PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) grapple with significant challenges, such as inflation and economic uncertainty, in steering their organizations. This program offers practical advice and strategies from economists focused on banking/financing (Bank of America), tax (RSM), and regional trends and outlooks (Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce) to help CFOs effectively navigate these obstacles, lead their organizations, and plan for what’s ahead. This data-driven discussion will provide insights on managing cash flow, making strategic investment decisions, and engaging stakeholders during periods of economic volatility and uncertainty.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Understand the key drivers of inflation and economic uncertainty and the possible impact on their organization.
- Develop strategies for managing cash flow and mitigating financial risks during periods of inflation and economic uncertainty.
- Optimize working capital management, including accounts receivables, inventory, and payables, to turn operations into cash efficiently.
- Make informed investment decisions that balance short-term and long-term priorities.
- Identify opportunities for growth and innovation amidst economic challenges.
- Formulate pricing strategies that protect the business from inflationary pressures while preserving customer relations.
SPEAKERS
Ralph Axel | Director, U.S. Rates Strategist | BofA Global Research
Axel, who joined the firm in June 2010, is a specialist in government and agency funding markets with special interest in swaps and futures. He focuses on drivers of interest rates and how changes in rates impact our economy. Research publications include the Global Rates Weekly, Liquid Insight and World at a Glance. He was a #1 ranked analyst in the 2021-25 Institutional Investor /Extel Surveys.
Previously, Axel was a rates strategist at Deutsche Bank Securities, where he specialized in European agency bonds. Before that, he was as proprietary bond trader at Lehman Brothers in NYC.
Axel received a Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Illinois after his bachelor’s in mathematics from UMass.
Shaun Brog | Senior Economist & Director of Economic Competitiveness | Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation
Shaun specializes in economic analysis for the Metro Denver region, focusing on trends and reporting for counties and regions, economic and workforce profiles, industry cluster studies, and economic impact analysis. Born in Michigan and raised in Colorado, Shaun holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and a Master of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Denver. At the University of Denver, Shaun was the recipient of the Satish Raichur Award for outstanding performance by a graduate student. Before joining MDEDC, Shaun spent a career in finance working for the international investment bank Morgan Stanley and the global hedge fund Brevan Howard. Shaun enjoys economic research, presenting at the World Association of Political Economy conference in 2024, the Allied Social Science Associations 2025 and 2026 annual meetings, and the sixth annual Nordic Post-Keynesian Conference within the past two years. He recently published a paper on the evolution of the U.S. financial system in RRPE, an academic journal, with a follow-up paper on systemic financial regulation forthcoming later this year.
Moderator: Margaret Danuser | CFO | The Denver Foundation
Margaret Danuser serves as the Chief Financial Officer at The Denver Foundation, directing investments, accounting/finance, grant administration, impact investing, IT, and facilities functions. The foundation recently celebrated its 100-year anniversary and has over $1.6 billion in assets. Prior to joining The Denver Foundation, she served as the CFO and Deputy CFO for the City and County of Denver, where she was involved in developing the city’s $4 billion budget and overseeing investment portfolios and COVID-19 relief funds. Margaret also spent many years in capital planning and finance, issuing several billion dollars in debt for the city, and during her time as Finance Director at the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority. Earlier in her career, she served as a portfolio manager for Dreyfus Founders Funds and as a bond analyst and trader at a LaSalle Trust subsidiary in Chicago. Margaret is a Colorado native and graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a BA in International Affairs.
Kevin Depew | Deputy Chief Economist, Industry Eminence Program Leader, Managing Director| RSM US LLP
Kevin Depew is an Emmy Award-winning writer and producer. Prior to joining RSM, Depew worked in economics for Bloomberg LP, where he helped create the Bloomberg Brief economics newsletter. Depew has also worked for Dorsey Wright and Associates, PaineWebber and AG Edwards. His former roles include chief strategist, director of research, financial markets analyst and portfolio manager. Depew attended St. John’s College in Annapolis, MD and graduated from the University of Kentucky with a BA in Philosophy
EVENT POLICIES AND RESOURCES
Please visit our Events Policies and Resources page for information about chapter leadership, support, CPE, attendance, cancelations and more.
SPONSOR PARTNERS
Thank you to our valued Sponsor Partners. This event is open to members, sponsors, and special guests.
