CHAPTER
connections
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NEW JERSEY CHAPTER
FEI Spotlight: Brian Huff – Relationship Executive, Executive Director, Chase
A native of the Garden State, Brian Huff joined Chase
four years ago and is an Executive Director for the firm’s
Commercial Banking arm in New Jersey,
focusing on mid-sized companies. Huff
is responsible for helping businesses
succeed and grow through giving
financial guidance, and providing access
to world class financial technology,
products, and services.
“In New Jersey—and across the
country—we aim to combine our
bankers’ intimate knowledge of their
local landscape with their access to all
of the firm’s international capabilities
to ensure our clients’ needs and goals
are met to help them succeed both
domestically and globally.”
Brian is 15 year veteran of the banking
and financial services industry and spent more than a
decade with Commerce Bank in Piscataway, where he
began his career as a credit analyst. Huff was a fast rising
star at Commerce—now TD Bank—and quickly became
one of the youngest Middle Market bankers in the Bank’s
history. In addition to his main responsibilities at Chase,
Brian serves as the firm’s liaison to
Financial Executives International
(FEI), New Jersey Food Council (NJFC)
and New Jersey Society of CPAs.
“I consider myself to be very lucky to
live and work in a state that continues to
promote business growth. A big edge for
New Jersey is its central location, which
makes the Garden State a great place for
businesses to expand and prosper. I am
proud to live here and to be able to raise
my family in New Jersey.”
Brian holds a Bachelor’s degree in
Finance from the Business School
at Rutgers University. He resides in
Clark, NJ with his wife, Meredith; their
daughter, Sienna; and the family’s German Shepherd,
Guinness. Brian and Meredith are expecting their second
child in July.
Here’s what is in store for you in 2017:
April 18 – Mark Hunter, President & Founder, Pinnacle Coaching, INC
May 5 – PD Session with A.J. Gallagher, Host Analytics and Robert Half
May 11 – Women’s Breakfast on “Personal Branding”
May 16 – J. Michael Gower, Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration, University
Treasurer at Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyBio NJ
June 5 – PD Session with Chase, Duff & Phelps and Primepoint
June 20 – Twelfth Annual Wine & Beer Tasting Event
R
s Rutgers Alum Tells the Tale of Keurig Coffee: Mike Mardy
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NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ
– The Hub City hosted
some of the best and
brightest in business
this week—and the
keynote speaker was one
of Rutgers University’s
own.
They came for a joint
dinner meeting of the
New Jersey chapters of
Financial
Executives
International
and
the Association for
Corporate Growth. As
rain pounded the streets
last night, March 28,
dozens of dealmakers gathered inside New Brunswick’s
Hyatt Regency hotel to sip drinks, eat salmon and listen to
a story.
And what a story it was.
Mike Mardy, a legendary Princeton University basketball
player who earned his MBA from Rutgers, began with a
joke. “I should have you talk to my wife about all the nice
things you just said about me,” he told Travis Epp, the FEI
head who introduced the speaker.
that people—very good people—worked their tuckuses off
to keep that stuff coming to you.”
The First Sip
You could say it was sparked by a joint.
Bob Stiller, the founder of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters,
was an accountant at Columbia University who thought
potheads would buy better rolling papers. So he founded EZ
Wider, whose papers became the gold standard, and sold it
for a few million bucks.
Then he moved to Vermont, where he in the 1980s bought
the coffee company that became Green Mountain Coffee
Roasters, Mardy said.
Stiller thought about becoming the next Starbucks but
instead opted to shut down the retail component in favor
of selling fair-trade coffee. Soon enough, Mardy said, Stiller
ran into a private-equity type who wanted to sell singleserve coffee machines—what became Keurig.
“Bob likes the idea, even though it’s not sustainable and they
throw out all these pods,” Mardy said, “and he becomes a
licensed roaster for this little company.”
But Mardy’s career speaks for itself. He has worked in
C-suites for decades, most recently serving as executive vice
president, chief financial officer and board director of Tumi
Holdings, the high-end luggage company purchased in 2016
by Samsonite for $1.8 billion.
Perhaps Mardy’s most curious gig, however, was with Green
Mountain Coffee Roasters, known for its Keurig coffee
machine and single-serve pods. Lucrative as it was turbulent,
his time on the board put him in contact with Birkenstocksclad farmers, fiery Securities and Exchange Commission
regulators and astounding sales figures.
“I made money on Green Mountain—it was great—but,
oh my god, it was a near-death experience,” Mardy told the
room. “When you hit that little Keurig machine, understand
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Stiller eventually gave Keurig a loan that included the right
to buy the company. In 2006, Green Mountain acted on that,
slurping up Keurig and going public.
FEI.com/newjersey
CHAPTER
Ethical Dilemmas ofconnections
the CFO: Mike Corridon
NEW JERSEY CHAPTER
June 2016
At our February dinner meeting, Mike
Corridon, CFO of Strato, Inc., led a
discussion on the “Ethical Dilemmas of
the CFO”. Mike’s engaging talk outlined
issues faced by almost everyone in their
careers.
Some of the concerns Mike raised
included: What if you are asked to do
something you feel you just can’t do?
What if you see something that you feel
is just wrong. How do you decide what to
do? If it’s a request or action of the CEO,
do you try to change his or her mind?
While these and other situations are
likely deeper than simply legal questions,
you might be faced with ultimately
2/21/17
seeking protection or recourse under the
various federal and state whistleblower
laws. Many of these dilemmas raise the
issue of trust, both for judgment and
confidentiality. Issues can be across-theboard, including revenue recognition,
an ill-logical attempt to make quarterly
numbers or fill in the holes, being asked to
sign documents, or attempted cover-ups
of safety, health and regulatory violations.
Mike’s presentation resulted in an
interactive discussion with the audience,
where they shared thoughts, questions
and experiences on these delicate
situations.
FEI Kicks off Year on a Journey: Tough Mudder
The first meeting of the calendar
year focused on “Tough
Mudder’s Journey,” in which FEI
welcomed Don Baxter, CFO &
COO of Tough Mudder, Inc.
During the event at The Manor
in West Orange on January 17,
Baxter shared what it took for the
company to quickly grow as well
as noted some of the successes
and challenges along the way.
More than 50 FEI members and
guests were in attendance, some taking advantage of free
admission as first-time guests.
For those who have yet to experience Tough Mudder,
it is not your ordinary company, Baxter said, noting the
company presents military style-obstacle races from five
miles to 24 hours long.
The main principle of the Tough Mudder revolves around
teamwork, he said.
The Tough Mudder organization – now with five offices
around the globe – focuses on values and camaraderie
throughout the course, designing obstacles that encourage
group participation. Participants must commit to helping
others complete the course, putting teammates before
themselves, and overcoming fears.
An average 78 percent of entrants successfully complete
the course.
The first Tough Mudder challenge was held in the
United States in 2010. To date, more than 2.5 million
people worldwide have participated in Tough Mudder
events, making it one of the world’s fastest-growing
athletic activities, that draws between 10,000 and 15,000
participants per event.
“We very much
appreciated
this
great
presentation
from Don,” said FEI
President Travis Epp.
“Who knows? Maybe
FEI will run a team
in the next Tough
Mudder race in
New Jersey. Anyone
interested?”
FEI.com/newjersey
3
R
s Message from the President: Travis Epp
6
Dear Friends:
Spring has arrived and the New Jersey Chapter has a
number of events to offer in the last few months of this
fiscal year. In April, two events will focus on healthcare. On
April 6th, the Peer to Peer Breakfast Forum will feature a
panel discussing how to pull back the curtain on healthcare
costs. The Career Advancement Session on April 11th offers
a discussion on “What’s next for ACA and Healthcare”. The
April 18th dinner meeting includes a presentation on selfmotivation by Mark Hunter, Founder and President of
Pinnacle Coaching Inc. On May 11th, we invite our women
members and their guests to a breakfast and presentation
on personal branding.
Our March dinner meeting was a joint event with ACG
NJ in New Brunswick. Mike Mardy gave an engaging
presentation on the Keurig Green Mountain Coffee Roaster
Saga to over 70 attendees. At the meeting, our Nominating
Committee announced the slate of nominees for the 20172018 term for both the Board of Directors and the Chapter
officers. A vote for the Board and officers will take place at
our April 18th dinner meeting.
I look forward to seeing you at an upcoming event.
Travis Epp
Regards,
Travis Epp
Partner, EisnerAmper LLP
[email protected] | 732.243.7574
FEI Thanks its Sponsors.
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FEI.com/newjersey
Self Motivation
– The Six
Ingredients
Featured Speaker
Mark Hunter, PCC
Founder & President
of Pinnacle Coaching, Inc.
FEI New Jersey Chapter Dinner Meeting
Tuesday, April 18 – 6 pm - 8:30 pm
The Manor • 111 Prospect Avenue • West Orange, NJ 07052
Please join FEI New Jersey on April 18th for networking,
dinner and a presentation by Mark Hunter. Mr. Hunter, a
Business & Executive Leadership Coach and Speaker, will
explain how motivation and leadership go hand in hand
and will outline the six ingredients that leaders use to
generate motivation.
FEI.com/newjersey