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Finding Your People

It's September, and that means we restart our Monthly Chapter Meetings, this year at The Clubs of Prestonwood whose own tagline, "premier golf, dining, events, and family fun," pairs nicely with our standing as the premier financial executive network in the Metroplex. We're also back to our full slate of programming for the year: 60+ events offering networking, socializing, and education, almost 80 CPEs including Ethics for Texas CPAs!

Let's Elevate! This month, I'm spotlighting Friendship. FEI Dallas brings people together and creates real opportunities for lasting friendship. Being a financial executive can be a lonely role – there often aren't many others in your company, neighborhood, or family-friend circles who can relate to what the job actually demands. Financial executives are a genuinely small slice of the workforce (0.04% to 0.9%, depending on the definition), and finding your people – colleagues who share your vocabulary, your pressures, and even your sense of humor about both – can be harder than it sounds.

FEI Dallas is that room. We are a catalyst for real friendships built on trust, fellowship, shared knowledge, empathy, solidarity, and mutual resilience – different from workplace friendships, which almost always come with constraints. Many FEI Dallas connections deepen over time, with members meeting for meals, outings, and the occasional round of golf.

Be in the room. Take full advantage of the chance to make new friends and deepen the friendships you already have. Your FEI bonds will strengthen you personally and professionally, and you'll have fun along the way. My challenge to each of you this year: make at least one new friend… and hopefully more!

If you know another senior financial executive who could use a few more friends like these, we’d love to meet them. 

We look forward to a great year of friendship and growth.

Mark Dendle
FEI Dallas President 2026-27

IMPORTANT NOTES FOR 2026-27 MONTHLY MEETINGS

FEI Dallas Monthly Meetings have a new home!
The Clubs of Prestonwood | The Creek

15909 Preston Rd. | Dallas, TX 75248

Complimentary valet | Free surface parking

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The September and October meetings are on 2nd Mondays.
Meetings for the remainder of 2026-27 will be held on our usual
2nd Tuesday meeting dates.

Registration deadline | Tuesday 09.08.26

Monthly Meetings are open to FEI Dallas members; chapter sponsors; individuals who meet FEI’s membership qualifications and are considering membership; and other non-members by invitation per the chapter’s Guest Policy. Pre-registration required.

MONDAY 10.12.26 | 4:00-8:00 p.m. (Central) | 2.5 CPEs | SAVE THE DATE

FEI Dallas Monthly Meeting

The Clubs of Prestonwood | The Creek *New location*

4:00-5:15 p.m. Professional Development Session | 1.5 CPEs

The Evolving Role of CFOs – Navigating with Technology and Foresight

Tim Hird | Executive VP, Robert Half

Chris Wright | Managing Director, Protiviti

5:15-6:20 p.m. Networking Social

6:20-8:00 p.m. Dinner Meeting with Keynote Presentation | 1 CPE

My Lifelong Journey Driving Innovation in Healthcare Services 

Christopher Kersey | Founder and Managing Partner, Havencrest Capital Management

This meeting is open to FEI Dallas members and their guests, chapter sponsors, and prospective members and other non-members by invitation. Pre-registration required.

FEI Dallas Monthly Meetings are on 2nd Tuesdays unless otherwise indicated, from September to April except December and the summer months when other events are scheduled. Meetings are 4:00-8:00 p.m. at The Clubs of Prestonwood – The Creek location, starting with a Professional Development Session (1.5 CPEs) followed by the Networking Social and a sit-down Dinner Meeting/Keynote presentation (1 CPE).

Registration deadline | Tuesday 09.15.26

Speed Networking events are open to FEI Dallas members and individuals who meet FEI’s membership qualifications. Pre-registration required for all attendees.

Registration deadline | Tuesday 10.20.26

This event is open to FEI Dallas members and sponsors per the guidelines for their sponsorship level. Pre-registration is required for all attendees.

Sponsorships available

Contact Jackie Dunn for details.

FEI Dallas event photography and headshots by
james edward Creative  |  214-878-6008

FEI Dallas sponsors support our Chapter with both their service and monetarily. Please seek out our sponsor representatives at events, get to know them, and always give them a chance to earn your business. Scroll down for a list of FEI Dallas sponsors. If you need a contact at a sponsor company to discuss their services, please contact Jackie Dunn, FEI Dallas Manager.

IMPORTANT

The September 22 Career Management meeting is being replaced by a Speed Networking Social.  See details in the SPECIAL EVENTS section above. Speed Networking Socials are open to all FEI Dallas members and individuals who meet FEI’s membership qualifications. Pre-registration required for all attendees.  Registration deadline 09.15.26.

Career Management meetings are held on the 3rd Tuesday of each month year-round, hosted by S+H Search in the Ground Floor Conference Room at Sherry Lane Place unless otherwise noted. Meetings are open to FEI members, employed or unemployed, and non-members by invitation who qualify for FEI membership. 

Not just for job seekers!

The Career Management Committee exists to enhance the professional success of FEI members by delivering career development programs, leadership and ethics education, networking opportunities, and employment resources that support career advancement, successful transitions, and lifelong professional growth. Through collaboration with recruiters, employers, and the broader financial community, the committee also promotes member engagement and contributes to the growth and value of FEI.

09.23.26 | 4:30-6:30 p.m. (Central) | 1 CPE

Maggiano’s Little Italy, Plano

Energy SIG

Energy Market Outlook: Geopolitics Inflation and the Future of Oil and Gas 

Geopolitical tensions, inflation, monetary policy, and shifting global supply and demand continue to shape the outlook for oil and gas. Featuring perspectives from the Federal Reserve and energy investment sector, this discussion will explore how these forces are influencing commodity prices, capital markets, and the broader economy—and what finance leaders should be watching as they plan for the future.

Kunal Patel, Senior Business Economics, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas

Lane Britain, Managing Partner, PetroCap

Open to FEI Dallas members, and non-members with financial or executive roles in the energy sector.

Registration deadline | Monday 09.21.26

Event details and registration

09.29.26 | 4:30-6:30 p.m. (Central) | 1 CPE

Gleneagles Country Club, Plano

Real Estate and Healthcare SIG

Beyond the Hospital: The Evolution of Outpatient & Medical Real Estate 

Healthcare delivery continues to shift beyond the traditional hospital setting, creating new opportunities across outpatient and specialized medical real estate. This discussion will explore the trends driving growth in medical office buildings, dental facilities, ambulatory surgery centers, freestanding emergency facilities, and other specialty healthcare properties. Panelists will examine how changing patient preferences, healthcare delivery models, and market dynamics are influencing where and how these facilities are developed, as well as the opportunities and considerations for developers, investors, fund managers, and healthcare organizations.

Erik de Vries | Principal and Chief Executive Officer, Astrea Development

Blake Woodall | Managing Director, Big Sky

Open to FEI Dallas members, and non-members with financial or executive roles in the real estate and healthcare sectors.

Registration deadline | Friday 09.25.26

Event details and registration

09.30.26 | 4:30-6:30 p.m. (Central) | 1 CPE

USI Office, Dallas

Private Equity SIG

AI in M&A: Where It Creates Value — and Where It Creates Risk 

Explore how Artificial Intelligence is reshaping the M&A and private equity landscape, from investment banking and due diligence to Quality of Earnings (QoE), financial analysis, legal review, and portfolio company operations. This discussion will highlight practical AI use cases, the efficiencies and insights it can create, and the risks surrounding data quality, confidentiality, governance, and overreliance on technology—while examining why human expertise and professional judgment remain essential throughout the transaction lifecycle.

Steve Bartz | Shareholder, Greenburg Traurig

Brian Reed | Partner, Weaver

Open to FEI Dallas members, and non-members with financial or executive roles in the private equity sector.

Registration deadline | Monday 09.28.26

Event details and registration

09.15.26 | 12:00 noon (Central) | 1 CPE | Presented by BDO

WEBINAR

From ERP to Impact: Driving Finance Transformation and Margin Improvement in Healthcare

This webcast explores how ERP strategy serves as the foundation for effective finance transformation. It will highlight how modern ERP platforms enable integrated data, streamlined workflows, and actionable insights to drive improvements in labor management, supply chain performance, contract oversight, productivity, and revenue integrity.

Event details and registration

09.16.26 | 11:00 a.m. (Central) | 1 CPE | Presented by BDO

WEBINAR

Sustainability as a Business Lever: Board Governance for Integrated Strategy and Risk Overnight

Boards are increasingly tasked with connecting sustainability to the organization’s business objectives—not as a standalone initiative, but as an integrated strategy that can help deliver measurable outcomes such as cost containment, improved efficiency, and resource resiliency while also supporting emissions reduction.

Event details and registration

09.23.26 | 11:00 a.m. (Central) | 1 CPE | Presented by BDO

WEBINAR

Q3 2026 Quarterly Technical Update

The Quarterly Technical Update Webcast Series continues our tradition of lending a helping hand to financial management, board directors, and audit committees to stay on top of today's hot topics and developments.

Event details and registration

09.30.26 | 12:00 noon (Central) | 1 CPE | Presented by BDO

WEBINAR

BDO Talks Transactions - Carve-Out Survival: Finance Separation Without Surprises

Carve-outs create unique finance complexity: incomplete data, shared services dependencies, accelerated timelines, and heightened stakeholder scrutiny. This session provides a practical roadmap for carve-out readiness — covering separation planning, opening balance sheet readiness, reporting packages, control considerations, and stabilization milestones.

Event details and registration

10.06.26 | 11:00 a.m. (Central) | No CPE | Presented by BDO

WEBINAR

AI Build or Buy? Health Tech Strategic Decision Making for Healthcare Leaders

Debate the pros and cons of building versus buying AI solutions in healthcare, including strategy, risk, and lessons learned from industry leaders.

Event details and registration

The financial support of our Chapter Sponsors is key to continuing to raise the bar on member value, and we are grateful for their participation. We encourage members to consider these companies first when a need arises for their services. Click on a logo below to go to the company website.

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STRATEGIC PARTNERS

SPECIAL EVENTS PARTNER

PLATINUM SPONSORS

SPECIAL PARTNERS

ACADEMIC PARTNERS

COMMUNICATION/MEDIA PARTNERS