Two hundred and fifty people, one room, and a submarine captain

CALAFCO’s 2025 Annual Conference wrapped in San Diego after a few days of collaboration, insight, and the kind of motivation that survives the drive home.

CV Strategies, Inc. was privileged to sponsor and welcome keynote speaker L. David Marquet, whose session on leadership held all 250 of us. Rooms that size usually leak attention. This one did not.

The awards banquet was the emotional center of the week. LAFCO leaders across California handle boundary decisions, service reviews, and consolidations that shape how communities grow, almost always without public credit. Recognizing them properly is one of the more meaningful things this association does. Congratulations to every award winner, and especially to our fellow Gold Associate Member Best Best & Krieger LLP (BBK) and Paula de Sousa. It has been a pleasure to take this year’s journey with you.

Clients, colleagues, and friends made the days better. Rowland Water District, Ironhouse Sanitary District, Coachella Valley Public Cemetery District, Gay Jones, Steve Sanchez, Wendy Root Askew, Stephen Lucas, Dr. Yxstian Gutierrez, Virginia Chang Kiraly, Anita Paque, Kate McKenna, AICP, Michelle McIntyre, Jose C. Henriquez, MPPA, and so many others.

Pamela Miller and Jeni Tickler, our admiration and respect for you runs past what words carry.