2025 NIRI Southwest Regional Conference

August 14-15, 2025 | Clubs of Prestonwood - The Creek, Dallas, TX

Agenda

Thursday, August 14, 2025

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Service Partner Set Up Booth

12:00 – 12:55 PM

Registration & Service Partner Showcase

1:00 – 1:05 PM

Welcome and Announcements

1:05 – 1:45 PM

Pulling Back the Curtain: What C-Suite Executives Want in an IR Pro

In today’s uber-competitive market, top Investor Relations professionals need more than just experience, they need a strategy.

In this session, Kelsey will share expert advice, cutting-edge techniques, and standout approaches to help you navigate the recruiting landscape with confidence. Whether you’re aiming to excel in your current role, position yourself for future opportunities, enduring the current landscape, or want to uncover what truly sets top candidates apart, this session will equip you with the insider knowledge, strategies, and rules you need to win the game of recruiting.

Speaker(s):

Kelsey Henderson, High Country Search Group

1:45 – 2:30 PM

Index Funds Panel – Title TBD

Speaker(s):

Sponsored by

Silver: ModernIR

2:30 – 3:00 PM

Break & Service Partner Showcase

Sponsored by

Silver: S&P Global Market Intelligence

3:00 – 3:30 PM

Demystifying Targeting: The Three Most Important Things of All

Employing the same testing methods used to validate the Fitzcores targeting model, the session will empirically review the effectiveness of common approaches to targeting: peer/industry, style/screening, and scoring/fundamental alignment.

Following this review, we will discuss the Fitzcores model and application. During the session, participants will be invited to engage the test environment to run their own scenarios, and ample time will be reserved for questions and discussion.

Speaker(s):

Brendan Fitzpatrick, Founder, Fitzcores

3:30 – 4:15 PM

Streamlining Earnings Day: How One IR Leader Transformed Analyst Calls to Save Time and Boost Engagement

In the fast-paced world of IR, efficiency is paramount. Join us for an insightful session where Heather Davis, a seasoned IR professional, unveils her innovative approach to conducting analyst conference calls immediately following earnings releases. Chandler Arney will be joining Heather in the discussion.

This strategy not only conserves valuable time but also enhances the quality of engagement with analysts. Discover how this method allows IR teams to address analysts’ questions promptly, reducing the need for multiple follow-up calls and ensuring consistent messaging across the board. Learn about the logistical considerations, best practices, and the positive impact on both internal workflows and external relationships.

Whether you’re looking to streamline your earnings-day processes or seeking fresh ideas to enhance analyst interactions, this session offers practical insights and actionable strategies to elevate your investor relations efforts.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from a trailblazer in the IR field and take your earnings-day strategy to the next level.

Speaker(s):

Sponsored by

Silver: AlphaSense

4:15 – 5:00 PM

Secure AI in IR: The Competitive Edge You Can’t Afford to Ignore

AI is transforming investor relations, and those who fail to adopt it risk falling behind.

AI is transforming investor relations, and those who fail to adopt it risk falling behind. This interactive session goes beyond theory to showcase proven AI solutions that IR teams are using today. Witness secure AI in action—see how it streamlines workflows, drives strategic decision-making, and mitigates risk, all while ensuring security and compliance. Industry leaders will share practical use cases that highlight AI’s role in boosting efficiency, building trust, and unlocking deeper data insights. Witness firsthand how AI is reshaping IR and learn why adopting it is essential to staying competitive.

Speaker(s):

Dror Nadler, Q4, VP of Product Management & Design

Sponsored by

Silver: Q4

5:00 – 7:00 PM

Reception and Service Partner Showcase

Speaker(s):

Nicole Chambers

Sponsored by

Platinum: TXSE – Texas Stock Exchange

Friday, August 15, 2025

7:30 – 8:00 AM

Registration

8:00 – 8:05 AM

Welcome and Announcements

8:05 – 8:50 AM

Unique Options for Investor Days

Join us for a discussion on rethinking the tradition playbook and making your next investor day unforgettable.

Investor Days are powerful tools for telling your company’s story. The pandemic and technology have changed the investor day game, and the traditional investor day, held in a ballroom with a plethora of slides, won’t stand out. This session explores inventive formulas, entertaining approaches, and unexpected content strategies that can create investor experiences that captivate and convert. Join us for a discussion on rethinking the tradition playbook and making your next investor day unforgettable.

Speaker(s):

Sponsored by

Silver: Rivel

8:50 – 9:35 AM

The Debt Markets, Rating Agencies and the IRO

Speaker(s):

Robert McDonald, CPA, CFA, IRC, VP Treasurer, MV Transportation
Kevin Weber, VP Finance & Corp Treasurer, Arcosa
Kristin Boyd, CFO, Cholla, Inc.
Moderator: TBD

9:35 – 10:00 AM

Break & Service Partner Showcase

Sponsored by

Silver: S&P Global Market Intelligence

10:00 – 10:45 AM

Unlock the Power of AI in IR & Reputation Management

This interactive session is designed for Investor Relations (IR) professionals seeking to harness AI for enhanced communication and decision-making.

Join us for an interactive session – presented in partnership with Notified – built to help Investor Relations Officers (IROs) unlock the power of artificial intelligence in IR and reputation management.

This hands-on workshop is tailored for IROs looking to simplify workflows, enhance strategic communication, and strengthen stakeholder engagement using AI. You’ll learn how to write effective AI prompts, streamline everyday tasks, enhanced communications and more.

We’ll walk through real-time IR examples including how to:

Draft earnings call scripts
Summarize analyst sentiment from earnings transcripts
Create concise investor updates
AI to inform high stakes scenarios like crisis response or market volatility
Where to find answers and best practices related to AI enhanced communications within Notified’s Knowledge Center

Whether you’re new to AI or ready to deepen your skills, this session will give you practical techniques you can apply immediately.

Speaker(s):

Sponsored by

Silver: Notified

10:45 – 11:30 AM

Thought Leader Breakout Sessions (4 topics)

This session is limited to 4 breakout sessions.

Topic/Breakout #1:
- Sponsored by NYSE Texas
Topic/Breakout #2:
- The new buy-side persona – AI language processing. Understanding how investors are measuring language and how to optimize your communications.
- Sponsored by S&P Market Intelligence, Chris Blake
Topic/Breakout #3:
- Broker Mapping – Who to go through and Why.
- Sponsored by NASDAQ, Tim Trombetta

11:30 – Noon

Break & Service Partner Showcase

Sponsored by

Silver: S&P Global Market Intelligence

12:00 – 12:30 PM

Lunch

12:30 – 1:15 PM

Keynote Speaker: “Landing A Corporate Board Position”

IR professionals looking to elevate their careers won’t want to miss Carla Mashinski’s powerful keynote on how to secure a coveted seat at the boardroom table.

Drawing on her own experience and the lessons shared in her book Landing a Corporate Board Position, Carla offers candid, practical guidance on how to navigate the path to board service—from first interview to final appointment. She’ll also share insights from Five Attributes to a Successful Career, where she distills her own professional journey into a clear roadmap for overcoming challenges and achieving lasting success. Whether you’re aspiring to join a board or seeking greater influence within your organization, Carla’s presentation will leave you informed, inspired, and ready to take action.

Speaker(s):

Carla Mashinski, Global Business Executive, Board Member & Author
Introduction & Platinum Sponsor: DFIN

1:15 – 2:00 PM

Charting a Course: From IRO to the C-Suite

Join a dynamic panel of former Investor Relations Officers who have successfully transitioned into top executive roles—including CFO, COO, and board director positions.

Each speaker will share their unique journey, lessons learned, and practical advice to help IR professionals strategically navigate their own path to the C-suite.

Speaker(s):

Sponsored by

Silver: FTI Consulting

2:00 – 2:30 PM

Break & Service Partner Showcase

Sponsored by

Silver: S&P Global Market Intelligence

2:30 – 3:15 PM

Award-Winning Ways to Disclose Your Capital Allocation Strategy

Discover award-winning best practices for communicating your capital allocation strategy in this can’t-miss session with Dave Pahl, VP & Head of Investor Relations at Texas Instruments.

Drawing on real-world experience and proven success, Dave will share practical insights into how transparent, disciplined disclosure can build investor trust and enhance valuation. IR professionals will leave with actionable strategies to elevate their own capital allocation messaging.

Speaker(s):