2026 MFM & FEI AGENDA

This is a tentative draft schedule of events - check back frequently for updated information

2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
MFM and FEI Registration Desk | 3rd Floor

6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Financial Leaders Forum Opening Reception
Sponsored by Hearst Television | Microsoft | Szabo Associates, an Altus Receivables Management Company

• Roundtable - Radio 

• FEI Session 4 | Presented by Forvis Mazars
• FEI Session 5 | 
  AI Needs Better Data

  Presented by Oracle NetSuite
  AI is rapidly reshaping how finance operates, from real‑time forecasting and automated variance analysis to closing the books and scenario planning that keeps pace with the business. The opportunity for finance leaders is to move beyond experiments and turn AI into a trusted, everyday partner. But to realize AI’s full potential, finance leaders must prioritize the quality, connectivity, and governance of their data. In this session, attendees will discover why better data is the foundation of trusted, impactful AI. They will explore how to unify and modernize financial data sources, employ intelligent data integration techniques, and ensure data is accurate, secure, and ready for AI-driven processes. They will also learn how combining connected, high-quality data with embedded intelligence and an up-skilled finance team helps deliver reliable forecasting, anomaly detection, zero-day close, and actionable scenario planning that leaders can act on with speed and confidence.

  Presenter:
  Tom Kelly | Director, Product Management | Oracle NetSuite

• FEI Session 6 | 
  The Rise of Self-Funding AI: How Finance Leaders Are Turning Intelligence into ROI

  Presented by SIB Fixed Cost Reduction
  Today's finance leaders are responsible for guiding the business through volatility while maintaining precision, credibility, and control.
  
  In this session, a SIB industry expert will explore how leading finance teams are using AI to strengthen visibility, sharpen decision-making, and support growth without surrendering judgment or discipline. Attendees will learn how to invest in targeted AI that delivers measurable ROI by surfacing hidden errors, reclaiming margin, and preserving financial control on your tail spend.

  • Enhance foresight and decision quality while retaining financial control with the help of AI.
  • Why AI improves visibility and alignment across finance and revenue teams, reducing volatility.
  • Practical ways to apply AI as a support system for disciplined growth and cost reduction.

  Presenter:
  Eric Steele | Chief Revenue Officer | SIB Fixed Cost Reduction

• MFM Session 4 | Presented by CFGI - Building and AI Agent
  
• MFM Session 5 | Presented by Szabo Associates/Altus - Credit & Collections
• MFM Session 6 | 
  Navigating an M&A Transaction
  Presented by Houlihan Lokey 

  Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are transformational events that can redefine a company’s trajectory. Houlihan Lokey panelists will discuss the resurgence of the Media, Sports and Entertainment M&A activity in 2025-2026, and elements that Finance professionals can start thinking about today: from identifying a target to post-close integration. This breakout session will provide a roadmap for navigating M&A transactions with confidence. Led by experts from Houlihan Lokey, attendees will gain actionable insights into due diligence, valuation, and post-close integration to prepare for successful outcomes.
  Presenters:
  Michael Bett | Director Transaction Opinion & Advisory | Houlihan Lokey
  Gelline De Guzman | Senior Vice President, Accounting and Financial Reporting Advisory | Houlihan Lokey
  Michael DeLuke | Senior Advisor, Corporate Valuation Advisory Services | Houlihan Lokey
  Matt Dodd | Managing Director and Head of Accounting and Financial Reporting Advisory | Houlihan Lokey
  Brian Marler | Director and Head of Media, Sports & Entertainment Financial & Valuation Advisory | Houlihan Lokey

• FEI Session 7 | Presented by Crux
• FEI Session 8 | Presented by Brown & Brown
• FEI Session 9 | 
  Managing Retirement Plan Risk

  Presented by Cerity Partners
  As part of our commitment to equipping senior leadership with strategies that deliver compliant, competitive, and cost-efficient retirement plans, this session introduces a comprehensive framework to strengthen fiduciary governance, minimize litigation and regulatory exposure, and improve workforce financial outcomes. By applying institutional investment and pricing standards and ensuring full transparency of total plan costs, our approach not only meets regulatory requirements but also enhances employee engagement, supports talent retention, and drives measurable long-term value for the organization and its stakeholders.

  Attendees of this session will:

  • Learn how to position your plan as a tool for attracting and retaining top talent while controlling costs.
  • Gain actionable insights into strengthening oversight, reducing litigation risk, and meeting ERISA and regulatory standards.
  • Discover how applying institutional investment and pricing standards can optimize plan costs and improve ROI.
  • Understand emerging compliance challenges and proactive strategies to safeguard the organization.
  • Explore methods to improve employee financial wellness and retirement readiness, aligning with organizational goals.

  Presenters:
  Mike Cohen | Principal | Cerity Partners
  Tim McNally | Senior Principal | Cerity Partners
  Philip Steele | Partner | Cerity Partners

• MFM Session 7 | 
  Betting on the Game: How Technology and Wagering Shapes Modern Sports Media
  Presented by RSM 
  

  This presentation explores how the sports industry is leveraging technology and legalized sports betting to reshape the future of sports media. As wagering becomes embedded in the live viewing experience, it is transforming how content is distributed, monetized, and valued across the ecosystem. We examine how bet-driven engagement is redefining distribution models, accelerating direct-to-consumer strategies, and unlocking new interactive viewing experiences. The presentation also considers how advertising is evolving through dynamic, data-driven formats and real-time integrations, while underscoring the importance of responsible growth. Finally, we assess how these shifts are reframing the economics of live sports—moving beyond traditional ratings toward engagement-based value and data monetization frameworks.
  Presenters:
  Justin Krieger | Technology, Media & Telecom Industry Co-Leader – Canada | RSM Canada
  Matt Twomey |  Leader, Sports Industry Team | RSM US

• MFM Session 8 | 
  Speed Mentoring for Emerging Leaders
  This is a networking session for experienced and new members to engage, learn from their peers, and expand their peer groups.
  Leaders:
  Ryan Laninga | Director of Finance – Denver | Bonneville International Corporation
  Carrie Heffernan | Corporate Controller | Bonneville International Corporation

• MFM Session 9 |
  Fraud in the Media Industry
  

  Fraud impacts the commercial trade credit industry. This presentation will provide indicators and features to detect and prevent fraudsters from stealing your services and leaving you without payment. This breakout will be led by legendary media industry legal expert Wanda Borges and payment processing guru Matt Fluegge of United TranzActions. It’s a “can’t miss” session for anyone interested in curbing fraud and increasing profitability!
  Presenters:
  Wanda Borges | Principal | Borges & Associates
  Matt Fluegge | Vice President of Sales and Strategic Partneships | United TranzActions

• FEI Session 10 | 
  Regulatory Readiness: Governing AI, Data, and Risk in a New Compliance Era

  Presented by DFIN
  The 2025 regulatory compliance landscape presents a highly dynamic and volatile environment, driven by rapid technological advancements, shifting policy priorities, and evolving societal expectations. Organizations will be required to navigate increasingly complex regulatory frameworks that emphasize the need to document, audit, and govern AI algorithms with a strong focus on transparency, fairness, and accountability. At the same time, regulators are intensifying their scrutiny of data protection, cyber incident response, third-party risk management, and operational continuity—demanding robust governance structures, rigorous controls on information security, and timely reporting mechanisms to ensure resilience against market disruptions.

  Presenter:
  Donna Garabo | Product Development | DFIN

• FEI Session 11 | 
  From Volatility to Visibility: How CFOs are Reclaiming the Healthcare Budget with ICHRA

  Presented by Ambetter Health / Take Command
  For decades, the employer-sponsored healthcare model has been defined by a "death spiral" of unpredictable annual renewals, rising premiums, and a lack of transparency that erodes EBITDA. While HR traditionally managed the second-highest line item in the P&L, the financial fallout of a "bad claim year" often lands squarely on the CFO's desk. However, a fundamental shift is occurring. Forward-thinking finance leaders are abandoning the traditional group plan in favor of a more modern benefits solution, the Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements (ICHRA).
  
  This panel explores how the ICHRA model—which replaces the "one-size-fits-all" group plan with a flexible, defined contribution allowance—is transforming healthcare from a volatile variable into a fixed, predictable line item. We will dive into real-world case studies where organizations have realized savings of 20% to 40% while simultaneously increasing employee choice. Attendees will learn how to decouple corporate financial risk from the health events of employees and instead leverage the stability of the broader individual marketplace. Join us to discover how shifting the healthcare paradigm can protect your bottom line, satisfy a diverse workforce, and turn a legacy cost center into a strategic asset for growth.

  Presenters:
  Lauren Niebruegge | Chief Financial Officer | Ambetter Health
  Wayne Scott | CFO | Take Command

• FEI Session 12 | Presented by Randstad

• MFM Session 10 | Presented by  Bond & Pecaro - Let's Make a Deal...or Not!
• MFM Session 11 | Presented by WBK Law -  M&E Industry Regulatory Update
• MFM Session 12 | Presented by TBA

• FEI Session 13 | 
  From Automation to Autonomy: How AI Agents are Redefining Accounts Payable

  Presented by Medius
  As finance organizations face increasing complexity, cost pressure, and risk, Accounts Payable is emerging as a strategic lever—not just a back-office function. This executive-level session examines how intelligent, agent-driven AI is enabling AP teams to move beyond efficiency gains toward autonomous, insight-driven operations that improve control, resilience, and decision-making. Rather than focusing on technology hype, this discussion highlights how leading organizations are applying AI today to orchestrate AP and payments processes, proactively manage risk, and improve supplier engagement—while delivering measurable business outcomes.
  
  Attendees will gain a clear view of what autonomy in AP means, where it delivers the most value, and how to approach adoption with confidence.

  • How AI-driven AP enables greater financial control, resilience, and scalability.
  • Where AI agents deliver the most strategic impact across invoice processing, risk, and supplier management.
  • What executives should consider when investing in AI-enabled AP, from governance to value realization.

  Presenter:
  Don Holm | Global Vice President Value Consulting | Medius

• FEI Session 14 |
  

  Unlocking Working Capital 2.0: Next‑Generation Supply Chain Finance for Modern CFOs
  Presented by Monkey Tech
  This session explores how finance leaders are moving beyond traditional working capital models to a Working Capital 2.0 approach: one that combines real‑time visibility, multi‑layer transaction validation, and scalable technology to unlock liquidity across the supply chain. We will discuss evolving Supply Chain Finance strategies, showcase how a global manufacturer improved DPO by 20 days while strengthening supplier relationships, and highlight the technology platforms enabling secure, automated, and high‑impact working capital programs at scale.

• FEI Session 15 | 
  

  From Reporting to Leading: How AI Is Elevating Mid-Market Finance Leadership
  Presented by Maximor
  Mid-market finance leaders often find themselves buried in operational tasks — manual reconciliations, fragmented data pulls, and reactive reporting — leaving little bandwidth for the strategic work that actually drives business value. This session examines how AI-powered automation is eliminating that operational drag, giving finance teams real-time visibility and the contextual depth needed to shift from explaining the past to shaping the future.
  Through a real-world case study, attendees will hear directly from a mid-market finance leader about the journey from disconnected, manual processes to an AI-driven finance function — including the measurable outcomes achieved and the hard-won lessons along the way. Attendees will leave with a practical framework for identifying where AI can have the greatest impact in their own organizations and how to build the internal case for change.
  Presenter:
  Ramnandan (Ram) Krishnamurthy | CEO |  Maximor AI

• MFM Session 13 |
  Becoming the De Facto Chief Compliance Officer in an AI World with Ever-Evolving Regulation
  Presented by Cadex
  Does your company have a dedicated compliance leader – or is that a hat you wear? For CFOs, controllers, and other financial and operational leaders, navigating compliance in an ever-shifting AI landscape is no longer a peripheral concern – it directly impacts financial integrity, risk exposure, and enterprise value. This session will help you learn to build flexible compliance frameworks that prioritize transparency and data protection and foster collaboration between legal, technical, and executive teams, while enabling responsible innovation. In this context, effective AI compliance is not a constraint – it is a strategic enabler of trust, financial resilience, and long-term growth.
  Presenters:
  

  Seth Carter, Ph.D. | Chief Digital Officer | Cadex Solutions
  Andy Balthaser | Chief Compliance Officer | Cadex Solutions

• MFM Session 14 | Presented by Cohn Reznik – Accounting for AI
• MFM Session 15 | Presented by Latham & Watkins
  

• FEI Session 16 | 
  

  The Road to IPO Readiness: Lessons from PagerDuty
  Presented by Everest
  Taking a startup public is non-trivial. When Jeff Alley joined PagerDuty, he didn’t realize he was stepping into an IPO journey. Once the goal became clear, every decision centered on one objective: build the financial foundation necessary to withstand public-market scrutiny.
  In this candid session, you’ll get an inside look at what it truly takes to move from confidential filings to ringing the NASDAQ bell—while operating with an accounting team of just three. We’ll walk through the rapid system implementations required to create a control-based environment, how we strengthened revenue recognition practices under pressure, and what separates a prepared organization from one scrambling at the last minute. You’ll also hear what actually earns respect from SOX auditors, and where today’s technology would have dramatically changed Jeff’s team’s approach.
  Attendees will:

  • Gain firsthand insight into IPO preparation within a lean accounting team.
  • Understand the systems and controls required to operate in a public environment.
  • Learn what makes auditors confident in your processes.
  • Walk away with five practical, actionable ways tech can accelerate IPO readiness.

  Presenter: 
  Jeff Alley | Head of the Quote to Cash Product | Everest (former Global Revenue Controller at PagerDuty)        

• FEI Session 17 | Presented by PwC           
• FEI Session 18 | Presented by TBD

• MFM Session 16 | Presented by Creditsafe
• MFM Session 17 | Presented by AMEX          
• MFM Session 18 | Presented by Workday

5:30pm  Private Dinners or Dinner on Your Own...Enjoy San Antonio       

Conference Events | Wednesday, May 20