Chamber hopes roundtable forum pays off

The Manatee Chamber of Commerce will launch its first-ever CEO roundtable program in June.

The idea is to provide a confidential forum for executives in any industry to share ideas and get advice, says Neil Spirtas, head of public policy and small business at the chamber. Local leadership and executive coaches will run the sessions, which will be once a month for about two hours.

“It's like an informal board of directors,” Spirtas tells Coffee Talk. “This provides some long-term assistance on a regular basis. It's not a one-time shot.”

Spirtas says Manatee chamber officials spoke with counterparts statewide about a CEO roundtable. The feedback was executive consulting groups consistently score high in membership surveys, which prompted the chamber to move on the program.

The CEO roundtable, which costs $350 for a year, starts June 17 and will begin with one class of 12 executives. Spirtas says the chamber can go up to four classes, with no more than the dozen participants per class. Participants must be chamber members, and the program is open to for-profits and nonprofits. Competing companies won't be in the same group.

The chamber announced the program at a recent event attended by Florida CFO Jeff Atwater, whom Spirtas has gotten to know during Tallahassee lobbying trips. Says Atwater, in a statement: “A board of directors helps a business grow (its) bottom line, creating jobs in the community and positively impacting the local economy.”

For more information on the program or to apply contact Neil Spirtas at 941-748-4842, Ext. 124 or [email protected].