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CTP Prep Course Offered at Windy City Summit

 

Written by Niki Kinkelaar, Windy City Summit Conference Manager

The Certified Treasury Professional (CTP) designation sets the standard in the treasury profession and is a global symbol of excellence. The 2021 Virtual Windy City Summit is offering a CTP Prep Course included with the registration at no additional cost. You can participate in live sessions weekly or catch them on-demand at your convenience.

It can be a big decision in deciding to take the CTP exam. So, we had an opportunity to interview Evelyn Martinez on her journey to earn her CTP, demonstrate her comprehensive knowledge of corporate treasury management, pledge to meet continuing education requirements to stay current and commit to the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct.

 

Why I Earned My CTP

Can you briefly describe your current position? 

I am a Senior Treasury Analyst with LSC Communications. My job responsibilities include daily cash management, debt reconciliation, cash forecasting, and bank administration.

When did you become a Certified Treasury Professional? June 2019

What was your primary motivation in deciding to become a CTP? 

My co-worker and fellow TMAC member had passed the exam a year before and encouraged me to earn my CTP. During this period our company was in the process of being acquired and job security was uncertain. I felt that becoming a CTP would make me more valuable to my current company as well as more marketable if I needed to search for a new job. 

How did you prepare for the CTP exam? 

I began preparing eight months before I took the exam. I studied the old school way, writing down lots of notes, and highlighting key information. I am a mom of two school-age kids, both in sports, so I would study during my lunch hour and carve out time over the weekends. I also attended the CTP Exam Preparation Course at the Windy City Summit which was super beneficial and provided additional study material.

In what ways has the CTP benefited you and your career?

It has given me greater confidence in my abilities as a treasury professional. You also get insight into other areas that might not be part of your current job requirements, but common in other treasury roles. 

If you were to give advice to a peer interested in earning their CTP, what would you tell them? 

Go for it! It truly gives you a better understanding of all aspects of treasury management. 

 

Prepare for the CTP Exam

It is not too late to join us at the 2021 Windy City Summit and take advantage of the CTP Prep Course. Also, be sure to subscribe to receive updates directly to your inbox. Just text TMAC to 22828. We will respect your privacy, never share your information and you can unsubscribe at any time. REGISTER TODAY! 

Once-in-a-Generation Chance for Banks in Payments

Written by Conrad Sheehan, Managing Director, Accenture

Payments modernization is the most consequential transformation that banks will make this decade. With the shadow of an aging payments infrastructure looming large, banks can’t stay on the sidelines. This is an existential issue. Banks that don’t act put their future at risk.

Banks are constrained by aging payments infrastructure and operations. Industry-wide innovation in the form of real-time payments from The Clearing House, the Federal Reserve, and non-bank competitors is very disruptive. And of course, banks must address regulatory requirements like the migration to ISO 2022, a new global standard for payments messaging.

Banks can explore solving as many pain points as possible using commercially available software. Sometimes this means making tough choices and setting priorities. What’s also key is running the implementation well—from requisition through implementation, testing, and change management. Banks must do all of this in a predictable and managed way while still running the bank and not ballooning their employee base.

This article reposted with permission.  Connect with Conrad Sheehan on LinkedIn to stay up-to-date on the latest trends in payments.

TMAC Membership — Helps You Reach Your Career Goals

Written by Patrick T. Yappel, President, 2020-2021, TMAC

With the excitement of the upcoming 35th Windy City Summit, I am reminded how fortunate we are to be part of such a supportive treasury community within the Chicagoland area. The strength of this community is only made possible by decades of focused efforts by hundreds of committed treasury professionals. A cornerstone of this community has long been the Treasury Management Association of Chicago (TMAC). TMAC is a premier treasury management association in the greater Chicagoland area and suburbs for financial and treasury professionals. Our members come from across all industries with backgrounds and experience in Cash Management, Investments, Corporate Finance, Risk Management, Insurance, Financial Planning, and Treasury Strategy.

Become a Member of the TMAC Community

As a member of TMAC, I have seen the benefits of the organization firsthand. The organization is committed to enhancing its membership by providing quality education in an environment that is conducive to the advancement of financial management. There are numerous ways TMAC delivers on this commitment to its members, whether via our monthly meeting, educational seminars, discounted registration to the Windy City Summit, numerous leadership opportunities within the organization, or attending TMAC social events held throughout the year. For me, the most valuable aspect of being a TMAC member is the opportunity to develop lasting relationships with the incredible people I have met through the organization.

If you are a treasury practitioner in the Chicagoland area and are interested in further developing your professional skills and building professional networks and friendships which will last a lifetime, please learn more about TMAC membership by visiting the ‘Join TMAC’ section of the TMAC website at www.tmachicago.org.

Attend the 2021 Windy City Summit

Another great way to learn about TMAC is to attend the upcoming 2021 Virtual Windy City Summit. This year we are offering a virtual educational series over the course of five weeks with live sessions, including case studies, panel discussions, expert presentations on a variety of financial topics, access to industry partners, plus networking opportunities with other treasury professionals. Registration is open and we hope to see everyone there!

Also, be sure to subscribe to receive updates regarding the Windy City Summit directly to your inbox. Just text TMAC to 22828. We will respect your privacy, never share your information and you can unsubscribe at any time.

 

Start and Advance Your Career In Treasury

Written by: Samantha Salisbury, CTP, Co-chair Windy City Summit

What’s the best way to start your career in treasury? The simple answer is: Networking. Whether you’re a student looking to get into treasury or a seasoned professional, networking is key. Networking provides you the opportunity to meet people already working in the field, understand more about what a career in treasury may look like for you, gives you a chance to get looped in on potential job opportunities and develop and grow professional relationships.  The more your name is out there while networking, the greater chance that your name will come up when an organization or individual is looking to expand or hire.
 

3 Tips to Advance Your Treasury Career

 
Once you’re settled into your new treasury career, these three tips can help you to keep moving forward to advance your treasury career:

  1. Continue to develop your professional network.
    • Continuing to develop your professional network gives you the opportunity to meet other treasury professionals and develop relationships while engaging with your network also gives you the space to engage in knowledge shares and ideas exchange.  If you’re looking for ways to boost your network, consider joining a professional network such as the Treasury Management Association of Chicago (TMAC), Association of Corporate Treasurers (AFC), or the AFP. 
  1. Obtain your professional certification
    • Obtaining your Certified Treasury Professional certification (CTP) demonstrates your commitment to your career and showcases your robust treasury knowledge base. In addition, having a professional designation provides improved career opportunities and increased earnings potential.
  1. Continuing education
    • Continuing your education is an important step to advancing your treasury career. Not only does it keep you up to date on the latest treasury trends and what’s happening in the industry, but many companies and organizations also host free webinars that offer CTP continuing education credits

This year, the Windy City Summit Conference is going virtual, offering attendees access to live and on-demand educational sessions. Each session will provide you an opportunity to expand your treasury knowledge, and most sessions are eligible for CTP continuing education credits. If you’re not already CTP certified, CTP exam preparation courses are being offered as part of this year’s Virtual Windy City Summit. You’ll have access to attend live-streamed CTP preparation courses and, if you’re unable to attend the live, CTP prep course content will be available on-demand.

Stay tuned for more information on the Windy City Summit Conference Sessions. You can also REGISTER TODAY and save your spot.

Getting and Maintaining Your CTP Certification

Written by: Norman Goldstein, CTP, Gold International

Getting and maintaining your CTP certification, why is it so important?  Like any certification, it immediately says, you have attained a certain recognized level of competence in your profession.  In Treasury, the Certified Treasury Professional (CTP) reflects your knowledge of your industry and the State of the Art tools to be successful.  Having the CTP designation puts you in a different category when you’re seeking a new job or even a new role within your own company.  Among other things, this likely brings a higher price tag with it as well.  The fact that you are required to earn continuing education credits to retain this designation, makes sure that you are on top of current changes, ideas, and new concepts in your field.
 

Earning Your CTP will Get You Noticed

 
At one time, it was nice to have a CTP (CCM).  Today it’s really a door opener.  I have been able to assist in placing well over 100 individuals into treasury positions over the years.  The one common requirement when I would be contacted by a hiring manager was that they wanted someone who had passed the CTP exam or was about to.  As one hiring manager once said, “they don’t need the CTP to get the job, but they will need it to keep the job.”

During the Windy City Summit, we offer a comprehensive review course for those planning to sit for the exam and an abundance of educational sessions where those who already passed the exam can easily earn their recertification credits in order to retain their designation.  Take advantage of these opportunities being made available to you.

 

The Last Word

Written by: Laurel Egan Kenny, Turningpoint Communications

In the wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic, we were forced to cancel Windy City Summit 2020. We could not move forward, however, without affording our gracious speakers the opportunity to have their voices heard on compelling industry topics at this unprecedented moment in history. We have decided to pass along our speakers’ thought leadership to our members, sponsors, exhibitors, and would-be attendees in the form of our first-ever “The Last Word” document. We hope our constituents will find this document provides insights into our speakers’ areas of subject matter expertise – and closure before we move and look forward to 2021.

The results of the “The Last Word” compilation were as diverse and varied as our speakers themselves: from professional development to treasury industry-specific mandates to regulatory requirements to faster payments. Some of our speakers even provided insights into freeing up cash and evaluating legal documentation in the wake of a pandemic.

Inside “The Last Word” document, find quotations from multiple perspectives about:

  • Modern Treasury metrics
  • Focus on maximizing cash flow and liquidity and minimizing risk
  • Artificial Intelligence, Robotic Process Automation, and Application Programming Interfaces
  • Cybercrime and fraud
  • International treasury management and global trade
  • Faster payments: same day and real-time
  • Relationship management for internal business partners, including Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable
  • Getting back to basics with investment and risk management policies
  • Industry mandates
    • ISO 20022
    • Transition away from LIBOR
    • FASB Hedge Accounting
  • Personal branding and career advancement using LinkedIn

 

As always, our speakers are our industry advocates and present best practices. It is important to follow up with individual speakers for more information about products and services. While we cannot provide speakers’ contact information, we encourage you to use LinkedIn to search for speakers. Please note, speakers’ companies are included with their names.

Thank you again for your support during these tough times. We feel strongly that better days are ahead. Mark your calendar for Windy City Summit 2021 at Navy Pier from May 18-20, 2021. In the meantime, we will be once again seeking thought leaders on hot topics. The coming weeks and months will bring new ideas and insights, so too will our industry-leading presenters. Also, for interested speakers, be on the lookout for our Call for Proposals coming out soon!

CLICK HERE to download and view all nine pages of the “The Last Word.”

To sign up and receive updates on the Windy City Summit, please submit the form below.

What’s your Style?

Written by: Laurel Egan Kenny, Turningpoint Communications

When it comes to conference education, what style of presentation do you prefer? A keynote? General Session? A panel? A single presenter? A Big Idea Talk? Presentation type preference is a personal one – and has a great deal to do with learning style, comfort level, engagement level, knowledge of the topic and so much more. The best conferences offer a variety of styles to engage audiences of all kinds for different reasons. Which presentation style “speaks” to you?

KEYNOTES
Typically presented over lunch, keynote addresses are best “served up” light, funny or motivational. After all, who wants to be weighed down by a heavy topic and a heavy chicken over mashed potatoes meal before 1:00 PM? Though a dark story with an inspirational outcome can be uplifting, like a soufflé or chocolate mousse dessert. I’ve heard many different flavors of the motivational keynote – from Mt. Everest’s survival to rags to riches stories to accounts of overcoming severe illness, disability or other seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

A strong keynote is a powerful tool. The right speakers can “sell” a conference, particularly those with star quality or corporate leaders who represent a well-known brand. It helps when a famous keynote uses the story of their rise to fame to deliver poignant messages based on their experience. I also enjoy a good adventure story – chronicling an adventure through time, one where the speaker provides wisdom and lessons learned. I have had the privilege of attending a number of compelling keynote addresses at treasury conferences throughout my career. Most memorable were “Life is Good” co-founders Bert and John Jacobs, whose tale of homelessness inspired their whimsical t-shirts and ultimately their philanthropy. Even Former Boston Police Commissioner, Ed Davis, brought an audience from tears of pain to inspiration, just one year after the Boston Marathon Bombings.

GENERAL SESSION
A fit kick-off to any conference, the general session brings together all attendees in a grand and impressive gathering (of hundreds or thousands) to formally welcome them, establish/reinforce the conference theme and set the tone of a conference before they set off on their own or in small groups to their chosen paths. A general session presenter with mass appeal (fame, brand, do-gooder, even a mysterious, protagonist) will draw a crowd. General Session topics best are high-level, weighty, inspirational, thought-provoking, innovative – and delivered by a powerhouse speaker supported by a multimedia show complete with slides, video, interactivity and fully rehearsed (yet extemporaneous), authentic speech. Equally as effective are “fireside chat,” interviews designed to intellectually transport massive audiences in awkward chairs in a cold, cavernous function room to a warm, comfortable living room complete with soft couches and pillows – and a crackling fireplace, of course. Actor and activist, Michael J. Fox; Former President Bill Clinton; Colonel Colin Powell and Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice were the most memorable general session speakers I can recall from my treasury management industry career. Breakout session speakers are wise to tie their presentation back to the general session and theme of the conference to reinforce their relevance. Conference organizers and leaders can enhance or detract from the power of a solid general session with their own performance. I favor a warm welcome by a relatable conference chair to a robotic, awkward, teleprompter, overly rehearsed speech by a figurehead any day.

PANELS
Panels, if they are done well, provide multiple perspectives on a particular topic. I have seen this done very successfully and I have seen them fail. In environments ripe for violations to the “No Sales pitch” rule, panels with representatives from both the sales and buy-sides provide balance. At treasury conferences, specifically, I find it helpful to have vendors bring a corporate / practitioner / buy-side client. This allows for a case study, successful storytelling format. Of course, no one believes a “super vendor man saves the day” story when it is one-sided and told almost exclusively by the vendor – with the client simply there as a figurehead. It is no surprise, I have also found the best panels are well-rehearsed so that each panelist knows what is expected of him/her – and knows what s/he and the others bring to the table, to avoid a choppy delivery or redundant information.

SINGLE PRESENTER
Subject matter experts are well-positioned to lead discussions and deliver education based on their skills, education, experience. However, a single presenter must “deliver,” not simply transfer information for his/her audience. In fact, when it comes to individual presentations, the sage words of the late and great Maya Angelou apply, “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” This means single presenters must subscribe to a higher burden of “edu-tainment” delivery. That is to be compelling, dynamic and engaging (in no particular order). It is imperative that the speaker involve the audience in his/her presentation. This comes in several forms. Instead of stating a fact, ask it as a question, then ask the audience what they think about that – or if they have had any experience with that. Also, it is imperative to cite sources. No one believes that a single person holds nor should one be expected to hold all of the information there is to know about a particular topic.

BIG IDEA TALK
Popularized by the famous “Ted Talks,” the “Big Idea Talk” is set in front of a smaller, more focused audience set to be amazed by an incredibly poignant 30 minute or less highly rehearsed presentation of a unique idea. Built as a bridge between real-life and podcast, these discussions are typically video recorded for use in other media. Treasury and payment conferences have started to incorporate this format into their repertoires to keep things fresh and to appeal across generations.

CONCLUSION
Education can be served up in different ways. Varied presentation styles offer advantages and disadvantages – and may or may not appeal to audience members with particular needs or tastes. General sessions and keynote lunches have mass appeal, while one-to-many (single presenter) presentations, panel discussions and “Big Idea Talks” together offer enough variety that audiences ought to be able to find a style that they enjoy. What is clear though, is that speaker name, reputation or brand may bring an audience, but delivery, content, engagement are what makes them stay. An ability to make the audience FEEL is what makes a presentation memorable.

Capitalize on your Thought Leadership

Written by: Laurel Egan Kenny, President, Turningpoint Communications

Treasury professionals don’t appreciate how much knowledge and experience they possess. I have been on a mission to help treasury leaders express their thought leadership to benefit customers, junior staff, communities and the treasury management industry. Thought leadership is the result of capitalizing on the talent, experience, and passion inside your business, or from your community, to get in front of a defined target audience on a particular topic in a compelling way – and on a schedule that works for the presenter/writer and receiver. Ira Apfel, Editorial Director of the Association for Financial Professionals defines thought leadership as, “Articulating your experiences in treasury and finance as original, innovative insights to further your profession, your employer and your career.”

Industry publications provide opportunities for whitepapers, byline articles or other features. So too does social media – namely blogs, vlogs, YouTube, LinkedIn Articles, Wikipedia. A conference provides a great opportunity for an expression of thought leadership. A call for presentations allows thought leaders to offer up their subject matter expertise. Windy City Summit is one example of a conference at which treasury leaders can present their ideas. Why present at the Windy City Summit? It’s Simple! Showcase your thought leadership to Chicago and beyond-based treasury and finance professionals.

 

Don’t believe you are worthy? Don’t believe your expertise is worthy of sharing? Think about your experience.

  • Present a case study, success story, timeline of events
  • Discuss best practices
  • Present ideas for innovation, change, efficiency, productivity
  • Answer frequently asked questions
  • Discuss successes, failures

 

Still don’t believe anyone wants to learn from you? Think about this! According to Ira Apfel, the national AFP relies on outside authors to contribute:

  • 418 articles, 1,024 pages, 500,000+ words for its quarterly international publication+
  • 140 Sessions at its annual conference

 

Windy City and other larger regional organizations require support from outside contributors to produce:

  • 40 to 90 conference breakout sessions
  • 6 to 12 educational meetings a year

 

So, have we convinced you that your thought leadership is needed? We will soon be sending out the Call for Presentations for the 2021 Windy City Summit.

Who is your Treasury Hero?

Written by: Laurel Egan Kenny, President, Turningpoint Communications

When I think of heroes, sure, I think of Wonder Woman and The Incredibles, but, when it comes to MY heroes, I think of cape-less people who inspire me to be the best version of myself. I have people like that in the treasury world.  They are my mentors, supporters, educators, my inspiration. The world of treasury management is a small one, with colleagues serving 10 to 30 years or more, moving from one role to another and from one employer to another – even one region to another. Career paths are often well defined and chronicled, with insiders well aware of colleagues’ roles – present, past and future. Connections are essential if one is to maximize a treasury management career. I hope my industry colleagues are lucky enough to have admirable colleagues who, support, educate, mentor and inspire.  Do you have these “actors” in your treasury management life? Why not call them out or call them up today to say thank you today?

A mentor is an experienced and trusted advisor. Do you have someone like this in your life? My mentor, Patricia Mullin, Cambridge Trust Company, took me under her wing, as I got my start in treasury management at State Street corporation’s Global Cash Management division in 1998. As a very young professional, I was charged with building out a marketing discipline which required a great deal of content development for executives and clients – not an easy feat, when the world of treasury management was foreign to me. Patsy took me aside, took me to lunch, and took the time to not only tell me, but show me, how treasury worked – and how our solutions solved operational problems our customers were facing. Decades have passed and Patsy still answers my calls for ideas, clarification and even a request to present or train with me. She remains my calming force, motivator, educator.

A supporter is a person who approves of and encourages someone. Do you have a supporter with no agenda in your life? My supporter, Lee Ann Perkins, Assistant Treasurer, EON Corporation works 1600 miles southwest, but is never very far – always reachable – here for me – and most of the time, I don’t even need to ask. She is always willing to help, no matter the ask or the task – whether presenting, serving as a panelist, starring in a webinar, providing treasury perspectives. She always has a kind word and is often the first one to like just about anything I post on LinkedIn. She also has a great sense of humor, pranking me on occasion. Her smile is infectious and she welcomes new experiences. She is an industry leader, champion and advocate.

An educator is a person who provides instruction or education; a teacher. Do you have someone who passes along his/her intelligence, experience, without judgement?  My educator, Raymond Vines, has served in a corporate treasury leadership capacity for 30 years. His perspective is invaluable to me. He also has a great way of explaining highly complex ideas in layman’s terms, and no question is ever “dumb.” Ray is never short on opinions on just about anything – and never afraid to share those opinions! He shares his treasury goals, realities, his wish list so I feel like an insider into the corporate practitioner side of the business. This comes in handy as we train together, bringing a day in the life of a treasury team to treasury teams from back office to front line professionals.

An inspirer is someone who fills another person with the urge or ability to do or feel something, especially to do something creative. Ginger Gidden, Senior Vice President, Treasury Management Sales, Wells Fargo, inspires me. She epitomizes grace under pressure, eloquence and intelligence. When others send a text, Ginger picks up the phone, delivering good or bad news in context. This style has earned her trusted advisor status among her clients and as a result, she engages in deeper conversations with these clients – and gets her job done more efficiently and effectively than most people I know. As an industry advocate, Ginger is not afraid to share her experiences (with the appropriate levels of confidentiality, of course), presenting with me at national and regional treasury management conferences.

Go Out of Office

Written by: Laurel Egan Kenny, President, Turningpoint Communications

When there is too much to do, we are short-handed, and we are looking to cross items off of our ever-expanding lists as treasury leaders, it is difficult to even think about getting out of the office for an hour or two, never mind two and a half days.

“There is no time!” “Who will set the cash position?” “How will we approve wires?” “Who will sign for….”

But, getting out of the office for professional development purposes may be exactly what you need!

First, there are people who are performing very similar roles for other companies, all across the Chicago area and beyond, come together as part of TMAC monthly and for the Windy City Summit once a year. While companies may compete for market share, market position, sales, customers, treasurers and their teams are not “competing” with other treasury teams. Seek them out. Get to know them. Talk to them. Confide in them. Tell them about your struggles. Ask them about solutions. Ask them what worked, what failed?

Secondly, treasury solutions providers attend Windy City Summit. The best ones would be more than happy to have a discussion about your business challenges and discuss industry best practices and solutions. They are highly knowledgeable about industry trends and mandates. They may even provide demonstrations of how their products and services work. They may also connect you with current customers with similar situations to discuss how the product or service works in their environment.

Thirdly, work shouldn’t be ALL work! If you can escape for a few hours every month or even every other month or so, TMAC will set you up with a great meal, even better conversation, and a highly relevant topic and an engaging thought leader. If you can escape for a couple days each year, Windy City Summit provides a number of social opportunities from keynote lunches to cocktail receptions to exhibit hall breaks. Odds are, with 1200 treasury and finance professionals attending, you will find some new friends – or connect with “old” ones.

Fourthly, who better to present topics of interest to other treasury and finance professionals than you? TMAC – Chicago (monthly) and Windy City Summit (annually) are looking for experts just like you to lead discussions and contribute to panels to promote the treasury industry and take deep dives into topics of interest. Reach out to a TMAC – Chicago leader for more details.

Fifthly, (is this even a word?), you may be inspired to “step up” or take the next step to become part of the organization. TMAC (including our WCS team) is/are always in the market for active committee members who may one day step up into a director or officer position.

Last, but not least, you are in a great position to identify educational and networking opportunities for your team. As an active and engaged member of the TMAC community, you and your team will be notified of upcoming events by email – and of course, you can always find information on our website and via social media networks.

So, mark my word, it is worth it for you to mark your calendar to go Out of Office for the third Thursday of each month for TMAC-Chicago Meetings for treasury and finance practitioners – and 5/19/2020 to 5/21/2020 for the 34th Annual Windy City Summit. See you soon!