Happy Saturday, and welcome to CEO Speaks for Saturday, June 17, 2023.
Today I am coming to you from Hamburg, Germany, as we ready ourselves for a TMA Dream three years in the making. This week, in a spectacle of internationalism that will be the focal point of what it means to be a part of something bigger, TMA Global and TMA Europe will be host to three days of defining gatherings, programs, and events that will take TMA to the next level worldwide with the launch of our inaugural TMA Global International Symposium held in conjunction with the TMA European Annual Conference.
This three-day extravaganza, bringing together the United Nations of TMA, will start with a sold-out Network of Women (NOW) reception, which since its inception just a few short years ago under the leadership of TMA Europe President Eva Ringelspacher, continues to grow throughout Europe. The profound impact the women of TMA have on our profession and organization cannot be underscored. This week as we celebrate the internationalism of our organization, amongst others, this program will include TMA Global NOW co-chair Rakhee Patel, who will be in Hamburg as part of the global delegation attending this week’s programs and event.
On inaugural symposium day, TMA Global and TMA Europe will welcome delegates from 18 countries, including nearly 20 TMA Global Executive Board and North American chapter leaders as well as 4 TMA Global past chairs, led by TMA Global President Jim Van Horn and Chair Jane Mitnick. This week’s eclectic mix of programs and networking will stand out for how they were designed to show thought leadership through TMA that will bring together stand-out panelists and keynotes from Europe, the United States, and as far away as Australia.
Of the many highlights those in attendance will experience, TMA Deutschland President Oliver Kehren will kick off our opening reception and dinner with remarks by Senator Andreas Dressel, Finance Senator of the city-state of Hamburg. Attendees will hear about the changing landscape of Restructuring worldwide, a program that will include both TMA Global President Jim Van Horn and Immediate Past chair Matthew English.
Industry luminary Laura Davis Jones will join TMA Europe president Eva Ringlespacher and Dentons Frankfurt partner Daniel Fritz to speak to the changing landscape of restructuring, a priceless opportunity to share in an exchange on world views about our profession as we move to a new worldwide economy. In a program speaking to the power of our Certified Turnaround Professional designation, Global VP of International Relations and former TMA Romania President Vlad Nastase, CTP, will be joined amongst others by former TMA Global Chair Kevin Krakora, CTP, to share their perspective about this important certification opportunity, that continues to grow worldwide.
The TMA European Annual the following day will be equally as captivating with stand-out topics that will include panelists from major worldwide law and restructuring firms, including DLA Piper, Kirkland & Ellis, Alix Partners, FTI, Chiron, and others, and will include former US Ambassador to Romania Adrian Zuckerman, who continues to be an ardent and gracious supporter of TMA.
Bringing the possible to life in the creation of this defining TMA opportunity is no easy task, and a hearty thank you to the TMA Europe Representation Committee and, in particular, conference co-chairs Tyrone Courtman and Dr. Christian Schmitt along with conference committee members Alessandro Lelo, Arnaud Pedron, Frank Grell, Gregoire Bouille, and Jay Krasoff for all you do to make TMA shine. And a special thanks to TMA Europe General Manager Helen Jacobi, who has tirelessly kept the many moving pieces of this new experience altogether to aid in what promises to dazzle and delight the over 250 attendees who will participate in this first-of-its-kind TMA experience.
I am profoundly moved and deeply proud by the inspiration of our leaders and members worldwide. At every turn, our volunteers raise the bar on members’ value, by dreaming big and together working towards making those dreams our TMA reality. This week we will show how that one connection, that is, you, grows even bigger, prouder, and more defining than ever before. Likewise, what it means to be a part of something bigger in the launch of what will undoubtedly be an exceptional few days of everything TMA, is why we continue to define, lead and stand out in the corporate restructuring, renewal, and corporate health space worldwide.
For those who will be joining together in Hamburg Germany this week, I look forward to personally welcoming you to the next and best opportunity we have yet created, that bar none will show the best of TMA’s growing internationalism worldwide. As our world changes in profound ways and our profession takes center stage, what we will create and share this week in Europe stands as a reminder to each and every one of our 10,000 worldwide members that whether you focus locally, regionally, nationally or globally, there is a resource, a contact, a knowledge base and an opportunity exclusively available through TMA and in that I hope like me you stand #TMAPROUD for how we continue to raise the bar on what it means to be #bettertogether through TMA.
As always, thanks for taking the time to listen today. In the one connection that is you, your input is critical, your contributions paramount, and your engagement the foundation that will create a better TMA for all of our members. Until next time, I’m Scott Stuart. Be safe, resilient, and TMA Proud.