Sunday, June 8, 2008

1:30 - 2:00 PM

Pre-Conference Workshop Registration

2:00 - 5:30 PM

Half-Day Pre-Conference Workshop: Using Lean Planning to Improve Responsiveness and Eliminate Waste
Steve Player, North American Program Director, Beyond Budgeting Round Table
Kick off the conference with this exciting, information-packed session from one of our liveliest and most popular speakers.

While the economy is slowing, the pace of change is greatly accelerating. In today’s world, a major investment bank can be sold over a weekend. Supply chains can be easily disrupted by both political and economic events. The prices of basic commodities continue to rise while manufacturers face continual pressure to reduce costs. Can we overcome these very worrisome concerns?

Yes we can. But doing so will require more effective approaches than the broken tools finance has historically used. This workshop addresses the heart of the management process — the way organizations plan and control operations. It will show you both why you should replace your traditional budgeting process with a lean planning approach, and also how to do it.

The session will utilize a combination of Beyond Budgeting principles, case studies, and interactive exercises. Pay close attention — you may never have to do a budget again! There is no extra charge for attending this workshop, but pre-registration is required.

5:30 - 6:30 PM

Wine-and-Cheese Welcome
All conference participants are invited to this informal kickoff gathering.

Monday, June 9, 2008

7:15 - 8:15 AM

Registration and Continental Breakfast

8:15 - 8:30 AM

Opening Remarks and Chairperson’s Welcome
Lori Calabro, Editorial Director, CFO Publishing Corp.

8:30 - 9:45 AM

Keynote Address: Proven Strategies to Reduce Costs and Unlock Growth
Alan Dunn, President, GDI Consulting & Training Company
In this session, Mr. Dunn, a respected educator and speaker, will provide practical strategies to transform your cost structures without creating systemic problems elsewhere in the organization. You will learn how to lower your total cost of manufacturing and reduce logistics costs. And you will hear how other CFOs have improved their own gross margins by identifying cost drivers and working proactively.

9:45 - 10:30 AM

A Global Company’s Strategy for Doing Business in Tough Times
Jonathan Chadwick, SVP, Corporate Controller, and Principal , Cisco Systems
Hear how one high-tech giant has been dealing with a challenging economic climate: Cisco has shifted its go-to-market strategy by integrating shared services, leveraging its buying power with procurement strategies, improving travel expense controls through the use of technology, and identifying new ways to collaborate both internally and externally.

10:30 - 11:00 AM

Refreshment Break

11:00 - 11:45 AM

Managing Through a Downturn
Sam Rovit, Partner and Leader of Bain Corporate Renewal Group, Bain & Company

11:45 - 12:30 PM

The Hunt for Hidden Value — A Panel Discussion
Lori Calabro, Editorial Director, CFO Publishing Corp.
Mark Tennant, President Americas, REL Consultancy
Michael Giguere, Director, PricewaterhouseCoopers
Stephanie Kushner, SVP and CFO, Federal Signal Corp.
This fast-moving panel discussion will challenge the conventional wisdom about financial management in the industrial sector and identify emerging best practices.

12:30 - 1:30 PM

Networking Luncheon

1:30 - 2:20 PM

Track One: Concurrent Executive Education Workshops

2:20 - 2:35 PM

Refreshment Break

2:35 - 3:35 PM

The Finance Supply Chain Connection
Dr. Stephen Timme, President of FinListics Solutions and Adjunct Professor, Georgia Institute of Technology
It’s essential for CFOs to align supply chain management practices with corporate goals for value creation and risk management. Dr. Timme will show you how to better balance supply-chain-related growth, costs, and capital, and he’ll discuss what to do about hidden costs, such as supplier financing, buried in the Cost of Goods Sold. You’ll learn how to work with suppliers to accelerate the cash cycle and produce a win-win for both parties.

3:35 - 4:15 PM

Driving Financial Performance in Tough Times
Daniel Hendrix, President and CEO, Interface
Hear how a billion dollar leader in design, production and sales of modular carpet and a leading manufacturer and marketer of broadloom carpet, panel fabrics and upholstery fabrics executed on a survival and turnaround strategy that gained the respect of customers and Wall Street.

4:15 - 5:00 PM

The Silver Lining in Business Downturns: A Burning Platform for Changing Your Business Model and Practices
Jack Alexander, Former CFO, Founder, and President , Value Advisory Group
Learn how to avoid the usual short-term, disruptive actions — by instead creating lasting flexibility and agility. Jack Alexander will cover human capital management during a downturn; how to improve performance visibility and analysis; business intelligence and rolling business outlooks; and process changes for sustainable improvements to cash flow and long-term value.

5:00 - 6:00 PM

Networking Reception in Exhibit Hall
Meet and chat with your peers in a relaxed setting.