DATE: Wednesday, April 22, 2026
TIME: 1:00 PM – 6:30 PM
LOCATION: Johnsonville Tailgate Village, Lambeau | Green Bay
Johnsonville Tailgate Village
1265 Lombardi Avenue
Green Bay, WI 54304
Keynote Presentation Time
3:45 - 4:45 PM
Title
Leadership Lessons From The Enron Scandal
Keynote Summary
Enron’s leadership pursued best practices on paper, but behaviors told a different story, setting up a culture and value system that became a breeding ground for not just thinking outside of the box or pushing the envelope, but for actual fraud. Enron was known as the most innovative company – in fact, Fortune Magazine named Enron just that, for seven years in a row. Unfortunately, the dark side of innovation is fraud. And the interesting thing about white collar crime is that it involves three key factors: extreme pressure to meet a goal (be that an earnings target or to obtain more money personally, etc.); the opportunity to cheat; and most importantly, the rationalization that it’s not cheating.
In this revealing presentation, Sherron shares how compensation systems impact fraud, the role of the public auditor in Enron’s collapse, the role of the banks in Enron’s collapse, and the importance of the CEO and how ethical lapses from the C-suite are magnified in subordinates.
Learning Objectives
Keynote Presenter & Biography
Sherron Watkins
Enron Whistleblower
Ms. Watkins is the former Vice President of Enron Corporation who alerted then-CEO Ken Lay in August 2001 to accounting irregularities within the company, warning him that Enron ‘might implode in a wave of accounting scandals.’ She has testified before Congressional Committees from the House and Senate investigating Enron’s demise. TIME magazine named Sherron, along with two others, Coleen Rowley of the FBI and Cynthia Cooper of WorldCom, as their 2002 Persons of the Year, for being “people who did right just by doing their jobs rightly.”
Watkins now lectures on leadership and ethics and continues to contribute as an ethics advisor to various organizations. Watkins is co-author of Power Failure, the Inside Story of the Collapse of Enron, (Doubleday, 2003).
Stay ahead of the curve and navigate the complex landscape of employment law with confidence. We'll highlight the most impactful developments from the past year, ranging from federal agency initiatives to landmark court rulings and emerging state law trends. Key takeaways are as follows:
Shareholder | Godfrey & Kahn
Aaron McCann is a shareholder in Godfrey & Kahn’s Green Bay office and a member of the Labor & Employment practice group. He represents employers in complex employment disputes in federal and state courts and before administrative agencies, including matters involving discrimination, retaliation, wage and hour claims, workplace safety, unfair labor practices, and restrictive covenants.
In addition to litigation, Aaron works closely with business leaders to proactively manage workplace risk, aligning legal compliance strategies with operational and financial objectives. He regularly advises employers on hiring and compensation practices, internal investigations, discipline and termination decisions, policy development, leave and accommodation matters, contract drafting, and OSHA compliance.
Investment decisions aren’t made in spreadsheets alone—they’re shaped by the complex interplay between markets, mindset, and biology. This session will explore the science behind why we make the choices we do and how understanding our physiological responses can lead to more disciplined, confident investing. Participants will uncover how hormones influence risk tolerance, learn to recognize behavioral patterns such as the “winner effect” and irrational pessimism, and discover practical ways to counteract these biases through structured rebalancing strategies. Attendees will walk away with a clearer understanding of their own decision-making tendencies and a toolkit of strategies designed to align behavior, personality, and portfolio management for more consistent long-term results.
Learning objectives are as follows:
Ed McIlveen, CFA
Chief Investment Officer, Principal | Francis, LLC
As CIO, Ed leads the firm’s investment committee, which develops strategic and tactical asset allocation and establishes the underwriting criteria for traditional and alternative investment strategies. He is the main author of the firm’s quarterly publication of investment ideas developed in collaboration with other investment professionals at Francis. Ed also assists plan sponsors and their committees by navigating matters such as plan design, investment manager selection, investment monitoring, and ERISA compliance. Outside of the office, Ed is usually spending time with family, running, golfing, or reading.
Godfrey & Kahn Presentation from 1:00 - 2:00 PM = 1 credit
Francis, LLC Presentation from 2:15 - 3:15 PM = 1 credit
Keynote Presentation from 3:45 - 4:45 PM = 1 credit
Michelle Weiss
920.750.9110
michelle@mwcommunications.org
Register and send cancellations by noon on 4/15/26.