In this issue
FEISV Chapter Newsletter | January 06, 2026 
FEI Silicon Valley Events
01/20 - Debt, Deals, and Disruption: The Credit Market Outlook for 2026 | Reed Smith
01/27 - Getting a Paid Board Seat | Wells Fargo
02/06 - Financial Officers Forum (FOF) (Virtual)
02/18 - FEISV Happy Hour - Save the Date!
03/04 - Winning and Retaining Finance and Tech Talent | JPMorgan Chase
Partners & Other Chapter Events
01/14 - Building an AI-Ready Finance Function: Modern FP&A Before Modern ERP (Virtual) | FEI
01/21 - Financial Executives Priorities 2026 (Virtual) | FEI
01/29 - Lowering the Personal and Professional Risks of Online Data Exposure: Strategies to Protect Your Personnel (Virtual) | FEI
02/03 - Agentic AI: Use Cases & Best Practices for Leveraging AI Agents in F&A (Virtual) | FEI
02/18 - Private Company Priorities Conference (Virtual) | FEI
03/11 - Q1 2026 Quarterly Accounting Webcast (Virtual) | PwC
05/17 - 05/19 - 2026 Financial Leaders Forum (San Antonio) | FEI
Latest Trends in FEI
The credit landscape is shifting underfoot. As interest rates fluctuate, liquidity tightens, and geopolitical forces reshape global capital flows, financial executives are being called to reassess strategy, risk, and opportunity in real time. Refinancing risk, constrained access to credit, and evolving lender priorities are altering how companies fund growth…and how finance leaders must respond.
Join us for a timely discussion that brings together a panel of highly experienced financial and legal experts who will examine where credit conditions are headed and how organizations can stay ahead of the curve.
Panelists Hershel Gerson, Managing Director at Lafayette Square, and Craig Lilly, Partner at Reed Smith, will share insights on capital sourcing, transaction strategy, and the legal and structural considerations shaping dealmaking in 2026. Jan Robertson, CFO and Co-Founder of SiVal Advisors, will moderate the conversation, drawing from her extensive mergers and acquisitions expertise to uncover practical guidance for today’s finance leaders.
Attendees will gain a clear view of how to navigate tightening markets, manage refinancing and liquidity risk, and identify opportunities amid constraints. Whether you advise growth-stage clients or manage corporate strategy, this session offers the intelligence you need to lead decisively in an uncertain credit environment.
Debt, Deals, and Disruption: The Credit Market Outlook for 2026 will be held at Reed Smith in Palo Alto on Tuesday, January 20th, from 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm Pacific.
FEISV Members & Partners, Other FEI Members, and Non-Members: Free | Registration: Here
Join New FEI SV Networking Group
FEI Silicon Valley (FEI SV) launched a networking group in September 2025. We have approximately fourteen CFO members and partner sponsors in the networking group. The participants have found the networking group helpful, especially with the use of “troikas,” which are groups of three who get together to find out more about each of their businesses and how they may be able to help each other through referrals. If you aren’t familiar with networking groups, the following is some information that explains how they work.
Networking groups work by bringing professionals together to build relationships, exchange knowledge, and generate opportunities like leads, partnerships, and mentorship through regular meetings, events, and shared resources, fostering a supportive environment for mutual business growth, often through structured introductions, casual mingling, and specific referral systems.
Core Mechanisms
- Relationship Building: The primary goal is to form connections based on trust and credibility, not just direct sales.
- Information Exchange: Members share industry insights, best practices, and market trends through meetings, workshops, and seminars.
- Referral Systems: Members actively refer business to each other, creating a pipeline of potential clients.
- Mutual Support: Groups provide a platform for collaboration, mentorship, and problem-solving.
- Increased Visibility: Active participation boosts members' presence and reputation in their fields.
If you think you might be interested in joining the FEI SV networking group, please reach out to Scott Taylor at [email protected].
Getting a Paid Board Seat
As 2026 begins, demand for seasoned financial leaders on corporate boards is stronger than ever. Join us for a fireside chat that features three distinguished CFOs who have successfully transitioned to paid board roles. Kelly Battles, Prat Bhatt, and Ken Goldman will share the key lessons, challenges, and strategies that shaped their paths.
Moderated by Jan Robertson, the discussion will cover how to position yourself for a board seat, craft an effective Board bio, engage recruiters wisely, and balance board responsibilities with executive commitments.
Whether you’re exploring your first board opportunity or actively pursuing one, this session offers rare, firsthand guidance from CFOs who’ve made the transition. Get equipped with practical strategies to expand your influence and impact as a financial leader in 2026 and beyond.
Getting a Paid Board Seat will be held at the Wells Fargo Innovation Center on Tuesday, January 27th, from 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm Pacific.
FEISV Members & Partners: Free | Other FEI Chapters & Non-Members: $135 | Registration: Here
1st Financial Officers Forum of 2026
As finance leaders navigate a landscape defined by rapid change, rising client expectations, and evolving advisory models, the ability to share real-world experiences has never been more valuable.
The first Financial Officers Forum (FOF) of 2026 on February 6th offers a confidential, discussion-driven space for senior finance professionals, including CFOs, Controllers, VPs of Finance, and consulting advisors. This confidential environment allows senior financial executives to explore the issues shaping today’s consulting environment.
This virtual session follows a Vistage-style format, giving participants the freedom to guide the conversation based on current client situations and emerging trends. Attendees exchange insights, best practices, and practical takeaways that strengthen their approach to advisory work across all industry sectors. Join this forward-looking dialogue designed to inspire collaboration, sharpen expertise, and elevate financial leadership for the year ahead.
Financial Officers Forum will be held virtually on Friday, February 6th, from 12:00 pm - 1:15 pm Pacific.
FEISV Members & Partners, Other FEI Members, and Non-Members: Free | Registration: Here
Top Podcast Episode: Amos Ben-Meir
"AI is almost table stakes now—but a thin wrapper around ChatGPT won't cut it. We're looking for defensibility." This powerful insight comes from a popular episode of The Strategic CFO. Our guest, Amos Ben-Meir, challenges us to think deeply about what it takes to build lasting value in the age of AI.
As businesses rush to adopt generative AI, the real differentiator isn't just innovation—it's defensibility. Proprietary data, domain expertise, and strategic moats are what separate fleeting solutions from enduring success.
In this episode, Amos dives into why surface-level AI applications fall short and how financial leaders can leverage defensibility to stay ahead in a competitive market. Whether you're navigating AI adoption or evaluating its impact on your business, this conversation is packed with actionable insights.
Download or stream anytime: AI Valuations, Exit Challenges: A VC's Honest Take.
IRS Provides Relief for Small Businesses Navigating Section 174 Research Expenses
The IRS has finally delivered guidance that many small businesses have been waiting for. Revenue Procedure 2025-28 gives qualified small business taxpayers a practical way to handle their research and experimental (R&E) expenditures retroactively, without the hassle of amending multiple prior-year returns.
If your business invests in R&E activities, this could significantly simplify your 2024 tax filing and reduce your administrative burden. Here’s what you need to know and how to take advantage of this relief.
Learn more. Read IRS Provides Relief for Small Businesses Navigating Section 174 Research Expenses via our Gold Partners at BPM.
FEISV Member of the Week
Micah Reinhold is the SVP of Finance for Robert Half. She focuses on long-term strategies for the sustainability of our organization, including its people, its ability to continue profitable growth, and the accuracy and quality of the work of its teams.
Previous experience includes Technical Accounting at McKesson and Senior Manager at PwC. Micah earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Accounting at the University of Arizona.
FEISV Partner of the Week
BPM, the largest California-based accounting and consulting firm, offers tax, business consulting, wealth management, and audit services across a wide spectrum of industries, from offices in San Francisco, Menlo Park, San Jose, Walnut Creek, Stockton, and Santa Rosa, in Northern California. BPM also has offices in Southern California, Washington, and Oregon. The Firm has over 500 professionals and is locally owned, with a strong foundation of environmental, social, and philanthropic stewardship.
CONTACT:
Winny Wong
Partner
[email protected]
https://www.bpm.com
Special Thanks to Our Strategic Partners
Marquee Partners
Platinum Partners
Gold Partners
Silver Partners
