Happy Saturday, and welcome to CEO Speaks for Saturday, March 9, 2024, sponsored exclusively by Second Wind Consultants, specializing in article 9, out-of-court, transactional restructurings.
March classics define the actionable optionality of opportunity as the essence of TMA, and this early march has been no exception.
Starting in Chicago, where the TMA Chicago/Midwest chapter hosted its ever-popular winter classic (albeit on February 29th) Martini Party, this tried and true treasure of a networking event again did not disappoint.
With more than 250 registrants, the magic of this gathering is its familial warmth and camaraderie, which reinforced long-standing friendships while welcoming new members, too.
Bringing together TMA members from near and far, the Chicago/midwest chapter again fortified the power and reach of our defining organization, and members like Jill Kishenbaum said it best as she proclaimed in a recent LinkedIn post, ‘TMA Midwest you did it again’ while coining the phrase ‘new connections and re-connections.’
Coming off the networking zenith that the Chicago/midwest martini party always is, next, I, along with TMA Global president-elect Rachael Smiley, journeyed to Tampa, Florida, where the TMA Florida chapter hosted its Annual Chapter Conference, this year boasting a record number of participants.
In what has become a TMA classic, with the feel of a regional conference, more so than what used to be a truly chapter-centric opportunity, this year the conference, themed ‘Riding The Wave of Opportunity,’ boasted four education sessions, which was a mix of the important and practical, including programs focused on economic forecasting, creative capital, private credit, distressed investing, and a judge’s roundtable too.
Of course, in true and classic networking style, the chapter’s networking at this conference opportunity included a bourbon tasting hosted by Horse Solider Bourbon, a whisky founded by former green berets who served in Afghanistan following the 9/11 attacks on America.
The stand-out keynote presentation by retired four-star general Kenneth F. ‘Frank’ McKenzie spoke to the geopolitical challenges facing the world from the perspective of the former commander of CENTCOM, the military command responsible for the Middle East, Central Asia, and parts of Africa.
Riveting and real, this is TMA innovation at its finest, joining our world with the world at large in real and relevant ways and other examples of how TMA Lights The Way.
As said best by TMA Florida VP of Programming Ken Yager, ‘TMA Florida is on a roll with another action-packed agenda around distressed investing and networking…We set a record number for attendance, with 1/3 attendees from out of state and membership as high as it has ever been. Hats off to Steve Stagg, Rob Folland, David Weinstein, CTP, Lilies Lanaway, Matt Hale, and other programming committee members for the engaging content…’
While Global President-elect Rachael Smiley and I experienced the best of a record-breaking TMA Florida event, a chapter approaching 200 members strong and the 2023 North America Chapter of the year, Global President Allen Wilen was in attendance at another March classic, the TMA Philidelphia/Wilmington, Delaware judges fireside chat.
This sold-out event this year featured judges, Braden Shannon and Thomas Horan in an engaging and authentic conversation that touched on the serious and the not-so-serious too, including behind-the-scenes chamber moments and some comical storiesgs in the era of Zoom of court hearing.
With Former TMA Philadelphia/Wilmington president and global board member Mark Felger leading the festivities, as said Mark on his post-event LinkedIn post, ‘Another really terrific fireside chat hosted by the Philly Wilmington chapter, six years and going strong.’
This TMA classic again stood for how, at TMA, we bring together meaningful content and meaningful connections into a setting that is of professional diversity and in support of bench, bar, fortified by PR and other relationships that are the essence of our actionable organization.
Next up, TMA Global President Allen Wilen, CTP, TMA Europe President Tyrone Cortman, and I head to Leiden University in the Netherlands, where we will be speaking at and participating in the 2nd Annual EACTP (European Association of Certified Turnaround Professionals) ‘Turbocharged Turnaround,’ a two-day workshop style program providing a wonderful balance of learning themes, interactions, new knowledge and time spent with colleagues, as we support the importance and growth of the CTP designation in the US, Europe and now in Australia, India, Turkey, and South Africa too.
This is how TMA leads and its professionals and brings to the forefront the high value and importance of what it means to be a Certified Turnaround Analyst and Certified Turnaround Professional, wherever TMA members may be.
And if that does not light the spark of international opportunity for you, then I encourage and invite you to participate in the 2nd Annual TMA International Symposium and European Annual June 10th-12 at the Waldorf, London UK, where we will revolutionize, rebel and rock in grand TMA fashion.
This multi-day event will feature a pre-conference reception to be hosted by TMA UK, our first international TMA boot camp, the international symposium day that will kick off with a Network of Women program comparing restructuring schemes from around the globe, and much more, leading up to the TMA European Annual day.
Registration is now open for this unique and special opportunity that promises to be professionally rewarding, fresh, and new, but beyond that, the rare gathering of North American leadership with our leaders and members from Europe and around the world in what will be a United Nations of TMA moment in one of Europe’s premier business and socially acclaimed cities.
So be part of this exciting opportunity and help revolutionize, rebel, and rock it in this innovative TMA way.
Lastly, today, in a new dimension to CEO Speaks, we add a short segment called member moments, where we shout out to members who have done something momentous and memorable that stands for and supports the mission of TMA.
This week’s member moment recognizes the five women of our TMA Long Island chapter who, in this women’s achievement month, are to be congratulated for the announcement of the launch of its TMA Network of Women Committee.
We are TMA Proud of Long Island NOW Committee Members Sheryl Giugliano, Liz Aboulafia, Giselle Sicilian, Brooke DeMarinis, and Alexandra Troiano for being the stand-out leaders you are and taking this mage leap forward by setting the example for other small chapters to follow.
As always, thanks for taking the time to listen today. And thanks again to our TMA CEO Speaks exclusive sponsor, Second Wind Consultants, for your support of TMA and this podcast.
As TMA Lights The Way, your input is critical, your contributions paramount, and your engagement the foundation that will create a better TMA for all our members.
Until next time, I’m Scott Stuart. Be safe, resilient, and TMA Proud.