Leadership & Learning DevelopmentFlippen Group - National Director of Leadership Processes
People represent the greatest investment opportunity in any company. They’re also the greatest challenge. And the challenges multiply when people work together on teams. Despite the dysfunction of the majority of business teams, teamwork has never been more important for fast-growth companies. In this session, you’ll learn how to accelerate the effectiveness of new teams and new leaders, how to deal effectively with contentious teams and teammates, how to optimize high-functioning teams and navigate change initiatives, and how to develop and retain your high potentials.
Key Takeaways:
How to accelerate the effectiveness of new teams and new leaders.
How to deal effectively with contentious teams and teammates.
How to optimize high-functioning teams and navigate change initiatives.
How to optimize high-functioning teams and navigate change initiatives.
*CPE Credit-Participants will be able to identify the 5 most significant team challenges and share ways to engage these issues and solve them to create dynamic teams and extraordinary outcomes.. Field of Study: Personnel/HR
Speaker
Lyle Wells
National Director of Leadership ProcessesFlippen Group
Technology & Transition in FinanceThe IT Effectiveness Group - Founder & CEO
40 years of vast experiences in the IT cost cutting arena – all well documented – has produced an extensive cookbook that is used to reduce IT expenses without cutting headcount. During this session, we will cover the 5 efforts that produce the greatest results. We will also cover why these opportunities exist and most importantly, what needs to be done to eliminate the waste.
Key Takeaways:
Top 5 Opportunities for IT cost savings
How these wasteful expenses happened in the first place and what to do to keep the from occurring again
How to discover the waste and eliminate it
An approach to perpetually maximize your IT investments
Technology & Transition in FinanceBed Bath & Beyond - Vice President of Finance
Jason will walk through the steps he’s taken to get FP&A out of the report building business and into the business value creation business by embracing IT. Recent trends have finance and IT coming into much closer alignment especially concerning shared initiatives like business intelligence and data governance. Jason will lay out the process he’s used to navigate the ever changing and sometimes murky waters.
CFO Leadership & InnovationCapital One - Head of Sales
In today’s high paced, high tech and highly competitive worldwide market leadership has never been more challenging or rewarding. Leaders are not born but developed and solid leadership is the most sought after and scarce commodity within the business world. Being a successful leader in our multi-generational workplace means being a great coach. If you can’t successfully coach your “players” then you can’t score on the field of business and you definitely can’t win a championship or deliver expected results. This session on leadership explores the practical and authentic approach to being a great leader through being an effective coach.
Key Takeaways:
What it means to be a great coach and its practical application
How to build trust with your players and positively influence your team
The top 10 plays every effective “coach” should run
Delivering better than expected results through better engagement and discretionary effort
Zespri has undertaken material growth through it’s global expansion programme. The expansion has been through Asia / sub continent / Middle East / North and South America. Zespri focus in each country is to get closer to the customer therefore moving further down the value chain. The expansion has driven a large amount of change and has therefore continually changed the risk profile of the business. The presentation will focus on: 1 Finances position in global expansion 2 Understanding and managing risk 3 Developing and implementing a compliance framework 4 Deeper dive into China
Key Takeaways:
Finances position in global expansion
Understanding and managing risk
Developing and implementing a compliance framework
Technology & Transition in FinanceCorcentric - SVP of Sales
The final act of the B2B payment cycle has remained separate for too long – allowing many payments to fail in the ‘last mile’ of the transaction. What would it mean to your business if you could automate that ‘last mile,’ providing a complete AP workflow, including invoice receipt, approval, and processing, with 100% payment disbursement? It’s possible
Key Takeaways:
The high cost of payment by paper check
The power of full visibility into cash position and payment status
The danger of not integrating payables
How to complete the ‘last mile’ of the transaction
Business is changing and finance must change with it. It is no longer sufficient for a CFO to simply report the news. The finance function, led by the CFO, must now lead in strategic plan development and partner cross-functionally across the business to drive implementation of the strategy to achieve results. The finance team must lead in the creation of actionable and measurable KPI’s to evaluate status. These measurements must be real-time rather than the historic quarterly or monthly updates. The CFO must leave the transition to automation, including deciphering big data, to ensure that analysts have time to add value rather than simply manipulate data into reports. The CFO must be able to identify, develop, recruit, and maintain talent. Due to the new role of finance, many areas within finance are becoming true talent pipelines into other areas of the organization. While this is a great development for young finance professionals looking for broad career opportunities, it further challenges the CFO to ensure the depth of talent is sufficient and career pathing is in place to handle the constantly changing environment. My presentation will include best in class roadmaps and examples of pros and cons to many of these challenges.
Key Takeaways:
Strategic vision
Finance department evolution to strategic business partner
Recruiting, training, and retaining a strong finance team
Finance’s role as a leader throughout the business
Strategic Financial ManagementTrion Group, a Marsh & - SVP Health & Welfare Consulting
Healthcare costs are second to payroll! Learn what Top-Performing companies are doing to control costs while still maintaining robust benefit packages at affordable prices. We will cover the top 5 strategies deployed to beat medical trend more effectively!
Key Takeaways:
State of the Market Overview – what’s driving costs both currently and what is around the corner
Key thoughts on areas we need to focus on for long term cost management
Top 5 strategies proven to reduce medical costs and improve patient outcomes
Speaker
Marybeth Gray
SVP Health & Welfare ConsultingTrion Group, a Marsh &
CFO Leadership & InnovationBlackline - Director of Finance Transformation & Product Expert
Are you keeping up with an evolving risk landscape or is it keeping you up at night? Accounting scandals are not just headlines of the past, they are happening every day. Your organization is constantly exposed to risk; you cannot operate with a business-as-usual mentality. Change is constant and the stakes are high. Leveraging technology enables your accounting and finance department to reduce their overall risk exposure. Your organization has the opportunity to automate repetitive tasks, eliminate data entry errors, gain workflow visibility and accountability, and strengthen the overall control environment.
Key Takeaways:
Recognize risk as a factor that consistently impacts organizations whether they are experiencing rapid growth, increasing in complexity, resistant to change, or are working to implement best practices.
Identify common practices and processes that can expose organizations to fraud.
Review departmental and organizational process improvement opportunities by leveraging technology to reduce risk, challenge current processes, and utilize your team’s time and their skill sets to reduce your organization’s risk exposure.
Speaker
Michael Shultz
Director of Finance Transformation & Product ExpertBlackline
Strategic Financial ManagementColumbian Financial Group - Chief Investment Officer
We will look at the current U.S. Treasury yield curve and historical data and predict what the current curve is telling us about what future economic activity may look like. Does the Treasury curve invert? If it does, it has been a very good predictor of recessions. What can you do now to prepare.
Key Takeaways:
The yield curve is getting flatter
The yield curve may invert
This has been accurate in predicting the last 6 recessions
Strategic Financial ManagementUnit4 - CPM Solutions Architect & Services Lead
Corporate Performance Management follows the same evolutionary path in nearly every organization. And when implemented properly, the results are revolutionary. CPM can drastically improve the processes of Planning, Budgeting, Forecasting, Reporting and Analytics. This session explains why CPM applications are able to deliver such remarkable improvements. It will explain how analytical systems differ from transactional systems using non-technical examples and will arm the business user with a fundamental understanding of CPM. And by observing the evolutionary path trod by thousands of organizations, the audience will learn what mistakes to avoid when undertaking their own Corporate Performance Management implementation.
Key Takeaways:
Best practices in implementing CPM.
Business understanding of analytical vs transactional systems.
CFO Leadership & InnovationDelaware North - CFO, EVP
An effective finance function is dependent on (a) standard processes supported by (b) common understanding implementation and execution of software tool set which leads to increased visibility, reduced manual effort and ability to drive results.
Key Takeaways:
Heavy manual processes can be optimized or replaced with software and integration enabled approaches
Common business processes-training and software enablement support execution
Minimize risk through contingency planning
Make those who operate your business advocates for change
Technology & Transition in FinanceTipalti - Director of Product Marketing
How do companies successfully scale finance to meet their growing operations? If you want to be the next unicorn or industry darling, what are the strategic ways you can accelerate your path to success while maintaining a lean operational footprint and make every headcount count?
Key Takeaways:
Multi-entity, multi-subsidiary best practices and controls
Friction-less early payments for companies looking to go from Net 15 to Net 60
Meeting compliance requirements for global supplier base
The session will provide definitive suggestions for implementing finance driven technology tools such as reporting dashboards, payables automation, GL connection tools, time tracking software, capital project analysis, and Excel techniques that drive efficiency.
Key Takeaways:
Tips on evaluating and implementing AP automation solutions
CFO Leadership & InnovationMassachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council - CFO
The Citizen-Centric Reporting model is advocated by the Association of Government Accountants as a means to provide a clear, concise and easily understandable explanation of what your organization does. The session will offer practical experience, perspective and the trends in transparencies that are valuable to any organization.
Key Takeaways:
After completing the session, attendees will be knowledgeable about the Citizen-Centric Report model and adaptability to private and nonprofit sector.
After completing the session, attendees will be able to construct a Citizen-Centric Report and participate in the Certificate of Excellence recognition program.
Attendees will also be knowledgeable about the Association of Government Accountants and its performance and accountability programs.
Speaker
Craig Hall
CFOMassachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council
CFO Leadership & InnovationBig Ass Fans Company - CFO
In this session, you will learn how to handle those tough situations with grace and survive the outcome. We’ve all been there – that little voice inside our head is whispering and our ethics CPE courses are ringing in our ears. There is something about what you are hearing that just doesn’t “feel” right. How do you handle it? When do you handle it? How do you speak up with grace and integrity while allowing those around and possibly above you to save face and find a workable solution. Connie has learned from experience and some great mentors and she is hear to share her experience and guidance today.
Governance, Risk Management & ComplianceLarson Design Group - Vice President of Finance
The purpose of this session is to highlight how risk assessments can go from merely being a concept to becoming a critical component of any organization. A successful risk awareness culture is one in which employees at all levels of the organization recognize it as such. Too often, organizations’ risk assessment and risk management initiatives die prematurely because there is a lack of ownership and/or committed responsibility over the process. Interestingly, this absence of commitment to the process exists because the question “what then do we do with it?” is unanswered. This session will answer that question.
CFO Leadership & InnovationEtihad Airways - VP Finance, Europe & The Americas
Traditional approaches to sustain profitability are losing relevance in our ever-changing macroeconomic and socio-political landscape. Corporate executives are now required to embrace new ways of delivering their promise to shareholders. This will require a holistic examination of people, processes and systems and conscious efforts to have innovation drive true and sustained profitability. Attendees will walk away with tools that will allow them to: • Use limited people resources while delivering on substantial EBITDA growth. • Alleviate the impact of external shocks that hamper growth • Use Business Intelligence as a tool and not a burden • Focus on the bottom line
Key Takeaways:
Human Capital Management must focus on diversity and individual strengths. Also, Centralization is not old fashion and does not need to be painful.
Managing risk and profitability solutions is everyone’s responsibility and executive management must set the tone.
Business Intelligence does not need to be a burden and will reap dividends if used correctly.
Innovation and effective capital utilization will deliver always.
Technology & Transition in FinanceAllied World - VP, Accounts Receivable Insurance TransacXion Technologies - CEO
How to use Fintech (Financial Technology) to maximize operations for free cash flow and increase your cash conversion cycle. Supply chain financing along with technology and credit insurance can extend bill payments up to six months creating new liquidity at no cost to buyers. Learn about the new supply chain financing for 21st century corporations.
Key Takeaways:
Technology can drive cash flow
Accounts payable monetization platform creates new cash flow
Technology & Transition in FinanceULVAC Technologies, Inc - Senior Director of Finance & Administration
Learn about what blockchain technology is and how it can be used to solve finance and accounting issues. Blockchain technology has a great potential for decentralized trust. There is a mystery over who invented the technology, but many people believe it can change our world. Cryptocurrency is powered by blockchain technology, but it will not be the focus of the talk. An example will be getting the accounting transactions to balance between a foreign parent and subsidiary who use different languages, databases and reference fields. Additional solutions will be discussed and questions are encouraged throughout the talk.
Key Takeaways:
Learn the definitions of block chain technology
Understand an example of solving inter company reconciliations with blockchain technology
Learn how block chain technology works
Learn why there is hype surrounding block chain technology
Speaker
Dave Sackett
Senior Director of Finance & AdministrationULVAC Technologies, Inc
Technology & Transition in FinanceDecisivEdge, LLC - President
Accounting software is a critical tool in a company’s arsenal. Finance is the epicenter of a business whether the business is a manufacturer, distributor or a financial institution. It is the function that enables a business to “keep score”, identify inefficiencies, determine where investments are warranted, etc. However, both ERP software and stand-alone accounting solutions have been plagued with the following challenges: 1. Reporting and analysis capabilities 2. Customizable user interface 3. Document management 4. Application integration 5. Customization without impacting upgradability In this session, we will discuss how Next-Gen Finance solutions are addressing these challenges by leveraging new technologies and architectures.
Key Takeaways:
Typical challenges with ERP and stand-alone accounting solutions
New technologies being employed to streamline Finance
New architectures that increase the long-term viability of a solution and return on the asset
CFO Leadership & InnovationJust Born - Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
The idea of the strategic CFO is often thrown around without tangible actions and strategies finance leaders can adopt in their own organization. While becoming active in strategy and less involved in numbers is a great goal – these words are empty if CFOs do not become proactive in value-creation and execution of business efforts in outside functions. Finance must adapt the way they traditionally think about value-creation. In this session, I will share experiences and lead an interactive session on innovative ways that CFOs can create business value, including: – Managing resources from internal teams – strategic finance within your organization – Leveraging relationships with outside partners – Improving performance of your Sales and Marketing departments – the role of finance
Key Takeaways:
CFO Leadership
Creating Value as the CFO
Team Integration
Making Finance Invaluable to your Company
Speaker
Ronald Izewski
Senior Vice President & Chief Financial OfficerJust Born
Technology & Transition in FinanceRebar Systems - CFO
Today’s young companies can accomplish many finance operations functions more cost effectively and with greater effectiveness than ever before. Learn how to leverage technology and vendor relationships to magnify your effectiveness as CFO. Reduce wasted effort and mistakes, lowering company risk in the process.
Key Takeaways:
Lean on outside accounting/finance resources who aren’t required full time
Build your trusted virtual team of attorneys, insurance/benefits brokers, and other service providers
Avoid expensive infrastructure investments in favor of SaaS and other cost saving solutions
Leverage technology to cut time spent on A/P, A/R and other drudge functions
CFO Leadership & InnovationHarley MArine Services Inc. - CFO
Capital allocation is, perhaps, the most important function of a CFO. A high return on capital has been shown to be the most highly correlated factor to high stock returns for public companies and fundamental to successful private ones. This session will cover some tips for enhancing M&A and capital projects models, identify pitfalls in capital allocation decisions and suggest methods for avoiding them, offer suggestions for building a consensus with the CEO, Board and other Executives, identify areas where CFO leadership in the process can make substantive differences to the outcome and emphasize the importance of team building to improve analytical assumptions.
Key Takeaways:
Traditional finance teachings overemphasize modern portfolio theory variables
Building a cohesive, multi functional team can avoid most pitfalls in capital allocation
Certain behavioral traits are roadblocks to team building in capital allocation
Providing “smell test” summaries can drive better multi departmental input and marry corporate strategy with analytical analysis
Speaker
Sterling Adlakha
CFOHarley MArine Services Inc.
STEERING COMMITTEE
Experienced CFOs help us design a relevant and 100% peer-led educational program.
Steering Committee Members
Jeffrey EvansCFO
The Detroit Zoological Society
Friedrich HolzCFO
Silicon Microstructures Inc
Dan TavarezCOO
Denton House Design Studio
Dave SackettSenior Director of Finance & Administration
ULVAC Technologies, Inc.
Craig HallCFO
Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council
Kevin KreseCFO
Buckingham Doolittle
Gloria SalazarDeputy CEO
San Joaquin RTD
Geraldine HolmesCFO
Concord Regional Visiting Nurse Association
Tracy HarrisCFO
The Bullis School
Don PittmanCFO & EVP
NTS Communications
Angela AstleEVP Finance
Chugach Alaska Corporation
Eric SeetonCFO
API Technologies Corp
Weng HorakCFO
Stray Rescue
David TurkCFO
MidCountry Bank
Benjamin ReynoldsCFO
AMPCO Contracting Inc.
David RistowCFO
Qumu Corporation
Brett ScholzCFO
Boxer Property
Amir YunusCFO
Genysys Works
ATTENDEES
We help CFOs and Finance senior-level executives connect with peers in different industries to discuss their top-of-mind directives. Last year's attendees include:
"Networking with other CFOs and being able to discuss similar challenges and solutions we’ve all experienced was the best part of the event for me. It’s a small time investment for the opportunity of learning new things and making some good connections. In addition to the professional reasons, the locations and venues have made for a very enjoyable business trip, and would recommend this event to other Finance executives."
"The information we learned from our one-on-one meetings is invaluable. The attendees were spot on – decision makers, ready to shortlist vendors! The event was beautifully organized and the entire process was super-efficient. I would highly recommend CONNECT to other solution providers – make this a must sponsor event in your marketing plans!"
The cost of producing the event is underwritten by the exhibitors, allowing attendees to secure complimentary full access conference passes which include:
Full access to event including educational program
1-night hotel accommodation
All meals including breakfast, lunch, refreshments, cocktail receptions, and dinner
Personalized schedule covering educational sessions and research meetings targeted to your needs and interests
The most important thing is taking the time to thoroughly complete your registration as it allows us to personalize your experience based on your needs and interests. You will have a chance to update your registration before we start scheduling sessions and meetings. Then all you have to do is attend the event as per your schedule.
Based on the details of your registration, we carefully select up to 10 best fit exhibitors for you to connect during informal 25-minute meetings. Don't worry, you get to approve both your sessions and meetings schedule before the event.
If you are actively interested in sourcing new services and/or technology solutions for your finance operations then you are an excellent candidate to attend. We are looking for executives with genuine needs for new solutions and who have buying influence or authority. Connect CFO attracts: CFOs, SVP/VP Finance, Director of Finance and Controllers.
There is a strong focus on enterprise and midmarket organizations at the Connect CFO Leadership Summit. We quantify midmarket companies as 100-1,000 employees and/or $50M – $1B in annual revenue. We quantify enterprise companies as 1,000+ employees and/or $1B+ in annual revenue.
Our Schaumburg hotel accommodations boast stylish design and luxurious comfort. Located in an accessible hub with a sophisticated collection of retail and culinary options such as Sam & Harry’s and Woodfield Mall, this Schaumburg, Illinois hotel serves as an indigenous ambassador for entire Chicagoland area…and a gateway for the entire Midwest.
Accommodations must be booked through the conference organizers and not through the venue directly. We cover the first night and offer a discounted rate. Spouses welcomed. For reservations please contact:
The nearest airport is Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), which is less than 15 miles away. Alternatively, you may fly into Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW). This hotel does not provide shuttle service. Taxis are readily available at the airport.
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