6th Annual Consortium—Hello Hollywood
Save the date and register online for the Plan Sponsor & Minority Manager 6th Annual Consortium (Early—bird special ends March 30.). This year’s event will be held at the SLS Hotel in Los Angeles—a change from the event’s five-year, standing room—only track record in New York City. This year’s theme—NEW: People. Perspectives. Possibilities—captures the essence of the areas of discussion and networking opportunities. Check out event registration, preliminary agenda details and more. And register today, as we anticipate another sell out event.

Sponsor Spotlight | Credit Suisse
The Consortium team recently sat down with Credit Suisse’s Kelly Williams, who co-heads of the firm’s Customized Fund Investment Group, for a discussion about the Consortium and the value her team realizes. Credit Suisse has sponsored the Consortium for the past 4 years.

With a non-stop schedule and responsibilities, how do you decide which industry events to sponsor and attend? We have an incredibly high bar—evaluating events for the caliber of attendees, quality of the networking and depth of learning opportunities. Few events are a “must do”, while most are deemed “a pass.” The Consortium is high on our “must do” list.

Credit Suisse has been a longstanding sponsor of the event—why?
We view our involvement in events such as the Consortium from a partnership standpoint. Our involvement is not a “check the box” approach, we want to ensure the investment we make, including our financial support, time and energy, realizes a maximum return. With the Consortium, we feel like we get that type of partnership.

What do you find to be most beneficial?
The opportunity to interact with major investors in a focused, intimate environment is unmatched. Everyone in attendance is engaged in the sessions, hallway discussions, networking forums—they want to be there. The content and dialogue presented during the working sessions is content-rich and always provides clarity to current issues that emerging managers, fund of fund managers, and the plan sponsor community are facing.

Plan Sponsor—Only Forum | Insights from the Frontline
The Consortium team met with Cheryl D. Alston. Executive Director. Dallas Employees Retirement Fund, who is serving as Chair of the Plan Sponsor-Only Advisory Committee. Alston offered her perspectives on what’s ahead for the June gathering—and why the event is a key one for the plan sponsor community.

For Plan Sponsors who may not have attended prior sessions, what’s the big benefit of attending the half-day gathering? We’re in unprecedented economic times. Sharing insights with colleagues who hold similar fiduciary responsibilities is more important now, than ever. The Consortium’s Plan Sponsor-only forum is designed as a forum for colleagues to discuss, debate and walk away with actionable insights regarding the most pressing concerns we face.

With today’s chaotic, unpredictable markets, what issues do you plan to focus on during the half-day session? We’re planning to address head-on critical issues facing plan sponsors—whether they have $100 million assets under management (AUM) or $100 billion. Strategic issues around asset allocations, the denominator factor, risk management, due diligence and liquidity are all on the agenda. The discussions will be intense, lively and informative.

Will the discussions be more relevant to those with years of experience in the emerging manager arena, or those just beginning to explore it? Both will benefit. There are issues on our agenda that transcend a plan sponsor’s experience within the emerging manager space—critical and pressing issues that all plan sponsors are grappling with—that will be addressed. At the same time, we will encourage colleagues to share best practices, including ways in which they have formulated and manage emerging manager programs.

What role do you see the plan sponsor community—and those attending the Plan Sponsor-only forum—playing in today’s economic environment? Plan sponsors represent a significant and important part of the investment community. We are entrusted with the retirement funds of millions of Americans. Given the assets under management and the number of members plan sponsors represent, we have an opportunity to help define a new way forward. It’s more than an opportunity—it’s our responsibility. We need to promote an environment in which prudent investing dominates while enabling fiduciaries to capitalize on continued market shifts to realize enhanced financial returns for all our members.

What prompted you to take a more active leadership role as Chair of the event’s Advisory Committee? I’ve attended the Plan Sponsor-only forum and Consortium event in the past. I believe passionately in the role of emerging managers in the investment arena—and know how challenging it can be for emerging managers to grow beyond $50 million AUM. The more successful emerging managers there are, the greater the diversity and depth of ideas about investing there will be. That is good for everyone. I wanted to take an active role in what could be done to help emerging managers grow. My involvement in the event allows me to do that in an active and focused way.

Planning & Advisory Committees Convene in LA

In mid-January, 20+ members of the Plan Sponsor & Minority Manager 6th Annual Consortium’s Planning and Advisory Committees gathered at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills to brainstorm key themes, sessions and speakers for the June 2009 event.

Key takeaways include sessions that focus on operating in the new environment, addressing such issues as fundraising, shifting asset allocations and emerging market investment opportunities. Also underway—extending invites to prominent keynote speakers to offer perspectives on federal government recovery plans and the impact on emerging managers and the plan sponsor community. The active input of committee members ensures that the program agenda developed is timely, relevant and engaging.

Emerging Manager Monthly—A Must Read

The Consortium is pleased that Emerging Manager Monthly will be a 2009 media partner—and is offering a 10% discount on Emerging Manager Monthly, Nonprofit News or FINdaily. If you’re interested in subscribing and benefiting from the discount, please send an email with your contact information (with a note referencing the 6th Annual Consortium) to:
Matt McCue
mmccue@fin-news.com