28 WWW.CFOSTUDIO.COM 4th QUARTER 2014

In the private club at MetLife Stadium on September 23, 2014, David Marberger, CFO of Godiva Chocolatier, spoke about an intimate topic — personal success.Marberger, who was featured in CFO

Studio magazine’s cover story in Q3, was honored at the CFO Studio reception celebrating the launch of that issue. Attended by nearly 150 of the area’s prominent finance executives, the event was hosted by Real Estate Strategies Corporation and sponsored by Deloitte, JPMorgan Chase, The New York Jets, Revelwood, and Robert Half International.

“Empathy is not about letting people off the hook,” said Marberger. “It is about putting yourself in other people’s shoes. If

you do that, you will be a better professional. You will make better decisions if you better understand who you are dealing with.” 

He encouraged attendees to stretch themselves by daring to be something they never thought they could be.

When Marberger took the microphone, he began by speaking about the career moves he has made. His first job was at Price Waterhouse, where he learned the “top down” approach. Marberger also learned he was drawn to the manufacturing and food industries.

From Price Waterhouse, he went on to work at Campbell Soup Company, where he learned the importance of a brand and the excitement of consumer dynamics. “It was at Campbell that I became fascinated with how

a brand could come crashing down in a snap, and how the brand can come back,” he said.

As CFO of Tasty Baking Company, which makes Tastykake, Marberger learned about dealing with investors and about communicating corporate decisions to different audiences.

All of these experiences that led him to Godiva also informed him about his true professional passions, and ultimately, the personal philosophies for success that he shared with the group.

After Marberger’s address, reception guests were given tours of the stadium, which included photo ops at the 50-yard line. All in attendance went home with a sweet treat, courtesy of Godiva. C

B C D

E F

Forging a Unique PathDavid Marberger addresses challenges as CFO by redefining his role

while selling lots of chocolate

Photography: Jibran Aslam

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FOR THE FULL TEXT OF MARBERGER’S REMARKS, GO TO CFOSTUDIO.COM

A L. to R.: Andrew Zezas, David Marberger B L. to R.: Albert Caamic, Glenn Kornfeld C Jazz Vesuvio D L. to R.: Joseph Welter, Michael Mardy

E L. to R.: Lisa Miller, Paula Nitto F Center: David Marberger, Joseph Welter

PROMOTIONAL PARTNERS:

CFO STUDIO RECEPTIONQ1 2015 COVER STORY:

Curt Allen, Vice President - Chief Financial Officer, Subaru of America