Technically Speaking, April 2021

Elections Are Here…Get Ready to Vote!

It’s that time of year again – time to cast your vote for the proposed slate of nominees that will serve on the CMT Board of Directors. You should have received an email notifying you of the date and time of our upcoming Annual Meeting, as well as the proposed slate of candidates for Director At Large and Board Officers. Voting will begin on May 13th.

Why should I care about who’s on the Board, you ask? Perhaps you have wondered, what’s so important about the Board? What does the Board even do???

First, a bit of history. In the early days, when we were known as the MTA, all of the operations of the Association were performed by volunteer board members. It made sense to run things lean, since we were small. As the CMT Program grew, and with it the number of members, it was important to make sure the day-to-day operations were executed correctly, which required the focus of a full-time staff member. Then in 2005, FINRA granted the Series 86 exemption to technical research analysts who passed the CMT Level II exam, and we hired our first Executive Director. We also hired a CMT Program Director, who, along with the Board and the Curriculum and Test Committee members, worked to build the Program into the world-class credential it is today.

Fast forward to today, the Board’s responsibilities have evolved from managing the day-to-day operations to providing oversight and governance. The Board spends a lot of time making sure Members’ dues and CMT Program fees are deployed prudently and are aligned with the long-term strategic goals of the Association. We also help the Executive Director, CMT Program Director, and other staff members to identify and plan strategic initiatives that will ultimately benefit members. For example, the creation of our India Office, which is part of our APAC expansion, was the result of discussion and planning by the Board of Directors and staff. Our efforts to enlist Board members from outside of the U.S. to aid in our expansion plans and broaden our perspective were also a strategic initiative of the Board. The Board also plays a large role in the finance, budgeting, and annual audit functions.

It’s important to mention how diligently the Board has worked to improve our refreshment process over the past 10 years. We aim to leverage CMT members’ diverse skills, experiences, perspectives, and qualifications, while also tapping the energy and enthusiasm of volunteers who have clearly demonstrated a commitment to the Association. Better Board members make for better governance and decisions! I can say without hesitation that our Board is staffed with smart, dedicated people that want to make a difference for the CMT Association.

So, for a second time, why is the Board and your vote important? It is important because it affirms your participation in the leadership and stewardship of the CMT Association. Please be a part of this process and exercise your vote.

Let’s now move to our current election. After a careful candidate consideration process, the Board is asking you to approve five nominees to the position of Director At Large. They have all demonstrated a passion for volunteering for our organization and bring unique skills that broaden the capabilities of the Board as a whole. This year’s proposed slate includes:

• Karen Benefiel, CMT, CPA
  Karen will be new to the Board this year, bringing professional experience in Accounting and Audit through her CPA designation and prior job experience.

• Akira Homma, CFA, CMT, CFTe, MSTA, FRM, CIIA, CMA
  Akira joined the Board in 2020 to fill an open board seat, but will now begin his first full term. As the Board’s only Director from Japan, Akira brings tremendous experience in APAC financial markets, as well as prior board experience including the CFA Society of Japan and the Nippon Technical Analysts Association.

• William Kelleher, CMT, CFA
  Bill joined the Board in 2015 and has led the CMT’s Annual Symposium Committee since 2012, and advised on the portfolio of events globally. His risk management, marketing, and overall business operations experience have been valuable assets to the Board.

• David Lundgren, CMT, CFA
  Dave joined the Board in 2018. As Chair of the Advocacy Committee, he led the formation of the Association’s current mission statement. In addition to his previous occupations as an analyst and PM, he also has experience in academia, having taught graduate-level courses in TA.

• Robert Palladino, CMT
  This will be Rob’s second term on the Board. Having initially joined as Secretary and serving three years in that role, the Board is proposing Rob step into the role of Vice President this year. Yeoman’s work going on behind the scenes – Rob has been instrumental in planning and executing many initiatives.

I have a high level of confidence in those nominated to continue the hard work necessary to propel our organization forward. I encourage you to vote to approve the proposed slate of Directors and Officers. As stewards of the Association, the Board and I strongly believe that transparency and responsiveness to Members’ input are key to our success as leaders and to the success of the CMTA. Your vote matters!

I also want to encourage you to reach out to me or the other Board members with your opinions and suggestions. Surprising to some – we actually listen! We highly value your perspective, and our ultimate goal is to improve the value you receive by being in the CMT Association.

Be well. I hope you trade and invest profitably.