In a business as dynamic as the media and entertainment industry, it's not what's happening today that financial executives are interested in; it's what's coming next. MFM's first three regional meetings in Los Angeles, Washington, D.C. and Atlanta demonstrated that point vividly as members discussed and debated what might be around the next corner with experts in the fields of streaming, NFTs, ESG (environmental, social and corporate governance), tax and risk management.
More than 125 MFM members attended the first three regional meetings. A fourth meeting is scheduled for November 15 in New York City. We scheduled the meetings based on feedback from members at the annual conference earlier this year in Tampa. They told us they wanted more opportunities to connect with colleagues in their local communities. We organized events in four cities that have significant numbers of MFM members (and prospective members) located in and around them.
Attendance was free, and the sessions included a 90-minute presentation by a panel of subject-matter experts followed by a networking reception. Panelists included representatives from consulting firms Grant Thornton, Ernst and Young, Deloitte, KPMG and Point B. Each brought a wealth of insights and information to the discussion, and each session included an extensive Q&A segment where members could ask questions on topics important to them.
I had two main takeaways from the first three sessions. First, financial executives are dealing with a growing number of increasingly complex issues in an increasingly competitive industry. Among the issues are tax and accounting procedures, mergers and acquisitions, budgeting in an inflationary environment, managing changing risk exposures and hiring and retaining qualified staff. Secondly, these executives welcome the opportunity to come together to share knowledge, solve common problems and enhance their professional skills and personal networks.
That's where MFM comes in. The golden rule for the media and entertainment industry applies to the association management business: content is king. I'm pleased that MFM was able to bring such terrific content to so many members through these regional meetings. And I am looking forward to providing outstanding educational offerings, abundant CPE credits and networking opportunities to members of the association through webinars, the annual conference, the CFO summit and future regional events.
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The opinions expressed here are the author's views and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillage.com/MyersBizNet.