Unlocking Capital for Growth
Bob Paul, CEO, Compuware
We are splitting off the slow-growing mainframe-services part of our business and going private through acquisition by an equity company for $2.5 billion. We’re now the market leader in applications-performance management, one of the hottest IT categories out there.
Due to the level of focus on going private and the work we’ve done on innovation for future growth, I’d be very disappointed if all we did is clear the 20-percent-sales-growth milestone next year.
I think it’ll be steady-as-she-goes for the economy. Mid- to low-single-digit growth is our expectation for next year. It’s all about how capital is used. It is available for organizations to invest and grow, and what is the rate of innovation that drives new opportunities and value for business?
What concerns me is [that] expectations around shareholders of public companies are changing, whereby investors want more short-term use of capital—meaning, are you going to provide a dividend or be doing share repurchasing to artificially prop up the share price? In our case, it’s been more than $100 million a year in dividends. That’s capital that isn’t being put to use for innovation.
Based in Detroit, this IT provider focuses on helping companies optimize applications and had fiscal-2014 revenues of $721 million.
Beware of Undertow Issues
Sally Smith, CEO, Buffalo Wild Wings
We have a very robust three-year strategy, as well as for the longer term. We’ll continue to open about 90 to 100 new restaurants a year from 2014 through next year, and we’ve invested in some new fast-casual, small brands: PizzaRev and Rusty Taco, which are great concepts. Fast-casual, in general, will continue to grow and do so against traditional casual-dining restaurants.
One concern is growing government policies and regulations coming at a greater pace, especially the Affordable Care Act. It’s a challenge because more than 40 percent of our employees are under age 21 and aren’t even looking for health-care coverage. But we’ve always provided health care and we’ll figure out a way to do it.
The minimum-wage issue is big, too. If that brought additional pressures on our wages, we would look for different ways to automate. We’d probably hire more experienced people and I’m afraid [that possibility might] price high-school students out of jobs.
The economy will remain at about its current pace—not robust growth in 2015. Consumer demand is coming back, but every economic report seems to send a mixed message. The Minneapolis-based company operates 1,030 casual-dining restaurants and had fiscal-2014 revenues of $1.3 billion.
CEOs Need Transformation Help
John Veihmeyer, Global Chairman, KPMG
Chief Executive Group exists to improve the performance of U.S. CEOs, senior executives and public-company directors, helping you grow your companies, build your communities and strengthen society. Learn more at chiefexecutivegroup.com.
0
1:00 - 5:00 pm
Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process
Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:
Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns. They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning. Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process. This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented. If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form. The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.
2:00 - 5:00 pm
Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations.
Limited space available.
10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS
General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.
The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.
