Session 08
X - Executive, A - Advanced, I - Intermediate, B – Basic, G - GTOT Credit
CTP Preparatory Sessions are not available for CTP or FPAC credit.
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12 Months Can Make All the Difference (I)
- Vanessa McMichael, Senior Manager- Wells Fargo
- Emily Howell, Sr. Director of Treasury & Risk - Copart
- Kelly Valerio - EOG Resources
Tuesday, April 29th
4:00pm - 5:00pm
Grand I
Session Description
Much has changed over the past 12-months for the U.S. economy, business outlook, and financial markets. In this session we focus on corporate cash management in the context of using fixed income markets as a tool to invest organizational cash to not only preserve value and maintain liquidity, but to maximize yield (interest income earned), through rate cycles. Maximizing interest earnings on excess cash balances will remain important going forward, while remaining steadfast to achieving safety and liquidity goals. Though it may be beneficial to tweak investment strategies given the decline in front- end rates that has been fueled by an aggressive start to this easing cycle, shifting U.S. policy, rate volatility, and the unwinding of the inversion of the yield curve.
It is common for organizations to make incremental adjustments to investment strategies as the environment changes. Though these tweaks are not dramatic and often include either using a different asset class or shifting investment maturities. Please join us as we discuss how corporate organizations and similar investors (like 2a7 MMFs) have made such adjustments, discussing not only the benefits, but the internal procedures and controls.
1. Understand the drivers and consequences of changes in the U.S. economy and financial markets over the past 12-months as well as gain insight into the outlook for the next 12- months
2. Gain perspective on fixed income tools that peers are using to manage cash and tools for achieving corporate cash investing goals
Speaker Information
Vanessa McMichael is the head of Corporate and Public Entity Strategy with more than 15 years of financial industry experience. In her current role, she partners with corporate cash investors, providing resources such as education, relative value, portfolio analysis, investment policy best practices, and overall investment strategy for organizations that self-direct their investments. Vanessa publishes commentary on front-end fixed income markets titled The Short Stuff. She also speaks at a wide variety of conferences and has been highlighted in media. Vanessa has a BBA from Howard University and MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. She holds Series 7, 24 and 63 securities licenses and is a Certified Treasury Professional.
Emily Howell has extensive experience in global treasury and risk. At Copart, she oversees comprehensive Treasury and Risk responsibilities across North and South America, Europe, and the Middle East. She has had a strong focus on innovation and automation in treasury processes, enhancing Copart's operational efficiencies and financial management capabilities. Prior to Copart, Emily served as Senior Treasury Manager at Forterra Pipe & Precast playing a pivotal role in the company's initial public offering, successfully refinancing its debt structure, and assisting with acquisitions and divestitures. Emily holds a Master of Accountancy from The University of Nevada, Reno, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Austin College. She is a Certified Treasury Professional, holds an Associate in Risk Management, and is a Board Member of the Dallas AFP.
Kelly Valerio is a Treasury Advisor in the Finance department at EOG Resources, Inc., where she has been since 2015. She specializes in investment management, cash operations and reporting, and enjoys working on efficiency enhancement projects. Prior to joining EOG, Kelly spent eight years in banking. She began with a formal credit training program and later transitioned into Treasury Management, focusing on Non-Profit and Public Funds portfolios. Kelly eventually took on the responsibility of managing the bank’s Energy portfolio, which sparked her interest in pursuing a Treasury practitioner role within the energy sector. Kelly holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Texas A&M University and is a Certified Treasury Professional (CTP). She is currently pursuing an MBA at Texas A&M University’s Mays Business School.
A Nimble Approach To Managing Investments In Any Monetary Cycle (B)(I)(G)
- Zach Brown CPA, Managing Director, Product Management - ICD
Tuesday, April 29th
4:00pm - 5:00pm
Grand B
Session Description
The dynamic market environment over the past few years has been particularly challenging for most treasury teams. But many are leveraging technology to optimize workflow and gain independent access to the market for a more responsive investment experience. In this session, ICD will demonstrate a comprehensive technological solution to managing investments, especially as interest rates begin to decline. With enhanced visibility and control, treasury practitioners can adjust their strategies with investments anywhere on the yield curve, while monitoring their entire investment portfolio for compliance.
- Strategies to overcome challenges and capture opportunities in cash/investments
- Technologies used for speed, accuracy and real-time reporting
Speaker Information
Zach Brown comes with over 12 years of experience in building and successfully bringing to market software products for treasury managers, back-office operations professionals, investment accountants, and portfolio managers. Prior to joining ICD, Zach served as a product and strategy leader for both Ridgeline Apps, a cloud first firm focused on solving the cross functional challenges of investment managers, and Clearwater Analytics, provider of investment accounting and reporting software. Zach is a recognized expert in investment accounting, presenting at multiple industry events on educational topics such as alternative investment operations and accounting guidance updates and interpretations.
Preparing for, Responding to, and Mitigating the Consequences of a Data Breach (I)(G)
- Spencer Pollock - McDonald Hopkins
Tuesday, April 29th
4:00pm - 5:00pm
Grand H
Session Description
This panel will convene industry leaders specializing in cybersecurity, cyber insurance, and privacy law. They will share their comprehensive knowledge and real-world experiences related to cyber-attacks, including ransomware incidents, business email compromises, cyber extortion, and data breaches. The discussion will also focus on how organizations can adopt an enterprise-wide risk management strategy to effectively prevent and mitigate the devastating financial, legal, and reputational impacts that can arise before, during, and after a cyber-attack.
Current threat landscape, legal issues, and navigating cyber insurance;
- What to do before a breach occurs; Avoiding common mistakes when responding to a breach; and
- Remediation steps after a breach to prevent future breaches.
Speaker Information
Navigating the Future: Transforming Treasury for Tomorrow’s Challenges (I)
- Kevin McKeever CTP, Regional Head – Treasury Solutions Group - HSBC Bank
- Mauricio Pallais, Treasury Manager - Rimkus Consulting Group
- Gilbert Montoya, Assistant Treasurer - Noble Corporation
Tuesday, April 29th
4:00pm - 5:00pm
Grand E
Session Description
In today’s rapidly evolving financial landscape, the role of treasury is undergoing significant transformation. The pace of change can seem unrelenting and the risks of standing still are significant. This session explores the strategies and technologies driving this change, and the building blocks for successfully transforming treasury. Whether you are aiming to streamline operations or innovate for the future, this session will equip you with the knowledge and tools needed to transform your treasury function and drive organizational success.
- Learn about the various drivers and building blocks of Treasury Transformation.
- Gain a deeper understanding of the strategic considerations for an effective and efficient Treasury Transformation Journey.
- Learn from the experience of other companies and how they have approached Treasury Transformation.
Speaker Information
Kevin McKeever is the North America Head of Treasury Solutions Group for HSBC’s Global Payments Solutions. Based in New York, Kevin consults global companies on domestic and international payment solutions and provides training and advisory into current market trends across global liquidity and cash management. With over 35 years of banking experience across relationship management and cash management –19 of those with HSBC, Kevin has also led various sales teams covering a variety of industry sectors. Prior to that, he worked for ABN AMRO, which included a 6-year stint in Europe covering U.K. and Irish companies and developed regional cash management solutions for global companies. Kevin holds a MBA from the University of Warwick in the U.K., and is a Certified Treasury Professional under the Association for Financial Professionals (AFP).
Transforming the Finance Office – From Scorekeeper to Strategic Partner (I)(E)
- Patrick Sunday - Bottomline
Tuesday, April 29th
4:00pm - 5:00pm
Grand G
Session Description
Finance teams can no longer afford to be passive record-keepers – they must become proactive strategic partners in the business. In this session, we’ll explore how finance leaders can redefine their role, align with CEO and Board priorities, and drive business success through digital transformation, AI adoption, and organizational design.
We’ll examine the five key attributes of a best-in-class finance function—cost efficiency, operational speed, reporting accuracy, scalability, and strategic business partnering—and uncover practical strategies to achieve them. From leveraging AI for predictive analytics and fraud detection to optimizing finance processes with automation, this session will provide a roadmap for transforming finance from a back-office function into a powerhouse of strategic insights
- Understand what CEOs and Boards expect from the modern finance function and how to align with their vision
- Discover how automation, AI, and digital tools can enhance efficiency, accuracy, and forecasting capabilities
- Learn how to structure finance teams for scale and effectiveness through shared services, global process models, and specialized roles
- Gain actionable insights on positioning finance as a trusted strategic advisor by delivering data-driven insights and holding business leaders accountable
Speaker Information
Patrick Sunday, CPA, is a seasoned finance professional with extensive experience in accounting, financial reporting, and treasury management. He has held key roles at prominent organizations, including Nymbus and FIS, where he has demonstrated expertise in financial analysis, budgeting, and strategic planning. Patrick's proficiency in managing complex financial operations and his commitment to excellence have been instrumental in driving organizational success. He is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Richmond.
Building and Managing an Impactful Professional Brand (I)
- Ernie Humphrey, COO & Founder - 360 Thought Leadership
Tuesday, April 29th
4:00pm - 5:00pm
Iris
Session Description
In today’s world of all things AI and technology treasury professionals need to stand out amongst their peers and demonstrate they have skills that matter no matter where technology takes the treasury profession. An impactful professional brand can drive the career momentum of any treasury professional, and a lack of commitment to investing in it or even knowing and caring about it can create an inherent barrier to career success.
Discover actionable advice to build and manage your professional value proposition, a network that fuels career advancement, an impactful online brand, and a skillset that empowers treasury success.
- Understand the dimensions of a powerful professional brand
- Discover the ROI of investing in your professional brand
- Learn how to communicate with impact
Speaker Information
Ernie Humphrey serves as the CEO of 360 Thought Leadership & Treasury Webinars and is the host of the Treasury Truth or Dare podcast. Treasury Webinars has delivered thought leadership webinars to over 20,000 treasury and finance leaders across the globe. Ernie was a driving force behind Proformative, formerly the largest community of Finance professionals, which grew from 500 to 30,000 during his tenure. He was a long-time treasury manager and formerly served as the Director, Treasury Services at AFP. His e-book focused on career management was recognized as one of the Top 10 e-books for CFOs in 2018. Ernie was named one of the Top 20 Pioneering CEOs by Tech Magazine in 2020. Ernie has a BS and MS in Economics both from Purdue University.
CTP – Session 8 – Mastering CTP (ETM7) Materials (B)
- Dubos Masson, Ph.D, CTP, CertICM, President, The Treasury Academy
- Raymond Vines, CTP - Part Time Treasurer, Treasury Consultant, Trainer - Turningpoint Communications
Tuesday, April 29th
4:00pm - 5:00pm
Sunflower
Session Description
- CTP Math Session 2 – Review of Advanced Calculations
- Course Wrapup
Speaker Information
D.J. Masson, Ph.D., is President of The Treasury Academy, a training and consulting firm specializing in treasury management, international finance, business forecasting, and risk management. Over the past 25 years, D.J. has provided business and financial consulting and training services to a wide variety of corporations, financial institutions, and not-for-profit organizations in the U.S., Canada, and abroad. He is currently an Associate Clinical Professor of Finance at Indiana University’s Kelly School of Business and is a trainer and curriculum developer for programs with Association for Financial Professionals (AFP), GT News and Association of Corporate Treasurers (ACT) in the U.K, and Citibank’s Global Transactions Services unit. D.J. has extensive experience in developing curriculum for a wide range of teaching and training environments, both residential and on-line. He has developed classes and taught at all levels of higher education: undergraduate, MBA, Executive MBA, and in-house, custom-designed courses. D.J. has worked with professional associations to develop workshop, training materials, and certification programs in the areas of Treasury Management, Credit Management, Global Cash Management, Financial Forecasting, Commercial Banking, and Risk Management. D. J.’s educational background includes a B.A. in Business from the University of New Orleans and an MBA and Ph.D. in Finance from Indiana University. D.J. earned his Certified Cash Manager (CCM/CTP) credential in 1988. D.J. also earned the Cert ICM, an international cash management certification, from the Association of Corporate Treasurers (ACT) in the UK in 1999.
Ray Vines brings 30 years of corporate treasury experience (and honesty) to bear for Turningpoint Communications’ treasury management sales trainees, customers, customers’ clients and other key constituents as the “voice of the client” for programs, documentation and high-touch client experiences. Ray is also an instructor for the Association for Financial Professionals’ (AFP) Certified Treasury Professional (CTP), Treasury Learning System instructor-led courses, educating hundreds of prospective CTP candidates each spring and fall for Rice University and the University of Texas. Formerly, Ray served as Director of Treasury for Dean Foods in Dallas for seven years, where he was responsible for leading treasury operations and his team, managing internal and external relationships and continuous process improvement. Prior to Dean Foods, Ray spent 20 years at RadioShack as Director of Treasury Operations. Ray is an active participant in enhancing the role of treasury management as an industry and career through his participation on industry roundtables and his leadership of the Dallas AFP, including his role as past president of the . Ray co-chaired the award-winning TEXPO conference in Dallas in 2018, leading all technological, marketing and communications aspects of the conference and is a key member of the content team for #DallasTEXPO2023. Ray holds a B.S. in Finance and MS in Accounting from the University of Texas and is a Certified Treasury Professional (CTP). Ray is also a WSET Level 3 Advanced (Wine & Spirits Education Trust) Wine and Spirits Certified instructor, and customizes courses in wine/spirits etiquette for financial audiences and executives.