TIME

Description

PRESENTER(S)

8:00am – 8:30am

Meet at the Bus Stop:

Breakfast and Networking

Start the day with breakfast and connect with fellow attendees during our Bus Stop session - Check-in opens for a morning of networking!

8:30am – 8:40am

School Announcements and Pledge of Allegiance:

Opening Remarks

Listen to the principal’s announcements to learn about the events of the day as well as the survey that laid the foundation for this entire day!

Andrew Nobbay, FEI CFO U Program Chair

Nicole Sherwood, Sr Finance Director, ABS

8:40am – 9:00am

Home Room:

Introductions

Before starting our first class – let’s take some time to get to know each other!

Laura Fulton, SVP and CFO, ABS

9:00am – 9:50am

Reading:

CFO as Chief Data Officer

Reading is fundamental!  The panelists will discuss how CFOs are learning to read beyond the balance sheet – from operational trends and risk signals to customer insights and predictive analytics.  Listen to a practical conversation on how finance leaders are turning data literacy into a business strategy and helping organizations better understand the story the numbers are telling!

Moderator:

Jennifer Whalen, SVP CFO Bristow

Greg Derderian, Sr VP and CFO Advisory Leader, RGP

9:50am – 10:40am

Arithmetic:

Digital Transformation and Finance Automation

How do you make the math work to take advantage of the latest technology without adding too much complexity or subtracting from job satisfaction?  Listen to our panel discuss transformation projects that multiplied the team’s output, while keeping the prime objective evenly in their sights!

Moderator:

Nicole Sherwood, Sr Finance Director, ABS

Srinivas Venetti, Managing Director, Deloitte

Jayesh Kumar, CFO Ocean Minerals

10:40am – 11:10am

Recess!

Coffee and Networking Break

Take a break in the sandbox and connect with like-minded professionals during our morning recess break.

11:10am – 12:00 noon

Science:

Reinventing FP&A: From Static Budgets to Dynamic Insights

Step into the classroom to examine evolution! How FP&A is moving rapidly from a rigid, backward-looking process into a more agile, analytical discipline grounded in experimentation, observation, and real-time insight. Just like in science class, success starts with asking the right questions, testing assumptions, and learning from the data. This session will explore how finance teams can move beyond static budgets to build more dynamic forecasting, sharper scenario planning, and faster decision-making. Discover how a more scientific approach to FP&A can help organizations adapt, respond, and thrive in a constantly changing business environment.

Fireside Chat:

Alan Gahm, Independent CAO, Controller and CFO Consultant

Chris DeLange, Senior Partner, NewVista Advisory Group

12 noon – 1:30pm

LUNCH in the Cafeteria!

Talent Strategy: Building the Finance Team of the Future

Every student’s favorite time of day! Get ready to fill up with leadership skills and build a high-performance organizational culture centered around people and purpose. We'll help you identify the key areas that need some calories or protein, such as communication, feedback, and recognition, and show you how to align your organizational goals with the values and aspirations of your employees.

Moderator: Kristy Manteris, Managing Director, Siegfried Group

Janet Brady, Regional HR Director, Gensler

Katie Lemire, VP Senior Managing Director – Global Retained Executive Search, Robert Half

Darren Ercolani, EVP and CFO, Chevron-Phillips Chemical Co.

1:30pm – 1:40pm

Time to Visit Your Locker!

A quick break as we move from lunch to our next class!

1:40pm – 2:30pm

Writing:

Stock Exchanges and IPOs

Sharpen your pencils and take your seat for creative writing class!  We will explore how bringing a company to market is much like crafting a strong story — it takes preparation, structure, clarity, and the right message for the right audience. From developing the equity narrative and navigating the listing process to understanding market expectations and investor communications, our panelists will discuss what it takes to write a successful next chapter. Join us for an engaging conversation on how companies can move from early drafts to a polished public debut, whether exploring various securities exchanges or preparing for an IPO.

Moderator:

Amy Wolff, Managing Director, DFIN

Ryan Tull, Managing Director – Energy and Power Investment Banking, Piper Sandler

Will Braeutigam, US Capital Markets Transactions and Accounting Advisory Services Leader, Deloitte

Ryan Nagy, Head of Capital Markets – Texas and Central US, NYSE and NYSE Texas

Hillary Holmes, Partner, Gibson Dunn

2:30pm – 3:20pm

Physical Education:

The Future of Finance: Evolving from CFO to CEO

Grab your gym shoes and head to the field for a session on how finance leaders can train for the ultimate leadership promotion. Moving from CFO to CEO takes more than being good with the numbers — it calls for strategic endurance, leadership agility, strong teamwork, and the confidence to take the lead when the game is on the line. Our panelists will share how to strengthen the skills needed to move from managing performance to setting the vision, rallying the team, and leading the whole organization across the finish line. Join us for a spirited discussion on what it really takes to move from the finance bench to the CEO’s office.

Moderator:

Kathy Patillo, Managing Partner, Boyden

Robert Tabb, President and CEO, Signal Energy

Rebekah Le, Audit Committee Chair, Signal Energy

3:20pm – 3:50pm

Recess!

Coffee and Networking Break

Recharge and network with jumping jacks and java during our afternoon recess break.

3:50pm – 4:40pm

Fine Arts:

Strategic M&A: Creating Value Beyond the Deal

Pick up your paintbrush and step into fine arts class to explore how successful mergers and acquisitions are about more than closing the transaction — they’re about composing a bigger picture of long-term value. Like any great work of art, impactful M&A requires vision, balance, careful design, and the ability to bring many moving pieces together into a cohesive whole. Our panelists will discuss how leaders can look beyond the deal itself to shape strategy, align cultures, capture synergies, and create lasting business value. Join us for a colorful conversation on how to turn strategic M&A into a masterpiece that delivers well beyond the final signature.

Moderator:

Rita Carroll, Director - Corporate Strategy, Nexus Water Group

Daniel Boyer, SVP M&A, RGP

Stephen Bender, CFO, Westlake Chemical

4:40pm – 5:00pm

Packing up your Backpack:

Key Takeaways

Group participation to see what we will all take away from today’s classes!

Nicole Sherwood, Sr Director Finance, ABS

Laura Fulton, SVP and CFO, ABS

5:00pm – 6:30pm

Extracurricular Activities:

Relax, Unwind and Networking (Music, Beer/Wine & Conversations)

Meet on the playground for your favorite after-school activity: Enjoy beverages, light bites and conversations while unwinding and networking.

Everyone!