Louisiana Growth Network Launches 2025 CEO Roundtable Application Period

• The CEO Roundtable program brings together growth-oriented small businesses to collaborate and address challenges in a facilitated and confidential environment, fostering growth and innovation.

• Topics are driven by a participant diagnostic survey but often include strategic planning, marketing, leadership, human resources, and more.

• Companies must apply by the deadline of March 31st to be considered.

BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana Economic Development is now accepting applications for its 2025-26 CEO Roundtables series, the popular, yearlong program that provides a platform for leaders of second-stage companies to share insights and knowledge. The application period runs from February 1 to March 31, 2025, with roundtables commencing in July 2025.

The CEO Roundtables program, a flagship initiative of LED, brings together a diverse group of business owners and executives from various industries – from manufacturing to healthcare, energy to agriculture, construction to accounting, arts and entertainment to information technology, and everything in between. The interactive sessions are designed to facilitate meaningful discussions in areas such as marketing, strategic planning, operational efficiency, human resources, and leadership. The CEO Roundtable program is especially impactful for external market companies looking to generate new revenue streams from outside Louisiana.

“The CEO Roundtable program has supported over 600 companies since inception, driving job creation and business growth across Louisiana leading to a $9 return for every dollar spent on the program,” said Josh Fleig, LED Chief Innovation Officer. “By creating opportunities for collaboration and innovation amongst small businesses, this program is equipping the backbone of Louisiana’s economy with targeted and innovative growth strategies.”

Roundtables in Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Monroe, New Orleans, Shreveport, Thibodaux, and a statewide virtual roundtable convened in July 2024 and will conclude before the end of the fiscal year. Graduates of the CEO Roundtable join the internationally recognized Louisiana Growth Network – a suite of tailored resources designed to accelerate the growth of second-stage small businesses.  The Growth Network currently consists of nearly 800 businesses that generate $4.6 billion in annual sales and employ more than 24,500 full-time equivalent employees.

“My decision to engage in the CEO Roundtable had a profound impact on my career, far exceeding my expectations,” said Dan Ducote, Chairman of the Board at Enginuity Global and former CEO Roundtable participant “The experience provided invaluable insights from 15 other CEOs facing similar challenges. Additionally, it outlined a well-structured approach for positioning my business for sale. This opportunity proved to be an exceptional investment of my time, yielding significant personal and professional growth.”

LED will select up to eight regional cohorts consisting of 15 to 18 qualified second-stage companies with annual revenues of $600,000 to $50 million and staff sizes between five and 99 employees. Applicants must be a key decision maker of their company such as a CEO, president, or owner. The number of qualified applicants in each region will determine the locations of the 2025-2026 CEO Roundtables. Applications will be accepted through the end of March at OpportunityLouisiana.com/CEO-Roundtables.

After the application period closes, regional vetting committees will review the applications and offer seats to ensure an optimal and diverse business mix in each region.

For more information, contact Louisiana Growth Network Program Manager Patrick Addamus at (225) 342-9096 or Patrick.Addamus@la.gov.