Every FEI chapter should have a FERF liaison.

• Position: Financial Executives International - Financial Executives Research Foundation

"All professionals need to benchmark against their peers, and learn about best practices," says Lilibeth Hanlon of Bridge Strategies LLC. "Executives need to be informed about the challenges and risks faced by their companies."

One good way to do this, says Hanlon, "is to read recent FERF research, a free FEI member benefit provided by Financial Executives Research Foundation (FERF)."

In past years, many FEI chapters had a FERF liaison, a member who served in an official chapter position. "Originally, the president of each FEI chapter had responsibility for communicating information on new FERF research reports," recalls FEI President (from 1978 to 1989) Robert W. (Bob) Moore. "However, chapter presidents have always had a lot on their plates, so some would appoint FERF liaisons. FERF staff would provide information on new reports to the liaisons, who in turn would report at chapter board meetings." Moore is a member of FEI's Pittsburgh Chapter, where the FERF Liaison is Patricia (Patty) Stocke, VP finance and CFO at Management Sciences Associates Inc.

FEI's New Jersey Chapter acknowledges the value of FEI membership has not been publicized well to potential and current members. To promote membership growth and awareness of both FEI and FERE, the chapter has responded by creating a Publicity Committee.

Hanlon, who has been a member of the FERF Research Committee for more than a year, volunteered to chair the committee, starting in September. (Any member of FEI with an interest in research may apply to join the FERF Research Committee.)

Andreas Rothe, CFO of Harsco Infrastructure, who serves as president of the New Jersey...