwater Infrastructure Program. The session will also discuss the regional recycling commodity market trends and advanced processing technologies at City of Phoenix’s newest Materials Recovery Facility.

Speakers:
Gretchen Baumgardner, Water Policy Manager, Scottsdale
Xochitl Coronado-Vargas, Public Outreach Coordinator, Tucson
Eduardo Rodriguez, Deputy Public Works Director, Phoenix

Break & Network with Sponsors
2:35 - 2:45 PM | Foyer - Triangle

Building Your Bench: Preparing the Next Generation of City/County/Town Managers
2:45 - 3:45 PM | Grand Ballroom

This session focuses on building bench strength in our organizations and preparing the next generation of City, County and Town Managers whether they be graduate students, mid-level professionals or local government executives at the director level.

Speakers:
Dr. Shannon Portillo, Director and Coor Presidential Chair, ASU Marvin Andrews and Jane Morris Fellowship
Dr. Sara Rinfret, Professor of Public Administration and MPA Director, NAU Practitioner in Residence Program
Dr. Lehman Benson, Vice President of Black Advancement and Engagement, Eller College of Management, U of A’s Executives in Government Program
Jenna Goad, Strategic Planning and Organizational Performance Manager, ACMA Management Academy and GoodyearGrows Program

ACMA Board Meeting
4:00 – 5:00 PM | Executive Boardroom

Sponsor Pre-Reception with ACMA Board
5:10 – 5:45 PM | Coronado Room

This is a special reception for the ACMA 2025 Summer Conference Sponsors and the ACMA 2025 Board of Directors to meet and network.

Welcome Reception
5:45 - 7:00 PM | Foyer - Triangle

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Draft Agenda: Friday

Friday, July 18, 2025

Continental Breakfast
7:30 - 8:30 AM | Foyer – East & West

Leading with Authenticity: Boosting Morale and Building Culture in Times of Change
8:30- 9:30 AM | Grand Ballroom

In today’s rapidly evolving public sector environment, resilient organizations begin with authentic leadership. Being “real” means showing up with integrity, empathy, and vulnerability—qualities that help leaders build trust, foster connection, and create meaningful workplace relationships. When leaders lead with authenticity, they create environments where employees feel valued, supported, and empowered to do their best work.

This session features a candid conversation with local government leaders who will share their journeys—what shaped their leadership style, how they learned from missteps and less-than-ideal role models, and what they’ve done to strengthen morale and culture in their organizations.

Speakers:
Ron Corbin, City Manager, Avondale, AZ
Joanne Keene, Assistant City Manager, Flagstaff, AZ
Jennifer Reichelt, Deputy City Administrator, Yuma, AZ

Economic Update 
9:40 – 10:30 AM | Grand Ballroom

This session offers a clear look at where the economy is headed—both nationwide and here in Arizona. We’ll use models and analysis from the Seidman Institute at ASU to cover trends in growth, jobs, and interest rates, then spell out what they could mean for Arizona’s cities and towns. I look forward to your questions and to a lively interactive session.

Speaker:
Sean Ewen PhD, Postdoctoral Research Scholar, L. William Seidman Research Institute, ASU

Legislative Update
10:40 – 11:45 AM | Grand Ballroom

This session will provide an update for Members on a variety of timely legislative issues. Representatives from the League of Arizona Cities & Towns as well as the County Supervisors Association will provide an overview of the 2025 legislative session and explain the challenges and opportunities currently facing Arizona cities, towns and counties going forward.

Speakers:
René Guillen, Deputy Director, League of Arizona Cities and Towns
Craig Sullivan, Executive Director, County Supervisors Association

Conference Concludes
11:45 AM

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Hotel

Loews Ventana Canyon Resort
7000 North Resort Drive, Tucson Arizona 85750
Phone: 520-299-2020

The conference rate is $139.00 plus tax. The special ACMA rate is available for booking until 5:00 PM on June 23, 2025. To make your hotel reservation Click here

The hotel block fills up fast! We recommend registering and booking your hotel room as soon as possible.

Please note that you may only book one room per full conference attendee.

The hotel group rate will end June 23rd at 5:00 PM. Online registration will close July 3rd at 11:59 PM.