Pre-Conference Speakers

Omar Garcia
Investment Banker, BOK Financial Securities 

Summary of Finance in the Morning Session

For more than 30 years, Omar Garcia has devoted his time both in public service and in the private sector toward helping school districts navigate the complex landscape of school finance in Texas.

Omar currently is an investment banker for BOK Financial Securities. Prior to joining their company in 2011, Omar worked for the finance division at the Texas Education Agency, and later in the statewide school finance arena at the Region XIII Education Service Center.

While employed at TEA, Omar became an expert on the use of technology to audit and estimate a school district’s state aid and anticipated overall revenues, a necessary component to producing annual budgets. This expertise led Garcia to develop one of the first widely used

electronic templates to help public school personnel estimate state aid for use in school budgets. Today, this trusted tool is used by every Texas district regardless the wealth or size.

He has continued to update the school finance template and lend his expertise by presenting at educational events.

In 2022, TASBO awarded Omar Garcia with the Champions of Education Award. TASBO Board of Directors extends this award only for the most extraordinary achievements in K-12 public education.

Josh Haney
Vice President of Finance, Moak Casey & Associates 

TNT Deep Dive in the Afternoon Session

In 2012, Josh embarked on his professional journey at the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts following his graduation from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at UT Austin. While at the Comptroller’s office, he provided forecasts of state revenues and fiscal impact analyses of proposed legislation. He also led efforts within the agency to improve its revenue tracking and reporting processes.

Josh joined Moak Casey in 2019 just as the Legislature was beginning to develop House Bill 3.  He has managed updates and improvements to Moak Casey's online school finance model and has assisted school districts with revenue forecasts. Josh enjoys the privilege of serving school districts through this transformational period in school finance by tracking and analyzing school finance legislation and TEA rulemaking. 

Josh holds a Master of Public Affairs and a Bachelor of Arts in English and Journalism from The University of Texas at Austin. He is affiliated with esteemed professional bodies like TASBO and TASA, and actively serves his local community as a member of the Austin ISD Campus Advisory Council.