PHOENIX – The National Investor Relations Institute (NIRI) has wrapped up its 50th Anniversary Conference following a three-day tribute to the “Power of IR” and a bold look ahead at the future of the capital markets.  

More than 1,000 people attended the June 2-5 conference at the beautiful JW Marriott Desert Ridge in Phoenix. The #NIRI19 event featured nearly 150 speakers and panelists, 50 educational sessions, and 43 exhibitors and sponsors.  Attendees represented 18 countries and there was a 20 percent increase in exhibitors.  Among the many highlights was the celebration of NIRI’s golden anniversary during a gala reception on Monday, a welcome by Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, appearances by NIRI founder DeWitt (“Dick”) Morrill, and a tribute video about NIRI’s first half century.  

Attendees enjoyed general session remarks on the state of the capital markets from Brett Redfearn, director of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Trading and Markets Division; received advice on corporate culture from Jim Donald, co-chairman of Albertsons Companies; learned about the growing influence of artificial intelligence from Malcolm Frank, executive vice president, strategy & marketing, at Cognizant; and heard insights on stock pricing from Gina Martin Adams, chief equity strategist for Bloomberg Intelligence.  

Another highlight was a general session panel on the new report, “The Disruption Opportunity,” from NIRI’s Think Tank on the Future of Investor Relations. That discussion was led by former NIRI Board Chair Lee M. Ahlstrom, IRC, senior vice president and CFO at RigNet, and included Lynn Tyson, executive director of IR for Ford Motor Company; Smooch Reynolds, managing partner, global IRO & CCO practice leader, ZRG Partners; and Dorothy Flynn, president, Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions.  

#NIRI19 also honored the latest class of NIRI Fellows, who include Derek Cole, president, IR Advisory Solutions; Jane Okun Bomba, president, Saddle Ridge Consulting; and Elizabeth Saunders, a partner with Clermont Partners. 

The conference showcased the bright future of the IR profession by recognizing the inaugural class of NIRI’s “40 Under 40” honorees, as well as new Investor Relations Charter (IRC®) holders.    

NIRI President and CEO Gary A. LaBranche, FASAE, CAE, said, “I want to thank all the attendees, speakers, exhibitors, and sponsors who helped us commemorate NIRI’s 50th anniversary, explore today’s most significant IR issues, and prepare for the future of capital markets engagement. I also want to thank the Annual Conference Committee, which was led by chair Mike Conway and vice chairs Remy Bernarda, IRC, and Tim Quast. They, along with the NIRI staff, worked for a year to make #NIRI19 a must-attend event.”

“I also want to express my gratitude to the members of the 50th Anniversary Committee, led by Mark Donohue, for all their work and creative suggestions to help us celebrate NIRI’s rich history,” LaBranche said. 

NIRI also gave back to the Phoenix community by hosting a silent auction to benefit UMOM New Day Centers, a charitable organization that provides shelter, housing, and services for people experiencing homelessness. NIRI and its members donated $7,500 for UMOM.  

NIRI also announced that next year’s Annual Conference will be held on June 14-17, 2020, at the luxurious Fontainebleau Miami Beach.


About the National Investor Relations Institute (NIRI)
Founded in 1969, NIRI is the professional association of corporate officers and investor relations consultants responsible for communication among corporate management, shareholders, securities analysts and other financial community constituents. NIRI is the largest professional investor relations association in the world with more than 3,300 members representing over 1,600 publicly held companies and $9 trillion in stock market capitalization. Through its collaborative community, NIRI advances engagement in the capital markets and drives best practices in corporate disclosures, governance, and informed investing.

Contact: Ted Allen, tallen@niri.org, 703-562-7681