Ohio Chamber of Commerce: CEO Forum expands to train Youngstown’s business leaders
Throughout the year, the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber hosts educational events for community members, Mahoning Valley constituents and business owners, as well as celebrations of their accomplishments.
During the annual Family-Owned Business Awards ceremony, the chamber announced the state’s CEO Forum started by the Ohio Chamber of Commerce is coming to Youngstown.
What is the Ohio Chamber of Commerce CEO Forum?
The Ohio Chamber of Commerce’s CEO Forum aims to help leaders of small businesses and middle market companies prepare for future challenges.
The Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber worked with the Ohio Chamber of Commerce to expand the forum out of Columbus, according to president and CEO Guy Coviello.
“The middle market is so important to our economy in Ohio,” Coviello said. “I’m really excited about the CEO forum and what it can do for middle market companies.”
Robert Shenton is the executive director of the CEO Forum in the Ohio Chamber of Commerce.
He said the forum will place business leaders in structured pods, or peer groups, to learn about succession planning and transitioning to new technology.
“That’s what we think the big value of the CEO forum will bring to the Mahoning Valley here,” Shenton said. “The beauty of the CEO form is, you don’t have to be a new CEO. You can be on the succession chart. It’s not too early to start planning, even if your CEO isn’t planning to go anytime soon. Get somebody a network and a bunch of knowledge who’s ready to step up.”
Steve Stivers, president and CEO of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, said there are three parts to the forum, starting with peer-to-peer mentoring.
“Second is the learning and involvement of academics, research and all kinds of new ideas,” Stivers said. “The third is fun. We’ve got to make sure we’re building in really cool experiential opportunities in every geographic region too, because life’s too short not to have fun.”
Coviello said the next step will be contacting new business leaders and up-and-coming CEO’s about enrolling in the forum.
