Garry Ridge is a purpose-driven leader, coach, and global keynote speaker. As the former Chairman and CEO of WD-40 Company, Garry led the brand to become one of the world’s most trusted names, achieving over 90% employee engagement and consistent shareholder growth. Known as The Culture Coach, Garry helps leaders create values-driven workplaces where learning, innovation, and connection fuel success. He is the author of Any Dumb-Ass Can Do It and co-author of Helping People Win at Work with Ken Blanchard.

Expect to Learn:

• The connection between company culture and business success

• How FP&A can guide strategy while fostering engagement

• Why servant leadership is key to unlocking innovation

• Practical advice on building a workplace of belonging

• The importance of "learning moments" in continuous improvement

William is the founder and principal of Frederick Fox, a recruiting firm that specializes in placing finance and accounting talent. Since its launch in 2019, Frederick Fox has grown rapidly, serving over 700 clients with a team of 55+ experienced recruiters. The firm has achieved this growth without outside funding, focusing on speed, accountability, and results. Frederick Fox has redefined the recruiting process, prioritizing lean systems and performance-based partnerships to help companies make confident hires. Outside of work, William is a guitar-playing father of three, a math nerd turned entrepreneur, and an enthusiast of spicy food and hot yoga.

Expect to Learn:

• Why accounting and finance roles are becoming more crucial to businesses today

• How to stand out as an FP&A candidate in a competitive job market

• The importance of mastering technical tools like Power BI, Tableau, and SQL

• Why humble curiosity is key to becoming a better business partner

• How recruiters assess FP&A candidates and what skills they prioritize

Darrell Cox is the Chief Financial Officer at Una Software, bringing over 25 years of executive leadership across high-growth companies. His background includes CFO roles at Vena Solutions and FreshBooks, as well as leadership positions at Virgin Mobile, Rogers Communications, and ATI Technologies. Known for scaling finance teams and overseeing more than $1 billion in exits and transactions, Darrell focuses on blending financial insight with operational data to elevate finance's role as a strategic partner.

Expect to Learn:

• Why FP&A must evolve into strategic finance to remain relevant

• How to continuously improve forecasting through agile, data-rich practices

• The critical role of CRM and daily data in revenue intelligence

• How finance and sales can work together as partners, not opponents

• Career advice for FP&A professionals aiming to become CFOs

Brian McGrath is the Co-Founder and COO of FutureView Systems, a firm dedicated to delivering scalable, technology-enabled FP&A solutions for growing companies. A graduate of the University of Florida and UNC Chapel Hill, Brian has helped organizations streamline processes, eliminate manual workflows, and build finance functions that influence real-time decisions. His hands-on experience, systems thinking, and deep commitment to automation and business alignment make his insights invaluable for any finance professional ready to modernize their approach.

Expect to Learn:

• Why automation should be baked into FP&A from day one

• What accountability-based forecasting looks like in practice

• How to shift FP&A from a cost center to an operational partner

• Practical methods for protecting your most valuable asset: time

• Why “humble curiosity” is essential to understanding the business

Brian McGrath is the Co-Founder and COO of FutureView Systems, a firm dedicated to delivering scalable, technology-enabled FP&A solutions for growing companies. A graduate of the University of Florida and UNC Chapel Hill, Brian has helped organizations streamline processes, eliminate manual workflows, and build finance functions that influence real-time decisions. His hands-on experience, systems thinking, and deep commitment to automation and business alignment make his insights invaluable for any finance professional ready to modernize their approach.

Expect to Learn:

• Why automation should be baked into FP&A from day one

• What accountability-based forecasting looks like in practice

• How to shift FP&A from a cost center to an operational partner

• Practical methods for protecting your most valuable asset: time

• Why “humble curiosity” is essential to understanding the business

Jesse Mishler serves as Senior Vice President of FP&A at Carr Properties, where he oversees corporate forecasting, executive reporting, and strategic financial planning. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran with over two decades of experience, Jesse brings a mission-driven mindset to FP&A leadership. He is known for building high-performing, people-first finance teams, championing cross-functional collaboration, and implementing innovative planning tools like JEDOX to drive operational efficiency. With a master’s in real estate from Georgetown University and a passion for continuous learning, Jesse’s leadership reflects both financial precision and personal authenticity.

Expect to Learn:

• How military principles like integrity and resilience translate to corporate leadership.

• What makes FP&A a strategic hub, not just a back-office function.

• Why developing people is one of the most fulfilling aspects of leadership.

• Key operational metrics in commercial real estate and how they guide decision-making.

• The power of curiosity in becoming a better business partner.

Chris is the CEO and founder of Fresh FP&A, a financial strategy firm that supports small and mid-sized businesses with fractional CFO services. With more than 20 years in accounting, FP&A, and finance leadership, Chris has built a career around driving growth, navigating acquisitions, and helping organizations build financial clarity. He’s worked with global companies, led finance teams through complex M&A deals, and now channels that experience into helping others succeed

Expect to Learn:

• Why FP&A needs to evolve from reporting to a real business partnership

• How Chris shifted his mindset from CFO to CEO

• The importance of focusing on the right industries instead of trying to serve everyone

• Why failing early became one of his greatest learning tools

• What to do before you land your first paid client

Adam Rakich has spent over a decade streamlining finance processes across industries, working with top software platforms like Adaptive Insights, Workday, and OneStream. As the author of The Business User’s Guide to Data Integration, he is known for making complex finance concepts accessible, especially to non-technical professionals. At North Texas, Adam helps organizations build better, more collaborative FP&A functions without the pain.

Expect to Learn:

• Why most budgeting processes are broken and how to shift the mindset to fix them.

• The importance of soft skills in elevating finance's strategic impact.

• How to avoid the "Jurassic Park" trap of doing more just because you can.

• The value of driver-based planning and why simplicity often beats complexity.

• The "James Bond Philosophy" of budgeting: when to seduce and when to take a firmer stance.

Alex Holt is the CFO of Milo’s Hamburgers, a beloved 23-unit fast-food chain known for its iconic burgers and sweet tea, based in Alabama. With experience as the Executive Vice President of Finance at Capstone Communities and a background in real estate, Alex brings a wealth of knowledge in finance, data visualization, and process improvement. He is passionate about making data useful and has a strong focus on enhancing financial operations.

Expect to Learn:

• How the role of FP&A extends beyond reporting to driving business change.

• The unique challenges of managing finances in a growing, family-owned restaurant chain.

• The importance of process improvement and documentation when scaling operations.

• How Alex uses technology to improve efficiency and communication.

• Key metrics and strategies for managing finance in the restaurant industry, including labor and food costs.

Raheli Sasson is the Director of FP&A at JFrog, where she partners with executive leadership to deliver financial and operational results. With deep expertise in budgeting, forecasting, and process automation, Raheli is passionate about leveraging technology and AI to drive efficiency in finance. She has managed budgets exceeding $1 billion and spearheaded global initiatives to integrate AI in finance.

Expect to Learn:

• How finance can act as a strategic partner to drive company growth, especially in the early stages.

• The importance of balancing growth with sustainability in high-growth SaaS companies.

• Key metrics and strategies for scaling operations and go-to-market efforts in early-stage startups.

• Insights into how AI is changing the landscape of finance and operations.

• Tips on building trust and accountability within teams to ensure collaborative success.

Rohit Divate is a seasoned finance leader with expertise in high-growth SaaS companies. Having raised over $500 million and driven revenue growth from $20 million to over $500 million, Rohit has a deep passion for improving finance team effectiveness and is especially active in the AI space. He currently serves as the head of operations and finance at Sprig, an all-in-one product experience platform.

Expect to Learn:

• How finance can act as a strategic partner to drive company growth, especially in the early stages.

• The importance of balancing growth with sustainability in high-growth SaaS companies.

• Key metrics and strategies for scaling operations and go-to-market efforts in early-stage startups.

• Insights into how AI is changing the landscape of finance and operations.

• Tips on building trust and accountability within teams to ensure collaborative success.

John Sanchez brings over 20 years of experience in FP&A and corporate finance. He has worked with world-class organizations such as Royal Caribbean Cruises and AutoNation, and now trains finance professionals through his consulting firm, FP&A Group. With a background in accounting and M&A, John brings a wealth of knowledge and practical insights to FP&A, including the importance of business acumen and communication skills for financial professionals.

Expect to Learn:

• How great FP&A professionals go beyond Excel to understand the business.

• The importance of business acumen in making impactful financial decisions.

• Why communication, especially listening, is crucial in FP&A.

• Insights on John’s career journey from accounting to FP&A.

• Practical tips for improving communication and networking in finance.

Clarke Carter is a CPA and CMA working as a senior accountant in the healthcare industry. He supports budgeting and planning and has deep experience with Adaptive Insights and Excel modeling. Landon Cortenbach is a veteran CFO and finance executive who has scaled startups and worked with Fortune 50 companies. With a background in accounting, operations, and enterprise tech, Landon’s passion is in financial transformation and continuous learning. He’s a CPA, Six Sigma Green Belt, and a big advocate for real-world financial education.

Expect to Learn:

• Why mastering Excel is still foundational in FP&A

• The difference between theory and real-world finance training

• How Power Query can save you hours every week

• What separates effective FP&A teams from the rest

• How to choose between certifications like CFA, FMVA, or FPAC

Ramya Krishnaganth is an experienced advisor with a background in cost accounting, financial planning, and enterprise transformations. She holds an executive MBA from Wharton and has helped companies across industries build smarter, more responsive finance functions. Her passion is making data more meaningful and empowering teams to work better together not just through systems, but through clarity, communication, and care.

Expect to Learn:

• Why great FP&A is about being the “nervous system” of a company, not just reporting numbers.

• How a CFO used one simple metric to drive company-wide cost discipline.

• Why fixing data issues means looking beyond tech and starting with people and processes.

• How to build credibility in finance by solving one problem at a time.

• What it means to approach data with empathy and why it changes how you solve problems.

Ramya Krishnaganth is an experienced advisor with a background in cost accounting, financial planning, and enterprise transformations. She holds an executive MBA from Wharton and has helped companies across industries build smarter, more responsive finance functions. Her passion is making data more meaningful and empowering teams to work better together not just through systems, but through clarity, communication, and care.

Expect to Learn:

• Why great FP&A is about being the “nervous system” of a company, not just reporting numbers.

• How a CFO used one simple metric to drive company-wide cost discipline.

• Why fixing data issues means looking beyond tech and starting with people and processes.

• How to build credibility in finance by solving one problem at a time.

• What it means to approach data with empathy and why it changes how you solve problems.

Nate Saperia is a finance veteran with a background spanning economic consulting, corporate finance at companies like GE and Hess, and advising private equity-backed firms on financial planning and analysis. Recently, Nate launched his own consulting firm, focusing on helping businesses navigate strategic finance challenges and achieve smarter growth. Known for his clear and pragmatic approach, Nate is passionate about helping FP&A professionals elevate their role beyond reporting into true business partnering.

Expect to Learn:

• Why truly great FP&A means understanding the business and enabling better decision-making.

• How to break down high-level financial goals into clear, measurable, and actionable KPIs.

• The nuanced difference between traditional FP&A and strategic finance roles.

• What it’s like working in private equity-backed companies, including the heavy reporting demands and rapid pace.

• The top technical and interpersonal skills FP&A professionals should prioritize now.

Wassia Kamon is a finance powerhouse with over 15 years of experience across various industries, including manufacturing, technology, pharmaceuticals, and nonprofits. As CFO at ACE, a nonprofit lending institution, she plays a key role in providing capital to entrepreneurs. Wassia has also been recognized as a 40 Under 40 honoree by CPA Practice Advisor and is the host of the podcast The Diary of a CFO. She's passionate about helping high-potential finance leaders step into executive roles and shares her expertise through coaching, speaking engagements, and teaching at the Wharton Online Certificate Program.

Expect to Learn:

• How Wassia transitioned from FP&A to CFO and the unexpected challenges she faced along the way.

• The power of trust and relationships in becoming a key business partner, not just a number cruncher.

• Why being invited into decision-making conversations early is a game changer for finance teams.

• What it was really like dealing with the board of directors for the first time as a CFO.

• How to expand your influence and take a broader view of business to become a true strategic partner.

Parker Gilbert is the CEO and Co-founder of Numeric, a financial close platform designed to make accounting teams faster, more accurate, and more collaborative. With a background in investment banking and hands-on experience as Head of Finance at Hearth, Parker understands both the strategic and operational challenges finance teams face. Frustrated by the limitations of traditional accounting tools, Parker set out to build Numeric, software purpose-built to simplify and streamline the month-end close.

Expect to Learn:

• Why Parker and his team started Numeric to solve overlooked pain points in accounting.

• How traditional tools like Excel and legacy ERP systems are failing modern accounting teams.

• What it means to build software specifically for the financial close process.

• Why visibility and collaboration are essential in reducing close errors.

• How Numeric empowers teams to understand what’s been done, what’s left, and where issues arise.

Anders is the co-founder and partner at the Business Partnering Institute, where he helps finance teams transform into strategic business partners. With over 10 years of experience as a business partner at Maersk, Anders has firsthand knowledge of what it takes to create value through finance. He is the co-author of Create Value as a Finance Business Partner and is about to release his new book, Communicating Financials to Executives. He is also a top LinkedIn voice with over 400,000 followers, where he shares valuable content for finance professionals looking to grow their careers and impact.

Expect to Learn:

• How FP&A can go from just reporting numbers to playing a strategic role in the company.

• The best way to present financial insights so executives can act on them.

• Why synthesizing data is important for decision-making, and how it's different from just summarizing it.

• Practical steps to improve communication between finance teams and business leaders.

• How to build strong relationships with stakeholders, even when they’re hesitant to work with finance.

Cassie is the Vice President of FP&A at Ultradent Products, a dental manufacturing company, where she played a key role in building the company’s first FP&A team from the ground up. Marcus serves as the Senior Finance Director at Wellpath, a healthcare company, where he is passionate about making finance accessible across all departments. Mario is the Senior Director of Finance at E.W. Scripps Company, brings over 25 years of experience in FP&A. He was part of the first cohort to earn the credential and shares valuable insights on how the certification helped him stand out and advance in his career.

Expect to Learn:

• The impact of continuing education on staying up-to-date in the field of FP&A.

• The value of the credential and how it can impact your career in FP&A.

• Key insights on how to prepare for the exam and tips for success.

• The importance of continuous learning and staying updated in the financial industry.

• The role of FP&A in driving business strategy and decision-making.