Compliance &Ethics - Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics

FeatureCompliance & Ethics Professional May/June 2013it possible to sit with different folks each dayand share a meal, as well as our experiences.AW: Did the Academy meet yourexpectations?MM: The Academy exceeded my expectations.I did not anticipate the Academy tobe instrumental in “bringing it all together”for me, but that’s what happened. I literallyarrived with a mish-mash of informationin my brain, and left at the end of the weekwith clarity! I nowhad a clear visionof what needed tobe done to have aneffective ethics andcompliance programas expected andenumerated by theFederal SentencingGuidelines forOrganizations.AW: At the conclusionof the Academy,you sat for the Certified Compliance & EthicsProfessional (CCEP) examination. What wereyour thoughts as you were taking the exam?MM: I’ve got to pass… I can’t fail. Wow,there sure are a lot of questions!AW: Did the Academy adequately prepareyou for the exam?MM: Seriously, all kidding aside, I waswell-equipped for the exam at the conclusionof the Academy. Based on the instruction andthe content, additional preparation was notrequired. I did well on the exam, and attributemy high score to the quality of the instructionand the comprehensiveness of the material.AW: You passed the exam and now hold thedesignation of CCEP. Has your experience inattending the Academy and your certificationThe potential benefitsare great; the potentialcompliance risks arealso great. Suffice it to say,change is constant, andour program must be robustand adaptive to remaineffective and relevant.changed anything about your view of thecompliance profession?MM: Certainly, it has expanded my awarenessof the myriad of industries and areasin which compliance professionals can findthemselves. Until entering the profession,I was oblivious. Now I have a reverence forwhat it takes to be effective and to makean impact. In partnership with our workforce,I strive to make meaningful incrementalprogress each day to strengthen our programand its influence onour ethical culture.AW: Has itchanged anythingfor you and provenuseful in your professionallife?MM: Are you kidding,is it useful?The Academy coursework binder, and TheComplete Complianceand Ethics Manualare getting a “serious workout” in our offices.Everyone on my team has attended an Academy.We often have conversations that start or end with“based on what I learned at the Academy” or“according to the Manual.” The informationfrom the Academy continues to be extremelyuseful in achieving our program objectives.AW: What advice would you have for complianceprofessionals considering attendingan Academy or sitting for the certificationexamination?MM: Do it. You won’t regret the decision!AW: What are some of the key compliancechallenges you face at Aerojet?MM: I suspect Aerojet’s challenges are sharedby most companies—ensuring that you respondappropriately to change, whether the source is16 www.corporatecompliance.org +1 952 933 4977 or 888 277 4977