CFMA Chicago Chapter Newsletter

Building Connections

Bimonthly Newsletter of Chicago CFMA

April 2017

President's Letter

Last month the chapter hosted its Annual Meeting in conjunction with the March Succession Planning Program. At that time new board members and officers were elected into office. I am honored to begin my second year as your board president and look forward to a successful year for our chapter.

My first course of business is to thank our outgoing board members for their leadership and commitment during their three-year term on the board. Michael Harris, Catrina Payne and Ryan Hiss all played integral roles in our programming and membership growth and will continue to serve on various committees. A special thank you and best wishes to James Bianchi who while on the board served as our Chapter Treasurer and Golf Outing Chair. James has taken a job opportunity within his firm that is outside of the construction industry and we wish him much success. I'd also like to welcome our new board members, Alex Warner, CliftonLarsonAllen; Tracey Fenolio, FCL Builders; Amy Holmes, Crowe Horwath; and Jason Vanden Bosch, CBIZ/MHM, who will also serve as our Treasurer.

In addition to our board members, our chapter is represented by many leaders; some at the local CFMA level, some at the national level, and many are viewed as leaders throughout their respective industry. Next month marks the 9th Annual "Build Chicago" Awards Luncheon. The purpose of the "Build Chicago" Awards is to annually recognize a Construction Contractor, a General Member, and an Associate Member in the construction finance industry, who exemplify the highest level of leadership and support for CFMA, their community, and the industry. I would like to take this opportunity to personally congratulate our 2017 Build Chicago Award winners Michael Pohl, John Metz and FCL Builders for their service and leadership. Please join us on Wednesday, May 10 at the University Club to celebrate these honorees and the Chapter's success over the past year.

Finally, I wish to thank you for renewing your membership commitment to CFMA. Membership in CFMA demonstrates leadership in the industry. If you have not yet renewed, we encourage you to do so to prevent a lapse in your member benefits. To those of you who have renewed, I look forward to seeing you at an upcoming program or committee meeting or at the Annual conference in Phoenix June 4-6th. Remember, to make the most of your membership. Get involved - commit to attend one program, education or social event, invite one new member, or join one committee. I promise you, your "one more" will be returned to you many times over.

Mary Davolt

Chapter President

In This Issue

Welcome New Members

Useful Links

Did You Know?

Thank You 2017 Platinum Sponsors

Welcome

New Members

Paul Dowdakin
Bigane Paving Co.

Elizabeth Cronin
Premier Mechanical, Inc.

Tom O'Shea
Aspen Group

Rick Julien
DK Cole Co.

Oscar Gutierrez
Tilson Technology Management, Inc.

Andy Klemm
Entact, LLC

Scott Guenther
Landmarc Environmental Systems, LLC

Cassandra Castillo
Advantage Industrial Systems, LLC

Mary Matheney
RW Collins

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For the second year, the CFMA Chicago Chapter will partner with RTMC and will participate in

National Rebuilding Day, on Saturday, April 29, to repair a home in the Chicago area.

Our allotted volunteer spots are full, but the committee is still looking for donations to help meet the needs of the home. If you are interested in donating, please contact

Javier Gonzalez.

Featured Platinum Sponsor

Relationship Still Matters

By Jeffrey A. Steigelman

When you have three kids in the span of two years, two of which are twins, you tend to lose track of time, which was the case when I referenced the financial crisis the other day and someone said to me, "but Jeff that was nearly a decade ago." A decade ago? Really? But in fact it has been nearly a decade and yet it does not seem that long ago. Probably because we are all still dealing with the ramifications of the financial crisis one way or another.

One of the ramifications, is the difference in how customers and banks define and view a "relationship." Increased regulation, focus on capital preservation versus capital creation, and a trend towards risk avoidance from risk management, have all had a negative impact on the relationship between commercial customers and their banks. Read the complete article here.

"Despite these changes, relationship banking and bankers still exist and can add tremendous value to your business, but finding it has become a little harder despite every bank out there saying that they are a relationship bank."

CFMA Chicago Annual
"Build Chicago" Awards Luncheon

The University Club of Chicago

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Tickets: $80/per person | $750 for a Table of 10

Register Today!

We are pleased to welcome Keynote Luncheon Speaker Morgan Housel, Partner at the Collaborative Fund, a venture capital firm backing young companies that are moving the world forward. Previously, Mr. Housel was a columnist at The Wall Street Journal and The Motley Fool.

Thank You to our 2017 Keynote Sponsor