Role, Responsibilities, and Process for the Audit Committee 

One of the major operating committees of a company’s board of directors is the audit committee. The committee’s oversight of financial reporting and risk management is more important today than it ever has been. In addition, the audit committee’s responsibilities are increasing as investors, regulators and other stakeholders raise their expectations.

This training will focus on the audit committee’s key role, responsibilities and oversight of various areas including financial reporting, internal controls, audit, risk and compliance. We will also cover emerging governance, audit committee issues and trends, as well as practical and actionable insights, perspectives and ideas to help maximize performance. In addition, board director faculty will share real-world experiences that make this content easier to absorb and understand the importance and impact at the board level

In this program we cover the primary elements a director needs to know to be an effective Audit Committee Member or Chair, including:

• Audit committee oversight - roles and responsibilities
• Differences between private and public companies 
• Critical accounting policies 
• Whistleblower reports
• Deterring fraud
• Audit committee benchmarking / best practices
• Audit committee meetings and how to be most effective
• Committee reporting
• Practical tips for the audit committee chair and members
  

Oversight of:

• Financial reporting and internal controls, including questions to consider prior to reporting
• Financial statements: earnings releases, tips for reviewing reported results
• External audit (reinforce audit quality by establishing clear expectations for auditors)
• Internal audit (if applicable) and using them effectively (to identify and monitor key risks beyond reporting and compliance)
• Key risks and/or coordination with other board committees 
• Regulatory requirements & compliance

Expect an Intense Exploration of Audit Committee Work Along with Time to Interact with Other Top-Tier Board Candidates, Public and Private Company Board Faculty. 

REGISTER YOUR INTEREST SOON! ONLY PREAPPROVED ATTENDEES MAY ATTEND. SPACES ARE LIMITED. SEND YOUR REGISTRATION REQUEST TO http://ceotrust.org/apply AND INCLUDE BIO, RESUME OR LINKEDIN.

Happy Holidays!

Join your fellow CEOs from across the country for a virtual holiday celebration. If you enjoyed last year's holiday party, we are planning to make this year even more special!

You can expect lively conversation, stimulating discussion, and a warm atmosphere to connect with your peers on a business and personal level. Catch up with friends and colleagues you know, and meet new friends as well.

A reception gift basket will be delivered to your home for you to enjoy during the celebration.

(RSVP now to secure your gift basket!)

Dress Code: Feel free to dress festive. 

Come celebrate the holidays with great food and drinks, and engaging conversations with your fellow CEO Trustees. The evening will be as warm, festive, and personal as we can create over Zoom to put us all in the holiday spirit.

Video Conference Time:
7:00 pm ET
6:00 pm CT
5:00 pm MT
4:00 pm PT

Join us to learn about our many members-only resources and activities, and to meet your fellow CEO Trustees (members). 

Video Conference Time:
1pm - 2pm ET
12pm - 1pm CT
11am - 12pm MT
10am - 11am PT

IMPORTANT:  This is a video conference with a visual presentation. For full participation, please join via web-based device with video capability. Registration is necessary in order to receive dial-in details.

Additional dates will be scheduled to meet new member needs and schedule constraints. 

The reliability of the North American electric grid ranks within the top five concerns for 97% of businesses. To better understand the industry and address the risk to our businesses, join us for an exclusive event for CEOs and board directors.

Our expert panel will share an overview of the electrical grid, from generation to transmission and distribution. We will cover the primary sources of electricity and the intricacies of moving power across regions and adding power to the grid to meet growing demand. We'll discuss the most pressing threats to the grid, including cyber-attacks, physical sabotage, natural disasters, the challenges of integrating renewable energy sources, and the resulting obstacles your business could face.

As CEOs, it is our responsibility to understand and consider key risks, mitigate those as practical, and improve resiliency for our businesses, our employees, and the communities we impact. Our objective with this program is to gain insight and knowledge to address the electric grid in our risk management and to support strategic planning.

SPEAKER BIOS:

Mike Caranfa

SVP & General Manager, TRC Companies, Board Member

Mike is a seasoned senior executive with more than 25 years of experience in telecom, technology, and the utility industries. He currently leads the Advanced Energy practice of TRC, a leading, global consulting, engineering, and construction management firm that provides environmentally focused and digitally powered solutions. Prior to TRC, Mike was the CEO of a $1.5B North American division of Engie - a $60B, global, multinational, energy company. Before joining Engie, Mike served in several executive roles with Honeywell from senior director to general manager. As GM, he led the $750M Smart Energy division in North America.

Mike is also a retired Army officer with 22 years of service. While on active duty he served as an Army Ranger with the 1st Ranger Battalion and an Infantryman in the 24th Infantry Division. After 7 years of active duty, he joined the Army National Guard becoming an officer in the 36th Infantry Division in Texas where he completed his military career. During his career, he earned numerous awards and recognition including several Army Commendation Medals, the Texas Medal of Merit, the Meritorious Service medal, and the Bronze Star for actions in combat.

Mike is a graduate of Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania where he earned his BA in psychology and of the Pennsylvania State University where he earned his MBA.

Karen Henneberger

Board Director, recent CEO in the US Department of Energy (DOE)

Karen is a seasoned U.S. Government senior executive, board member, venture fund limited partner, and executive consultant. She excels in connecting and inspiring individuals, teams, and organizations to deliver on innovative strategic visions, successfully navigate technically complex environments, and distill complex objectives into actionable plans. 

As CEO of Seven Rules Consulting, LLC, she combines exceptional technical acumen, insightful strategic leadership, and effective financial management expertise to deliver unparalleled results. She led three of the U.S. Navy’s largest, most complex, and strategically important nuclear propulsion plant development and construction programs. She was also the first female senior executive at Naval Reactors (NR), a joint Department of Energy and Navy program that oversees the safe operations of all Navy nuclear-powered ships. Recently retired from the Federal government, Karen founded 7 Rules Consulting to translate her vast cross-functional executive experience in operations, strategy development, digital transformation, and enterprise risk management to advise other C-Suite and government executives in delivering similar strategic impact. 

A graduate of Cornell University with a bachelor's degree in chemistry, she has also earned a master ’s-level certificate in nuclear engineering from the Bettis Reactor Engineering School and a Master of Business Administration from the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia.

Catherine Kortlandt

Board Director, Division Counsel, Linde

Catherine has over 20 years experience at Linde, formerly Praxair, Inc., the largest industrial gas provider in the world which has transformed from a $4 billion dollar revenue company in 1998 to a powerhouse, $28 billion dollar revenue company today, a member of Dow Jones World Sustainability Index since 2003 and one of 2021 World’s Most Ethical Companies (Ethisphere Institute). As in-house counsel, she advises the United States and Canada core industrial gases businesses.

She supports ESG sustainability and compliance initiatives such as launching Linde GreenTM atmospheric gases line, arranging for renewable and low carbon electricity supply and pushing business integrity objectives through the supply chain. She champions diversity and personal growth by mentoring diverse people throughout the company as well as in the Law Department.

Catherine regularly negotiates capital intensive, high revenue hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen supply relationships in the Houston Shipping Channel (oil and petrochemicals), the Oil Sands, steel production in East Chicago, and car manufacturing in Michigan; manages and resolve disputes and litigation with major steel, chemical, oil, and electricity companies resulting in extended and improved relationships and revenue streams. She also advises the energy procurement team on natural gas and electricity agreements, economic and energy efficiency incentives, and balancing business risk with regulatory and compliance issues and climate change.

Stuart Prior

Board Director, CEO of Emerald Transformer 

Stuart has successfully led Emerald Transformer, a private equity-backed company, as the CEO for the past seven years, driving the company to new heights of growth, innovation, and operational excellence. Emerald Transformer has solidified its position as a prominent player in the US energy sector, specializing in the remanufacturing and decommissioning of transformers to support the US distribution grid infrastructure.

In his previous position, he provided sustained profitable growth for a multinational elevator corporation with operations throughout the Americas. His experience includes operations, sales, service, engineering, manufacturing, finance, Board leadership, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic planning. Stuart served as the CEO of Field & Factory Operations for Latin America and Brazil for ThyssenKrupp Elevator. Before being named CEO in 2010, his previous assignment was COO of ThyssenKrupp’s Latin America and Brazil field operations. Previous roles for ThyssenKrupp include Executive Vice President of Product Sales and Marketing for the Americas Operating Unit.

A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Stuart has since gone on to further develop his professional skills through management and executive board training, including executive board training at Harvard University, Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, and the European School of Management.

The reliability of the North American electric grid ranks within the top five concerns for 97% of businesses. To better understand the industry and address the risk to our businesses, join us for an exclusive event for CEOs and board directors.

Our expert panel will share an overview of the electrical grid, from generation to transmission and distribution. We will cover the primary sources of electricity and the intricacies of moving power across regions and adding power to the grid to meet growing demand. We'll discuss the most pressing threats to the grid, including cyber-attacks, physical sabotage, natural disasters, the challenges of integrating renewable energy sources, and the resulting obstacles your business could face.

As CEOs, it is our responsibility to understand and consider key risks, mitigate those as practical, and improve resiliency for our businesses, our employees, and the communities we impact. Our objective with this program is to gain insight and knowledge to address the electric grid in our risk management and to support strategic planning.

SPEAKER BIOS:

Mike Caranfa

SVP & General Manager, TRC Companies, Board Member

Mike is a seasoned senior executive with more than 25 years of experience in telecom, technology, and the utility industries. He currently leads the Advanced Energy practice of TRC, a leading, global consulting, engineering, and construction management firm that provides environmentally focused and digitally powered solutions. Prior to TRC, Mike was the CEO of a $1.5B North American division of Engie - a $60B, global, multinational, energy company. Before joining Engie, Mike served in several executive roles with Honeywell from senior director to general manager. As GM, he led the $750M Smart Energy division in North America.

Mike is also a retired Army officer with 22 years of service. While on active duty he served as an Army Ranger with the 1st Ranger Battalion and an Infantryman in the 24th Infantry Division. After 7 years of active duty, he joined the Army National Guard becoming an officer in the 36th Infantry Division in Texas where he completed his military career. During his career, he earned numerous awards and recognition including several Army Commendation Medals, the Texas Medal of Merit, the Meritorious Service medal, and the Bronze Star for actions in combat.

Mike is a graduate of Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania where he earned his BA in psychology and of the Pennsylvania State University where he earned his MBA.

Karen Henneberger

Board Director, recent CEO in the US Department of Energy (DOE)

Karen is a seasoned U.S. Government senior executive, board member, venture fund limited partner, and executive consultant. She excels in connecting and inspiring individuals, teams, and organizations to deliver on innovative strategic visions, successfully navigate technically complex environments, and distill complex objectives into actionable plans. 

As CEO of Seven Rules Consulting, LLC, she combines exceptional technical acumen, insightful strategic leadership, and effective financial management expertise to deliver unparalleled results. She led three of the U.S. Navy’s largest, most complex, and strategically important nuclear propulsion plant development and construction programs. She was also the first female senior executive at Naval Reactors (NR), a joint Department of Energy and Navy program that oversees the safe operations of all Navy nuclear-powered ships. Recently retired from the Federal government, Karen founded 7 Rules Consulting to translate her vast cross-functional executive experience in operations, strategy development, digital transformation, and enterprise risk management to advise other C-Suite and government executives in delivering similar strategic impact. 

A graduate of Cornell University with a bachelor's degree in chemistry, she has also earned a master ’s-level certificate in nuclear engineering from the Bettis Reactor Engineering School and a Master of Business Administration from the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia.

Catherine Kortlandt

Board Director, Division Counsel, Linde

Catherine has over 20 years experience at Linde, formerly Praxair, Inc., the largest industrial gas provider in the world which has transformed from a $4 billion dollar revenue company in 1998 to a powerhouse, $28 billion dollar revenue company today, a member of Dow Jones World Sustainability Index since 2003 and one of 2021 World’s Most Ethical Companies (Ethisphere Institute). As in-house counsel, she advises the United States and Canada core industrial gases businesses.

She supports ESG sustainability and compliance initiatives such as launching Linde GreenTM atmospheric gases line, arranging for renewable and low carbon electricity supply and pushing business integrity objectives through the supply chain. She champions diversity and personal growth by mentoring diverse people throughout the company as well as in the Law Department.

Catherine regularly negotiates capital intensive, high revenue hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen supply relationships in the Houston Shipping Channel (oil and petrochemicals), the Oil Sands, steel production in East Chicago, and car manufacturing in Michigan; manages and resolve disputes and litigation with major steel, chemical, oil, and electricity companies resulting in extended and improved relationships and revenue streams. She also advises the energy procurement team on natural gas and electricity agreements, economic and energy efficiency incentives, and balancing business risk with regulatory and compliance issues and climate change.

Stuart Prior

Board Director, CEO of Emerald Transformer 

Stuart has successfully led Emerald Transformer, a private equity-backed company, as the CEO for the past seven years, driving the company to new heights of growth, innovation, and operational excellence. Emerald Transformer has solidified its position as a prominent player in the US energy sector, specializing in the remanufacturing and decommissioning of transformers to support the US distribution grid infrastructure.

In his previous position, he provided sustained profitable growth for a multinational elevator corporation with operations throughout the Americas. His experience includes operations, sales, service, engineering, manufacturing, finance, Board leadership, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic planning. Stuart served as the CEO of Field & Factory Operations for Latin America and Brazil for ThyssenKrupp Elevator. Before being named CEO in 2010, his previous assignment was COO of ThyssenKrupp’s Latin America and Brazil field operations. Previous roles for ThyssenKrupp include Executive Vice President of Product Sales and Marketing for the Americas Operating Unit.

A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Stuart has since gone on to further develop his professional skills through management and executive board training, including executive board training at Harvard University, Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, and the European School of Management.