2026 Denver Government and Nonprofit Training Academy

Speaker: TBD

1 credit: Personnel/Human Resources

Program description: Explore how technology and workforce shifts impact today’s workers and pinpoint strategies to help them adapt with confidence.

Learning objective: Identify innovations and evolving workplace trends transforming today’s work environment.

Speaker: TBD

1 credit: Auditing (Governmental)

Program description: Grants can fund critical public services and community outcomes — but only when compliance, documentation, and reporting are built into day-to-day operations.

In this interactive fireside chat, we’ll share leading industry practices across the grants lifecycle from award setup to closeout. Expect real-world examples, common pitfalls to avoid, and tips to strengthen internal controls, improve oversight, streamline workflows, and stay audit-ready.

Learning objectives:

• Identify key grants compliance risk areas across pre-award through closeout
• Describe internal control and documentation practices that support consistent reporting, timely drawdowns, and audit readiness
• List ways to improve grants workflows and coordination between program, finance, and compliance teams while leveraging technology appropriately

Speaker: TBD

1 credit: Information Technology

Program description: Modern cybercrime increasingly relies on social engineering, stolen credentials, and abuse of trusted security controls, not technical hacking alone.

This session explains how attackers use phishing, AI generated content, and identity-based attacks to compromise accounts and bypass multifactor authentication (MFA).

Through a live phishing demonstration, attendees will see how a single email can lead to credential theft and real-world breaches and learn how organizations can reduce risk beyond basic security controls.

Learning objectives:

• Recognize how modern cybercriminals operate, with a focus on social engineering and credential compromise
• Recognize how phishing attacks have evolved, including the use of AI and MFA bypass techniques
• Identify behaviors and organizational conditions that increase exposure to account compromise
• Describe where to focus risk mitigation efforts to reduce the likelihood and impact of a breach

Nonprofit breakout session: Navigating Revenue Recognition: A Guide for Nonprofit Decision Makers

Speaker: Adam Pyzdrowski

1 credit: Accounting

Program description: Navigating revenue recognition is one of the most complex responsibilities nonprofit finance leaders face.

Grants, contributions, fee for service arrangements, and multiyear awards each carry unique accounting rules and compliance risks. Missteps can lead to misstated financials, audit findings, or strained donor relationships.

This interactive roundtable fosters candid discussion, peer learning, and practical insights you can apply immediately inside your organization.

Learning objectives:

• Recall whether certain revenue transactions are contributions or exchange transactions
• Recognize the key components of conditional contributions and contributions with donor restrictions
• Describe how to manage and report restricted funds, including donor-imposed restrictions and how they dictate the use and timing of funds

Government breakout session: Changing Landscape of SLG and Grants

Speaker: Paul Niedermuller

1 credit: Accounting (Governmental)

Program description: Gain clear, actionable awareness of key shifts shaping state and local governments to help you anticipate change and lead decisively.

Learning objective: Describe emerging trends affecting state and local governments.

Nonprofit breakout session: AI Practical Use Case

Speaker: TBD

1 credit: Information Technology

Program description: This session is designed to cut through the noise around artificial intelligence and focus on practical, real-world applications for nonprofit organizations.

Learning objectives:

• Identify ways nonprofit teams are using AI
• Recognize potential benefits of AI for improving efficiency and reducing workloads
• List key considerations nonprofits should keep in mind when exploring AI tools

Government breakout session: GASB Update

Speaker: John-Paul LeChevallier

1 credit: Accounting (Governmental)

Program description: A focused overview of recent GASB standards and what state and local governments need to know to prepare for updated financial reporting models, disclosures, and implementation timelines.

Learning objective: Recall key GASB standards and how to apply their reporting and disclosure requirements to current implementation efforts.

Speakers: Bryan Heasty and Sam Hellwege

1 credit: Auditing (Governmental)

Program description: Participants will explore the different stages and elements of an audit, gaining valuable insights along the way. The session aims to simplify the audit process and provide a comprehensive understanding of what to anticipate during an audit engagement.

Learning objectives:

• Outline the key stages of the audit process from initial planning and risk assessment to fieldwork, reporting, and follow-up
• Recall practical tips for how to prepare for an audit
• Identify effective communication strategies for interacting with auditors

Speaker: Fola Abiola-Banja

1 credit: Behavioral Ethics

Program description: This session offers practical insights to help participants recognize risks early and promote stronger accountability within their organizations.

Learning objective: Identify the common signs, patterns, and types of fraud, waste, and abuse occurring within organizations.