Meet FEI's 1992-93 chairman.

• Author: Deitsch, Mimi
• Position: Financial Executives Institute Chmn Clarence Christie - From FEI

"The members of FEI are outstanding people. I don't know them all, but I'd like to," says FEI's 1992-93 chairman, Clarence (Chris) Christie, senior vice president and treasurer of Sedgwick James, Inc. A most rewarding aspect of his years as a member of FEI, Christie says, is the wonderful people and the many friends he has made. "I feel very honored to have been elected chairman."

Christie on conferences...

Christie's admiration for FEI's members is expressed again and again when he discusses FEI activities, particularly in connection with FEI's conferences. While he strongly believes that a conference is very successful "if I can come out with a couple of new ideas," the most valuable aspect of a conference to Christie is the opportunity to meet his peers. "I enjoy meeting people and getting a chance to talk to them about my problems, their problems, or whatever problems," he says.

Christie does have some advice for other conference attendees. He advises that you must make an effort and work at meeting people. If you do, he says, conferences are "a great opportunity to make new friends and see people you've known from prior associations." And he points out that a conference attendee can't expect to come out with a "textbook" full of things you've never thought of before, but that "it's rare that you go home without one or two good ideas to work on."

... on talented committee members

He praises the technical committee members. "Technical committees contain very talented people and are very powerful. They really are a voice to be reckoned with. I think that's apparent in the outcome of some of the efforts they've undertaken" on behalf of FEI members, Christie states. He recognizes that technical committee members take on a heavy workload that makes it difficult for them to participate in many other FEI functions. As an example, he says, there are so many issues on which FEI's Committee on Corporate Reporting is working, you need an hour just to review them.

He believes FEI does "a great job" keeping members informed on the issues affecting financial executives through Financial Executive magazine, Briefing newsletter, President's Report to the Member, ship, and the Area Operations Committee (AOC) meetings. "That's of immense value," he says, but again repeats that, for him, meeting other FEI members is the most rewarding aspect of his FEI membership.

... on public relations

On plans for his year as FEI chairman, Christie is adamant. "The...