Happy Saturday and welcome to CEO Speaks for Saturday, September 17, 2022. 

After the end of the summer hiatus, we are back, and there is much to report from all around TMA nation. It starts with one connection and at annual in Boston on November 1 through 4, there will be the opportunity to strengthen your network of connections at a conference experience that continues to grow and shape the story that is TMA tomorrow. With early bird registration having closed last week, we are already over 400 attendees ready to connect and make those new connections at a conference that last year boasted over a 60% first-time attendee rate. The diversity of opportunities we will share at this year's annual has already brought worldwide attention to the conference.

And with the announcement this week of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Doris Kearns Goodwin is this year's keynote speaker, you will absolutely want to be in the room with your many connections to hear this story historian share about history and politics of the day. And what will be a special yet unannounced bonus panel to be held on the morning of Friday, November 4, you will be treated to a unique and special opportunity to hear professionals involved with China's largest developer Everglade. A quickly developing potential case with worldwide finance, economic and restructuring implications, who will join to speak to the complex issues facing creditors around the world. This conference will again define connectivity, learning, networking, and the power that that one connection has made for all 10,000 of us strong. Be part of the experience and together, we will share in what is the best of TMA and all that is yet to come. So please register for the Annual today. 

Last week, Global President Jane Mitnick, Global Chair Matthew English, CTP., TMA Florida Board Member Marius Dobren, TMA Europe President Eva Ringelspacher and I had the distinct pleasure of attending the TMA Eastern European conference hosted in Bucharest, Romania, and a display of what the power of that one connection means. This conference was attended by representatives of 12 countries, including Romania, Serbia, Moldova, Switzerland, Germany, UK, France, the US, Poland, Netherlands, Turkey, and Italy too. This is the power of the one connection that becomes many connections strong. To the global delegation that came to support this effort our International VP and Former Team Romania President Vlad Nastase, EMBA, CTP., along with the current team Romania President Catalin Nichifor hosted a day of sharing, learning, thought leadership and team building, by immersing all of us from around the world in Romanian culture that included a private tour of the National Bank of Romania, among other highlights.

The conference itself featured programs on real-time relevant topics of the day affecting the Eastern European region, including infrastructure challenges, energy, and agriculture issues as a result of the war in Ukraine, and other complex issues of geopolitical importance, with speakers from the highest levels of Romanian government and industry and the former US Ambassador to Romania, to enlighten and spark discussion critical to our industry and the world. At the close of the conference, we celebrated TMA Romania's 10th anniversary and the delayed in-person recognition of  the "International Chapter of the Year" in 2020. This conference was bold, forward-thinking, and defining of everything that is who we are at TMA. It elevated what that one connection means and how the internationalism of our organization grows more deeply rooted with each and every effort like this around the world.

And speaking of connections and the international reach of our organization, next week, former TMA Australia Chair and President Cameron Belyea and I will have the privilege and honor of being featured panelists at the Nexia International Turnaround Restructuring and Insolvency Conference being held in Dubai, where some of the most important finance accounting and consultants from around the globe will gather to talk and to vet the complex economic issues of the day. 

We are honored that Nexia TRI looked to TMA to be part of this marquee opportunity that will give us a platform of thought leadership, as well as to engage with a community of professionals we hope will come to see the power of that one connection through TMA. I know like me, you feel the energy of empowerment, thought leadership, and what it means to be connected through TMA. It starts with one connection and whether that one connection is the one that got you started on your TMA journey or the one connection that takes your journey to the next level. Wherever you look, whatever you experience, and wherever you want that next connection to be it shows how we are better together and TMA proud. As always, thanks for taking the time to listen today. In this year of innovation through disruption, your input is critical. Your contribution is 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!