Highlighting IOFM’s Fall Conference “Host Chapter” Leaders

In our third-quarter issue of The Pulse, we spotlight the leaders of the three honorary “Host Chapters” of the IOFM 2025 Fall Conference: Arecka Mather, President of the Northwestern Region Chapter; Candace Jaramillo, President of the Southwestern Region Chapter; and Patty Dungo Morales, President of the California Chapter.

The three host chapters will network with IOFM conference attendees and be available to answer questions about IOFM chapter membership. They invite conference attendees to visit their host chapter table to network and get acquainted.

Below, the three presidents share their thoughts about their IOFM chapters, their goals, and their experiences with attending IOFM’s twice-yearly conferences.

Arecka Mather, APM
President, Northwestern Region Chapter

Q. What advice would you give to someone who is considering joining an IOFM Chapter?
A. My advice is plain and simple, DO IT! It’s a great space to form connections, get support, and hear what is happening in your industry.

Q. How has your chapter helped members stay connected and engaged with the financial operations community and IOFM? 
A. I think what AP professionals need most—and like best— is to have engaging and open group discussions on the issues and pain points that they are dealing with. For example, at our recent launch meeting, we discussed taxes and tariffs. Our members appreciated having a platform and space to collaborate on this emerging issue with others in their profession.

Q. How will the Fall IOFM Conference benefit you and your attending chapter members? 
A. I can promise that anyone who attends the Fall Conference will come back refreshed and energized! I know that has always been my experience. You meet so many great people, form wonderful connections, and learn valuable information that you can take back with you to your organization.

Q. If you could describe the IOFM Conference experience in one word, what would it be? 
A. ENERGIZING! You’ll learn that you are not alone in any struggles, process improvements, or challenges that you might be facing. You’ll also learn that you have a lot to share. It’s great to form new relationships and talk with others who “speak your AP language.” I always learn something!

Q. What are your chapter’s goals for the future? 
A. Our goal is to share as much relevant, actionable, and timely information as we can. We also want to have fun, collaborative chapter meetings where people are excited to participate.

Candace Jaramillo, APPM
President, Southwestern Region Chapter

Q. What advice would you give to someone who is considering joining an IOFM Chapter?
A. My advice would be — don’t hesitate, just jump in! Joining an IOFM Chapter is one of the best ways to connect with people who truly understand what you do every day. You’ll find a supportive community where you can share challenges, exchange best practices, and learn from others who have been in your shoes. The whole reason I act as president of this chapter is to foster an environment where people can ask questions and get answers. Our meetings are for YOU! Speak up, and don’t be shy!

Q. How has your chapter helped members stay connected and engaged with the financial operations community and IOFM?
A. Our chapter has been intentional about offering a variety of topics and issues that we believe are timely and relevant. For example: 1099 reporting, hot buzz words, or new developments like AI.
We encourage members to actively participate by presenting the topic and then leading a round table discussion among our leadership team. This approach seems to really encourage members to speak up and participate in the conversation. I like when we can achieve a conversational feel, rather than a “presentation-only” feel. This peer-to-peer engagement has been especially valuable in strengthening our local network. Additionally, we highlight IOFM tools, certifications, and events to ensure members are aware of and taking advantage of the broader IOFM community benefits.
By focusing on consistent communication, relevant education, and interactive sessions, we’ve been able to build a strong sense of community and help our members stay connected to both our chapter and the entire IOFM network.

Q. How will the Fall IOFM Conference benefit you and your attending chapter members? 
A. The Fall IOFM Conference is always such a great opportunity for us. For me personally, it’s a chance to recharge, hear about the latest trends in financial operations, and bring back fresh ideas to share with our chapter. I always leave feeling energized and inspired.
For our members who attend, it’s an incredible way to connect directly with the larger IOFM community. Attendees get access to expert-led sessions, best practices from other organizations, and solutions they can take home and put into action right away. Plus, the networking is huge — it’s so valuable to meet peers who are facing the same challenges and to hear how they’re tackling them.
I think the biggest benefit is that it strengthens both personal and professional growth. Members not only come back with practical tools and knowledge, but also with a renewed sense of connection to the broader financial operations community.

Q. What is the conference experience like? If you could describe the IOFM Conference experience in one word, what would it be? 
A. If I had to describe it in one word, I’d use the same word as Arecka: ENERGIZING—or maybe: INSPIRING. You leave the conference with new ideas, new connections, and a renewed motivation to bring value back to your team and chapter. It’s the kind of experience that reminds you why you love being part of this profession.

Q. What are your chapter’s goals for the future?
A. Our leadership team has two goals. First: to continue to offer a variety of topics, from compliance to soft skills. Second: to increase participation – bringing in new members while also encouraging current members to get more involved in discussions.

Patty Dungo Morales, MPA, APM
President, California Chapter 

Q. What advice would you give to someone who is considering joining an IOFM Chapter?
A. If you are looking for a place to “talk shop” about AP—somewhere that is free and accessible to everyone—join a chapter!

Q. How has your chapter helped members stay connected and engaged with the financial operations community and IOFM?
A. The feedback I have received from members is that our meetings cover topics that are timely and relevant to what is happening in their organizations. For example, at our Q2 meeting, we covered midyear reviews, with tips on how to connect, team-build, and make expectations very clear to your team.

Q. How will the Fall IOFM Conference benefit your attending chapter members?
A. The Fall conference is such a great place to connect with other AP Professionals and share your experiences and best practices. You will meet other folks who are truly experiencing the same bottlenecks and implementation pains as you are. Attendees will also have the chance to get AP certified.

Q. What is the conference experience like? If you could describe the IOFM Conference experience in one word, what would it be? And why?
A. I would say: CONNECTED! At my first experience at an IOFM Conference, I realized that I was not the only one experiencing challenging issues in AP where I was processing invoices manually or navigating bumps in my career path. It was also a great place to have my questions answered regarding a career in AP.

Q. What are your chapter’s goals for the future?
A.I hope to make the chapter content relevant and timely for the group and give the members what they want. To achieve that, I send polls out to the members to see which topics would most pique their interest. It’s important that members have meaningful takeaways that they can implement with their teams.

Editor’s Note: IOFM Chapters from across the U.S. and Canada will be attending the IOFM Fall Conference. If you meet a chapter member at the conference, ask questions and get their feedback about the advantages of membership. In addition to the Host Chapter table at the conference, there will be another table available for chapter members to meet and mingle. 

If you want to sign up for a chapter, simply visit iofm.com/community/chapters and review the nine options on the chapter site. Select the chapter (or chapters) you prefer and complete the RSVP form on the Chapter webpage.