County Auditors Convene Fall, 2021 Conference

County auditors and staff from throughout Indiana gathered at the Sheraton Indianapolis at Keystone Crossing Oct. 19-22 for our annual State Board of Accounts-called fall conference. 

The week was a busy one, full of valuable training, networking and Indiana County Auditors' Association activities. In all, more than 200 people attended in person, with a virtual option also available.

 Throughout conference, auditors were honored for their contributions to the Auditors' Association. Other Association activities included an "Auditor Matching Game," an Auditor Game Night, and a farm-themed dinner dance, costume contest, and history trivia game.

The week culminated in the Auditor Association's annual fall business meeting with the election of  our 2022 officers and general membership ratification of our 2022 Legislative Platform.

More details are below, broken down into the following segments: I. Welcome; II. Find Your Match; III. Training; IV. Game Night; V. Dinner-Dance; VI. Honors; and VII. Q & A and Business Meeting.

We hope you all found this year's conference fulfilling and valuable. We also hope you enjoy reflecting on the week's events through the photo gallery below!

I. Welcome!

Ready for Registration! ICAA Officers working the registration table (left to right): Debbie Stevens, Christina Sriver, Rachel Oesterreich, and Jennifer Flater.

Our conference program. To view a PDF version, click here: 2021 Program

County auditors in attendance received a "County Auditors Make it Happen!" mug.

ICAA officers with AOS (left to right): Association President Vicki Urbanik, Vice-President Debbie Stevens, Auditor of State Tera Klutz, Secretary Rachel Oesterreich, Treasurer Christina Sriver, and President-Elect Jennifer Flater.

The conference opening session on Wednesday, Oct. 20.

Deputy State Examiner Tammy White addresses the group during introductory remarks. Shown at left are ICAA President Vicki Urbanik, and at right is Deputy State Examiner Mike Bozymski.

II. Find Your Match!

One of the Auditor Association activities at conference was a matching game. Registrants received a number and were encouraged to try to find their match. Not only did the winners get a treat, but they also got to meet another auditor or deputy whom they possibly didn't know before!

III. Training

Training sessions at conference included financial reporting updates, data security, ARPA and CARES Act reporting, public records retention, public corruption, assessments, and abatement reporting. 

For the training handouts, visit the State Board of Accounts website (under "Presentations and Training Materials") or click here: SBOA training handouts.

Videos of the conference training sessions will be posted on this website as soon as they are ready (under the "Videos" tab).

Lori Rogers, Director of County Services, SBOA

Ricci Hofherr, Director of County Services, SBOA

State Examiner Paul Joyce

IV. Game Night

The Auditor Association-sponsored Wednesday activity was Game Night, which included Auditor Bingo and Jeopardy. In the Jeopardy game, auditors were quizzed on topics including Indiana State Trivia, Name that County Auditor, Our Deadlines, and State Officials.

V. Dinner Dance

The Auditors' Association hosted a farm-themed dinner dance and costume contest for our Thursday activity. The event included a trivia game featuring four people and places that have played a role in Indiana's agricultural history.

VI. Honors

During conference, certificates of appreciation were given to auditors for their contribution to the Auditors' Association. These included the Association's 2021 District Vice-Presidents, the Education Committee and the Legislative Committee.

In addition, Presidential Awards were given to auditors for exemplary service. Past-President Julie Fox presented her presidential award to White County Auditor Gayle Rogers. President Vicki Urbanik presented the 2021 Presidential Award to Daviess County Auditor Patty Ball.

District VPs Homored: (from left to right) EC District VP Robin Mills of Hamilton County, WC District VP Jennifer Andel of Montgomery County, ICAA President Vicki Urbanik, NE District VP Kim Meyers of Steuben County, and  SE District VP Amy Hochstrasser of Ohio County Not shown are NW District VP Gayle Rogers of White County and SW District VP Pam Goffinet of Perry County.

Honored for their work with the Education Committee were (left to right) Orange County Auditor Lonnie Stroud, DeKalb County Auditor Jan Bauman, Clinton County Auditor Britt Ostler, Benton County Auditor Audrey Freeland, Decatur County Auditor Janet Chadwell, Warrick County Auditor Debbie Stevens, and ICAA President Vicki Urbanik. Not shown is Johnson County Auditor Pam Burton.

Legislative Committee members were honored for their work this year, which included tracking legislation and drafting a 2022 Legislative Platform. Shown left to right are Marshall County Auditor Julie Box, Tippecanoe County Auditor Bob Plantenga, Hendricks County Auditor Nancy Marsh, Clay County Auditor Jennifer Flater, Porter County Auditor Vicki Urbanik, Miami County Auditor Mary Brown, and Madison County Auditor Rick Gardner. Not shown are Allen County Auditor Nick Jordan, Harrison County Auditor Chad Shireman, and Vanderburgh County Auditor Brian Gerth.

 Presidential Award: ICAA President Vicki Urbanik presented the 2021 Presidential Award to Daviess County Auditor Patty Ball, along with a plaque (shown here) honoring Patty as the 2019 ICAA President.

VII. Friday's Q&A and Business Meeting

Our conference concluded with a SBOA Friday morning Q&A session, followed by our annual fall business meeting.

The business meeting included a general membership ratification of our 2022 Legislative Platform, as well as the election of the 2022 officers as follows:

President: Jennifer Flater
President-Elect: Debbie Stevens
Vice-President: Christina Sriver
Treasurer: Rachel Oesterreich
Secretary: Debra Carnes
Past-President: Vicki Urbanik

NW District VP: Gayle Rogers
NE District VP: Patty Pickens
WC District VP: Jennifer Andel
EC District VP: Greg Townsend
SW District VP: Lonnie Stroud
SE District VP: Julia Reeves

You can watch the entire Friday session now on You Tube with the following link: ICAA Friday Conference 

Auditors' Association Fall, 2021 Conference!

 Our fall, 2021 state-called conference is right around the corner! County auditors, deputies, state officials and vendors will convene at the Sheraton Indianapolis at Keystone Crossing beginning Oct. 19 for a week full of educational trainings and activities.

For the conference agenda, click here: Conference Agenda

For the training handouts, see the State Board of Accounts' website (under "Presentations and Training Materials") or click on this link:  Handouts 

The AIC Institute Class on Tuesday, Oct. 19 will be on Cybersecurity. To register for the class, click here:  AIC

To submit a question in advance for the State Board of Accounts, click here: SBOA Q & A

Here is the general agenda for the week:

Tuesday, Oct. 19

Noon: Auditor Association's registration opens. Vendor set-up opens.

1 p.m.: AIC Institute Class (registration begins at 12:30 p.m.)

Evening activity: Vendor Night

Mardi Gras Hospitality Suite

Wednesday, Oct. 20

7 a.m. to 9 a.m.: Breakfast

Vendor booths open

8 a.m.: Auditor Association registration table opens.

9 a.m.: All-day training, with lunch and afternoon breaks

Evening activity: Auditor Association Game Night

Hawaiian Hospitality Suite

Thursday, Oct. 21

7 to 9 a.m.: Breakfast 

Vendor booths open

8 a.m.: Auditor Association registration table opens.

9 a.m.: All-day training, with lunch and afternoon breaks

Evening activity: Auditor Association Barnyard Dinner-Dance-Costume Contest  (Come dressed in barnyard attire! Costume contest for farmers/cowboy/cowgirl, farm animals, scarecrows)

Friday, Oct. 22

7 to 9 a.m.: Breakfast

9 a.m.: SBOA Question and Answer session  

Association District Break-Out meetings

Auditor Association Annual Business Meeting 

  Agenda topics will include: Election of 2022 District Chairs and 2022 Association Officers

AIC Annual Conference, 2021

The 2021 Association of Indiana Counties' annual fall conference was held the week of September 20 at the Belterra Resort in Switzerland County.

The Indiana County Auditors' Association held a well-attended affiliate meeting that included legislative updates, a vote on our 2022 Legislative Platform, and various presentations. A number of county auditors also received recognition for their graduation in the AIC's Institute of Excellence programs.

Below are some photos of our week at the AIC conference.

County auditors attend the ICAA affiliate meeting.

Ricci Hofherr and Lori Rogers of the State Board of Accounts speak at the affiliate meeting.

Also addressing the affiliate meeting were State Examiner Paul Joyce and Deputy State Examiners Tammy White and Michael Bozymski.

Auditors at the affiliate meeting.

Mark Palmer, ICAA lobbyist, presents an overview of the upcoming legislative session.

Auditor of State Tera Klutz gives a presentation on tax abstracts, settlements and more.

Also addressing the affiliate meeting were representatives of the AIC: Executive Director David Bottorff, 2021 AIC Board President Ken Paust, and incoming AIC Board President Kent Ward.

AIC Executive Director David Bottorff

Congratulations to all the county auditors who earned certificates for their work in the AIC Institute of Excellence program! Shown here are graduates (back row, left to right) Tessia Salsman of Jennings County, Sandy Morton of Debois County, Mary Brown of Miami County, Jennifer Flater of Clay County, Julia Reeves of Brown County, (front row) Bobbie Abel of Martin County, Colleen Chambers of Fountain County, Patty Pickens of Elkhart County, Amy Hochstrasser of Ohio County, and Lisa McCormick of Wells County.

Indiana County Auditors' Association 2021 officers: Secretary Rachel Oesterreich of Starke County, Vice-President Debbie Stevens of Warrick County, President-Elect Jennifer Flater of Clay County, President Vicki Urbanik of Porter County, and Treasurer Christina Sriver of Fulton County.

AIC President Ken Paust presents the 2021 Outstanding County Auditor award to ICAA President Vicki Urbanik, Porter County Auditor.