---
title: 2026 September / October Newsletter | FEI Eastern Wisconsin
description: Newsletter for September and October 2026
---
- [FEI Member Portal](https://www.feinew.org/members)
- [Contact Us](https://www.feiew.org/contact)
[](https://www.feiew.org/)
[](https://www.feiew.org/)
- [Events](https://www.feiew.org/events)
- [Chapter Meetings](https://www.feiew.org/events/tag/chapter-meetings)
- [Professional Development](https://www.feiew.org/events/tag/professional-development)
- [Peer Group](https://www.feiew.org/events/tag/peer-group)
- [Virtual](https://www.feiew.org/events/tag/virtual)
- [Past Event Resources](https://www.feiew.org/past-event-resources)
- [Strategic Partners](https://www.feiew.org/strategic-partners)
- [Careers](https://www.feiew.org/careers)
- [Newsletters](https://www.feiew.org/newsletters)
- [About FEI](https://www.feiew.org/about)
- [Code of Ethics](https://www.feiew.org/about#ethics)
[Join FEI Eastern WI](https://www.financialexecutives.org/Become-a-Member.aspx)
[Join FEI Eastern WI](https://www.feiew.org/become-a-member)
More results
- [Events](https://www.feiew.org/events)
- [Chapter Meetings](https://www.feiew.org/events/tag/chapter-meetings)
- [Professional Development](https://www.feiew.org/events/tag/professional-development)
- [Peer Group](https://www.feiew.org/events/tag/peer-group)
- [Virtual](https://www.feiew.org/events/tag/virtual)
- [Past Event Resources](https://www.feiew.org/past-event-resources)
- [Strategic Partners](https://www.feiew.org/strategic-partners)
- [Careers](https://www.feiew.org/careers)
- [Newsletters](https://www.feiew.org/newsletters)
- [About FEI](https://www.feiew.org/about)
- [Code of Ethics](https://www.feiew.org/about#ethics)
[Join FEI Eastern WI](https://www.feiew.org/become-a-member)
2026
# September / October
President's Message
## Peer Group Update
FEI Members,
The **Fall Peer Group Meeting** is sheduled on **Thursday, December 10, from 2:00 - 4:30 PM** and will be held virtually via Zoom. These **member-only** discussions create space for open conversation around the issues finance leaders are navigating today, with an emphasis on practical insights, shared experiences, and peer-to-peer discussion.
**Use the link below to register.**
**Please note: these meetings** **are for FEI MEMBERS ONLY.**
[REGISTER](https://www.feiew.org/events/fall-2026-virtual-peer-group-meeting-members-only)
[Virtual | Zoom \*Eligible for 3 CPE credits \*Must attend entire meeting & complete polling questions at end of virtual meeting.](https://www.feiew.org/events/fall-2026-virtual-peer-group-meeting-members-only)
[2:00 — 4:30 PM](https://www.feiew.org/events/fall-2026-virtual-peer-group-meeting-members-only)[Thursday, December 10, 2026](https://www.feiew.org/events/summer-2025-in-person-peer-group-meeting-members-only)
### Virtual | Zoom
\*Eligible for 3 CPE credits
\*Must attend entire meeting & complete polling questions at end of virtual meeting.
## Member Experience Update
.png?width=311&height=253&name=Faulds%2c%20Bob%20(Truity%20Partners).png)
I thought we had an excellent meeting in September to kick off our new year. Steve Brandes gave a fantastic presentation on the Wisconsin Herd, and I was happy to see a lot of familiar faces, as well as some new members and guests who joined us. Over the past couple of weeks since the meeting, I have also noticed some positive comments and engagement on social media regarding the meeting, which has been really encouraging given our recent efforts to increase our following on LinkedIn.
As we look at some of the numbers related to our membership, we are currently at 489 followers on LinkedIn. I am going to go out on a limb here and promise everyone reading this that the number of followers will be above 500 before I send out my next membership update. I would not-so-secretly like to see that number reach 1,000 before the end of this fiscal year, which I think is very attainable.
Another number is 194. We started the year with 194 members. We were above 250 prior to COVID. The following years were a tough time for every professional organization that relied on in-person meetings, but I feel like we are heading in a positive direction. I think we handled COVID and the years that followed extremely well, and I am optimistic that we can get our membership back above 200 by the end of the year.
There is a quote that says, “If you have a goal, write it down. If you do not write it down, you do not have a goal; you have a wish.” I’ve written down a couple of my goals for the year above and created a “little bit” of accountability by sharing them with the entire membership. Now, I would ask (beg) generously for your help on both of these items.
Remember, when we have guests join us, it is almost always because they have been invited by a member or strategic partner. If you know someone who you think would enjoy and benefit from becoming a part of our FEI chapter, please extend an invitation or share the program schedule with them. Of course, while you are doing that, you should also ask them to “Like” our LinkedIn page to give them an opportunity to learn more about our chapter and its upcoming events.
If anyone has any additional thoughts or ideas about things that would benefit our membership and the growth of our chapter, please feel free to reach out. I’m always open to hearing about new ideas.
Otherwise, I hope to see everyone at our meeting coming up on October 14th and/or at the October 8th New Member Networking Event.
Thanks,
Bob Faulds
FEI Member Experience Chair
[Bob.Faulds@truitypartners.com](mailto:Bob%20Faulds%20%3CBob.Faulds@truitypartners.com%3E)
---
## 2026 - 2027 Program Schedule
The 2026-2027 Program Schedule reflects updates made since its release in late July.
[VIEW REVISED PROGRAM SCHEDULE](https://www.feiew.org/events/2026-2027-program-schedule)
## Special Features
[Captive Solutions 101: Key Considerations for Organizations Evaluating Alternative Risk Financing Strategies](https://contact.aon.com/captive-solutions-101-2026?utm_source=outlook&utm_medium=org-email&utm_campaign=c_na_us_all_crs&utm_content=e_zz&utm_term=STE)
OCTOBER 13, 2026 HYBRID EVENT | DETAILS BELOW
#### Captive Solutions 101: Key Considerations for Organizations Evaluating Alternative Risk Financing Strategies
**Time**
**9:30 AM - 11:30 AM**
Lunch to follow for in-person attendees
**Locations**
**In-Person:** Aon Center Chicago, IL
**Virtual:** Link to be provided after registration
During this session, Aon’s captive experts will share practical insights on how organizations can evaluate captive opportunities, strengthen existing captive programs, and align risk financing strategies with broader business objectives. Whether your organization already operates a captive or is considering alternative risk financing for the first time, this program will offer a structured framework to help you navigate today’s evolving risk environment.
[LEARN MORE + REGISTER](https://contact.aon.com/captive-solutions-101-2026?utm_source=outlook&utm_medium=org-email&utm_campaign=c_na_us_all_crs&utm_content=e_zz&utm_term=STE)
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
#### October 7, 2026 Webinar + Article
****
**WEBINAR
Wednesday, October 7, 2026
11 AM - Noon CDT**
**TOPIC**
**What's next in digital transformation: Trends, AI, and lessons from the field**
In this session, we’ll explore the most common questions we’re hearing from IFS customers today, from implementation planning and post-go-live optimization to digital assessments and AI readiness.
**[REGISTER FOR WEBINAR](https://www.bakertilly.com/events/digital-transformation-trends-ai-lessons-field)**
---
**ARTICLE
AICPA study finds most companies lag on strategic integration amid rising risks**
A study by the AICPA, published on Sept. 9, 2026, **[found](https://www.aicpa-cima.com/news/article/rising-risk-complexity-outpaces-organizations-strategic-readiness-finds-new-aicpa-and-north-carolina-state-university-study)** that companies are struggling to keep up with rising risk complexity, with most failing to integrate risk management into strategic decision-making.
**[READ FULL ARTICLE](https://www.bakertilly.com/insights/accounting-insights-3)**
[Strategic Corporate Growth Via Acquisitions: Best Practices for Long-Term Value Creation](https://commercial.bmo.com/en/us/insights/strategic-corporate-growth-via-acquisitions-best-practices-for-long-term-value-creation/)
ARTICLE
#### Strategic Corporate Growth Via Acquisitions: Best Practices for Long-Term Value Creation
We frequently work with business owners and management teams, whether family- or founder-owned, ESOP-owned, or even publicly held, that are either considering or have determined to make acquisitions part of their growth strategy. In terms of both experience and corporate capabilities, we see a wide spectrum among these companies, from those who have never completed an acquisition and often have very lean corporate resources, to serial acquirers that have deep organizational experience and resources that may include a person solely responsible for M&A-related growth.
[READ ARTICLE](https://commercial.bmo.com/en/us/insights/strategic-corporate-growth-via-acquisitions-best-practices-for-long-term-value-creation/)
[Ingredients for "the Market": Chips, Rockets, and No Profits](https://francisway.com/knowledge/articles/ingredients-for-the-market-chips-rockets-and-no-profits/)
WHITE PAPER
#### Ingredients for "the Market": Chips, Rockets, and No Profits
Explore how index construction has changed and what that means for plan fiduciaries. Owning “the market” in 2026 means navigating a landscape defined by semiconductor chip-driven concentration at the top of major indexes, rapid inclusion of mega-cap IPOs such as SpaceX, and the risk of disciplined active managers who may run out of runway before their views are validated.
[READ WHITEPAPER](https://francisway.com/knowledge/articles/ingredients-for-the-market-chips-rockets-and-no-profits/)
[Our Annual CFO Priorities Survey](https://survey-d.yoursurveynow.com/survey/selfserve/53c/260854?list=3&C=2#?)
SURVEY
#### Our Annual CFO Priorities Survey
What is having the biggest impact on your finance strategy right now?
Economic uncertainty, talent challenges, technology investments, and growth expectations continue to shape the CFO agenda.
Take our annual CFO Survey and share your perspective. Your insights will help inform a report highlighting the trends, challenges, and opportunities facing finance leaders today.
[Take the survey and join the conversation.](https://survey-d.yoursurveynow.com/survey/selfserve/53c/260854?list=3&C=2#?)
[October 28, 2026 | Resch Center](https://www.weidert.com/mf26)
EVENT
#### October 28, 2026 | Resch Center
****
**Manufacturing First 2026**
On October 28, manufacturing and industrial leaders from across northeast Wisconsin will gather for a full day of programming at Manufacturing First. Among this year's breakout sessions, Weidert Group's Frank Isca will speak on **The Growth Engine Framework: From Campaign Chaos to Revenue Engine**. His session looks at how to build a pipeline that compounds instead of resets with each campaign.
[LEARN MORE](https://www.weidert.com/mf26)
[Balancing risk, resilience and growth](https://bigmarker.wipfli.com/wipfli/balancing-risk-resilience-and-growth?utm_medium=email&utm_term=N%2FA&utm_source=CIJ&utm_content=ENTP%20FY27%20Q2%20Webinar%3A%20Balancing%20risk%2C%20resilience%20and%20growth%20email%201%209.8.26%20%28CM%29&utm_campaign=RAS%20-%20Balancing%20Risk%20Webinar#msdynmkt_trackingcontext=b347fe40-cf42-45ee-ac22-6b595bcc0300)
OCTOBER 22, 2026 WEBINAR | 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM CT
#### Balancing risk, resilience and growth
Many organizations invest significant time and resources into AI, cybersecurity, technology modernization and operational resilience. Yet these efforts are often siloed, making it difficult for leadership teams to understand how risk in any one individual area is affecting performance, growth and organizational resilience for the business as a whole.
This webinar will cover how to solve that by implementing a cohesive enterprise risk strategy. An enterprise strategy doesn’t just manage individual risks, but also delivers the visibility leaders need to prioritize investments, strengthen resilience and make confident decisions in an increasingly complex environment.
[CLAIM YOUR SEAT NOW](https://bigmarker.wipfli.com/wipfli/balancing-risk-resilience-and-growth?utm_medium=email&utm_term=N%2FA&utm_source=CIJ&utm_content=ENTP%20FY27%20Q2%20Webinar%3A%20Balancing%20risk%2C%20resilience%20and%20growth%20email%201%209.8.26%20%28CM%29&utm_campaign=RAS%20-%20Balancing%20Risk%20Webinar#msdynmkt_trackingcontext=b347fe40-cf42-45ee-ac22-6b595bcc0300)
[Join FEI Eastern WI](https://www.feiew.org/become-a-member)
Phone: [920.750.9110](tel:%20920.750.9110)
[michelle@mwcommunications.org](mailto:michelle@mwcommunications.org)
Copyright © 2026 FEI Eastern Wisconsin Chapter