NAW Large Company CFO Roundtable, Fall 2017

November 1-2, 2017 at the O’Hare Hilton
The NAW Large Company CFO Roundtable for direct members was created as a new mechanism for the financial executive of large distribution enterprises to network with non-competing peers in multiple lines of trade on key operations issues.
This by invitation roundtable is composed of executives from large companies that meet in Chicago two times per year and is highly interactive. The annual fee is $1,500 per member, which covers meeting costs for two events in a twelve month cycle. Participants are expected to cover the cost of their hotel and travel. Once the annual fee is paid, there are no additional fees to attend the meetings, which will last one day beginning with a reception and dinner the evening before.
The participating companies can also name a senior level alternate who can take the place of the finance executive, should that person be unable to attend the scheduled meeting.
If you would like to learn more please contact John Peter or Adam Isenberg at 202.872.0885.
*For further details about sponsoring this Roundtable, contact Adam Isenberg at aisenberg@naw.org
Eligibility: Companies with $100M to $1B in annual revenue
The NAW Large Company Roundtable is the only opportunity that provides networking and benchmarking exclusively with other top executives of non competing, like-sized Wholesale-Distribution companies.
NAW Large Company CFO Roundtable Agenda
Day 1 - November 1, 2017
2:30 PM – 3:00 PM
Registration
Mary Lynn Fayoumi
CAE, SPHR, GPHR, President & CEO, Management Association
3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Opening Session & Discussion
Don’t Leave Just Yet” – Employee Retention Strategies for Distribution CFOs
In 2020, millennials are set to surpass baby boomers as the largest segment of the workforce. However, several of them think that they can “create their job” with an App or a “disruptor” versus charting a career path within an exciting business. Distributors are in a tough spot because of they might not have the “cool” office space of a Google or Apple, don’t offer yoga or “bring your dog to work day,” and telecommuting/flexible hours are hard when you need supplies shipped and trucks unloaded and reloaded. So where are we going to find the “stars of tomorrow” without alienating our current workforce?
This session will focus on ways for distribution leaders to spend their time (and money) effectively recruiting and retaining the next generation of superstars while not turning off your current workforce.
Takeaway(s)
- Industry leading ideas on where is the best place to recruit new employees
- Top ideas on ways to keep your current employees engaged and energized about your firm
- Was to “tell your story” to from the inside out
- Best practices in highlighting where to go to find the employees you need
4:30 PM – 6:00 PM
Break
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Reception – Drinks & Dialogue
Come prepared to meet and mingle with your fellow participants from the largest firms in the industry.
7:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Large Company Executive Dinner
Make sure to reserve your seat for the most exclusive executive supper club in Chicago this evening! This dinner is your opportunity to pick the brains of the senior executives for the top wholesale distribution companies in the industry.
Day 2 - November 2, 2017
7:00 AM – 7:45 AM
Breakfast
Presenter
Richard Blatcher, Senior Industry Solutions Manager, Pros
8:00 AM – 9:30 AM
Opening Session & Discussion
SPAs – What Are We Missing?
Distribution firms continue to struggle with Special Pricing Authorizations (SPAs) despite efforts to reduce their frequency, streamline the process, and create uniform standards.
This session will examine the fundamental issues that are still hindering this process and promote a dialogue between large distribution CFOs on these concerns.
Takeaway(s)
- Actionable items to help CFOs overcome their SPA hangover
- Best practices in dealing with SAPs
- Pitfalls of not having a proper SAP in place
9:30 AM – 9:45 AM
Break
Michael Lucas
Senior Manager – Crowe Horwath, LLP
9:45 AM – 11:00 AM
General Session & Discussion
How Costly is A Cyber Attack? – What CFOs need to know about Cybersecurity
Because technologies continue to change at warp speed, it is increasingly difficult for “good guys” to keep up or try and stay ahead of the “bad guys.” Also, it is not a good business practice to keep throwing money at a problem in the hopes that it changes. A wise man once said that “doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results is…insanity.” So what is a distribution CFO to do?
This session will focus on practical solutions to such cyber security threats as Ransomware and anti-virus failure for distribution CFOs.
Takeaway(s)
- What new and adaptable solutions are in the market for cyber security
- Ways to identify if you are vulnerable to a potential cyber attack
- Best practices on what strategy CFOs can deploy within their firms for an immediate ROI
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Open Discussion
This session is set aside for you to raise any issue you would like and have the group provide their thoughts. This is an open forum to further discuss any item on the agenda or to bring up topics that are not on the agenda. Make sure to take notes during this session, you may find a perfect topic to suggest for the next NAW Roundtable.
12:00 PM – 12:45 PM
Joint Lunch & Networking Discussion with Operations Roundtable
This is the “halftime” period where you meet up with all of the Large Company senior executives at this week’s Roundtable to compare ideas and benchmark across disciplines. Both the CFO and Operations executives will attend this joint lunch.
Presenter
Greg Woodard, Principal, Solve
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Closing Session & Discussion
Data Integrity
Data integrity is defined as “is the maintenance of, and the assurance of the accuracy and consistency of, data over its entire life-cycle, and is a critical aspect to the design, implementation, and usage of any system which stores, processes, or retrieves data.” But what if your data integrity is lacking?
This session will focus on best practices for CFOs to ensure they not only have good data, but ways to change their bad data into good data.
Takeaway(s)
- Industry benchmarks in data integrity
- Solutions for CFOs to get a handle on the data they have while improving data collecting processes
- Best practices for distribution CFOs to develop and cultivate data from a variety of places (customers, suppliers, employees, etc…)
2:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Set Agenda for Next Meeting Scheduled for May 1-2, 2018
NAW Large Company CFO Roundtable Participants, Fall 2017
The following wholesale distribution companies have attended previous Large Company CFO Roundtables:
- Benco Dental
- Blevins
- BMD, Inc
- Boelter Companies
- Cope Plastics
- Curbell Plastics
- Distribution Management Inc
- Dominion Electric Supply
- ETNA Supply
- First Supply
- Hirsch Pipe & Supply
- Horner Xpress
- Hub Construction Specialties
- L&R Distributors
- Laird Plastics
- Lancaster/The Merit Distribution
- Lawson Products
- Lipsey’s, LLC
- Martin Inc
- nexAir
- NMC Inc
- Omni Cable
- Pacesetter
- Palmer-Donavin
- Pacific Seafood Group
- Parksite Inc
- Piedmont Plastics
- Reeb Millwork
- RJ Schinner
- Roberts Oxygen Co Inc
- Summit Electric Supply
- SYSCOM/EPCOM
- T&A Supply Company
- United Pipe & Steel
- US Lumber Group
- Womack Machine Supply Co
Meeting Location:
Chicago Hilton O’Hare
10000 W O’Hare Ave. Hotel Accommodations
Chicago, IL 60666
(773) 686-8000