Meet the staff: financial executives research foundation (FERF) and administration/operations.

As it prepares to celebrate its 60th anniversary in November, it's obvious that over the years, the Financial Executives Research Foundation Inc.--known as FERF--has changed significantly. Yet, its goals and objectives have remained remarkably consistent.

FERF is the nonprofit research affiliate of FEI whose stated goal is to "advance the profession and practices of financial management through research. It underwrites and conducts objective research projects on business subjects." FERF views its activities as contributing to a knowledge network.

As a 501(c) 3 entity, it is not supported by FEI member dues but rather by voluntary contributions and subscriptions.

Begun in 1944 as The Controllership Foundation, it changed its name to FERF Inc. in 1962. FERF develops a unique type of research that can't be found elsewhere--research that is compiled primarily by tapping into the experiences and insights of the FEI membership database. All its activities contribute to expanding its knowledge network. To achieve its goals, it works with academics, industry and other nonprofit organizations in a variety of ways aimed at facilitating members learning from each other.

During its first 60 years, FERF has produced approximately 230 publications, with more than 100 since 1983. Prior to 1983, there were about 3 or 4 per year; now, that rate is up to about 18 a year. It's evolved from full-length books with academics--including a 1954 book by Herbert Simon ("Centralization Versus Decentralization in Organizing the Controller's Department"), who went on to win a Nobel prize for economics in 1978--to research reports, issue alerts and a variety of e-newsletters.

More recently, FERF is leveraging the power of the Internet to facilitate online discussion forums (such as FELIX PC--Financial Executives List Exchange for Private Companies) and the new FERFPros, which enables members to earn continuing professional education (CPE) credits on-demand.

The team is currently comprised of five professionals who report directly to FEI's President and CEO Colleen Sayther. On a daily basis, they manage themselves in a functional team-based structure, with each professional responsible for his or her area of expertise. They make joint decisions on the big things, and somehow all do their part to get the job done--including stuffing envelopes for fundraising campaigns.

Going by tenure with FERF, the team is comprised of Bill Sinnett, manager of research and corporate secretary. Sinnett joined FEI in 1985 as accounting manager, then worked with technical committees and moved to FERF in 1989. His responsibilities include, among other things, writing the PrivateNet and Global Update newsletters, working with researchers on projects and moderating the popular FELIX PC and FELIX Global.

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Cheryl de Mesa Graziano, CPA, joined FERF in August 2001 as director of research. She directs research publications, manages the research calendar and works on studies. She also writes two newsletters, TechKnowledge and What's New in Research?

Lorna Raagas joined FERF in September 2001 as manager of financial services. She is responsible for managing the day-to-day accounting responsibilities, including tracking of revenues and expenses, preparation of financials, budgets and forecasts, as well as administration of the donor database and fulfilling book orders.

Janet Guzman joined FERF in February of 2003 as director of development. She directs the annual fundraising campaign and coordinates with the research team for specific underwriting opportunities. She's most appreciative of FERF's donors--even during slower economic times--and notes this to be "a positive fundraising year." By the beginning of May, FERF had raised $666,000, which represents 97 percent of its budgeted revenues from contributions (the budget year ends on June 30).

Guzman says that responding to members' needs, the model for fundraising has changed--switching from a philanthropic to subscription-based program. So, instead of asking for support, FERF establishes value for each donation level.

Edith G. Orenstein joined FERF in February of this year as manager of research. She brings experience from working in the U.S. Office of the Chief Accountant at the Securities and Exchange Commission. Orenstein's responsibilities include writing financial reporting and regulatory updates for FERF and FEI's Committee on Corporate Reporting (CCR) and working on a variety of research projects.

Some of FERF's newest and popular services include:

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* FERFPros--For an annual fee, both FEI and non-FEI members requiring continuing professional education (CPE) credits can access a variety of options online.

* FELIX PC--This members-only service was launched last July, and has grown to 4,300 subscribers who post questions and share answers in discussion forums related to private-company issues.

--Ellen M. Heffes

administration/operations

The small group of employees in the Administration/Operations group, which includes two of the FEI's longest-serving employees, are often called the unsung heroes of FEI.

Consider Barbara Chanes, who is executive administrative assistant to Colleen Sayther and manager of governance. Chanes, who joined FEI in July 1991, has held a host of positions too long to list here in full detail. These have included editorial assistant, assistant to the finance director, assistant to the president and assistant corporate board secretary, payroll and benefits manager and manager of governance.

Peter Montllor, who has run FEI's mailroom since October 1986, is an important cog in keeping the office running smoothly. Montllor, who can talk literature, sports or politics with the best of them, knows the logistical details of mail and overnight deliveries intimately and is constantly juggling department requests and projects. When the move from the Morristown office took place in 2002, Montllor led the effort to eliminate a lot of old files in storage there and helped smooth the transition to the new office.

Many members know Receptionist Jo Ann Stankard only by her voice, but visitors get to know her quickly. Effervescent and ever-helpful, Stankard treats people like family--probably better, actually. As the owner of a graphics and type-setting business for a number of years before joining FEI in June 1999, Stankard is conscientious and detail-oriented, and lends a hand with anything from transcribing taped interviews for the magazine and creating labels to stuffing envelopes for recruitment or marketing campaigns.

--Jeffrey Marshall