Business owners and CEOs have always been an important part of the fabric of American politics, back to when a scrappy entrepreneur named Ben Franklin ranked as one of the most important founding fathers.
The last several campaign cycles have seen a strong representation of current and former company chiefs and owners getting directly involved as political candidates, on the national level as well as on the state and local levels where they’ve typically been populous. They have scored some important successes, such as Gateway CEO Rick Snyder’s victory in the Michigan governor’s race in 2010, as well as some high-profile failures, including former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina’s unsuccessful bid to wrest a U.S. Senate seat in California away from Barbara Boxer in 2012.
Anecdotally at least, the number of such candidates, especially on the Republican side, seems to have crescendoed over the last six years out of a conviction by business owners that their leadership in Washington, D.C., could help a listless economy and, often, out of abject opposition to President Obama’s economic policies and attitude toward the contributions of business.
This campaign season, which kicked off officially on Labor Day weekend, hasn’t seen much let-up in the intensity of interest in higher political office by entrepreneurs and CEOs. Those who survived the primaries and are their party’s candidate for the November elections for the House of Representatives, for instance, include French Hill, founder of Delta Trust & Bank in Little Rock., Ark., who’s running on the Republican ticket in the 2nd Congressional District in Arkansas. “A conservative business leader—not a politician—fighting Washington’s attacks on Arkansans” is how Hill is running.
Chief Executive Group exists to improve the performance of U.S. CEOs, senior executives and public-company directors, helping you grow your companies, build your communities and strengthen society. Learn more at chiefexecutivegroup.com.
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1:00 - 5:00 pm
Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process
Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:
Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns. They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning. Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process. This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented. If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form. The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.
2:00 - 5:00 pm
Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations.
Limited space available.
10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS
General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.
The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.
