Reflecting--on FEI's summit and beyond.

• Author: Hollein, Marie
• Position: President's page - Financial Executives International - Editorial

AS I Write this, I am reflecting on the terrific leadership conference we held last month! Summit at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas was a welcome change of scenery for most--bright lights, big city and lots of FEI members, old and new, together for two full days of learning about Smart Business for a Strong Recovery. It was a strong turnout--around 800 attendees, with more than 175 of those new members. A great way to introduce new members to the benefits of FEI membership!

Last year, you will recall, we had a dismal economy and threats of the swine flu epidemic in the Dallas-area where we were meeting. But still, we had an excellent turnout of FEI members and sponsors. This year, the economy is showing signs of recovery, but it is fragile, and unacceptably high unemployment numbers persist. As a result, many businesses are still struggling.

I know we all long for not just a recovery, but a strong recovery--the focus of this year's Summit--and it's up to us. In spite of whether we agree or disagree with what's going on in Washington, it's up to us to ensure that we manage our businesses in a manner that will make the difference. Let's face it, whether a private or public company, you will be impacted by the flurry of legislation and regulation and you need to be informed about what to expect. You need to know how to use that information to acquire the best practices for solving problems and maximizing opportunities for your business. How will the regulation and legislation impact your company's recovery, and that of the global economy? All themes discussed at Summit.

FEI members also need to know about items that are high on the Obama administration's agenda. While the midterm elections are just around the corner, we still anticipate a great deal of significant debate, policymaking and regulatory activity on several fronts, including:

* The historic and controversial health-care reform, recently signed into law, that will result in new taxes, fees, mandates and complex rules as regulators add detail to the law.

* Sweeping financial regulation reform legislation making its way through the U.S. Congress could provide a bevy of new powers to agencies such as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Commodities Futures Trading Commission and the U.S. Treasury. Many stakeholders beyond banks could be affected by the new regulations, including manufacturing corporations, energy-providers and real estate companies across all sectors of the...