FEISV Chapter Newsletter | January 27, 2026

FEI Silicon Valley Events

01/27 - Getting a Paid Board Seat | Wells Fargo
02/06 - Financial Officers Forum (FOF) (Virtual)
02/18 - FEISV Happy Hour | Wells Fargo
03/04 - Winning and Retaining Finance and Tech Talent | JPMorgan Chase
03/31 - Cybersecurity – Why Protecting Company Data is the #1 Issue of CFOs in 2026 - Save the Date! | JPMorgan Chase
06/04 - 27th Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament Hosted by Robert Half & FEISV

Partners & Other Chapter Events

01/29 - Lowering the Personal and Professional Risks of Online Data Exposure: Strategies to Protect Your Personnel (Virtual) | FEI
01/29 - Modernizing Your Approach to HR in 2026: Workforce Trends and Strategic Priorities (Virtual) | BPM
02/03 - Agentic AI: Use Cases & Best Practices for Leveraging AI Agents in F&A (Virtual) | FEI
02/04 - Strategic Trade Solutions – Mitigating Tariff Impacts (Virtual) | PwC
02/10 - Prepare Your Nonprofit for 2026: The Trends That Will Impact Your Mission and How to Navigate Them (Virtual) | BPM
02/18 - Private Company Priorities Conference (Virtual) | FEI
02/24 - 02/26 - HR Leaders Compliance Summit (Virtual) | Acrisure
03/11 - Q1 2026 Quarterly Accounting Webcast (Virtual) | PwC
05/17 - 05/19 - 2026 Financial Leaders Forum (San Antonio) | FEI

Latest Trends in FEI

We’re excited to announce that the official date and venue are set for the
27th Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament hosted by Robert Half and FEI Silicon Valley, taking place on June 4th at Coyote Creek Golf Club in Morgan Hill. This signature event brings together finance and accounting leaders, clients, and friends to enjoy a great day of golf while raising critical funds for local student scholarships.

Each year, scholarships are awarded after interviewing as many as 30 students from among the 75 to 100 accounting and finance students who apply. The awards are primarily based on academic achievement, leadership skills demonstrated through extracurricular activities, and clear career plans in the finance and accounting fields.

By participating in the tournament, sponsors and players directly support these outstanding students from leading Bay Area universities, helping them take the next step toward becoming the region’s future financial executives. Your involvement makes a tangible difference in their educational journey and in the continued strength of the finance and accounting profession in Silicon Valley.

For sponsorship inquiries, download the form attached to this email or contact either:

Mark Muenchow at (650) 704-4839 or email: [email protected]
Micky Robledo at (408) 821-0732 or email: [email protected]

The 27th Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament, hosted by Robert Half & FEI Silicon Valley, will be held on Thursday, June 4th, at the Coyote Creek Golf Club in Morgan Hill.

FEISV Members & Non-Members Round of Golf: $275 (+The Deal: $390) | Foursome (Value $1,100): $1,000 | 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].

1st Financial Officers Forum of 2026

The first Financial Officers Forum (FOF) of the year is happening next Friday, and it’s a can’t-miss session for senior finance leaders who want real-world, immediately applicable insight. This session is built for consulting CFOs, controllers, and senior finance leaders.

FOF is a confidential, peer-only room where you can speak freely and dig into real client issues. Past topics include accounting systems for small businesses, PEO pros and cons, SaaS metrics, revenue recognition, and board compensation ideas. AI now comes up at almost every meeting, so you’ll hear what consulting CFOs are actually seeing and trying!

As a long-time FEI Member, Ed Schaffer says, the Forum brings finance leaders together to swap issues, ideas, and solutions in a practical, real-world way."

When you register, you’ll submit one question you want answered, so the conversation reflects your priorities.

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

Winning and Retaining Finance and Tech Talent

Attracting and retaining top finance and technology talent is no longer just an HR priority. It’s a strategic advantage. This March, join FEI Silicon Valley at JPMorgan Chase for an engaging conversation with an expert panel on how leading finance and tech organizations are rethinking their talent strategies. You’ll hear practical approaches to winning the competition for high-performing professionals in an increasingly dynamic market.

The program will explore how to align talent initiatives with business goals, use data to guide hiring and retention decisions, and build integrated strategies that address the real-world challenges finance and technology leaders face today. You’ll gain insights on how to connect workforce planning with long-term objectives, apply analytics to understand where your talent risks truly lie, and design programs that keep your best people engaged and growing.

Walk away with actionable ideas to strengthen your organization’s talent pipeline—now and in the years ahead!

Winning and Retaining Finance and Tech Talent will be held at JPMorgan Chase in Palo Alto on Wednesday, March 4th, from 5:00 pm- 8:30 pm Pacific.

FEISV Members & Partners: Free | Other FEI Chapters & Non-Members: $135 | Registration: Here

New FEIconnect - Now Live!

FEI’s Member community now has a refreshed design and enhanced functionality – making it easier than ever to connect with peers, follow important conversations, and stay engaged.

What to explore first:

My Communities and Followed Content, now just one click away on your homepage
The Career Center, with relevant opportunities integrated into your experience
Your new activity feed, showing real-time updates from the communities you belong to
Like, follow, and track discussions directly from your feed

The updated FEIconnect is built to support the way financial executives share insights and solve challenges – powered by a modern Higher Logic community experience used by leading professional organizations.

Save on a Second-Chapter Membership!

Did you know FEI Silicon Valley and FEI San Fransciso Members can join the other chapter at a discounted rate? Second-chapter memberships are pro-rated, making it an affordable way to expand your network and attend additional programs.

If you’re interested, FEI National can provide the exact cost and help you add San Francisco or Silicon Valley and align renewal dates. It’s a great way to get even more value from your FEI Membership.

Those who are interested, please email [email protected].

Strategic Trade Solutions – Mitigating Tariff Impacts

In response to renewed tariff measures and increasing trade policy complexity, discover solutions to better manage duty exposure and enhance compliance.

Presented by our Platinum Partners at PwC, this session will explore strategic trade solutions ranging from foreign trade zones and free trade agreement integration to automation with our tariff integration solution.

Gain real-time duty visibility, enhance compliance, reduce costs, and streamline global trade operations.

Strategic Trade Solutions – Mitigating Tariff Impacts will be held virtually on Wednesday, February 4th, at 8:00 am Pacific.

FEISV Members & Partners: Free | Registration: Here

FEISV Member of the Week

Drew Hamer

Drew Hamer is a strategic, operational, and innovative finance leader who has partnered with executive teams to successfully scale global, high-growth VC-backed, and publicly held companies in the SaaS, software, high-tech, cyber-security, and internet industries. Currently, Drew serves as CFO for Arcserve. Previous CFO experience includes roles at Palladyne AI, Velodyne Lidar, Inc., and Anomali, among other prominent organizations.

Drew earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Binghamton University. He received his Master of Accountancy from Florida International University - College of Business.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/drewhamer/

FEISV Partner of the Week

PwC is a global professional services network known for delivering excellence in audit, tax, and advisory services. With a commitment to innovation and integrity, PwC helps businesses navigate complex business and financial challenges and drive sustainable growth.

CONTACTS:

Mandy Dhillon
Assurance Partner
PwC
[email protected]

Monica Nayar
West Region Leader & Silicon Valley Market Managing Partner
PwC
[email protected]