Lessons Learned During My Year as Chairman - Articles

Just a year ago, I was drafting my first message for CFMA Building Profits as incoming Chairman. I wrote about my career up to that point and said, “My leadership path at OCP has been profoundly influenced by the learning and volunteer leadership opportunities available through CFMA.”

I knew then that, to do the job well, I would need to set “stretch” goals, expanding my current skill set and stepping out of my comfort zone.

Part of the job as CFMA’s Chairman is to write and deliver a speech on stage at the Annual Conference. While I was honored to be selected to lead and excited about the opportunities ahead, admittedly I was also a little scared.

During a practice run of my speech, my coach asked, “Why do you tense up when you’re getting ready to start speaking?” I thought about that for a minute, “I guess I want to look professional.”

She then responded, “What makes you think you don’t look professional when you’re relaxed and being yourself?” It turns out that I didn’t just need to build new skills, I also needed to revisit my beliefs (fears) about myself as both a professional and a leader.

Just as Adam Grant suggested in his book, Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know, I had to question what I thought I knew and think again.

It’s Okay to Be Vulnerable

My post-secondary education has been mostly on-the-job training and, of course, learning through CFMA — CFMA Building Profits, “The Book,” conferences, my peer group, classes, and working with great leaders. As CFO and as CFMA’s Chairman, I had been holding onto a belief that because I don’t have a college degree, I might not be qualified. I was recently told that hearing about my unconventional path helped another CFMA member see herself on a leadership path, too.

It’s Not Necessary to Have All the Answers

Shortly before my first day as Chairman, past Chairmen, chapter members, and CFMA friends from across the country called and wrote, offering to help in any way they could. They have continued to reach out with words of encouragement and provide council along the way. Stuart Binstock helped me navigate the expectations of the role, providing examples from his experience, and our Officer Group, Executive Staff, and Executive Committee were all engaged contributors, bringing new ideas, questioning assumptions, and moving the Association forward.

Our Strategic Planning Task Force developed a new strategic plan, asking tough questions about what future members might want in an Association and how we might meet the needs of a new generation of leaders in a changing industry. This year, we had more than 300 enthusiastic members volunteer on CFMA committees and task forces and hundreds more working in our chapters. I didn’t need to have all the right answers; I just had to listen with curiosity to everyone who was there to help.

It Doesn’t Have to Be Perfect

From my first message in CFMA Building Profits to this final note, Kristy Domboski and her team have edited and formatted my drafts, creating polished pieces ready for publication. Samantha Lake expertly sketched out the flow of each “Chat with the Chairman” episode, and Cait Platt produced the “director’s cut,” editing out my bloopers from each show.

Most CFMA members don’t have the opportunity to meet and work with CFMA’s HQ staff, so they don’t realize the depth of talent that exists at headquarters. We have a staff of professionals who are experts at coordinating volunteer efforts and producing unmatched content and events. It didn’t have to be perfect; they had my back.

Thank You

I want to thank you for the opportunity to serve as Chairman this year. It was truly a gift to be able to meet and learn from so many amazing people. As you will see in the upcoming annual report, our Association accomplished a lot this year.

And congratulations to Tom Borgia, CFMA’s incoming 2022-23 Chairman. I have had the pleasure of working beside Tom for the past several years and know he will do a wonderful job!