The BayCFO Buzz - Volume Fifteen

Volume Fifteen, Spring - 2009
"What's a-buzz at BayCFO!"

Geesh! Your buzzin' editor is navigating over piles of pollen and beeswax hither and yon with this remodeling going on at the hive -
but we managed to find a clear pathway to the workroom to get this next edition of "The Buzz" out for our BayCFO Members ...

... It's also the Last Call for you to make your reservation for our NEXT BayCFO Dinner Event, set for APRIL 30th
with Gary Schlossberg, Principal and Senior Economist, Wells Capital Management, Wells Fargo & Company, who will speak on
"The Financial Panic of '08: What It Means for the Economy, the Financial Market and For
Investment Strategy"

This time, we will convene at the Waterfront Plaza Hotel, in Oakland's Jack London Square at 5:30 PM with our program to start PROMPTLY at 6:00. Please note this is a change from our usual BayCFO meeting schedule, so don't be late!

For more information on this upcoming event and to register - CLICK HERE

BayCFO would like to take this opportunity to again thank our underwriters of our January meeting,
Burr Pilger Mayer, for their support.

BayCFO has chosen a select group of quality service firms
to assist with funding events and keeping your registration costs to a minimum.
We wish to thank Scott Taylor of Burr Pilger Mayer for helping to support this meeting.
For more information, please visit our sponsor web sites or contact our sponsor representatives.

On Thursday, January 29th, BayCFO members gathered at the historic Payne Mansion, on Sutter Street in San Francisco. This grand old mansion from the 19th century has been beautifully restored to its former glamour and
we were lucky to be granted access to it for our BayCFO Meeting.

BayCFO Members arriving at the Payne Mansion

On a lovely San Francisco evening, BayCFO members began to arrive at the Mansion in anticipation of our event ...

Our event that evening at the Payne Mansion was catered for us by "Events, Etc." The evening started out with a
lovely hosted wine and beer bar. But the best was yet to come...

We then were ushered to a delectable buffet spread including a Mashed Potato Martini Bar, with an extremely tasty Angus Short Rib stew, Exotic Mushroom Ragout, with artisan cheddar, sour cream, bacon bits, broccoli bits and scallions for topping.

Moving on, there was a choice of Petit Buttermilk Biscuits with ham, caramelized onions, and apricot mustard with arugula. Also, a Petite Savory Tomato and Herb-bread Pudding with tarragon mayonnaise, and romaine salad completed the dinner bill o'fare..

Lastly, was the dessert layout - Warm Cinnamon Sugar Donut Holes with chocolate drizzle, Pecan Pie Tartlets with Bourbon Vanilla whipped cream and Chocolate Truffles - little bits of heaven!

BayCFO at the Grand Payne Mansion

BayCFO Colleagues networking at the Payne Mansion

Before our presentation, BayCFO Members were treated to a tour of the Mansion, by Irv Spivak, Events Director of the Payne Mansion. Irv took us to the fabulous, super-technologically advanced third-floor Boardroom of the Simayof Company, owners of the Mansion.
- Your buzzin' editor took group pictures all around -

After our tour, our members were seated for the presentation. Before Steve Workman stepped up for his talk, our members were given an announcement about the Bay Area CFO of the Year Awards, coming up shortly in June. Our November '08 speaker, Lou Lavigne, Jr., was a winner of the Bay Area CFO of the Year - Lifetime Achievement.

Steve Workman discussed practices and methodologies that in his experience were keys to making successful deal decisions and negotiations. He also described certain tactical mishaps that made some deals unfortunately fall apart. Steve charted and provided analysis of many of the deals he was on both the buy-side and sell-side of during 10 years with Ortel and more recently 10 years with Finisar, both companies having very active and successful acquisition strategies

Steve's talk used the theme of "16 Lessons" in conveying his War Stories and Lessons Learned from a Lifetime of M&A to our members. Afterwards, there was the usual lively Q & A session before our meeting broke up.

Good night, BayCFO Members, see you next time!

If you missed this meeting, you won't want to miss the next one!
Our next BayCFO Event, will be held Thursday, April 30th at the Waterfront Plaza Hotel in Oakland's Jack London Square.
Come to BayCFO and enjoy the company!
In the meantime, everyone here at the BayCFO hive sends you our very best wishes!
We're all looking forward to seeing you at our next BayCFO event!
We'd also like to thank TriNet and BDO Seidman, LLP in advance for their help in sponsoring our April 30th event.

So BayCFO Members, to RSVP for our next BayCFO Meeting,
please use this link - http://www.acteva.com/go/baycfo

More pictures of our BayCFO Event at The Payne Mansion in beautiful San Francisco!

Another BayCFO group photo in the Boardroom

Another BayCFO Full House that evening ...

Irv Spivak explains the Boardroom to BayCFO members at the Payne Mansion

Our BayCFO Members enjoying another great time .... if you haven't joined us, you've missed some great opportunities for networking and good times with your friends and peers. Our members know that BayCFO is unique and that's why they keep coming back!

Don't you wish you had been there?

Some of the lovely adult beverages our members enjoyed...

"Great food, good friends, come join us at BayCFO!"

Don't Miss Out! For information on our next BayCFO gathering please see - http://www.acteva.com/go/baycfo

Be sure your contact information in our BayCFO data base is current to avoid missing our BayCFO Meeting Notices
and new editions of the Buzz!

Bzzzzzzzzzz!

If you are having difficulty viewing "The Buzz" you may view it HERE as a webpage

All photos, content, copyright BayCFO and may not be used without the express written permission of BayCFO
You are receiving this edition of the Buzz because you have indicated interest in BayCFO or come to one of our meetings.
If you have questions or comments about the Buzz, or wish to be removed from our Buzz distribution list,
please contact the BayCFO Administrator, Genie Hawkins at genieh@baycfo.org

Be sure to visit the BayCFO website www.BayCFO.org for updates and notices of upcoming BayCFO events.