Minneapolis/St. Paul 2024
Tuesday, September 10, 2024 7:15 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. CDT
Beyond Limits
Going above and beyond is ingrained in everything you do. You know it takes determination to push beyond conventional limits. Every day you navigate through uncertainty and respond to emerging challenges – pushing the boundaries of your leadership.
The Vistage Executive Summit is just one stop on your limitless journey to explore new horizons, embrace innovation and pursue ambitious goals. Breakthrough results happen when you redefine limitations and go beyond what you thought possible. Join like-minded peers who refuse to be confined to the well-worn path and unlock your full potential.
Break free from traditional thinking. Challenge the status quo. Propel your leadership to the next level.
René Rodriguez's personal invitation
Event Speakers
Lauren Saidel-Baker
Economist, ITR EconomicsA Changing Landscape
Interest rates, inflation, labor, military conflicts, and a presidential election are on the minds of most leaders as they make plans for the rest of 2024 and prepare for 2025. Join us as we look at the trends for 2024, including a weakening economy, lower inflation, and a shift in consumer spending. We will take a look at key markets, both domestic and global. The presentation will give you valuable insights in time to develop tactics and strategies to beat the cycle and prepare for the business cycle rise ahead. Knowing what to watch for and the probable timing of the reversal to rise will give you confidence as you enact plans that enable you to get the most out of 2024 and 2025 while simultaneously getting ahead of your competitors.
René Rodriguez
CEO, Volentum, authorHow to Amplify Your Leadership: The Science of Influence
Take your leadership skills to the next level in this interactive workshop. Dive deep into neuroscience-based techniques that can dramatically amplify your executive presence and audience engagement. Vistage members will learn to apply scientific insights to craft compelling narratives, manage emotions, and enhance overall influence with teams.
Breakfast buffet served
A deep dive into the economic forecast facing your market.
Lunch buffet served
Celebrate your community's Vistage Member Excellence Award winners and finalists and connect with fellow peers. Refreshments to be served in the Marketplace.
*Agenda subject to change.
Breakout sessions
7:45 - 8:45 am
The CEO's Guide to Strategically Scaling Sales
Presenter: Frank Niekamp, Managing Partner, SalesStar
Unlock the secret to scalable, measurable, and predictable sales growth in this exclusive session designed for CEOs. Learn how to build a strategic sales system that drives consistent results and empowers your sales force.
Attendees will leave with actionable takeaways:
- Proven methodologies to streamline sales processes and drive consistent results.
- Strategies to leverage data for better decision-making and measurable outcomes.
- Insights to achieve sustainable growth and elevate your company's performance.
This session is for CEO's who want a clear path to building a strategic sales system that is scalable, measurable, and predictable.
Topic: Customer Engagement: Sales & Marketing
7:45 - 8:45 am
Unlock Working Capital Now to Position Your Business for Growth
Presenter: Chaun Powell, President, Elevate By Principal
Attendees will learn about a compelling way to unlock capital and orient their business toward growth. Chaun Powell from Elevate by Principal will discuss tips and ideas focused on reinvesting in your business to better position it for the future, including:
- Uncover savings on everyday expenses. Learn how group rate discounts can free up working capital you can invest back into your business.
- Determine your current estimated business value. Find out about a quick and easy way to know how much your business is worth.
- Align savings toward business growth. See a way to lever savings to increase the value of your business.
Topic: Financials: Capital / Cash Management
7:45 - 8:45 am
Growth Without Pain: A Smarter Way to Scale Operations
Presenter: Greg Deitch, CEO, Fluent Consultants
This session is for executives who find that with growth their processes don't work as well as they once did. In this session attendees will learn:
- Common challenges faced by growing businesses
- Key factors to sustain growth
- How does AI help scale
- How to know if you have a true technology leader
Topic: Business Operations: Technology
7:45 - 8:45 am
Meetings Shouldn't Suck: Learn How to Make the Most of Everyone's Time
Presenter: Tom Brinson, Coach Recruiter, Ninety.io
Tired of unproductive meetings? Discover how billions of hours are wasted each year and the toll it takes on your organization. Designed for business leaders, this talk will equip you with strategies to create intentional meeting rhythms that boost productivity, engagement, and accountability. Transform meetings from dreaded time-wasters into powerful, essential gatherings. Don’t let your meetings suck — make them count!
Topic: Business Operations: Productivity & Execution
7:45 - 8:45 am
Maximize the Transferrable Value of Your Business
Presenter: Mike Silverman, Shareholder and Matt Clark, Shareholder, Dentons
The value of your business has been created through decades of hard work and is typically the largest asset in your personal net worth statement - often representing 80% or more. In this session we’ll define the building blocks for creating, growing and protecting the transferrable value of your business. We will focus on the proven components of a well-designed exit plan:
- Defining goals
- Eliminating risks
- Protecting the value of the business
- Designing Incentive Compensation and Retention Agreements
- Creating key value drivers
- Implementing a growth plan, a financial plan, a succession plan and an exit plan
Topic: Personal Development: Asset & Estate Planning
12:30 - 1:30 pm
Solving the Sales Leader Dilemma
Presenter: Gary Braun, Co-Founder, Pivotal Advisors
Sales leaders are crucial in driving revenue and growth in your company. They need to hire, train, coach, set direction, drive accountability, forecast, communicate results and more. However, regardless of years of experience, many remain poorly prepared for the role they serve resulting in turnover and unoptimized sales. Come learn:
- Why sales leaders fail to reach their potential
- The critical skills your sales leader needs to succeed
- Your role as the owner or executive in effectively managing the sales leader
Topic: Customer Engagement: Sales & Marketing
12:30 - 1:30 pm
CEO's Candid Guide to Right People, Right Job, Right Fit To Scale the Business
Presenters: Advisors from Culture Index
Join the Culture Index team to reveal the true fit of your executive team and leaders- who is in the right seat and who is not? Do you have the right team in place to scale your business? Not getting the top and bottom line growth by not hiring and obtaining the right team? In this session, you will be prepped to utilize data to make more objective human decisions in securing the right talent in order to drive sustainable growth. Walk away with new insights, tips, and practices to implement into your business and better align your people.
Topic: Leadership: Communication & Alignment
12:30 - 1:30 pm
How Smart Companies Spend Less & Save Time by Rethinking Executive Talent
Presenter: Matt Blumberg, CEO, Bolster
In challenging economic times, CEOs are forced to be smarter with every dollar they spend. Leveraging the power of AI as well as the rise of the fractional executive are two key strategies businesses can use to manage tight budgets while still getting access to the expertise needed to scale. In this session, we’ll cover:
- How companies are thinking outside the box when it comes to traditional full-time hiring
- Where AI, fractional executives, and functional mentors can play a role in managing budgets
- Why a strategic talent roadmap is critical to future success and scalability
Topic: Talent Management: Hiring, Recruiting, Sourcing
12:30 - 1:30 pm
Is Your Company Investment Grade? 12 Key Factors to Attract an Outsized Valuation
Presenter: Zane Tarence, Managing Director and Partner, Founders Advisors, Vistage Speaker
Given today’s dynamic M&A climate, business owners need a candid market perspective on what drives enterprise value. Join us to learn:
- What it takes to attract an outsized valuation from institutional grade buyers
- A 20 minute market based approach to assess your company’s “invest-ability
- Top 5 deal breakers and seller missteps
- How to better align operational focus with value creation"
Topic: Financials: Mergers & Acquisitions
12:30 - 1:30 pm
Essential Steps for a Smooth Family Business Transition
Presenters: Sean Boland, Managing Partner | Jen Verly, Partner | Mitch Stolba, Partner | Mark Hegstrom, Partner, DSB Rock Island
Join us to hear an expert panel discuss three topics that business owners need to review as they get ready to exit their business:
- Finding a buyer - internal (family member) or external
- Steps to get the business ready and attractive for buyers
- The importance of a Family Summit and preparing for the upcoming sunset of the estate/gift tax exemption
Topic: Asset & Estate Planning