Application Period Now Open For CEO Roundtables

BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana Economic Development opened the application period today for CEO Roundtables, a popular peer program through which executives explore business challenges with each other under the guidance of an experienced facilitator. The application period will extend through March 31 for roundtables beginning July 2018.

Launched in 2014 to help established small businesses grow revenue and jobs, LED’s regional CEO Roundtables convene 15 to 18 qualified key decision-makers from the pool of applicant businesses. Participants meet 10 times for peer-to-peer learning, business networking and support in the yearlong program. Collaborative and growth-oriented, the meetings support a trusting environment in which executives explore business and personal solutions that spur business growth.

“LED’s CEO Roundtable program is a key tool to ensure that our growing small businesses have access to the support they need,” Gov. John Bel Edwards said. “As a former small business owner, I have witnessed first-hand the many trials, learning opportunities, and rewards that come with the launch and operation of a business. The CEO Roundtables provide a forum for business leaders to share ideas, best practices, and solutions to common challenges to ensure they aren’t facing these trials alone.”

Participants from a range of industries come together for each monthly session to discuss a designated topic determined by the interests of the group. Topics in current and past roundtables have included marketing, strategic planning, operational efficiency, organizational structure, delegation, cybersecurity, finding and maintaining top talent, and business continuity.

“The CEO Roundtable program has proven to be both popular and highly successful, and LED is committed to further expanding the initiative,” LED Secretary Don Pierson said. “This senior peer-to-peer interaction allows the participating companies to learn and make better decisions, which in turn will accelerate their growth. By investing their time in this program, small businesses owners will add more jobs and bring more commerce to their local communities. Without question, small business success will allow Louisiana to add jobs at an accelerated rate.”

CEO Roundtable participants typically operate high-growth companies with annual revenue of $600,000 to $50 million and employment of five to 99 people. Each yearlong roundtable consists of 10 half-day sessions moderated by an experienced facilitator. Discussions are structured to provide participants with timely advice on issues they’re facing or are preparing to face. 

This setting allows peer executives to share their company experiences openly, so participants may benefit from each other’s achievements and lessons learned.

The last series of CEO Roundtables took place in Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, New Orleans, Schriever and Shreveport. Depending on demand, LED hopes to expand the program in July to include Lake Charles and the Monroe/Ruston area.

A video testimonial from a former participant can be viewed at http://bit.ly/CEORoundtablesYouTube. To learn more about CEO Roundtables, visit OpportunityLouisiana.com/CEO-Roundtables or contact Darrell Johnson at (225) 342-4680 or darrell.johnson2@la.gov.