Optimism in 2022 - Articles

We are all probably tired of talking about unprecedented changes, but between price escalations, supply chain issues, and navigating the return to the office, last year was truly like no other.

With 2021 behind us, let’s look optimistically toward 2022. One of the first issues CFMA will tackle in fiscal year 2022-23 (that begins on April 1, 2022) is the creation of a new strategic plan. CFMA’s Strategic Planning Task Force met in November 2021 to review the current plan and decide if the goals, strategies, and objectives should remain the same. A dedicated group of volunteer leaders comprised of officers, Executive Committee members, past Chairmen, and future and current leaders from both the chapter and national levels met in Chicago to craft a new strategic plan. We worked with a facilitator to review our current plan and suggest changes for the future.

While the formal plan is still a work in progress, the following strategic areas were part of the discussion and the basis for a proposed new set of organizational goals:

In-person meetings will be impacted by the new normal, which will require some kind of hybrid consideration and will also impact some of our information delivery and education.
We need to look toward the next generation of construction financial professionals and decide how to deliver value in a way that is meaningful to them. As an example, we are looking into micro-learning as a new delivery method for education.
We need to increase the perceived value of the Certified Construction Industry Financial Professional (CCIFP) certification and increase its adoption rate throughout the industry.
We need to expand our focus and some of our marketing into new industry segments such as residential and some subspecialty areas.
We need to meet the information, education, and networking needs of construction financial professionals outside of the core finance and accounting functions, which might include HR and IT.
We need to decide on how to approach the subject of diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout all aspects of CFMA.
We need to consider how the enactment of recent federal infrastructure legislation will affect our members as well as the impact it will have on the education we deliver.

The other exciting news in 2022 is our intent to go full speed ahead with a live Annual Conference & Exhibition on May 14-18 in Atlanta, GA. This five-day event represents focused learning for construction financial professionals and includes 12 mini-conferences; three general sessions; and more than 45 breakout sessions, construction technology forums, and CFO roundtable discussions. Plus, you’ll have numerous opportunities to network with peers and industry vendors at social events and the exhibition. Visit our Conference brochure, which provides more information about the event.

There is still a great deal of uncertainty about the pandemic and all of the variants that are presenting themselves. I’m not someone who relies on luck, but I think we could all use some as we face this next year with hope and promise.