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FEISV Chapter Newsletter | September 01, 2026 Print

Celebrating 50 Years of FEI Silicon Valley!

2026 marks FEI Silicon Valley’s 50th Anniversary! We’re excited to celebrate this incredible milestone with our Members, Partners, and friends throughout the year.

The celebration will culminate in April with a special 50th Anniversary Casino Night, and we’re making it a night to share — significant others are invited! More details will be coming soon.

But we’re not waiting until April to start celebrating! At each Keynote event leading up to our anniversary celebration, we’ll hold a special 50th Anniversary Raffle, with one lucky attendee taking home a $50 bottle of wine.

50 years of connections, leadership, and community — and plenty to celebrate!

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FEI Silicon Valley Events

09/15 - Pre Dinner: The CFO’s Next Chapter: Leading Through Growth, Capital and Change
09/15 - AI: Hype or Reality? A CIO's Perspective on the Future of the Enterprise and the Office of the CFO
09/25 - Financial Officers Forum (FOF) (Virtual)
09/29 - People, Payroll, and Profitability
10/20 - Monthly Speaker Event - Save the Date!
11/18 - Annual Women CFOs of the Year Awards
12/09 - Annual President's Party

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Partners & Other Chapter Events

09/01 - Preparing for What’s Next: Business Transition Planning (Virtual) | Forvis Mazars
09/08 - Why Tech Transformation Stalls — and What to Do Differently (Virtual) | BDO
09/09 - ICONS: Women of Note (Hybrid Event) | FEI
09/22 - AI in Action: How NetSuite Uses AI Across the Suite for Financial Executives International (Virtual) | FEI
09/24- How to Improve Financial Forecast Accuracy When Business Conditions Keep Changing (Virtual) | FEI
09/14 - Q3 2026 Quarterly Accounting Webcast (Virtual) | PwC
09/30 - Global Finance Trends Survey  (Virtual) | FEI
10/13 - Private Company Roundtable (Virtual) | FEI
10/15 - Financial Scenario Planning: How to Prepare for Disruption and Make Faster Decisions (Virtual) | FEI
10/22 - Is Your Budgeting and Forecasting Software Built for Where You’re Going — or Just Where You’ve Been? (Virtual) | FEI
10/28 - 10/29 - AI Update and Use Cases Conference (Virtual) | FEI
11/10 - 2026 Corporate Financial Reporting Insights (CFRI) Conference (Virtual) | FEI

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Latest Trends in FEI

The decisions CFOs make today will define the companies that lead tomorrow. From capital strategy and IPO readiness to M&A, investor expectations and operational scale, the CFO role has become central to every major business inflection point.

Join senior finance leaders for an essential, candid conversation about what it takes to lead through rapid growth, changing capital markets and high-stakes strategic transactions. Hear directly from CFOs who have raised significant growth capital, taken companies public, built finance organizations for scale and helped shape the decisions that matter most to boards, investors and CEOs.

This forward-looking session will empower executives to navigate the realities of growth. They will discover real-life tools for balancing ambition with discipline, building credibility with stakeholders, preparing for a transaction before it is imminent, and ensuring the finance function can keep pace with the business.

You must register for the networking event that follows separately to attend.

Pre-PD: The CFO’s Next Chapter: Leading Through Growth, Capital and Change will be held at Pillsbury in Palo Alto on Tuesday, September 25th, from 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm Pacific.

FEISV Members & Partners: Free    |     Other FEI Members: $50    |     Registration: Here

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AI: Hype or Reality? A CIO's Perspective on the Future of the Enterprise and the Office of the CFO

AI’s biggest business impact may not come from splashy experiments. It may come from the less visible work of redesigning everyday processes, building trusted information systems, and giving employees practical tools that improve decision-making.

Join the FEI Silicon Valley for a conversation with technology leaders who are doing that work at scale. Sanjay Chandra, Chief Information Officer at ŌURA, and Steve Januario, CIO at BILL, will share how they are approaching AI as an operational capability—across enterprise systems, finance workflows, cybersecurity, customer experiences, data, and workforce productivity.

Rather than asking whether AI is hype or reality, this discussion will focus on the execution questions that determine whether an investment creates lasting value:

  • Which workflows are most ready for AI-enabled improvement?
  • How can organizations make AI tools useful, trusted, and widely adopted?
  • What data, security, governance, and change-management foundations need to be in place?
  • Where can finance and technology leaders work together to improve efficiency, insight, controls, and long-term business performance?

Januario has led enterprise AI initiatives at BILL, including AI search, copilots, LLM-powered search, customer assistants, and finance workflow automation. Chandra brings a broad operating perspective from leading global IT across go-to-market technology, enterprise applications, manufacturing and supply chain systems, infrastructure, operations, and cybersecurity at Lucid Motors and other companies.

Whether your organization is piloting AI tools, developing a governance model, or looking to scale proven use cases, this session will offer a grounded view of what it takes to turn AI potential into business capability.

AI: Hype or Reality? A CIO's Perspective on the Future of the Enterprise and the Office of the CFO will be held at Pillsbury in Palo Alto on Tuesday, September 15th, from 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm Pacific.

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

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Welcome New Members

As the events calendar fills up for the remainder of 2026, it's so nice to see so many familiar and new faces. It's even more heartwarming to watch new faces become some of the most familiar over the years! 

Please join us in welcoming the newest Members of FEI Silicon Valley to our Chapter:

We look forward to networking with you at future in-person and virtual events!

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Financial Officers Forum - This Month!

The Financial Officers Forum (FOF) has quickly become one of the most valued opportunities for senior finance leaders to connect with peers, exchange ideas, and engage in candid discussions about the issues shaping their organizations.

Over the past year, the FOF has grown substantially in both attendance and engagement, reflecting the strong demand for a setting where experienced executives can step away from day-to-day demands to share perspective, test ideas, and build meaningful professional relationships.

We are excited to host another Financial Officers Forum this month. Designed for senior finance executives and professionals who provide consulting or advisory services to companies, this meeting offers a focused, peer-driven environment for discussing timely topics in depth. Participants can expect thoughtful conversation, practical insight, and valuable connections with leaders who understand the financial, operational, and strategic challenges companies are navigating today.

Financial Officers Forum (FOF) will be held virtually on Friday, September 25th, from 12:00 pm - 1:15 pm Pacific.

FEISV Members & Partners, Other FEI Members, and Non-Members: Free     |     Registration: Here

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People, Payroll, and Profitability: What Every Finance Leader Needs to Know Before a Transaction, System Change, or Hyper-Growth Event

A transaction, a payroll system replacement, or rapid expansion can expose costly workforce risks that have been quietly building beneath the surface. For finance leaders, these issues are not merely HR concerns, They can materially affect valuation, integration timelines, cash flow, compliance exposure, and the organization’s ability to scale.

Join us for an essential lunch session designed for CFOs, controllers, and senior finance executives who need to protect enterprise value before the next major business event. You’ll learn where payroll, employment tax, employee classification, benefits administration, and HCM-system gaps most often create unexpected liabilities—and how to identify them before they become deal breakers, integration delays, or expensive penalties.

Whether your organization is approaching an acquisition, preparing to replace core payroll or HCM technology, expanding across state lines, or adding headcount at a pace your infrastructure may not support, this session will give you a practical, finance-first framework for assessing readiness.

You’ll leave with a 30-day readiness checklist you can put to work immediately—helping your organization reduce risk, preserve value, and scale with confidence.

People, Payroll, and Profitability: What Every Finance Leader Needs to Know Before a Transaction, System Change, or Hyper-Growth Event will be held at BPM in San Jose on Tuesday, September 29th, from 11:30 am - 1:00 pm Pacific.

FEISV Members & Partners: Free     |     Other FEI Members & Non-Members: $50     |     Registration: Here

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Congratulations to Members Celebrating an Anniversary

FEI Silicon Valley is strengthened by the expertise, generosity, and active participation of its members. Your willingness to share perspectives, build meaningful professional relationships, and engage in timely conversations makes our chapter a valuable community for finance leaders at every stage of their careers. 

We are especially pleased to recognize and thank the members who recently celebrated an anniversary with FEISV:

We look forward to another year together!

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Select Sponsorship Opportunities: 4th Annual Women CFOs of the Year Awards

The 4th Annual Women CFOs of the Year Awards will take place on November 18 at Green Hills Golf & Country Club, bringing together an exceptional community of leaders who are shaping the future of finance.

This event is a platform to recognize and elevate women who are driving innovation, strengthening organizations, and inspiring the next generation of financial leadership. Their impact extends far beyond their roles, influencing industries, workplaces, and communities.

Sponsoring this event is a meaningful opportunity for your organization to align with that impact. It positions your brand alongside excellence, leadership, and progress in the accounting and finance space. More importantly, it demonstrates a clear commitment to supporting and advancing women in executive roles—something that resonates with clients, partners, and employees alike.

With a range of sponsorship options available (some with limited availability), now is the time to secure your place and ensure your organization is part of this important evening.

To explore and claim sponsorship opportunities, please download the sponsorship form attached to this email.

4th Annual Woman CFO of the Year Awards Dinner will be held at the Green Hills Golf & Country Club on Wednesday, November 18th, from 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm Pacific.

FEISV Members & Partners: Free    |    Non-Members: $275     |     Registration: Here

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Why Tech Transformation Stalls — and What to Do Differently

Most organizations have moved beyond AI experimentation and now face the challenge of turning AI and digital investments into measurable business outcomes. The issue now is how to prioritize investments, align stakeholders, and ensure the underlying data, ERP, and operational foundation can support scale. It is why CIOs and CFOs are being asked to align more closely than ever.

Highlights include:

  • How to connect AI investments and use cases to measurable business outcomes, with a priority on high-impact opportunities using ROI and governance frameworks.
  • Guidance on assessing whether data, ERP, and operational foundations are ready to support AI at scale.
  • Scaling AI with the governance, adoption, and change models needed to sustain it.

Together, finance and technology can drive business impact. This webinar from our Platinum Partners at BDO explores how organizations are progressing along that journey.

Why Tech Transformation Stalls — and What to Do Differently will be held virtually on Tuesday, September 8th, at 8:00 am Pacific.

FEISV Members & Partners: Free     |     Registration: Here

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FEISV Member of the Week

Kevin Hettrich

As CFO of QuantumScape (NYSE: QS), Kevin Hettrich leads the company’s finance and enterprise systems teams, helping advance its mission to address major global energy challenges through next-generation battery technology.

Over more than a decade at QuantumScape, Kevin has held leadership roles spanning product management, operations, and marketing, pairing broad operating experience with a finance and consulting background that includes Bain Capital and McKinsey.

Kevin holds an MBA and MS in Environment & Resources from Stanford University and is a frequent guest speaker on applied electrochemistry, climate ventures, sustainability, corporate governance, and financial analysis.

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

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FEISV Partner of the Week


BDO is a global business advisor that delivers assurance, tax, and advisory services to help organizations navigate challenges, uncover opportunities, and adapt to a rapidly changing business environment. Their experts serve publicly traded and privately held companies, as well as nonprofit organizations, from pre-revenue through multi-billion-dollar enterprises.

BDO helps CFOs and finance leaders strengthen performance, manage risk, and accelerate value creation. Their teams support organizations across the business lifecycle with services such as:

  • IPO readiness and public company preparedness
  • SEC reporting support
  • SOX/ICFR design and testing
  • Technical accounting (ASC 606, ASC 842, business combinations, equity, and share-based compensation)
  • Tax planning and compliance—including federal, state, and local, international tax, transfer pricing, and tax provision support
  • Finance transformation and close optimization
  • FP&A and performance management
  • Enterprise risk and internal audit
  • Cyber and privacy risk
  • Transaction advisory (QoE, buy-side and sell-side due diligence), valuation, and modeling
  • M&A integration/separation planning, carve-outs, and post-deal accounting and reporting
  • People, Strategy and Solutions (culture, talent, organizational effectiveness, leadership alignment) 
  • AI Innovation
  • ESG readiness and reporting
  • BDO Capital – Investment Banking 

BDO’s Bay Area practice—served by their San Jose, San Francisco, and Walnut Creek offices—is a hub for our Technology and Life Sciences industry focus. They bring local market presence and a hands-on approach, backed by national and global technical resources. With more than 100 years of experience, BDO serves clients through offices across the U.S. and, as an independent member firm of BDO International Limited, provides access to a global network of professionals across 160+ countries and territories.

CONTACTS:

Kim Bradley
Director, Business Development , Assurance, Tax and Advisory, BDO
M: 312-933-5929
E: [email protected]
LinkedIn: Kim Bradley | LinkedIn

Jessica Horrillo
Tax Principal, BDO
M: 408-529-5126
E:  [email protected]
LinkedIn: Jessica Horrillo | LinkedIn

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Special Thanks to Our Strategic Partners

Marquee Partners 

Platinum Partners

Gold Partners

Silver Partners