Fuel prices are rising again in the United States. In this lively presentation, Richard Hastings will explore the dramatic story of fuel costs, consumer reactions, movement of petroleum products into and out of the U.S., and the big differences in how shoppers react to fuel prices, retailer by retailer. Will rising prices threaten the recovery? Why are prices going up again? Which retailers face the best or worst prospects as prices increase? What do shoppers say about fuel prices and how do shoppers plan on responding to changing fuel prices? Once again, the U.S. bull meets the fuel monster. Who will win this time?

The 2012 Presidential Election is heading into the final stretch. The conventions will soon be on us and it will not be long until election day in November. You will get an inside look at the polling numbers and how the key parts of the race are going to shape up.

Session Discovery Topics:

• Political landscape
• How the candidates stack up
• Key states in play for 2012
• Projected outcome

Current economic conditions are driving the need for timelier, insightful information and analysis and most CFOs are more strategically involved in their companies than they were five years ago. Finance has come a long way over the last five years — it has earned a seat at the decision-making table. Keeping that seat requires keeping pace with the business, making sure financial foundational elements are delivered seamlessly, and priorities from internal finance processes and projects are re-focused to business priorities, as appropriate.

This session will explore the actions necessary to develop and exploit the skills that the business values today: business context, coordination and enabling technology know-how. We will discuss ways to raise the bar on talent to deliver the skills for tomorrow’s priorities including information, objectivity and foresight.

The cost of talent is one of the largest items on most of our budgets, yet we still have difficulty calculating the real value that talent brings to the bottom line. Performance measures fall short as many years find performance ratings high and bottom line results low or desired outcomes wanting. Research shows a direct connection between accountability and bottom line results.

While engaging employees is critical, it turns out that engagement is not enough. Engagement without accountability is chaos. It is the organizations that cultivate a culture of personal accountability that are truly winning. Join Cy Wakeman as she challenges conventional HR wisdom with evidence-based research, revealing the major flaws in the logic supporting traditional talent programs and initiatives. Listen as she provides techniques for hard wiring the magic competency of accountability throughout your team and your organization.

Risk is inherent within every aspect of the business ecosystem, adding to a multitude of existing challenges to operate in today's complex global business climate. Please join Luis Custodio and Michael Stefanick in this discussion of how leading companies are applying analytics to assess risk and quantify avoidance value. By using methodological and analytical frameworks - early warning systems, scenario planning and predictive intelligence - companies can learn to avoid, address or quickly recover from major risk events.

Session discovery topics:

• The importance of understanding the scope of ERM
• The use of data analytics to analyze, measure, model and predict risk as a growing capability among leading enterprises
• ERM programs that are creating value and protection against disruptive or catastrophic operational risk events

“The Cloud” is everywhere - in TV commercials, on billboards, and splashed across the internet. What are the financial advantages of adopting a cloud model: cost savings, greater transparency in IT, or shifting from a constrained CapEx model to a more agile and predictable OpEx model?

John Rex, North America CFO at Microsoft will discuss the financial considerations of moving to the cloud and how it can save your organization a lot more than just money. His insightful overview will empower you to better understand the real advantages of adopting a cloud model and understanding when it makes sense and when it does not.

Far beyond their traditional place in the back office, today’s finance leaders are expected to shape the vision for the organization and to communicate that vision effectively across a broad spectrum of constituencies as one of the key leaders of corporate strategy and culture. The abilities to re-invent, think outside of the box and purely innovate are critical to driving competitive growth in today’s environment. Please join David Cush in this candid discussion of Virgin America’s journey and his perspective on the greatest contributions finance leaders should aspire to make as molders of their own organizations.