RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – Time is running out to register for the next Local Tech Wire Executive Exchange event, and the topic couldn’t be more timely.

"The CFO’s Perspective on IT."

A panel discussion with three Triangle area chief financial officers will focus on the ins and outs of corporate IT spending and investment decisions.

He or she who holds the checkbook often determines whether a company invests in information technology upgrades, and in tough economic times like these chief financial officers carry a lot of clout.

So how do IT advocates secure CFO support for investments, modernization and expansion?

And what do the numbers crunchers take into consideration when evaluating IT buys?

The LTW panel will offer answers to these questions and many more.

On Wednesday, March 24, at Bay 7 in Durham’s American Tobacco Complex, a panel of CFOs will talk the ins-and-outs, what to avoid and what opportunities to exploit in “The CFO’s Perspective on IT.”

Kip Turco, chief operating officer at managed services provider Hosted Solutions, will moderate the discussion that includes three CFOs with various perspectives on IT.

  • Matt Petzold, CFO for Bandwidth.com
  • Petra Weishaupt-Smith, CFO for DigitalSmiths
  • Mark Hahn CFO of Athenix

Hahn led Athenix, an agribio start-up company, through an acquisition by Bayer CropScience in November 2009 for $400 million.

Weishaupt-Smith has helped guide digital media startup DigitalSmiths through venture financing.

Petzold, a CFO veteran, is helping guide fast-growing Bandwidth.com, which provides communications services nationwide.

From traditional balance sheet issues to a greater focus on the full range of GRC (governance, regulation and compliance) issues, CFOs are submerged in business operations and the decision-making process, particularly in areas of technology. Compliance, risk management, ERP systems, internal controls, movement to a SaaS model, cloud computing – these areas affect the CFO as much as any other part of the organization. As a result, it makes sense for technology professionals to understand how the CFO sees things.

Be sure to register today.