Celebrating Christi’s Art of Financial Excellence
Wichita, Kan.—(January 25, 2024)—At High Touch Technologies, we’ve always been dedicated to innovation and expertise when it comes to technology. Today, we’re excited to celebrate a different type of accomplishment—one that’s close to the heart of our operations and entire team.
We’re incredibly proud to announce that Christi Woods, our Chief Financial Officer, has been recognized with the prestigious 2024 CFO Award by the Wichita Business Journal (WBJ).
About the 2024 WBJ CFO Award
The WBJ’s CFO Award celebrates Wichita’s finest leaders and executives in finance. Awarded annually, the recognition praises the work that accounting and finance professionals have done to help make their companies and organizations successful.
As stated by the WBJ, “The Wichita Business Journal honors chief financial officers each year because they not only lead companies in terms of managing financial health but also as a key part of crafting a successful long-term vision through organization and strategic planning. They must also be ready to lead important advice at critical junctures in the history of a business.”
In recognition of their work, the 2024 CFO Award recipients were celebrated with a lunch and awards ceremony on January 25, 2024, at Riverfront Stadium.
Building a Successful Career
For Christi, the lure of rules, structure, and well-defined boundaries attracted her to a career in finance and accounting. “Little did I know that what appeared black and white on the surface was hardly that,” Christi smiles.
Christi credits her grandfather for igniting her spark for business and finance. When she was six years old, he began sharing his expertise in tracking farm expenses with her. Now, at 88 years old, he still keeps the old ledger with Christi’s handwriting and keeps up with his own records.
“While financial reporting is often associated with meticulous reporting and number crunching, I quickly realized that it’s the foundation for narrating a compelling story about a business,” Christi states. “It’s about articulating an organization’s journey at any given moment. When we tell the financial story well, it becomes a powerful tool for not just understanding the current state but for envisioning and actively contributing to the organization’s growth.”
Christi attributes significant milestones in her career to the guidance of mentors. “Dick Kostboth at Deloitte laid a solid foundation, emphasizing that everyone is a client. His wisdom in listening and asking insightful questions has been invaluable. Jacky Williamson at The Charles Machine Works challenged me spiritually and intellectually, refining my storytelling with numbers for meaningful impact. Derrick Nielsen has guided me to embrace a more natural, humble confidence in the past two years at High Touch. Thinking generously with others and myself allowed me to flow naturally as a truth-telling CFO. I’m grateful for the adjustments that have enriched my role and our entire team’s journey.”
Creating a Strategic Vision
In the article, Christi notes that one of the biggest challenges of being a CFO is maintaining her team’s ever-evolving and growing list of priorities.
“In our world, the checklists can be extensive, simultaneously demanding attention to detail while engaging in big-picture thinking. Sorting out the critical tasks and strategically acting on them in order of priority is the key to making substantial progress as a team and an enterprise. This approach ensures we address the company’s immediate needs and propels us forward, fostering innovation and sustainable growth.”
Her greatest achievement? Christi highlights the cultivation of an environment where professional aspirations and personal life are not mutually exclusive but harmoniously integrated. “Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to witness and actively participate in a shift where women can balance family life, raise their children, and simultaneously pursue fulfilling and progressive careers,” Christi states. “It’s not about choosing one over the other but finding a realistic balance that allows individuals, especially women, to excel in their careers while positively impacting their personal lives.”
Bringing the Human Touch to Technology.
Congratulations, Christi! As we applaud Christi on this stellar achievement, we’re excited for the future she’ll help us define. Under Christi’s financial stewardship, High Touch stands ready to embrace a future of promise, innovation, and continued excellence.