FERF names new chair.

• Author: Sinnett, William M.
• Position: FERF - Financial Executives Research Foundation

Joan E. Netzel was elected Chair of the Financial Executives Research Foundation (FERF) by the board of trustees for a one-year term beginning in July 2004. Netzel, a 20-year member of FEI, is First Vice President, Audit Relationship Manager for Sun-Trust Banks Inc.

In 1984, as Controller of the New Mexico Mortgage Authority, Netzel joined FEI in as a charter member of the New Mexico Chapter. She later moved to Atlanta in 1993 and joined SunTrust six years ago.

In her position with SunTrust, Netzel says she wears "many hats and have many roles due to a very flat organizational structure in our audit services division." Among her responsibilities are the design and evaluation of audit strategies for the some of the corporate functions, such as treasury, human resources, insurance and tax. "Our audit model involves first assessing and determining the inherent risks of a given business unit, and then developing an appropriate audit strategy," she explains. Netzel has also helped develop a staff mentoring program and a related performance appraisal process as part of a divisional talent management initiative.

Netzel notes she values her membership in FEI. "FEI keeps me current on the issues with which other financial executives are grappling," she says. "It gives me a broader perspective on the issues that face senior management," she adds...