In today’s evolving financial landscape, CFOs are expected to do far more than report numbers—they must translate financial data into strategic insight that boards can act on. This fireside chat brings together two seasoned financial leaders who will explore what it truly takes to deliver a board presentation that informs, engages, and drives decision‑making.
Through real‑world examples and candid discussion, participants will learn how to structure a high‑impact financial presentation, choose the right dashboards and KPIs, and communicate forward‑looking indicators with clarity and confidence. The conversation will also highlight practical techniques for fostering productive board engagement—before, during, and after the presentation—to ensure financial information becomes a catalyst for strategic dialogue rather than a passive report-out.
By the end of the session, attendees will walk away with actionable strategies they can immediately apply to elevate their next board presentation and strengthen their role as strategic partners in organizational leadership.
Learning objectives
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Evaluate the essential components of an effective board financial presentation
- Apply best practices for visualizing financial information, including the selection of dashboards, KPIs, and forward-looking indicators
- Develop techniques for driving productive board engagement before, during, and after the presentation
Speakers
Carolyn Lanham, CAE
Carolyn is an association leader with over thirty years of association management experience. She served in various roles with the American College of Cardiology and the American Institute of Architects before joining the American Society of Addiction Medicine in 2012 as the Chief Operating Officer. Carolyn’s portfolio of activities includes finance, governance, operations, information technology, human resources, membership, meetings, publications, fundraising, and marketing.
Carolyn earned her Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation in 2009 and is active an active member of the American Society of Association Executives. She previously served on both the ASAE Executive and the ASAE Finance & Business Operations Section Councils. Carolyn completed two terms serving on the FAR Board of Directors. She Chaired the FAR Non-Profit Member Program Committee and Co-Chaired the Membership Committee. Recently Carolyn co-led the development of the new FAR Strategic Plan and once again, currently serves on the Membership Committee. Carolyn holds membership in the national and local chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management and is a founding member of a self-forming network of Chief Operating Officers.
Carolyn received the 2017 Washington Executive Management Award Winner from SmartCEO Magazine.
Jennifer Brearey
Jennifer Brearey is the Chief Financial & Operating Officer of AdvaMed®. Since joining the association in June 2012, she has progressed through a series of finance leadership roles, serving as Director of Finance, Vice President of Finance, and Chief Financial Officer before assuming her current position.
Prior to AdvaMed®, Ms. Brearey spent seven years at Ford's Premier Automotive Group, where she held management roles in profit analysis and vehicle pricing for Jaguar and Land Rover North America. She also led accounting for the U.S. offices of CPA Global, a privately held legal services firm.
Ms. Brearey began her career in public accounting and brings more than 25 years of experience in finance, accounting, and organizational planning. She holds a B.B.A. from James Madison University.
In 2025, Ms. Brearey was recognized as Nonprofit CFO of the Year by the Top Honor of the Nonprofit CFO Awards, Washington D.C.'s premier annual recognition for excellence in nonprofit financial leadership. She also received the C-Suite of the Year award from the FAR Roundtable, a 300-member network of nonprofit executives she previously chaired. She currently serves as Treasurer for the Arlington Free Clinic and volunteers as a Girl Scout Leader.
When: Tuesday, May 12, 2026 | 8:30 am - 10:30 am
Networking 8:30 am
Lunch 9:00 am
Presentation 9:30 am - 10:30 am
Where: fusionSpan, 401 N. Washington St, Suite 400, Rockville, MD 20850
FAR members, please make sure to log in to the FAR website to receive FAR member registration options.
This program is pending approval for CPE and CAE credit.
FAR is a CAE Registered Provider. The program listed above meets the requirements for fulfilling the professional development requirements to earn or maintain the Certified Association Executive credential. Every program that we offer that has been approved for CAE credit will clearly identify the number of CAE credits granted for full participation. We will maintain records of your participation in accordance with CAE policies. For more information about the CAE credential or Registered Provider program, please visit www.asaecenter.org/cae.
As a CAE Registered Provider educational program related to the CAE exam content outline, this program may be applied for 1 credit toward your CAE application or renewal professional development requirements.
Note: Applicants may use any program that meets eligibility requirements in the specific timeframe towards the exam application or renewal. No specific individual courses are required as part of the applications – the selection of eligible education is up to the applicant based on his/her needs.
FAR 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 the final authority on the acceptance of individual course for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org. It is Group-Live delivery method. Sponsor ID: 109395
