You’re a stellar controller who has their operational processes and month end closing procedures locked down. The next step up in your career is to a CFO position, but what are the skills you need to learn to get there? How do you gain exposure and build support across business functions, and with your executive team?

Join the Controllers’ RoundTable as we discuss the skills, responsibilities, and outreach you need to make to smoothly transition into your first CFO role. Our panel of experienced CFOs and CEOs will provide attendees with an interactive discussion on:

• The truth behind the CFO role – the good, the bad, and the sometimes ugly
• The hiring process for a CFO
• How to transition from an operational executive to a strategic one
• Expectations of the CFO from the executive team and board

Learning Objectives:

Through this program, attendees will learn: 

• What recruiters are looking for when hiring a CFO
• What steps need to be taken to transition to the CFO role
• What CEO’s are looking for as a business partner from a CFO
• What other responsibilities fall within the CFO function
• Tips on how to land that first job as the CFO

Panelists include:

Karen Cambray, CFO, Cartera Commerce
Karen has over twenty years of executive finance experience in early-stage, emerging technology companies.  She is currently the CFO at Cartera Commerce, Inc., a venture backed provider of performance advertising solutions where she leads the company’s strategic finance, legal and administrative functions.  She was a leader in the company’s recent acquisition of their largest competitor and is now managing the post-merger financial integration activities. Before joining Cartera Commerce, Karen served as the CFO and Vice President of Operations at Zeemote, a venture-backed manufacturer of wireless controllers for mobile applications. At Zeemote she managed all financial, legal, and operational activities for the company, including IT, logistics and manufacturing planning. She also served as CFO of Groove Mobile, a venture-backed, mobile music company acquired by Livewire Mobile in 2008.  Karen has closed over $45M in multiple rounds of equity and debt financings over the time she has held CFO positions.  Karen previously held senior financial management positions at Be Free, Inc., a publicly traded Internet marketing company, Internet Securities, a venture backed online information service provider, Millipore Corporation and Arthur Andersen. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Merrimack College

Kathleen Donnelly, CFO, Investors Capital
Kathleen is a CPA who has worked in an auditor role for over 12 years.  She worked as an internal auditor as well as the public accounting role for BayBank, Shatwell, MacLeod & CO, CPA and Brown & Brown, LLP which then became UHY, LLP.  She currently is the CFO at Investors Capital, a public, Financial Services Industry Firm when she has been working at for almost 4 years. Founded in 1992, Investors Capital Corporation (ICC) is the dually-registered, premier independent broker dealer and registered investment advisor of publicly-traded Investors Capital Holdings, Ltd. (NYSE Amex: ICH).   She holds a Bachelor’s Degree at Bentley University.

Eric Giler, Chief Executive Officer, Board Member, WiTricity
Eric joined WiTricity in 2008 as Chief Executive Officer, and is a member of WiTricity’s Board of Directors. Prior to WiTricity, he was the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Groove Mobile, a provider of mobile music commerce platforms, from April 2006 until its acquisition by Live Mobile, Inc. in March 2008. Eric was the founder and served as the Chief Executive Officer and President of Brooktrout Inc., a provider of telecom software and hardware platforms, from 1984 until its acquisition by EAS Group, Inc. in October 2005. Under Eric’s leadership, Brooktrout grew to over $150M in annual revenue, and had a successful IPO in 1992. Eric serves on the boards of directors of SoundBite Communications and is a trustee of the Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council.  He is the author of eight patents. Eric holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree from Carnegie-Mellon University and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Harvard Business School.

Joanna LaPlaca, Director of Portfolio Recruiting, Polaris
Joanna has enjoyed a successful nine year career in executive search.   Prior to joining Polaris, she spent a year as a Senior Consultant with ZRG, a boutique retained executive search, consulting and advisory firm.  Joanna was a member of the Financial Services Practice where she provided recruiting services for the Leasing and Commercial Finance market. 

Prior to ZRG, Joanna spent three years as an Associate with Spencer Stuart, a premier retained executive search firm.  In this role, she spent the majority of her time as a member of the Life Sciences practice.  Joanna has completed searches for senior executives in both established and emerging companies.  She has executed key assignments in a range of life science companies including large pharma, medical device, consumer health and drug delivery.

Joanna also spent some time working on Consumer Goods and Services searches successfully completing a number of executive assignments for national brand name firms. 

Joanna started in search as a research associate with LAI Worldwide (eventually acquired by Heidrick and Struggles), and was later promoted to an Associate in the Life Sciences practice.

She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Wheaton College.

Kimberly Post, Controller, Beacon Partners
Kimberly is a CPA with over thirteen years in public and private accounting.  Currently she is the Controller at Beacon Partners, a Healthcare Management Consulting firm.  She is managing the financial functions and contract management for agreements, loans and leases.  She also leads the IT department,as well ashaving involvement in human resource functions. She is the top financial executive at her company and a member of the executive leadership team, operations committee and attends the board meetings.  Prior to joining Beacon Partners she worked LMHS for nine years, a public accounting firm, which provided exposure to various industries including construction, professional services, real estate and law firms.  Her work included audits, financial statement preparation, as well as corporate and personal taxes.  She also worked at Arthur Andersen in both tax and audit.  She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Babson College.

Other Information:

• Program Level: Intermediate
• Recommended CPE: 2
• Program Prerequisites: None
• Advanced Preparation: None
• Delivery Method: Group – Live

The CFO RoundTable is registered with the National Association of State Boards-of-Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors.  State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit.  Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be addressed to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors, 150 Fourth Avenue North, Suite 700, Nashville, TN, 37219-2417.  Website:  www.nasba.org