CEO Roundtables Now Accepting Applications For New Sessions

BATON ROUGE, La. — Today, Louisiana Economic Development opened the application period for CEO Roundtables, a popular peer program for small business executives. Meeting 10 times within a year, the program encourages business leaders to explore professional challenges with each other under the guidance of an experienced facilitator. The application period will be Feb. 1 through March 31 for regional roundtables that start in July 2019.

Launched in 2014 to help established small businesses grow revenue and jobs, LED’s regional CEO Roundtables convene 15 to 18 qualified decision-makers from the pool of applicants. Participants commit to meet about once a month 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 Roundtables provide a forum for Louisiana business leaders to share ideas, best practices and solutions for common growth challenges,” LED Secretary Don Pierson said. “By ensuring they aren’t facing these challenges alone, the program helps small businesses add jobs and generate new economic activity in their local communities and our state. This is another way that LED is committed to the success of Louisiana’s small business community.”

CEO Roundtable participants operate high-growth companies with yearly revenue of $600,000 to $50 million and staffs 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 input on issues they are facing or are preparing to face. 

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 setting allows executives to share their company experiences openly, so participants may benefit from each other’s achievements and lessons learned. LED has hosted CEO Roundtables in Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, New Orleans, Ruston, Schriever and Shreveport. Depending on demand, LED hopes to expand the program in July to include Lake Charles and Monroe.

To learn more about CEO Roundtables, visit OpportunityLouisiana.com/CEO-Roundtables or contact Darrell L. Johnson Jr. at darrell.johnson2@la.gov or (225) 342-4680.