Colorado Executive Summit
Hosted in Aurora Thursday, April 30, 2026 8:00 a.m. - 4:45 p.m. MDT
Event Overview
Every Decision, Obstacle, and Success Has Shaped the Leader You Are Today
The Vistage Executive Summit is your day to build on that experience through expert insights, meaningful peer connection, and practical tools that drive growth.
My biggest takeaway from the Vistage Executive Summit is the importance of aligning long-term planning with both business goals and personal well-being. Success isn’t just about short-term wins—it’s about building something sustainable over time. When both areas are nurtured, they reinforce each other, leading to more consistent progress and a better quality of life.
— Davinder Harcharan Singh, Vistage member and 2025 Executive Summit attendee
Event Speakers
Taylor St. Germain
Economist, ITR EconomicsAnticipating Changes in Business Direction
Anticipating changes in the market over the second half of 2026 and through 2027 will be essential for leaders preparing for the next stage of the economic cycle. ITR Economics expects approximately two notable shifts in business trajectory during this period, and understanding these movements will help leaders stay proactive rather than reactive.
This presentation will provide you with invaluable insights from ITR Economics’ latest forecast to help inform your decision making on how to navigate forthcoming changes effectively. By leveraging these insights and actionable recommendations, you can ensure your organizations remain resilient in the ever-evolving market landscape.
Jerry Schemmel
Sportscaster, Author, & Motivational SpeakerJust Keep Moving
Jerry will talk about how his mantra, “Just Keep Moving,” that literally saved his life. And how it might do the same for business leaders.
When Jerry was desperately trying to make his way out of the crash of a burning commercial aircraft, he kept telling himself, “Just keep moving, just keep moving.” The words kept him calm, kept him from panicking, kept him from being overcome with smoke or burning up. Those words stuck with him and later applied to so many different areas of his life.
When financial issues hit, keep moving!
When relationships fail, keep moving!
When health deteriorates, keep moving!
When life’s plane crash knocks you down, get up. And keep moving!
Anne Petrik
VP of Research, Vistage Worldwide, Inc. | Summit EmceeInflection Point: Growth at the Speed of Now
To navigate through inflection points in the business cycle, Vistage Research reveals that CEOs must focus on growth, talent, infrastructure and technology. Learn insights and sentiment from your peers as well as expert perspectives from trusted Vistage community experts in this presentation featuring the latest Vistage CEO Confidence Index data.
A deep dive into the economic forecast facing your market.
See below for a full listing of breakouts
See below for a full listing of breakouts
Just Keep Moving
Celebrate your community's Vistage Member Excellence Award winners and finalists and connect with fellow peers. Refreshments to be served in the Marketplace.
Breakout sessions
11:20 - 12:20 PM
The Dark Side of Private Equity: Missteps that Could Cost You Millions
Presenter: Brian Daley, Director of Strategic Partnerships | Founders Advisors
With more Private Equity (PE) firms targeting private companies, business owners must be equipped to navigate this complex world successfully. Using case studies, data-driven insights, and over two decades of M&A experience, we’ll discuss the PE investor ecosystem, how they exploit inexperienced business owners, and strategies to help you protect your equity.
You’ll learn:
- 7 reasons your business is not qualified for PE investment (and what to do)
- Essential questions to answer before engaging PE
- The truth about “Minority Investors” and “Founder Aligned” PE
- Why 90% of founders lose in PE negotiations
- Enterprise Value Coaching through Industry Driven Valuation Scorecards
Topic: Financials - Mergers & Acquisitions
11:20 - 12:20 PM
All In on Sales Hiring: Bet Smart, Win Big, Build a Dream Team
Presenter: Steve Heroux, Founder | The Sales Collective
Tired of hiring “rockstar” salespeople who flop fast? Bad sales hires cost up to $1.3 million, and traditional methods succeed just 23% of the time. This session shows how to spot bluffers early using sales analytics and poker-inspired psychology to build a predictive hiring process.
- Attract and retain elite sales talent (not professional interviewers).
- Use the Sales DNA Test to decode hidden traits.
- Triple hiring accuracy with confident, data-driven decisions.
Topic: Customer Engagement – Sales
11:20 - 12:20 PM
Financial Insights to Grow and Elevate Your Business Valuation
Presenter: Bob McDonnell, Business Development Director | Preferred CFO
Gain practical insight into how your business creates value. This session explores how mindset, team structure, and financial tools enable clearer decisions. Learn the difference between historical reporting and forward-looking planning, review essential financial tools every CEO should understand, and see how profitability, risk, and predictability influence valuation. You’ll leave with a framework to evaluate your financial foundation and identify next steps to strengthen it.
Topic: Financials - Financial Management
11:20 - 12:20 PM
From Chatbot to Co-Worker: AI Agents in Your Business
Presenter: Ross Hartmann, CEO | Kiingo AI
Your competitors have access to the same AI tools you do. The difference is whether they're using them. In this session, you'll see real case studies of companies using AI agents to cut costs, reclaim capacity, and gain a competitive edge. You'll walk away with a framework for your own AI strategy, including how to identify your first high-impact use case and avoid the most common mistakes.
Topic: Business Operations - Technology
1:15 - 2:15 PM
Your Digital North Star in the World of AI and Intelligent Automation
Presenter: Mark Shivers, Founder & CEO | Ignite IPA
Overwhelmed by AI and automation? Unsure where to start or which tools matter? This session simplifies AI and automation and aligns them to your business goals using real-world case studies with financial impact.
You’ll walk away with:
- Clarity on AI and automation that drives results
- Strategies to cut costs, scale efficiently, and improve customer experience
- A clear digital path to boost margins and navigate the future confidently
Topic: Business Operations – Technology
1:15 - 2:15 PM
The CEO’s Guide to Building a High-Performance Sales Culture
Presenter: Frank Niekamp, Partner | SalesStar
Most sales teams don’t struggle because of effort—they struggle because of unclear plans, inconsistent processes, and gaps in leadership and talent. In this session, CEOs will learn the three essential drivers of a high-performance sales organization: clarity, leadership, and putting the right people in the right roles. Attendees will leave with practical insights they can immediately apply to create more predictable, consistent revenue growth.
Topic: Customer Engagement – Sales
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