Chapter focus: Pittsburgh.

• Author: Heffes, Ellen M.
• Position: Financial Executives International chapter

Area Covered: Southwestern Pennsylvania and Northern West Virginia

Year Founded: Organized in 1931; officially became the third FEI chapter chartered.

Some Chapter History: Over the years, many members of the Pittsburgh Chapter have provided leadership to the National FEI organization and to Financial Executives Research Foundation (FERF). These include: Robert Moore, who was the president of FEI from 1978-89; John Carville; Bob Dickson (serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of Financial Executive); Edward Eaton (Past Chair of FERF); Bert Gookin (Past Chair of FERF); Michael Nemser (Past Vice Chair of FEI); Bob Schuler; Mary Lou Southwood; E.A. Vaughn (Past Chair of FEI). Currently, Tom Fleury serves as an FEI Regional Vice President and Bill Koch is active with the Committee on Private Companies (CPC).

No. Members: 211

Annual Dues: $200

Representative Member Companies: Alcoa Inc., ASKO Inc., Beckwith Machinery Co., Birchmere Ventures, Development Dimensions International, Dick's Sporting Goods, Eat N' Park Hospitality Group, Equitable Resources Inc., H.J. Heinz Co., Kennametal Inc., Mellon Financial Corp., PinnOak Resources, LLC, PNC Financial Services Group Inc., PPG Industries, United States Steel Corp., University of Pittsburgh

Meeting Schedule: Monthly (generally second Tuesday) September through May. Special meetings, as announced, and informal meetings that focus on specific areas--such as a private companies forum--meet according to participants' interests. Periodically, the Chapter participates in offsite visits, such as a trip to the University of Pittsburgh's Hillman Cancer Center.

FEI members from other chapters are welcome to attend meetings.

Regional Challenges: Meeting the needs of a broad economy that includes industrial, services and high-technology companies, as well as companies of all sizes, from large multinationals to locally focused businesses, both public and private.

Recent Highlights: Great speakers, including such notables as, Michael Crooch, FASB Member; Steven Elliott, senior vice chairman of Mellon Financial Corp.; Lynn McPheeters, CFO of Caterpillar; Art Rooney II, president of the Pittsburgh Steelers; John Surma, CEO of United States Steel; Dick...