CFO Dinner Panel

When: Apr 12, 2022 from 06:00 PM to 08:30 PM (ET)

Associated with Long Island Chapter

Presenters:

Leo Fridley

Chief Financial Officer

North Atlantic Industries

Leo Fridley is Chief Financial Officer at North Atlantic Industries, in Bohemia, NY. NAI is a leading provider of configurable electronic systems and power supplies for aerospace and rugged embedded applications. The company is vertically integrated with design and manufacturing functions inside the USA. NAI’s new 80,000 square-foot headquarters is located across from Islip Airport on Long Island. With over 400 unique customers per year, the company is proud to serve 10 of the top 10 aerospace and defense companies in the allied world.

While earning a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Rochester, Leo also enrolled in many computer science courses. He later completed a full-time MBA at UR and again gravitated toward technology and data utilization as applied to business. In 2011, Leo met NAI’s CEO Bill Forman through the Rochester alumni office. Bill earned the same degrees from UR and served as a senior executive at a few major technology firms before acquiring NAI in 1992. Leo joined NAI in 2012 and has served as CFO since 2019. Today, the company is focused on successfully executing larger customer contracts and developing the organization to support more complex products and applications.

Marsha M Hennig, CPA

Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operations Officer

Econoco Corporation

Marsha M. Hennig, CPA, is the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operations Officer at Econoco Corporation. Econoco is the leading provider of retail environment furniture, fixtures and visuals with the largest in-stock inventory ready to ship in the United States. Econoco and its wholly owned brands Mondo Mannequins, Sellutions by Econoco, and DisplayDispensary.com “sell the stuff that sells your stuff.”

Marsha brings over 20 years of accounting and management experience to Econoco. She graduated at the top of her class from Canisius College with an MBAA and worked at Ernst & Young as a public accountant before moving into industry in 2007. Here, Marsha gained experience in operations and financial management for privately held manufacturers and distributors. She joined Econoco in 2017 and has helped bring the company into a period of technological advancements, management process improvements and has helped create an overall great place to work.

\Marsha and her family love all things baseball and devote time out on the ball field playing, coaching and watching. Let’s Go Mets

Oren Simon

Chief Financial Officer

Skurnik Wines & Spirits

Oren Simon is the Chief Financial Officer at Skurnik Wines & Spirits, a nationally recognized importer and distributor of fine wine, spirits, and sake. Oren has been with Skurnik, which was founded in 1987 on Long Island, for almost 10 years. He initially joined the Company as its Controller, and he was recently promoted to his current role as CFO.

During his tenure, Skurnik has grown from 80 employees and $90 million in annual revenues, to over 200 employees with an annual revenue amount that is fast-approaching $200 million. Prior to joining Skurnik, Oren spent 7 years with Goldman Sachs in its Controllers Department, primarily working in the Special Situations Group focusing on investments in distressed debt and distressed real estate. He started his career in public accounting, as an auditor for KPMG in its NYC office.

Oren graduated from Binghamton University’s School of Management with a BS in Accounting and is a CPA in New York State. Currently, he resides in Roslyn with his wife and three young children

Facilitated by:

Robert E. Grote, CPA

Partner, Manufacturing & Distribution Practice Leader

Grassi Advisors & Accountants

Robert E. Grote is a partner at Grassi and leader of the firm’s Manufacturing & Distribution Practice. With more than 28 years of experience in public accounting, tax planning and management consulting services for the M&D industry, Rob has grown the practice to become the second largest industry group in the firm.

In his role as M&D Practice Leader, Rob leads a team of 12 dedicated partners and many industry professionals who are dedicated to helping manufacturers and distributors succeed. He and his team serve more than 300 clients across a variety of sub-sectors, including food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, building materials, electronics and technology, high-tech defense, retail and apparel.

With a proactive and team-focused approach, Rob advises manufacturers and distributors on profitability enhancement, employee benefit plan design, corporate structuring, inventory management, succession and estate planning, research and development tax credits, corporate and individual tax planning and other strategies to help them reach their financial and business growth goals.

Throughout his career, Rob has also served clients in the construction and nonprofit sectors. He has led educational seminars and authored articles on employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs), corporate succession planning, operational reviews, and the utilization of IC-DISC. Rob is active in numerous industry trade organizations, such as the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA), where he is a Past President and the Manufacturing CPA’s Association. In addition, he is a member of the New York State Society of CPAs (NYSSCPA) and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). Rob was named to the Long Island Business News 40 Under 40 Class of 2008, recognizing his accomplishments and contributions to the business community.

Rob holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from St. John’s University, where he graduated magna cum laude.