Presenters

The 2026 Spring Conference Presenters are listed in order of appearance.

Legislative Update:

  • Kevin Futryk serves as Executive Director of the County Treasurers Association of Ohio, bringing over four decades of government affairs expertise to the role. His career began in 1977 when he was elected to the Seven Hills City Council at age 19. After positions with the Ohio House of Representatives and in Cleveland Mayor George Voinovich’s administration, Kevin established himself as an independent lobbyist in Columbus, representing both private and public sector interests since 1984. 

  • Dan Talarek has served as Lorain County Treasurer since April 1989. Prior to becoming Treasurer, he held positions as chief deputy treasurer (1975-1989) and personal property tax collector (1971-1975) within the office. Talarek serves on multiple county boards, including the Board of Revision, Data Board, and Budget Commission. Throughout his tenure, he has maintained a focus on responsible fiscal management and stewardship of public funds. He is a Past-President of the CTAO and current co-chair of the Legislative Committee.

  • Alex Zumbar has served as Stark County Treasurer since 2010. His prior public service includes roles as Alliance City Council member (1996-2003), Alliance City Auditor (2003-2008), and Finance Director of North Canton (2008- 2010). He earned his Certified Public Finance Administrator certification in 2019. He is a Past-President of the CTAO and current co-chair of the Legislative Committee.

  • RJ Mancini is Vice President at Government Advantage Group and the CTAO's State Lobbyist. Prior to joining Government Advantage Group in 2025, RJ spent 2 years at JobsOhio and four and a half years in the Ohio House as a legislative aide and majority policy advisor.
 
The Comprehensive Security Assessment: Protecting People, Property and Public Trust at the Treasurer's Office
  • Kent Shafer, is the founder of K.H. Shafer & Associates, LLC, a consulting firm specializing in public safety and security for public and private sector organizations. He brings more than 35 years of consulting experience in operational policy, facility security, technology utilization, and strategic planning. Before founding his firm, Kent served 33 years with the Columbus Division of Police, including 18 years as a commander. He held a U.S. Government Secret-level clearance and received the Washington Times Foundation National Service Award for developing the Division's Mission Aligned Policing Philosophy. A graduate of the FBI National Academy, Kent also holds undergraduate degrees in electronics engineering and business administration.

Property Tax Reform

  • Krista Bohn, Allen County Treasurer

  • Matt Nolan has served as Warren County Auditor since his election in 2014. Before taking office, he served as Deputy Auditor under Auditor Nick Nelson and as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney. Matt has been recognized with the County Auditors' Association President's Award and the GFOA Award of Distinction for excellence in financial reporting, which his office has received every year of his tenure. He is active in Warren County civic organizations and serves in leadership roles with Warren County Community Services, the Area Progress Council, Lebanon Kiwanis, and the Warren County Bar Association.

Property Tax Chaos

  • Catherine Swartz is an attorney at Bricker Graydon Wyatt, where she serves as bond counsel and underwriter's counsel in general obligation and revenue bond financings. Her clients include Ohio cities, counties, school districts, libraries, and villages, and she advises political subdivisions on tax levies, finance matters, continuing disclosure, special assessments, investment policies, and ethics. Catherine is a frequent speaker for organizations including the Ohio School Boards Association, Ohio Library Council, and Ohio Association of Public Treasurers. She serves as Vice Chair for Business Development in the firm's Public Sector Group.

  • Rebecca Princehorn is a partner in Bricker Graydon Wyatt's Public Finance group, focusing on school and local government law. She has served as bond counsel on numerous first-of-their-kind Ohio financings, including the first income tax-backed school district bonds, the first Public Library Fund-backed library notes, and the first Ohio school district bonds sold to the USDA, among others. Becky is a frequent lecturer on public finance for organizations including the Ohio School Boards Association, Ohio Library Council, Ohio Association of Public Treasurers, and the Buckeye Association of School Administrators.

How to Reduce Mailing Costs Using New Technology and Electronic Delivery

  • Jim Cote' founded The Master's Touch, LLC in 1994 as a small family operation and has grown it into three facilities across two states, serving counties and other entities in 29 states. He holds two of the USPS's most prestigious certifications — Mail Design Professional (MDP) and Executive Mail Center Manager (EMCM) — and specializes in helping public sector clients reduce postage costs, improve mail tracking, and eliminate undeliverable return mail through strategic mail preparation and USPS qualification tiers.

From Paper to Performance: The Role of AI in Modernizing County Treasury Operations

  • Jim Vlasicak is a Director at Hyperscience, where he works with state and local government agencies to modernize document-heavy operations and reduce manual processes. His experience spans public sector environments including finance offices, health and human services, and benefits administration, with a focus on improving data accuracy, service delivery, and operational efficiency.

  • Trevor DeLew is a Field CTO for Public Sector at Hyperscience, where he works with state and local government agencies to modernize document-driven operations and improve service delivery. His experience spans health and human services, financial operations, and citizen-facing programs, with a focus on reducing manual processes, improving data quality, and driving operational efficiency.

  • Sachin J. Koshy is an AI Evangelist and Practice Lead with more than 25 years of experience in AI and automation technologies, including RPA, machine learning, generative AI, and agentic AI. He advises organizations on responsible AI adoption, helping teams identify practical applications that streamline processes and reduce employee burnout. Sachin serves as an AI Program Advisor at Central Washington University and as a member of the National AI Business & Industry Leadership Team at the National Applied AI Consortium. He holds certifications from NVIDIA, Intel, IBM, Cisco, AWS, Google, and others, and is a decorated U.S. Navy veteran.

Understanding Levies, the 20 mil Floor, and Its Impact on School Funding

  • Anthony Hatmaker, Ottawa County Treasurer

  • Caleb Stidham, Erie County Treasurer

New Treasurer Panel

  • Agostino Ragozzino, Jefferson County

  • Blaine Davidson, Hocking County

  • Brieanne Sullivan, Hardin County

  • Taylor Sappington, Athens County

  • Moderator: John McManus, Montgomery County

Fraud: A Banker’s Perspective

  • Caroline Bove is a Director and Certified Treasury Professional at First Financial Bank, where she has spent 11 years in banking and 8 years working exclusively with Public Fund entities. Caroline is passionate about helping public sector clients save time and taxpayer dollars, and is known for her commitment to responsive, relationship-driven service.

  • Justin Laubach, VP of Public Funds, First Financial Bank

Association Updates

  • Victoria Gresh, CAE, joined Government Advantage Group in January 2026, bringing more than two decades of experience in association management, advocacy, and state government relations in Ohio. She began her career as a legislative aide in both the Ohio House and Senate before transitioning to chief staff executive roles for statewide professional and trade associations, where she led legislative initiatives, regulatory reform, and comprehensive association management functions.