FORT WORTH CHAPTER NEWSLETTER
JANUARY 2011
In this issue:

Tuesday, Jan. 18th Meeting Announcement

Message from the Chapter President – Vikki Pier

Speaker Profile – Dr. Lane Rawlins

Breakfast CPE Opportunity – Jan. 26th

Membership Update

FEI Fort Worth Event Calendar for 2010-2011

Thanks to Our Sponsors
Tuesday, January 18th Meeting & CPE:
As we roll into the second half of our chapter year, we hope everyone had a great
holiday and enjoyed the opportunity to relax with family and friends.
Joining us for our next meeting, coming up on Tuesday, January 18th will be Dr. Lane
Rawlins, the new President of the University of North Texas. Dr. Rawlins has a
plan for UNT that includes becoming a major player in the realm of research and
development. As has been seen in places like Houston and Raleigh-Durham, the
economic impact that a university research powerhouse can have on a local economy
can be significant. We look forward to hearing Dr. Rawlins’ vision for UNT and how he
sees it affecting the North Texas economy in the years to come. Our dinner meeting
will begin with a social hour at the City Club beginning at 5:30pm
Pre-Meeting CPE:
This month you will have the opportunity to obtain two hours of CPE prior to the dinner
meeting.
At 3:30pm, Shane Goodwin, a Managing Director of the Investment Banking and Capital
Markets division of Wells Fargo Securities, LLC will give an hour long presentation on the
state of the Mergers & Acquisitions Market. Shane leads the investment banking practice for
the Middle Market Group in the Southwest U.S. and is responsible for providing strategic and
capital market advisory services to clients. He has 18 years of M&A experience and has
advised on transactions totaling over $30 Billion dollars in value.
At 4:30pm, Higginbotham & Associates will provide a second hour of CPE. Mark Vann,
Managing Director of Employee Benefits will be discussing the Ever-changing Landscape
of Health Care Reform.
RSVP Info:
Please RSVP by Wednesday, Jan. 12th
1. RSVP by email – Carol Brucker:
cbrucker@qrinc.com
2. RSVP by telephone – call Carol Brucker at (817) 665-5399
Please remember to let Carol know if you will be attending one or both of the pre-dinner
meeting CPE sessions and also provide your dinner choice with your RSVP:
Beef:
Beef Wellington
Poultry: Chicken en Croute
Veg.:
Vegetarian Pasta
Message from our Chapter President:
Dear FEI Members and Sponsors:
HAPPY NEW YEAR!! What a way to start the year with the TCU win at
the Rose Bowl on January 1st. Congratulations to our TCU members and
alumni for this perfect football season!
Didn't we have a great December Social? For those of you who attended,
we saw some animals, had an interesting and informative presentation by
Alexis Wilson of the Ft. Worth Zoo, and enjoyed a wonderful evening in
the Portraits of the Wild Gallery. Special thanks to Laura Coffey and the
Pier I Imports group for their generosity in donating the table centerpieces and door prize items!
2011 will be just as interesting with the slate of programs lined up. We start January with Dr.
Lane Rawlins, the new President of the University of North Texas as our speaker. Dr. Rawlins
is guiding UNT to a stronger research profile as it seeks to become a major research university.
Dr. Rawlins brings his experience as the president of both the University of Memphis and the
Washington State University to UNT. We will get his view of the prospects for the academic and
economic impact of UNT to the DFW area. You don't want to miss his take on higher education
in the 21st Century.
This month we have a 2-hour CPE session with Wells Fargo and Higginbotham presenting the
1-hour each session. Also, please save the date of Wednesday January 26th at 8:00 AM when
Haynes and Boone will be presenting a breakfast CPE session. We are utilizing some different
days and times in hopes that we can accommodate members who may not be able to attend
some of the pre-meeting CPE sessions.
We introduced 2 new members at the December meeting and look forward to adding more in
2011. We are now at 113 members and continue to add more. Please note, the new member
campaign by FEI National has been extended to January 31st. Executive and Associate
members joining now have the initiation fee waived and receive a free registration to the FEI
Summit to be held April 3-5, 2011. Contact Jeremy Sweek for more information.
I look forward to seeing each of you on January 18th!!
Vikki Pier
President
Speaker Profile : Dr. V. Lane Rawlins
Dr. Rawlins began his term as president of the University of North Texas
on May 14, 2010. Now in his third public university presidency, President
Rawlins brings to UNT a proven track record of success in elevating the
quality and image of the universities he has served. Throughout his career,
President Rawlins has remained committed to maintaining strong
connections between world-class research and top-quality undergraduate
education. He also is dedicated to upholding the mission of public
universities to provide the best education possible to students of all
backgrounds.
President Rawlins is guiding UNT to a stronger research profile as it seeks to become a major
research university. To fulfill its vision, UNT is building on its legacy in the arts and education
while investing in its faculty, students, programs and research facilities to further its impact in
science, engineering and nanotechnology.
President Rawlins is helping to launch the university’s strategic plan for research, relying on his
experience in leading Washington State University during its quest to be designated a top-tier
research university while it substantially grew its research funding. As president of WSU from
2000 to 2007, Rawlins led the creation of a strategic plan that guided the university's drive for
educational and research excellence. His leadership also resulted in increased enrollment of
academically talented students; a more diverse student body; and a stronger statewide
presence while still supporting the needs of its multiple campus locations.
Following President Rawlins’ retirement from WSU, he served from 2007 to 2009 as the interim
director of the William D. Ruckelshaus Center for Conflict Resolution, a regional program of
WSU and the University of Washington.
Before joining WSU, he served as president of the University of Memphis from 1991 to 2000. He
also served as the University of Alabama System's vice chancellor for academic affairs, and
WSU's vice provost and department chair in economics.
He twice served on the NCAA's Board of Directors and as chair of the Pac-10, Conference USA
and Great Mid-West athletic conferences. He has served on the National Conference of
Christians and Jews, the Governor's Council on Global Competitiveness, and more than 20
other boards, including Boy Scouts of America, United Way and WKNO National Public Radio.
President Rawlins earned his Ph.D. in economics from the University of California, Berkeley and
his B.S. in economics from Brigham Young University. He has focused much of his research on
labor economics (especially the effects of education on earnings in people's lives) and public
policy.
President Rawlins is a native of southeast Idaho. He and his wife, Mary Jo, have three children,
11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Breakfast CPE Opportunity – January 26th:
On Wednesday morning, January 26th, the Fort Worth Chapter will inaugurate a new program
for its members to obtain CPE credit. We know it’s difficult sometimes to break away from the
office in the late afternoon to attend a CPE session before a regular Chapter dinner meeting, so
the thought was to occasionally provide a CPE session in the morning that you can attend
before going into the office. For our first breakfast CPE session, Karen Denney, a Partner with
Haynes & Boone will be providing an important Employment Law Update, covering recently
enacted employment laws and employment law cases and the practical implications of their
impact on our businesses.
The CPE session will begin at 8:00am; however, please come early (7:30ish) and “wake-up”
with the complimentary light Continental breakfast that will be available, (coffee, Danish,
muffins, etc.).
The location for this breakfast CPE session will be Pier 1 Imports, located at 100 Energy Way
– next to the Cash America building. Guest parking is available in front of the building. You will
be checked-in at the lobby and directed to Conference Room E on the mezzanine.
Please RSVP for this session in the normal way, by contacting Carol Brucker at:
cbrucker@qrinc.com or (817) 665-5399.
Membership Update:
Our total membership now stands at 113. We are pleased to welcome the following new
members to our chapter this month:


Joan Bradford-Pope
Carol Stuckley, Vice President, Finance, Galderma Laboratories
Eligible pre-approved prospective members can attend one meeting at no charge. Prior to
inviting
a
guest,
please
contact
Jeremy
Sweek
at
817-715-5490
or
jeremy@sweekconsulting.com to confirm eligibility. Membership qualifications are listed at FEI
membership criteria.
Fort Worth FEI Meetings & Events for 2010 / 2011:

January 18, 2011 – Dr. Lane Rawlins, President of the University of North Texas

February 15, 2011 - Bill Meadows, Texas Transportation Commissioner

March 15, 2011 – Plant Tour – Fort Worth Emergency Command Center

April 19, 2011 – TBA

May 17, 2011 – Spring Social Event at Joe T Garcia’s Restaurant
Thanks to our Sponsors:
Ernst & Young, LLP
A global leader in professional services, Ernst & Young helps companies in business across all
industries – from emerging growth companies to global powerhouses – to deal with a broad
range of business issues. Our 106,000 people in over 140 countries worldwide can implement
a broad array of solutions in audit, tax, corporate finance, transactions, online security,
enterprise risk management, the valuation of intangibles, and other critical businessperformance issues.
Contact: Scott Miracle, Partner
Tel: (817) 348-6283
Email: scott.miracle@ey.com
Haynes & Boone
Haynes and Boone, LLP is an international law firm with nine offices throughout Texas,
Washington, D.C., Mexico City and New York, providing a full spectrum of legal services to
clients around the world. With more than 450 attorneys, Haynes and Boone is ranked among
the largest law firms in the nation by National Law Journal.
Contact: Bill Greenhill
Tel: (817) 347-6600
Email: William.Greenhill@haynesboone.com
Capital One Commercial Bank
Although famous for our “What’s in Your Wallet” credit card campaign, Capital One also has an
excellent Commercial Bank division. With over 300 branch offices in Texas and Louisiana, we
offer a broad range of financial products and services.
Contact: Mike Barber, Vice President, Commercial Banking
Tel: (817) 334-7360
Email: michael.barber@capitalonebank.com
Wells Fargo Bank
With a legacy of leadership, Wells Fargo has been recognized nationally and internationally as a
financial services leader. Our commitment to excellence and outstanding customer service has
earned awards such as the 12th “most admired company in the world” and the “safest bank in
North America”.
Contact: Jeff Bundy
Tel: (817) 334-7093
Email: jeffrey.d.bundy@wellsfargo.com
Higginbotham & Associates
Higginbotham & Associates, one of the nation’s 100 largest independent insurance agencies,
gives businesses and individuals a “Single Source” for insurance, risk management and
financial services. The 60-year-old agency provides access to competitive property/casualty
coverage, employee benefits, retirement plans, life insurance and executive compensation
through more than 300 regional and national carrier partnerships. With statewide offices,
Higginbotham combines the resources of a national agency with the personal services of a local
Texas firm.
Contact: Sharon Godwin
Tel: (817) 347-6996
Email: mailto:sgodwin@higginbotham.net
Deloitte
Deloitte, through it’s affiliate companies, Deloitte & Touche LLP, Deloitte Consulting LLP,
Deloitte Financial Advisory Services LLP, Deloitte Tax LLP, offers clients a broad range of fully
integrated services in areas that include accounting, assurance and advisory, risk, tax,
management, financial, technology and human capital consulting. Deloitte works closely with
clients to create powerful business solutions for organizations in the United States and around
the world.
Contact: Ron Reeves
Tel: (214) 840-7571
Email: rreeves@deloitte.com
PricewaterhouseCoopers
PricewaterhouseCoopers provides industry-focused services for public and private clients. Our
experienced staff, combined with our global network, allow us to provide the support you need—
wherever you need it, at home and abroad, whatever the size of your organization.
Contact: Bill Leonard
Tel: (817) 877-2217
Email: William.T.Leonard@as.pwc.com
Resources Global Professionals
Resources Global Professionals serves businesses from the inside. Partnering with client
teams, we solve problems, implement initiatives and help drive change through all levels of
businesses all over the world. Our professionals are experienced problem solvers in fields
including finance and accounting, human capital, information management, internal audit, legal
and supply chain. We're a pioneering professional services firm, a global community with a new
approach to business — inside out.
Contact: Kay Steelman
Tel: (214) 777-0583
Email: kay.steelman@resources-us.com
Travis Wolff
At TravisWolff, collaborative teams of talented professionals unite around our clients.
Our three practice groups focusing on entrepreneurs, enterprises and individuals encompass
the financial strategies and services critical to our clients’ success. Disciplined yet flexible,
diverse but cohesive, combining best practices with cutting-edge thinking, our three practice
groups deliver a full range of professional accounting and advisory solutions.
Contact: Angie Moss
Tel: (972) 590-5220
Email: amoss@traviswolff.com
VIP Search Group
VIP Search Group is Dallas/Fort Worth’s premier source for financial talent. We have over 40
combined years in this market recruiting financial professionals for D/FW’s most respected
companies. We are experts in financial executive search and contract recruiting. Our team is
committed to being the best in the industry by focusing on client satisfaction.
Contact: Vira Trevino
Tel: (972) 383-8287
Email: vira@vipsearchgroup.com
BDO USA
BDO provides assurance, tax, financial advisory and consulting services to a wide range of
publicly traded and privately held companies. We offer a sophisticated array of services and the
global capabilities of the world’s fifth largest accounting and consulting network, combined with
the personal attention of experienced professionals.
Contact: Brent Horak
Tel: (214) 969-7007
Email: lhorak@bdo.com
Hartman, Leito & Bolt
Hartman Leito & Bolt is a well-respected leader and trusted business advisor, assisting clients to
overcome the uncertainty in today’s global economy. Our objective is to provide the RIGHT
skills and experience to our clients in the areas of assurance, tax and advisory services.
Contact: Phil Holmes
Tel: (817) 782-2105
Email: pholmes@hlbllp.com
KPMG
KPMG is a global network of professional firms providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services. We
have 140,000 outstanding professionals working together to deliver value in 146 countries
worldwide. Our industry alignment and investment in knowledge helps our firms' clients tackle
their most pressing issues.
Contact: Brad Forsberg
Tel: (817) 339-1244
Email: bforsberg@kpmg.com
Whitley Penn
Whitley Penn has become one of the regions most distinguished accounting firms by providing
exceptional service that reaches far beyond traditional accounting. Our steady growth reflects
our talented staff, our integrity and our ability to stay one step ahead of the issues our clients
face.
Contact: John Vallance
Tel: (817) 259-9240
Email: john.vallance@wpcpa.com
____________________________________________________________________________
Newsletter Editor
Graydon Vandament
Office e-mail: graydon.vandament@jacobs.com
Office Telephone: (817) 735-6228