Hello FEWnet friends!

Can summer really be winding down already? Time certainly does fly when you are enjoying warm weather in Minnesota! While you may not be ready for back-to-school and autumn leaves, you can look forward to our Annual FEWnet Fall Breakfast! This year we have a truly special presentation - so mark your calendar for October 18 and get ready for a fun morning where you will gain serious skills for managing and Multi-Tasking with Multi-Generations. This hot topic applies to all of us, no matter the size of your company or department. You’ll walk away with knowledge and skills you can put to use everyday. October will be here before we know it!

In the spirit of networking, be sure to join our FEWnet by Certes group on LinkedIn! This group has recently been expanded to include our entire FEWnet community. Stay connected with us on LinkedIn to hear industry news, event information, and more.

On a side note, Certes’ parent company, SNI Companies, was recently named one of the largest staffing companies in the country by Staffing Industry Analysts. We are excited that our four local divisions are seeing an up-tick in business. As you know, staffing has always been a leading indicator of what is going on in the market, so we certainly hope your business is seeing improvement too!

Enjoy these dog-days of summer!
I’ll see you at the Fall Educational Breakfast on October 18th.

Take care,

Sally Mainquist, CPA

FEWnet Founder

"Since there is nothing so well worth having as friends,
never lose a chance to make them."

                               ~Francesco Guicciardini

Sheila Kaupa has figured out how to balance her career with fun,
as well as make the most of her FEWnet connections. Find out how this Waseca, Minn. native makes time for professional success, hiking, yoga, and still puts a priority on friendships!

Take a look at some of the topics our FEWnet small group members delve into during their meetings:

• Chaos Management
• Five Steps to GIving Feedback Without Sounding Mean
• Ways to Inspire Others

Read on

It’s not too late to add a good book to your summer reading list! Check out a few suggestions from our small group members.

The Snowball: Warren Buffet and the Business of Life by Alice Schroeder

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Cutting for Stone: A Novel by Abraham Verghese

Steve Jobs: A Biography by Walter Isaacson

"I don’t think we could ask for anyone better than our contractor. She is doing a great job and I am so thankful. Our contractor really requires little if any supervision, produces very high quality work, and is so flexible and willing to help out. I just really appreciate having her here during this time of transition for my team. Thank you!”

                                             - Certes client, Fortune 100 company

FEWnet Annual Fall Breakfast

Join fellow women of FEWnet at our Annual Fall Breakfast on October 18, at Golden Valley Country Club.

Multi-Tasking with Multi-Generations

Whether you are working in a small or large company, private or non-profit, you recognize the critical need to build bridges with people across multi-generations. Join Certes, along with the coaching and development team of Leading Edge, for a fun interactive session to gain real skills that will push your leadership capability forward.

When: Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Where: Golden Valley Country Club

Time:  7:00 a.m. Registration
           7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Session

           9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Questions & Answers

Cost:  $25 per person Warm Breakfast Buffet and Educational
          Session

Your invitation with registration details will be arriving soon!

                                   ~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please share this with the young professionals on your team! Certes and SNI Financial are proud to sponsor Nextworking, a networking group for young finance and accounting professionals in the first 10 years of their careers. Here's the scoop on our first-of-its-kind upcoming event!

Career Conversations with Local Leaders

When: Thursday, September 15, 2011
Where: Metropolitan Club at Target Field
Time: 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Our panel of local leaders will share about the importance of networking, pivotal career decisions, career path potential, and more!

Jody Feragen - Executive VP and CFO, Hormel Foods
Steve Fritze - Executive VP and CFO, Ecolab
Tom Velin - Senior VP of Finance and Administration, Experian Healthcare
Mary Jepperson - Accounting and Finance Department Chair, St. John's University and College of St. Benedict
Sally Mainquist - President and CEO, Certes Financial Pros

To register for this event, young professionals should email Molly at mdeterman@certespros.com. With over 250 people registered, only a few spots remain!

Jennifer Bradway, Director of Financial Planning and Analysis at UnitedHealth Group, welcomed a baby boy, Logan Reid on February 27th. Congratulations to the entire Bradway family!

Also adding a new baby boy to her family; Nicole Engstrom, Controller at Christopher & Banks Corporation. Nicole greeted her new baby boy, Mason Calvin on June 12th. Mason joins big brother Dylan who just turned three. Our best wishes to the Engstrom family!

Congratulations to FEWnet small group members named Finance & Commerce Top Women in Finance 2011! Among the women honored are Sara Portner, Beth Bird, and Sally Mainquist.

Several FEWnet members will literally be “on the move” as
Eide Bailly relocates from Bloomington to new office space on Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis.

Certes Financial Pros specializes in providing senior level financial professionals to Twin Cities companies needing contract, contract-to-perm, and permanent staffing support. As an award-winning "Best Employer," Certes is here to help you find top notch talent for your finance and accounting teams or that next career move with one of our outstanding clients. Begin exploring opportunities today!

Do you have an immediate staffing need? Our four local divisions of SNI Companies can help! Certes Financial Pros, SNI Financial, Accounting Now, and SNI Technology have the top talent you need.

Certes Financial Pros: Senior level accounting and finance contract staffing
SNI Financial: Senior level permanent placement staffing solutions

Accounting Now: Clerk to mid-level finance and accounting staffing

SNI Technology: Full service IT staffing solutions

Check out our current contract and permanent placement available lists and give us a call.

Long-Term Contractors Available

Perm Placement Candidates for Hire