“The peers in my CEO Roundtable group are my trusted advisors. The camaraderie at the roundtable is great, but what I especially value is the consulting and advice I get from fellow CEOs. That is worth 100X the membership fee.”
Mike Webb, CEO, Ascent Therapeutics
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I have been a member of the CEO Roundtable for seven years. During that time I have met some truly special people, who happen to be CEOs!! I consider my involvement in this group to be one of the key elements of my personal and professional life. I would encourage any CEO to join this or a similar group. The pressures of running a business at the CEO level are too great to go it alone. This is the best Board you will ever have!!
Brad Yount, CEO, Odyssey Bay Ventures, Inc. |
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The CEO Roundtable has given me an opportunity to share and learn from my peers; have an advisory board steeped in the medical technology industry practices to discuss those “thorny” challenges and have “trusted advisors” who help to assess strategy and vision for our companies. The CEO seat can be a lonely spot but being a member of the CEO Roundtable has changed that dynamic for me.
Nancy Briefs, President & CEO, Elemé Medical Inc. |
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Since I joined the CEO Roundtable I have been involved in three different start-up companies at different stages. The interactions with my peers have helped me address different challenges and calibrate my thoughts in a way that I could not have done any other way. And, as an extra bonus, it’s good fun – especially the annual retreats where we are always encouraged to explore new horizons.”
Peter Steiger, CEO, Optasia Medical |
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“The annual retreat alone makes the cost for the year a great value. Spending time with a diverse group of CEOs in this setting and having stimulating discussions on life as a CEO helps me recalibrate.”
Mark Leuchtenberger, CEO, Targanta Therapeutics |
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The CEO Roundtable has consistently provided me with a valuable pool of “expert consultants” who have been confronting and solving the kinds of problems that confront every owner/CEO of a developing business. The diversity of perspectives and experiences that members bring to discussions never fails to create a powerful basis for identifying and evaluating alternatives for solving any particular business management problem. I can give major credit to my colleagues at the Roundtable for helping me develop my staffing structure, my selling strategy, and my compensation plans. Growing a business presents a constantly changing array of challenges; meeting these challenges with the counsel of experience makes it all much easier.”
David Forbes, Owner, The Forbes Group |
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“All CEOs benefit from giving and getting constructive criticism. It helps us to fine tune our vision, our strategies, and our tactics. I believe that CEO Roundtable meetings are an excellent venue and well worth the investment.”
Peter Savas, Chairman, Alesers Pharmaceuticals |
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Considered discussion of pressing professional and personal issues with colleagues you have grown to care for and trust is unique. Whether these discussions occur at formal meetings or at “off-site” one-on-ones, the return is “priceless.”
Bob Glorioso, Chairman, Tower Stone Group |
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I joined CEO Roundtable 10 years ago. The CEOs in my roundtable and the CEOs in the other groups have become valuable business advisors, wonderful friends and my toughest critics. They are all bright, knowledgeable, resourceful and engaged. They care about my business as if it were their own. They never hesitate to apply the Bunsen burner to the bottoms of my feet when I try to skate away from tough business decisions. We share our successes and failures in a way that no others can.
Richard L. Sumberg, Owner, The Financial Advisors |
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“CEO Roundtable is an outstanding resource for leaders of an organization. Rarely do you have the opportunity to openly discuss important and sometimes sensitive issues of organization and strategy with an informed group of other executives with experiences relevant for your own company, but non-competitive. I’d highly recommend joining the CEO Roundtable if one is invited. The relationships you build will reap returns for your own business both short-term and for your organization’s future growth and development.”
Jamie Kemler, CEO, Stryker Biotech |
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"CEO Roundtable is great! I use it as access to an informal outside board of advisors. With no hidden agendas and no conflicts of interest, I get a clear professional view of my situation. It is especially good for hearing clearly, and sometimes painfully, what I am doing wrong. I also learn from hearing what my fellow roundtable members are doing and enjoy the lively discussions. I have also made connections through CEO Roundtable that have brought business to my firm.
Bruce Buckland, Chairman, Mallory Ventures |
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"I have been a member of the CEO Roundtable for 9 years, and it never ceases to amaze me what value I get from it on an ongoing basis. CEO Roundtable members have supported me in my business from its inception, through its growth to being part of the Internet Retailer 500. At each stage of the company's growth, I have both valued the advice proffered by other members, as well as the freedom to express my deepest concerns and problems in a confidential environment."
Mercia Tapping, Owner, Boston Green Goods |
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“Perhaps the best description of the Roundtable, in this world of business fads, is about what the Roundtable is not. It is not the pulpit for seven sure-fire ways to management success; it does not provide a recently discovered formula for charismatic leadership, nor does it do missionary work for the latest business guru. It’s about real people who don’t walk on water and have to solve real business problems that don’t always have simple answers.”
Sig Tullmann, CEO, Safe Hydrogen Inc |
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My experience with the CEO group has been the most effective support I
have received since launching my business – at any price. Where else could I get a team of highly motivated, experienced business people to look down the road with me and give me advice on the challenges I know I face and point out the ones I have not noticed? Hearing about the thought processes,challenges, success (and failures) of group members has been like attending a very enjoyable, cost and time effective business school. Belonging to the CEO Roundtable has been a real inspiration as well – my expectations of what is possible have soared!
Marry Wellington, Owner, MB Wellington Studios |
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As an entrepreneur, the valuable perspectives I get from my colleagues at every meeting have been instrumental in building our company. For example at the last meeting, the group provided critical insight that helped us advance term sheet negotiations a term sheet for a spin out of an existing business from a public company to be financed by private equity and a strategic investor. Not only were my colleagues able to provide insight into how terms might be best positioned with the parties, but were able to provide their specific experiences with some of the parties involved. Insights, from past companies that even my Board could not provide.
Bob Linke, President, Linke & Associates |
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In my Roundtable meetings I get candid feedback from impartial members, and confidentiality is given highest priority.
Steve Damalas, CEO, Electronic Fasteners, Inc. |
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“Often I hear issues being discussed that are very similar to issues I’m having in my company but some of the solutions discussed are very creative and not ones I would have thought of. This range of thinking is very valuable.”
Michael Chaparian, CEO, SelectX Pharmaceuticals |
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As a charter member of the technology roundtable, I have found CEO
Roundtables to be an invaluable resource to discuss sensitive issues with my peers that I am unable to discuss with my employees or my board. Loren has been an effective moderator of these conversations and has added innovative and thought-provoking broad group sessions as well.
Vinit Nijhawan, Entrepreneur and Venture Capitalist |
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I have been a member of the CEO Roundtable for over 3 years. I joined to learn from companies with experience, and to share my knowledge with others. The group I belong to has become much more than a group of advisors. We share very intimate details about our businesses. The reward is in the depth of advice about where to go, what to concentrate on, and how to get there. When I feel burdened with too much, they help me categorize and prioritize things so I'm not saddled with too much at once. Loren adds his leadership to the meetings helping us listen to each other, and building the relationships we need for support and growth.
Barbara Dove, CEO, Dove Help Desk |
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There is so much happening in my business that it is hard to stay current on new ideas and innovative thinking in other industries. The discussions and the special seminars really help. I changed my thinking about licensing and strategic pricing after one of the seminars. "Rarely does a CEO have a regularly scheduled forum with knowledgeable peers, the protection of confidentiality AND Loren Carlson, a professional facilitator, at which to seek advice. The benefits of the CEO Roundtable are realized at the first few meetings and increase over time as one's peer group members become trusted advisors and friends. I recommend it highly."
Scott Gillis, CEO, Nucryst Pharamceuticals |
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My peer group serves as my virtual board of directors. The members of my group ask tough questions and their combined experience and advice help to form thoughtful solutions without my having to reinvent the wheel. This process saved me significant amounts of time and helps me to avoid costly mistakes. Helping others to solve their problems is a great way to sharpen critical thinking skills and anticipate possible future obstacles to success. The seminars and retreats are like being enrolled in a part time MBA program – only better targeted to my specific needs as the CEO of a start-up. I come away from each one with my batteries recharged, a list of concrete action items, and a higher level of self-awareness. One of the nice side effects is a group of new friends who intimately understand my challenges.
Joe Mercadante, CEO, JPMerc & Co. |
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The CEO Roundtable provided me with the best ROI I could get for my time and money. The power of fellow CEOs helping you solve your most difficult problems is invaluable. Loren does an excellent job herding the cats, coaching us, and keeping the group focused.
John Dacey, Retired IT Company Owner |
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I’ve found the mix of companies in the Roundtable to be especially valuable because I receive a broader and often different perspective on business issues. This helps me find more creative solutions and new opportunities.
Nancy Kolligian, CEO, Distributor Corporation of New England |
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The CEO Roundtable is an organization that has been thoughtfully designed to include the kinds of people that are naturally inclined to offer assistance, which is especially useful since the members are all intelligent and uniquely experienced CEOs. Bringing talented, grounded people into an environment that facilitates open dialogue about critical business issues, the CEO Roundtable raised my game from the first session, and I look forward to many more.
Bob Allard, CEO, Extension Engine |
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CEO Roundtable is a unique opportunity. It gives me the monthly privilege of running ideas, issues, and concerns passed a group of individuals who have sat where I sit and grappled with similar issues. In the past, I have brought to the group issues from HR, to service pricing, to product development. The wisdom that I receive is extremely valuable. I also learn just as much from listening. While I may not be currently dealing with the issues that the other members bring to the table, it is extremely educational to hear about their challenges, hear the opinions of the other members, and even offer my own insights. I highly recommend CEO Roundtable to any business owner with more than 6 employees.
David Friedman, CEO, Boston Logic Technology Partners, Inc |
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“I trust recommendations from my peer group for good resources that will be right for my company, from funding to employees.”
Kees Been, CEO, EnVivo Pharmaceuticals |
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It is my pleasure to tell about the benefits of the CEO Roundtable. Although I have only been a member for six months, I am very impressed by the benefits of the Roundtable. It is very challenging to discuss many of the issues that I face regularly, and this group provides me with a sounding board with decades of experience on how best to handle the strategic and tactical issues that arise. I look forward to our monthly presentations and peer group discussions to gain insight and wisdom from others. I also have found the seminars to be of great value. The most recent one, The Art of Storytelling, provided knowledge and tools that I immediately applied in a company meeting forum, and it allowed me to better connect with my colleagues. Thank you, Loren, for creating and facilitating the Roundtable!.
Janet Wolfe, CEO, Wolfe Laboratories
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The CEO Roundtable offers a forum where you can bring your business issues in for full discussion by other business leaders. You will come to find out you are not alone with these issues and get a fresh, new perspective you may just not have thought of on how to approach the issues. In the process you will forge long term relationships with your immediate Roundtable and over the years with many of the other Roundtable members you will meet at our All Roundtable meetings, conferences and retreats.
Bill Buck, President, The Stone Wall Real Estate Professionals
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I joined the Roundtable in 1997. I joined because I had accepted the challenge, as a first-time CEO, to lead a small spin out from a very large corporation. I needed experienced resources that I could trust to tell me the truth about how to handle all the new stuff now landing on my desk. I was not disappointed. Most of the learning came from listening to others sharing their problems. While some of those problems had not yet arrived in my own organization, many certainly showed up at some point. Prepared to deal with surprises is critical to success.
Sig Tullmann, CEO, Safe Hydrogen, LLC
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CEO Roundtable has provided me the opportunity to meet other CEO’s in my industry that I might not ordinarily have the chance to meet. The free-flowing discussion and problem solving that occurs at every meeting is invaluable to me as a CEO and business owner.
Mike Settles, CEO, TGA Sciences
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Best thing of all – I own it and no outside investors! I could not have done it without my peer group. Many Thanks!
Mercia Tapping, CEO, AllergyBuyersClub
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I have enjoyed the interactions of the CEO Roundtable members in the meetings. These CEOs face different problems. Trying to solve their problems has helped me look at my company from an outsider's point of view. Thanks for the forum.
Veni Sumaria, CEO, Sumaria Systems
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The CEO Roundtable offers an excellent forum for networking with local industry peers. Roundtable discussion groups are particularly valuable for frank and open exchange on strategic plans, plus they provide insight and helpful referrals to external sources. The Roundtable is a great resource for a small Biotech company.
Nick Barker, CEO, The GI Company
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CEO Roundtable is the most effective gathering and sharing of executive knowledge, ideas and advice I have ever experienced. New participants are embraced by the membership who willingly share their deepest concerns, experiences and offer a helping hand in all situations. Once you are there you wonder why you did not join sooner.
Mirza Cifric, CEO, SolMap Pharmaceuticals
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The CEO Roundtable has been an extremely valuable group to be around. They will give you their best advice to help you and they care that you succeed. The group is my “built in” Board of Directors and an important part of my success while growing a business. I highly recommend this organization to anyone that wants to improve their business acumen, have some fun and accomplish great things.
John Allaire, Owner, Easton Real Estate
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I have found the CEO Roundtable meetings to be of invaluable help in thinking through the decisions that must be made on a day-to-day basis, usually in the absence of complete or perfect information. There is a time in every CEO’s life where she or he would like to think out loud without the Board of Directors, Investors and staff in an environment that was both appreciative and non-judgmental. The CEO Roundtable provides just such a confidential forum. As a member now for just over a year, I believe the Rountable to be a valuable resource whether one is a senior CEO or new to the requirements of this leadership position. Loren Carlson has senior level operating experience to bring to his management of the Roundtable and conducts the meetings in a thoughtful and collaborative manner.
Carl A. Schaad, CEO, Pericor Science
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The CEO Roundtable for me has been a valuable source of insight into the industry and a tremendous opportunity to learn from the experience of seasoned leaders. It is a great way to meet, befriend and exchange ideas with other entrepreneurs fighting the same fight. The story telling seminar was great; it really helped me better leverage something we do every day in business and in life and to hone it as a valuable skill through discipline and practice.
Quinton Zondervan, CEO, Excelimmune, Inc.
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The biggest value with CEO Roundtable is being able to share information about your organization in a comfortable non-threatening environment. Additional benefits include access to people and organizations that have a proven track record of solving a myriad of problems that face your own organization.
Mike Woronka, Action Ambulance |
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CEO roundtable is an excellent forum for discussing the challenges and successes every entrepreneur faces. I look forward to our monthly meetings and consider fellow roundtable members peers, trusted advisors, and friends.
Aram Salzman, CEO, NovoBiotic Pharmaceuticals, LLC |
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The monthly group meetings provide a great forum to discuss critical and sensitive issues in a confidential and non-threatening forum. The collective experience of the group invariably results in valuable insights and advice.
David Dove, Aeris Therapeutics
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I have been a member of CEO-Roundtable for two years now and I look forward to my monthly meetings. As CEOs, everyone around us expects us to readily have answers available to difficult business challenges, sometimes these issues can't be discussed with other team members at work or your board right away. The Roundtable is a perfect venue to brain storm ideas, discuss issues related to company and personal growth with a diverse group of other smart individuals all of whom can relate to and offer their sincere, non-biased advise on the matter. In one word - The CEO-Roundtable, Loren's leadership and the retreats - Priceless.
Altaf Shaikh, Founder & CEO, List Engage, Inc.
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As CEOs, the demands on our time are numerous and we need to be quite selective in how we spend that time. In nearly 2 years as a Roundtable member, I have missed only one meeting. I make every effort to reserve time for the Roundtable group meetings and all-member retreats. The confidential and constructive environment that Loren has established for our discussions is remarkable. In every meeting I have come away with some tangible insight or perspective that is directly relevant to my business and which would have taken me much longer to realize in any other venue.
Ken Jones, President & CEO, WaveRx, Inc.
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Running a small high tech company is a very lonely proposition, where most of the staff looks to you for answers and positive inspiration, even when both are in short supply. Candid discussions with peers in a group such as the Roundtable helps keep those issues in proper perspective. One can be honest about one's doubts and questions, and get positive feedback and suggestions. It's a great source of support even for those of us who have been this way several times.
Frank Wezniak, CEO, PhotoVac
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The CEO Roundtable is 'priceless'. I have been delighted with the breadth and depth of experience and excellent advice given to me by the members of my roundtable. The insightful questions and dialog about my business and their businesses provide me a level of clarity and education that can't be achieved when working with my own BOD and management team. Members of the roundtable provide both business level and personal advice with an extreme awareness and respect for confidentiality. Loren's background uniquely positions him to act as the roundtable facilitator. So many times he points out ways to look at issues that would have been missed otherwise. Our semi annual all member meetings provide leading edge perspectives on business and opportunities to expand our networks and learning.
Bruce Mills, President, Inforonics
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Since I joined CEO Roundtable, I have been involved in three different start-up companies at different stages. The interactions with my peers have helped me address different challenges and calibrate my thoughts in a way that I could not have done any other way. And, as an extra bonus, it’s good fun – especially the annual retreats where we are always encouraged to explore new horizons.
Peter Steiger, CEO, Optasia Medical
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In addition to my peer group, I belong to the wider community of CEO Roundtables. These groups participate in several meetings together, but the most interesting is the retreat in March. At that event, we search our souls for what is most troubling, and dig deep into the reasons and solutions.
Barbara Dove, CEO, Dove Help Desk |
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The retreats are great! The break in routine, stimulating discussions and time for reflection help me regain a larger perspective.
Bob Glorioso, CEO, Tower Stone Group |
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An unexpected benefit of participating in the Roundtable was the opportunity to be extremely comfortable in sharing very private and personal emotions - those feelings buried inside all of us and generally carefully hidden in our “executive persona”. Loren’s “out of the box” thinking brings poets, musicians and actors to those wonderful annual CEO Roundtable retreats. Some of those sessions occasionally generated a release of tears, some of joy and some of pain, from a group not generally comfortable in expressing that level of emotion. But these moments were a serious demonstration of the level of comfort and trust achieved among members of my group. That trust and comfort is a major value of the Roundtable. I see it relied on continually as members, when facing serious personal business challenges, comfortably come to the table, knowing they will get thoughtful advice and quite often are offered hands-on help.
Sig Tullmann, CEO, Safe Hydrogen, LLC
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