FEI Washington Policy Conference to Address Business Uncertainty

MORRISTOWN, N.J., Aug. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Financial Executives International (FEI), the association of choice for CFOs and other senior-level finance executives, will be hosting its second annual Washington Policy Conference on September 26-27th at the Hotel Monaco in Washington D.C. This two-day conference has become a one-of a-kind forum for business and government thought leaders to network and discuss the most prevalent issues and updates in policy and regulation that impact senior-level financial executives and their companies.  During the inaugural conference, FEI welcomed more than one hundred business and political leaders from the Beltway and beyond.

The event will feature keynote remarks from Reta Jo Lewis, Special Representative for Global Intergovernmental Affairs, U.S. Department of State; Hon. Fred Malek, Founder & Chairman, Thayer Capital Partners; and Hon. Michael G. Oxley, Counsel, Baker Hostetler, and co-author of the landmark Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The Hon. Mike Castle, former Governor and Congressman from Delaware, and the Hon. James Blanchard, former Governor and Congressman from Michigan, will debate the Outlook for the 2012 Election, which will be moderated by political commentator Karen Hanretty, Managing Director at Qorvis Communications.

"In today's volatile economic climate and with the 2012 election season already underway, it is increasingly important to understand the impact of the evolving legislative and regulatory measures currently under debate and how companies can maintain their competitive advantage in an uncertain environment," said Marie Hollein, CEO and President, Financial Executives International. "FEI continues to be a committed advocate for finance executives on the Hill, and we are excited to offer this conference for the second year following the response we received in 2010. The success of last year's inaugural conference has positioned this event as a vital platform for leaders from business and politics to connect and hold insightful discussions on important issues and concerns."

In addition to insights on the 2012 Election, the Washington Policy Conference will also feature several sessions for attendees, which include:

• Policy Impacts of Reigning in the Deficit
• Navigating the Current Regulatory Environment
• Tax Reform in Today's Global Economy
• Current Business Outlook and Challenges for Financial Executives
• The Uncertain Environment and What it Means for American Business

The conference will also honor an executive with the FEI "Contribution to Policy" award, which is presented to an outstanding finance professional who has demonstrated excellence in influencing the laws and policies impacting corporate finance, and furthering the mission and objectives of FEI. The second annual award will be presented to Mark Smetana, Chief Financial Officer, Eby-Brown Company, LLC, during the conference's opening reception on September 26th. Mark Smetana led the FEI Committee on Private Company's Subcommittee on Policy since 2007, and then chaired the stand-alone Committee on Private Company Policy from 2009 to 2011. During this time, Mark developed an effective strategy to advocate on behalf of financial professionals on a number of critical public policy issues, including: access to capital during the financial crisis, the tax uncertainty prior to the passage of the 2010 tax extenders package, and the repeal of the 1099 reporting requirement buried in the health care law. He continues to provide active leadership as past chair to FEI's Committee on Private Company Policy.

Registration for the event is currently open, and additional information can be found at www.financialexecutives.org/policy.

About FEI

Financial Executives International is the leading advocate for the views of corporate financial management. Its 15,000 members hold policy-making positions as chief financial officers, treasurers and controllers at companies from every major industry. FEI enhances member professional development through peer networking, career management services, conferences, teleconferences and publications. Members participate in the activities of 85 chapters, 74 in the U.S. and 11 in Canada. FEI is headquartered in Morristown, NJ, with additional offices in Washington, DC, and Toronto. Visit www.financialexecutives.org for more information.

SOURCE Financial Executives International (FEI)