More than 30 accounting and finance professionals from Virginia, Maryland and Delaware electric cooperatives, along with other industry partners, gathered in Virginia Beach for the VMD Association’s annual CRAFT (Cooperative, Regulatory, Accounting, Finance, Tax) conference.
The two-and-a-half-day event featured presentations from guest speakers, such as Gabriel Labastida and Katherine Conner with CoBank, who spoke about fraud prevention. John Cheatham, Adams, Jenkins & Cheatham, and Sandy Heiss, Emergency Management Partners, discussed FEMA grants and financial reporting requirements following storms. Bobby Pesakoff, NRECA field representative, provided information related to hybrid retirement plans, and Jeff Kramer, also from NRECA, explained evolving group medical insurance plan funding. An economic update was provided by Ann Battle Macheras of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, and VMDAEC General Counsel Sam Brumberg updated attendees on regulatory issues. Shelli Richardson joined the event to provide an RUS update, as well. Attendees earned continuing education credits and enjoyed pleasant weather, a beautiful view and a steel drum player during dinner.
Survey results indicate a positive experience. Thank you to our sponsors for helping to make this possible once again. This year’s sponsors were Adams, Jenkins and Cheatham, CoBank and NRUCFC. Stay tuned for information about the 2023 CRAFT conference.
–Report by VMD Association