September / October 2021

President's Message

Diversity & Inclusion Group (DIG) Update

We're excited to begin our fall virtual book club series! This time we'll be reading Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth over the course of four virtual sessions from September - November. The format will be similar to our spring book club. We’ll read the book in 4 or 5 sections, discuss each virtually over the lunch hour, and each session will be eligible for 1 hour of CPE credit. Our four fall virtual book club sessions and information are as follows:

• Thursday, 9/30 | 12:00 – 1:00 PM | Session 1 | Zoom | Click here to register
• Monday, 10/11 | 12:00 – 1:00 PM | Session 2 | Zoom | Click here to register
• Wednesday, 10/27 | 12:00 – 1:00 PM | Session 3 | Zoom | Click here to register
• Friday, 11/12 | 12:00 – 1:00 PM | Session 4 | Zoom | Click here to register

We also rescheduled our Breakfast & Networking Event at The River in Wrightstown to Tuesday, October 26, 2021, from 8:00 - 9:00 AM. Click here to review the complete details and register in Constant Contact!

Peer Group Update

FEI Members, join us for the next Peer Group meeting on December 16, 2021. It will be held virtually via Zoom. We will be talking about what is important to you: hiring challenges, insurance premiums, banking options and tax audits. Which issues are currently on the top of your agenda? Add these items to your registration and discuss them with other financial leaders.

Date: Thursday, December 16, 2021
Time: 2:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Platform: Zoom

Click here to register for this virtual event in Constant Contact!

This meeting is eligible for 3 CPE credits. Participants must attend the entire virtual meeting and answer all 9 polling questions, which will be launched shortly before 4:30 PM, to receive credit.

Membership Update

We’re three months into fiscal year 2021-2022, and have already held numerous chapter events. Our FEI Board of Directors and Strategic Partners have collaborated to provide more events than ever in both virtual and in-person formats. The intent is to provide our members with a variety of offerings throughout the month, in both virtual and in-person formats and at different times of the day to meet the various needs of our members’ busy schedules. September boasted five chapter events, and October will feature six events as well. 

Click here to read the complete membership update.

 2021 - 2022 FEI Program Schedules

Don't forget to add our upcoming events to your calendars!

Click here to view the latest version of our 2021-2022 Chapter Meeting Keynote Program Schedule. This document is also available on the home page under the Quick Links Section.

Click here to access the 2021-2022 Virtual Professional Program Schedule. This document is also available on the home page under the Quick Links Section.

Special Features

Baker Tilly

Key trends that PE fund managers and their portfolio companies are paying attention to post COVID-19

Jul 15, 2021·Published by Ken Fleming, Brian P. Francese

This Q&A was published as part of PitchBook Q2 2021 US PE Breakdown sponsored by Baker Tilly.

What are some of the key trends that PE fund managers and their portfolio companies are paying attention to coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic period?

Five things are looming larger this year:

• Workforce - attracting and retaining top talent
• Sourcing of raw materials
• Changing dynamics of business ownership
• Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria
• Possible federal tax code changes

Click here to read the entire article.

2021 Fox Valley Ethics in Business Summit

The annual Fox Valley Ethics in Business Summit advances the conversation around ethical best practices to shape a more vibrant community.

Date: Thursday, October 14, 2021
Time: 8:30 - 10:30 AM
Location: Virtual | Zoom Webinar
Fee: $50 - $75 per ticket
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!

The 2021 Ethics in Business Summit features Andy Fastow, former CFO, Enron Corporation.

Attendees will learn how businesses are dealing with moral dilemmas and how the pandemic is impacting employee mental health. They will also discover coping strategies to improve morale, productivity, and job satisfaction.

The Ethics in Business Summit inspires good business ethics to promote positive mental health in employees, their families, and their communities. Event proceeds provide access to mental health services in northeast Wisconsin.

Click here to view the 2021 Fox Valley Ethics in Business Event Flyer.

The Impact of Proactive Retirement Plan Cost Management

Are you properly monitoring the fees paid by your retirement plan? Hear first-hand how an organization worked to both lower fees and improve transparency and why this work matters for retirement plan participants. Listen to Francis Investment Counsel’s Fiduciary Advice @ Work Podcast online or on your favorite podcast platform.

Does your organization’s retirement plan get the attention it needs?

If discussing the market and your investment menu dominates your retirement plan committee’s time each quarter, you may be on the wrong path. Learn how a proactive, forward-thinking advisor maximizes the precious time your committee spends on this benefit. Contact Joseph Topp via phone (262-781-8950) or email (joseph.topp@francisinvco.com). 

Impact Networking Partners with Innova Technologies

Partnership Between Impact Networking and Innova Technologies Enhances Services and Solutions Capabilities in Northeast Wisconsin and Beyond Impact Networking, a leading managed service provider, today announced that it has partnered with Innova Technologies, a local technology solutions provider focused on delivering digital transformations that drive value and mitigate risk for small to mid-sized businesses in Northeast Wisconsin. The partnership officially began in August 2021.

This new partnership combines Innova’s decade of experience supporting customers in Northeast Wisconsin with Impact Networking’s range of modern services and business solutions designed to meet the growth needs of a company and drive operational excellence.

Serving Northeast Wisconsin for more than 13 years, Innova Technologies has built its name by bringing together the services and technologies that solve business problems. In an effort to continue to innovate and evolve in a fast-growing market, Innova has enhanced its offering by joining up with Impact. The company’s existing customers now have access to all the additional expertise, products, and managed services Impact Networking has to offer, including Cybersecurity, Digital Innovation, Branding and Marketing, and Print and Document Management.

Click here to read the entire press release.