On May 4 and 5, eighteen participants from AFSA member companies attended a session held at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill that helped develop the skills and strategies necessary for developing an "executive presence." Participants commented on how much information they obtained, as well as how much of it they could apply in everyday interactions. The amount of time dedicated to honing presentation skills also received favorable remarks. Jim Smith, Ph.D., a global economic forecaster, provided timely remarks on the impact of the Federal Reserve's Open Market Committee's May 10th decisions and their likely effect on the industry.