Keynote Speaker

Andrew S. Fastow
Public Speaker & Principal | Former CFO of Enron

Topic
Rules Versus Principles

Summary
This lecture and Q&A session will focus on the distinction between legal and ethical decisions in the gray area of laws, regulations and rules.
 

Biography
Despite today’s more regulated and enlightened business environment, we continue to witness “Enron-esque” failures of corporate governance. Enron’s former CFO will make observations about how the ambiguity and complexity of laws and regulations breeds opportunity for problematic decisions and will discuss what questions corporate directors, management, attorneys, and accountants should ask in order to ensure that their companies not only follow the rules, but uphold the principles behind them. 

Mr. Fastow was the Chief Financial Officer of Enron Corp. from 1998 – 2001. In 2004, he pled guilty to two counts of securities fraud, and was sentenced to six years in federal prison. He completed his sentence in 2011, and now lives with his family in Houston, Texas. Mr. Fastow currently provides litigation support at a law firm, and he consults with directors, attorneys, and hedge funds on how best to identify potentially critical finance, accounting, compensation, and cultural issues.

Mr. Fastow received a BA in Economics and Chinese from Tufts University and an MBA in Finance from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University. Prior to joining Enron, he was a Senior Director in the Asset Securitization Group at Continental Bank N.A.

Professional Development Panel Discussion
Presented by Baker Tilly, CLA, Godfrey & Kahn and Andrew Fastow
Topic: Navigating Corporate Oversight Risks in Unpredictable Times

Summary
The almost two decades since Enron’s 2001 bankruptcy resulted in many new regulations affecting both public and private companies. These years have also seen many new opportunities, increased globalization, accelerated pace of change, and increasingly disruptive innovation – all which have dramatically increased the need for careful analysis, integrated management, and sound corporate governance of underlying business risks. The 3 panelists will provide their unique viewpoints on these issues based on years of professional experience helping their clients and organizations understand what they can do to comprehensively address risk, governance and ethics in today’s dynamic environment. FEI Members will have the opportunity to learn (i) current best practices, (ii) trends in legal and accounting liability, and (iii) fascinating first-hand insight into a turning point in US business and finance history, in an interactive question/answer panel discussion.   

Moderator

Timothy J. McCoy
Shareholder | Godfrey & Kahn

Biography
Tim McCoy is a shareholder of the firm and member of the Corporate Law and Real Estate Practice Groups, practicing in the Green Bay and Appleton offices of the firm. He represents clients in a wide range of general corporate and business law matters throughout Wisconsin. His practice includes mergers and acquisitions; the formation, organization and capitalization of new business entities; organization of joint ventures; and general advice regarding corporate and business matters. He is experienced in international business transactions and joint ventures, including transactions involving European and Asian parties. 

In addition, he regularly advises and represents clients in sophisticated commercial real estate transactions, including project siting and permitting, as well as real estate development and leasing matters, including the preparation and review of architectural and construction contracts. Mr. McCoy also is a member of Godfrey & Kahn’s Energy Strategies Practice Group. His real estate practice has included the divestiture and sale of a regulated hydro-electric power generation facility and dam for a paper company and the siting and permitting of a wind-turbine generation facility for a regional electric utility. Mr. McCoy has spoken and presented publicly at CLE and other seminars on commercial real estate transactions and commercial real estate project financing.

After receiving his undergraduate education from the University of Wisconsin - Madison, and prior to entering law school, Mr. McCoy worked in chemical/biomedical engineering research and development for the University of Wisconsin and in materials science for a leading medical device manufacturer in Minneapolis.

Panelist

William S. Bojan, Jr.
Director, Goverance Advisory & Business Risk Services | CLA

Biography
Bill has served as a chief risk officer, chief ethics officer, general auditor, board member, board chair, governance committee chair, and board advisor/consultant. Bill’s advisory experience extends to all aspects of corporate governance, including: board operations, enterprise risk management (ERM), ethics, internal audit, and compliance.  

Jonathan T. Marks
Partner | Firm Leader, Global Fraud and Forensic Investigations & Compliance Services | Baker Tilly