TEI descended on the New York Marriott Marquis in Times Square to celebrate its seventy-fifth anniversary at the Annual Conference in October. More than 500 registrants, including members from around the world, 175 speakers, more than seventy sponsor firms, and TEI’s entire staff joined to participate in this special occasion.
Sponsors Set the Tone
The 75th Anniversary Celebration kicked off on Saturday afternoon, with TEI sponsors taking Institute members and their guests on private tours to experience the wonders of New York City together. Sovos Compliance and Foss & Company each hosted a food tour, Alston & Bird hosted a pizza tour, and Eversheds Sutherland hosted an architecture tour.
A New York Chapter Welcome
Back at the Marriott Marquis, the New York Chapter provided a warm welcome to all attendees, offering expert sightseeing recommendations, fun facts, and time-honored New York black and white cookies! The booth became a conference hangout, with members dropping by throughout the conference to take a break and connect.
Uncovering Institute History
In preparation for the celebration, TEI’s staff dug into the archives to bring the Institute’s history to life. A special digital exhibit showcased TEI’s past international presidents and key accomplishments from each year. Historic brochures and programs were on hand for viewing, including the agenda for TEI’s first Annual Conference and the classic Ladies Program.
Member Experience Lounge
TEI’s membership team hosted a Member Experience Lounge, inviting members to update their member profiles, explore TEI’s committees and opportunities to get involved, and celebrate their length of service. Special “I 
TEI” buttons enabled all attendees to express their appreciation for our organization.
San Fran PIPs
TEI Past International Presidents Sandy Macfarlane and Sol Coffino brought those “I TEI” buttons back to San Francisco to share with San Francisco Chapter past presidents at their lunch in November.
Exhibition and Exploration
TEI’s sponsor hall was in full swing at the Annual Conference! Sunday evening’s Welcome Reception took place in the Exhibit Hall, which included more than forty exhibitors offering information about their services and products as well as exciting raffles and giveaways. Staff also organized a fun scavenger hunt that elevated members’ competitive spirits to new heights.
Blast From the Past
The 75th Anniversary Celebration was a chance for members to reunite and reconnect with old friends. A record number of past international presidents—nineteen—and their families joined for the festivities, which included a luncheon conferring Past International President Mark Silbiger with honorary membership and a commemorative dinner where TEI’s current and former leaders waxed nostalgic about the Institute’s impact on their careers and the profession throughout the organization’s illustrious history.
Expert Insights Abound
During the celebration, the Institute also coordinated a full suite of sessions and panels focusing on the past, present, and future of our profession. Special sessions included a Leadership Lab on the value of mentorship for TEI leaders, award presentations, a candid discussion on the current state of the workforce and their roles as leaders for CTOs, industry group meetups, and a Thomson Reuters Advisory Board on measuring the impact of Pillar Two on our businesses.
The Grand Reception
It wouldn’t be a TEI Annual Conference without fabulous parties and social events! On Sunday, Mayer Brown hosted an exclusive shopping experience at Tory Burch, and Exactera and McCarthy Tétrault hosted special dinners for tax leaders. Monday evening’s festivities included festive cocktail parties and receptions by CAC Specialty, Crowe, Vinson & Elkins, Foss & Company, Ryan, KPMG, Skadden, Bloomberg, RSM, and Aon.
TEI’s Grand Reception took place on Tuesday evening, featuring a black and white theme, over the ninth mezzanine of the New York Marriott Marquis. Guests sipped champagne, dined on an amazing culinary selection, enjoyed the piano bar, and had fun hamming it up in TEI’s “glam” photo booth.
Together for the Future
The energy and excitement surrounding TEI’s special 75th Anniversary Celebration was tremendous, and the Institute could not be more excited to embark on the future with its beloved members!
