Financial/HR Symposium

Financial/HR Symposium

April 16-18, 2024 - Hutton Hotel - Nashville, TN

Learn from industry experts on both the finance and HR side about the most pressing topics impacting equipment distributors. Bring back tools and solutions to the issues that are affecting your dealership. In addition to hearing new ideas, learning about best practices, and receiving regulatory and legal updates, attendees will have several opportunities to brainstorm and network with like-minded dealership professionals.

The Financial/HR Symposium is an ideal event for all finance and HR professionals, whether new or seasoned.

Early Registration (Ends March 3rd): $1125
Regular Registration: $1425
Late Registration: $1525

Register Now

EARN CPE & SHRM Credits

CPE Credits:  You can earn up to 9 CPE credits at this year’s Symposium. Continuing Education credits sponsored by Pinion, LLC. * 3030 Cortland * Salina, KS 67402 * United States * (785) 825-1561 * NASBA ID: 136594

Pinion, LLC is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org. Participants must meet participation requirements as defined by the NASBA Standards to earn CPE for each course.

Attest services provided through KCoe Isom, LLP, a licensed CPA firm.

SHRM Credits:  AED is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for SHRM-CPSM or SHRM-SCPSM recertification activities. This program is valid for 9.5 PDCs for the SHRM- CPSM or SHRM-SCPSM. For more information about certification or recertification, please visit www.shrm.org.

Sponsor this event

Hotel Information:

Hutton Hotel *SOLD OUT*
1808 West End Avenue
Nashville, TN 37203

The Hayes Street Hotel is just across the street from the Hutton Hotel (2 minute walk) and has rooms available. 

Hayes Street Hotel

1909 Hayes Street

Nashville, TN 37203

To Book, Click Here:  

Hotel cancellation Policy:  48 Hours

Platinum Sponsor:

2024 Financial HR Symposium Schedule (Agenda is Subject to Change)

SESSION DESCRIPTIONS

KEYNOTE SPEAKER:  Bill Fournet, “Leading Across Generations” 

Just when you were adjusting to the Millennials, a new generation is entering the workforce. Generation Z is here, and they are changing the game now. Mostly the children of Gen X’ers, this group has its own very distinctive drivers. Born in 1995 or later, they are now entering the workplace. Are you ready? Generally fast learners and resourceful, they are individualistic, high in inductive reasoning, and more connected to technology than any generation before them.

Why equip yourself with savvy about how to relate to and lead this unique generation? Generation Z’s limitless resourcefulness and ability to collaborate through ever-changing technology can be used to your organization’s advantage. When you understand how this group thinks and how to engage with them, this results-driven generation can quickly help your organization outsmart even the greatest obstacles, while staying ahead of the curve of what’s coming next.

Expect to leave with these outcomes:

• Understand what makes Generation Z tick, so all generations in your workforce play nice with each other
• Learn how to unlock Gen Z’s potential to propel your organization’s performance
• Quickly boost engagement by knowing what Gen Z wants most from managers
• Maximize how the generations communicate and effectively share feedback
• Become a stronger leader for tomorrow

SHARED SESSIONS

ERISA Fiduciary Bootcamp
Marina Edwards
Marina Retirement, LLC

Recent ERISA lawsuits have begun to redefine what it means to act in the best interest of retirement plan participants, and you may have questions about the changing nature of fiduciary requirements—and how you can avoid any pitfalls that may lead to ERISA litigation. This session will help you understand the evolving landscape so you can stay ahead of new developments and always fulfill your fiduciary responsibilities.

Key takeaways include:

• ERISA litigation trends and lessons learned
• Best practices to always meet fiduciary responsibilities
• What you can do now to safeguard your retirement plan

FINANCE SESSIONS

Profit Engineering: Stop Driving With Your Rearview Mirror
Jim Henderson
Exemplary Group, a member of the Machinery Advisors Consortium

In this session, you’ll learn how profit engineering can help your dealership be more profitable.

Attendees will learn:

• What is profit engineering?
• Key steps to apply it to your dealership
• Where it’s worked, and where it hasn’t
• 2-3 actions you can immediately take to make an impact

Pioneering the Future: How Emerging Technology Will Transform Finance Teams for Equipment Dealers
Shane Norman & Chris Woodard
Handle

Innovations in technology are creating new opportunities for finance to add value to the dealership. This session will focus on how emerging technology will shape the future landscape of the equipment dealer ecosystem, as well as predictions and preparation for the next decade.

Dollars and Sense: Tax Optimization in the Equipment Distribution Industry
Roman A. Basi
The Center for Financial, Legal, and Tax Planning, Inc.

Navigating the complex world of taxes and accounting can be daunting for business owners in the equipment distribution industry. Many are unaware of the deductions they can claim or the optimal legal entity for their business. Some do not keep adequate records or properly separate their personal and business finances. Moreover, finding professionals who understand the unique nuances of the equipment distribution industry can be a struggle. Seemingly minor choices, mistakes, and generalizations can lead to significant tax consequences.

This session will examine ten ways to maximize your income and minimize your tax liability. Roman Basi will walk through the tax impacts of decisions made at various stages of business ownership and discuss how to get the most value out of your business.

After this session, attendees will be able to:

• Describe the top ten tax issues facing business owners today
• Understand the different types of legal entities and which one is best for the business
• Visualize the tax effects of everyday operations, as well as when it comes time to sell or transfer the company

Don’t miss this opportunity to empower yourself with the knowledge and strategies needed to optimize your tax outcomes.

Secrets of the Retail Finance Office
Toby Gelinas
DFS Solutions

Success in the retail finance office can be elusive to many. This session will explore how you can maximize the efficiency of your department by answering three key questions:

• What makes some companies much better at handling their retail finance than others?
• How do dealers make this department profitable?
• How do dealers increase sales performance and customer satisfaction at the same time?

This is a can’t-miss session that will discuss performance management with a focus on KPIs, integration of finance with sales, and strategies for effectively managing a retail finance operation.

G&A Expense Reduction
Shawn Krahenbuhl
Lost & Found Corp.

Led by 3 top industry experts, this session will share proven strategies and tactics to reduce G&A expenses, helping you avoid the most common pitfalls that lead to billing errors and overcharges so you can stop wasting money!

After attending this session, attendees will:

• Gain a comprehensive understanding of how merchant account fees are generated
• Learn effective techniques for identifying overcharges and achieving optimal pricing
• Learn why many companies tend to overspend on wireless device costs and discover strategies for optimization through effective account management
• Leave with the knowledge of how to pinpoint common billing issues with laundry vendors, along with proven methods to minimize these expenses

HR SESSIONS

Rural Renaissance: Attracting the Millennial and Gen Z Workforce
Russ Green
MACKAYBEN, a member of the Machinery Advisors Consortium

As the digitally native Millennial and Gen Z cohorts become the dominant demographic in the workforce, rural areas face a unique opportunity and challenge: how can they attract and retain the talent needed to drive economic growth and vitality in their communities? What is the draw behind these workers returning to the rural lifestyle for a work-life balance and how can today’s industrial employers accelerate the transition?

Topics include:

• The culture behind the movement, i.e. cost of living, sense of community and social factors, remote work opportunities, desire for a slower pace of life, and more
• The impact employers have on lifestyle choices, including relocation support, flexible work arrangements, professional development, family support, recognition and rewards, and community engagement opportunities

Effective Onboarding for Increased Employee Engagement & Retention
Cynthia Keaton

Companies spend enormous resources to hire the best candidates. These resources include time to screen, interview, and test candidates. Once an offer is made, then add the costs of background and drug testing and possibly post-offer physicals. With all this expense in dollars and time, one study found that as high as 40% of employees don’t make it past their first year. Good recruitment and hiring practices can be quickly undone by poorly executed new employee onboarding. With the increase in remote work, this challenge to ensure effective onboarding becomes even more apparent.

Best practices onboarding begins before the new hire’s first day. It includes creating a plan to make the employee feel welcome and that quickly integrates them into the organization and provides them with the tools to be successful. This session will give you the key components to a cost-effective onboarding plan that will increase retention and productivity.

Using the Talent Advantage to Drive Growth
Jeff Lupinacci
Evolve HR Solutions

In today’s fiercely competitive business landscape, dealerships can struggle to stand out from the crowd. But what if you could gain a competitive edge by leveraging your talent advantage? This session will explore the various strategies that HR leaders can adopt to leverage their talent advantage, including the importance of talent management and how to create a culture that attracts and retains top talent, strategies for ensuring the talent and culture work together to drive growth, and solutions such as leadership programs, career planning, and succession planning to help retain top talent.

Content includes:

• Understanding the importance of talent management and the impact it can have on business growth
• Learning how to create a culture that attracts and retains top talent
• Identifying strategies for developing and nurturing talent, including development programs, career planning, and succession planning
• Exploring ways to optimize team performance through engagement strategies
• Developing a road map for implementing talent management strategies in your business

Roundtable Session

Join fellow HR professionals to discuss hot topics, issues, industry trends, and developments affecting human resources during this structured hour of sharing best practices.

Elevating Employee Engagement: Addressing Diverse Workforce Needs
Emilie Spalla
SATISFYD

In this session, go beyond “fair pay” and understand the different needs and values of diverse employee groups. Attendees will learn the 2024 Dealerships’ Employee Net Promoter Scores benchmarks to uncover how various demographics such as gender and age impact eNPS scores and engagement levels, learn strategies to personalize employee experiences and benefits, fostering higher satisfaction, and gain tactics to attract and retain talent across diverse demographics.

HR & IT: A Tale of Unexpected Partnership
Kevin Landers
rocketwise, inc.

There is a growing relationship between HR and IT that needs to be fostered to make the most of the skills in each of the functions. As both departments continue to become more business-focused, actively bringing the technology and people perspectives together can create a significant positive impact that can drive dealerships forward.

This session will explore best practices for a strong working relationship between the two functions and how they directly impact the HR team, the employees and the dealership itself, including:

• IT supporting the HR function
• HR & IT impact on the employee
• HR & IT driving business performance

During this discussion, you’ll discover tools and insights that will help positively develop the HR and IT working relationship which, with the proper emphasis on integration and communication, can achieve the mutual goal of enabling high performance.

Cancellation Policy
Refunds are not permitted within 30 days of the event