The local business leaders of small and medium size businesses in the Charlottesville area soon will have a new network to meet and learn from other such leaders.
The Virginia Council of CEOs, an organization of the small and midsize company leaders, is expanding from its home base in the Richmond to Charlottesville.
Executive Director Scot McRoberts said, one of the things that propelled the expansion was a new partnership with the Virginia Chamber of Commerce which will give active members of the council dual membership in the chamber and also allow the two organizations to work closely together on future events and initiatives.
The partnership was the result of a meeting between McRoberts and the Virginia Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Barry DuVal.
The council started in the year 2000 in Richmond with three roundtables of about 10 CEOs and has grown to about 200 members, mainly from the Richmond area.
The roundtable groups meet once in a month. The members share challenges and experiences to learn from each other, but the members do not give direct advice about what someone should do with their company.
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Council member Arlene Lee, president of the R.E. Lee Cos. in Albemarle County, said that she was looking for professional development and a way to network with other business leaders when she signed up a year ago.
Lee also said that she hopes the council in Charlottesville will grow to the level already enjoyed by the Richmond group, but she has not decided if she will join a roundtable there or stay in her current group.
In addition to the roundtables, the council also hosts the quarterly meetings, an annual retreat, and also other meetings and social events.
Membership of council is for the individuals who are functionally, if not by title, the CEO. The company of the individual has $1 million or more in annual revenue and at least five full-time-equivalent employees.
The average member’s company has $7 million in annual revenue and also 35 employees, according to McRoberts. Membership costs $2,700 per year and covers all the events.
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