Delivering the message of value: as Thomas L. Evans steps into the FEI Canada chairmanship role for 2005-6, he's anticipating reaching out to more new members and adding his record to the legacy of leaders that have come before him.

As Thomas L. Evans begins his term as FEI Canada Chair for 2005-6, he's reflective on the value of FEI membership to him throughout his career.

"Working in an industry with its own association, one can easily become too focused on practices in that industry and the problems it alone faces," he says.

A member for 18 years, Evans believes that FEI has provided him the ability to think outside the box and access information from a broad spectrum of financial executives, "by having this organization that I can tap into, it gave me a perspective outside the industry I was working in, and helped me bring more value to the companies I've worked with."

Thus, as Evans assumes the leadership role, he anticipates working with the board and membership to make a contribution, which he hopes will be significant, in bringing FEI's message to a broader base throughout Canada. He's particularly interested in targeting more small and private company financial executives for membership.

"FEI has been historically an organization focused towards the larger public companies," says Evans. In Canada, he explains, significant growth is coming from smaller private companies that eventually grow larger. "CFOs and financial leaders of those organizations are also very busy and resource constrained, and would benefit a great deal from FEI membership because of the support, knowledge and networking opportunities it provides to help them do a better job," he says.

While not all the details for reaching that market have been worked out, Evans says it will include participating through the Web. "If people can't attend a chapter meeting, they can at least be connected through the Internet," and FEIC has to develop a plan to clearly define how to reach those prospects to make them aware of FEI's value, he says.

Recruiting, Evans believes, is likely the same in the U.S. as it is in Canada, with a lot of it done by personal contact. For those who are not familiar with FEI, it's "a matter of delivering to them the message of the value it can bring and inviting them to come on as a member to benefit from the experience," he says.

Early on, Evans learned a lesson that he says has stayed with him for his 35-year career thus far. Having been involved in a number of deals involving acquisitions and divestitures, he says, he learned to "never assume that it's done until everything is, in fact, completed and implemented. That includes dogged follow-up and assuring that all the things get handled that need to get handled.

"Otherwise," he laments, "the deal can implode or not achieve its desired objectives. Overlooking something that may not appear significant could be particularly problematic."

Evans' career has given him opportunities to be involved in a variety of businesses and industries. For the first 13 years, beginning with his Bachelor of Commerce from Concordia University in 1970 (and a CMA designation in 1980), he was a corporate tax specialist, with exposure to manufacturing, mining, transportation and financial services companies. He went on to financial management in banking, then CFO of a hotel-management company. He's even worked for a technology start-up, prior to 15 years as vice president and controller at New York Life of Canada, and then CFO at Revios Reinsurance (formerly Gerling Global Life).

Then, early this year, he joined the public sector as General Manager-Finance for the County of Simcoe. He sees this as a challenging environment in which to apply his financial management skills.

A lot has happened that impacts corporate governance, and not just in the U.S., Evans comments, and this has driven him to enroll in a post-university program sponsored by the Institute of Corporate Directors to achieve professional standing as a corporate director. It's essentially an MBA-level program to prepare for board service, something he plans to continue professionally.

"The director position now requires training, specialized skills and business experience in order to exercise sound judgment on complex issues," he says. "There is much to learn to get up to date on new standards and requirements that are now expected of directors, particularly on the audit committee."

FEI Canada CEO and President Isabel Meharry says she appreciates Evans' willingness to serve as chair. "Tom has committed a significant amount of time to the FEI organization over the past years and has made valuable contributions. I am looking forward to working with Tom this year, and to another successful year."

When not working, Evans enjoys golf, escaping to the family cottage and his men's gourmet cooking club that he quips goes "beyond the barbeque stuff." The group has professional chefs come to monthly meetings and lead extravagant preparation of dishes and meals. He and his wife of 36 years, Christine, have two sons, David and Tim, ages 32 and 29, respectively; David and his wife, Cathy, have one son of 18 months, Tyler.

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Evans describes himself as a team player open to new ideas. He says he's "fairly disciplined in his approach, but one who actively seeks input from others." Applying his style to FEI, he believes that in working with others in leadership and his colleagues on the board, he can help continue to provide and improve upon the value experience that members seek.

"FEI is different things to different people," says Evans, "but there are core benefits that everyone respects and values." He lists those as including networking opportunities, current and relevant information on business and regulatory issues and financial leadership. He says he's enjoyed working with colleagues on FEI's board, comprised of "talented, committed, volunteer leadership," and intends to continue the success and good work of leaders before him.