The CEO Council of Rhode Island
Where Rhode Island CEOs Come to Think — And Decide
Exclusively for the top executive of organizations with a workforce of 5 to 50,000 or more full-time employees
Learn more about CEO Exchanges & Meeting Agendas
JUN 16, 2026 RI CEO Exchange - 7:30am-9:30am
TuesdayLeading Across Generations in a Changing Workplace
David Liddell, CEO of Liddell Consulting Group
Crowne Plaza - Warwick, RI
JUL 16, 2026 RI CEO Peer Advisory Board Experience - 8:30am-10:30am
ThursdayGet Answers to a Strategic Challenge from other CEOs
Accelerate growth, sharpen decisions, and end the isolation of leadership
Join a small group of peers to help find solutions to the strategic challenge another chief executive is currently facing.
8:30 am - Coffee, breakfast snacks, and introductions
9:00 am - Meeting begins promptly at 8am and adjourns at 10am
10:30 am - Adjurns
Providence, RI
AUG 1, 2026 RI Member Only Social - 7:00pm
SaturdayExclusive—CEO Council Members Only (significant others welcome)
Catered reception, beverages, boat rides, & private conversationsWaterFire Circle Venue opens at 6:30pmWaterFire Lighting at Sunset 8:00pm till midnight
Watefire Circle Venue - Providence, RI
SEP 17, 2026 RI CEO Exchange - 7:30am-9:30am
ThursdayTopic: To Be Announced
Crowne Plaza - Warwick, RI
OCT 15, 2026 RI CEO Exchange - 7:30am-9:30am
ThursdayTopic: To Be Announced
Crowne Plaza - Warwick, RI
NOV 12, 2026 RI CEO Exchange - 7:30am-9:30am
ThursdayTopic: To Be Announced
Crowne Plaza - Warwick, RI
DEC 10, 2026 RI CEO Exchange - 7:30am-9:30am
ThursdayTopic: To Be Announced
Crowne Plaza - Warwick, RI
Invitation Required – Qualified Chief Executives Only – No Substitutes
— Registration —
Non-Members Pay a Registration Fee | Members Do Not
MAY 19, 2026 RI CEO Exchange
TuesdayCEO Crisis Readiness for Cyber & Operational Disruptions
Ann Marie van den Hurk, Founder of Mind The GAP Advisory
MAY 6, 2026 RI CEO Briefing
WednesdayRhode Island & New England Economic Trends
An intimate briefing and discussion with
Susan M. Collins, President & CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
APR 14, 2026 RI CEO Exchange
TuesdayAI & Cybersecurity - What CEOs Need to Know Now
Douglas A Alexander, Director of the Institute for Cybersecurity & Emerging Technologies at Rhode Island College
MAR 17, 2026 RI 2026 Rhode Island CEO Summit
TuesdayNavigating an Everchanging Business Environment
Insights, Opportunities & Strategies for 2026
Agenda:
• Breakfast Buffet & CEO to CEO Networking
Introductions & Private Conversations
• Fireside Chat: 2026 Economic Growth & Business Support Initiatives
Stefan Pryor, RI Secretary of Commerce
• Panel Discussion: 2026 Economic Expectations
Greg Cornett, President of Rhode Island Energy
Cortney Nicolato, CEO of United Way Rhode Island
Paul Oliveira, CEO of KLR
Melissa Travis, CEO of Rhode Island Manufacturers Assoc.
• Breakout: Peer Roundtables
Facilitated discussion at each table
• CEOx Talk: Risking Safely: Increase Growth without Jeopardizing Stability
Allan James Moore, Leadership Author & Speaker
FEB 19, 2026 RI Accel Advisory Board Experience
ThursdayGet Answers to a Strategic Challenge from other CEOs
Join a small group of peers to help find solutions to the strategic challenge another chief executive is currently facing.
7:30 a.m. - Coffee, breakfast snacks, and introductions
8:00 a.m. - Meeting begins promptly at 8am and adjourns at 10am.
JAN 20, 2026 RI CEO Exchange
TuesdayThe impact non-profits have on the RI economy & RI businesses,
and what CEOs can do about it
Cortney Nicolato, CEO of United Way Rhode Island
NOV 13, 2025 RI CEO Wisdom Exchange
ThursdayEmployee Retention, Loyalty, & Engagement
Brian Popiel, Financial Expert, SPF Wealth
How CEOs are increasing retention by empowering their employees to make informed financial decisions that help them achieve financial wellness
OCT 9, 2025 RI CEO Wisdom Exchange
ThursdayWhat CEOs Need to Know about the Local & National Economy
Leonard Lardaro, Professor of Economics at URI & Publisher of
the Current Conditions Index (CCI) for Rhode Island
Learn what is currently changing and what major changes may be ahead
SEP 11, 2025 RI CEO Wisdom Exchange
ThursdayRising Employee Health Care Costs—What You Can Do
Josh Rydberg Senior Vice President at Brown & Brown
AUG 21, 2025 RI Accel Advisory Board Experience
ThursdayGet Answers to a Strategic Challenge
Join a small group of peers and engage in a DeepDive to find solutions to the strategic challenge another chief executive or you are currently facing
AUG 9, 2025 RI Member Only Social
SaturdayExclusive—CEO Council Members Only (significant others welcome)
Catered reception, beverages, boat rides, & private conversations
WaterFire Circle Venue opens at 6:30pm
WaterFire Lighting at Sunset 7:54pm till midnight
JUN 12, 2025 RI CEO Wisdom Exchange
ThursdayGrowing Through Mergers & Acquisitions
Rick Grundy, CEO, AVTECH
Bruce Messier, CEO, Butler & Messier Inc.
Brad Shear, CEO, Potter League for Animals
Mike Sweeney, Co-Chair, Stevens & Lee New England
A panel of CEOs with merger and/or acquisition experience
discuss what worked, unexpected challenges, and what they
wish they had known before the merger or acquisition
MAY 15, 2025 RI Accel Advisory Board Experience
ThursdayGet Answers to a Strategic Challenge
Join a small group of peers to help find solutions to the strategic challenge another chief executive is currently facing
MAY 8, 2025 RI CEO Wisdom Exchange
ThursdayGenerative AI in Small & Medium Businesses
Rick Norberg, CEO of Vertikal6
What CEOs need To know about using AI to increase productivity & gain competitive advantage.
MAR 13, 2025 RI CEO Wisdom Exchange
ThursdayBusiness Resilience
Donna Childs, CEO Prisere
Strategies that Minimize the Impact of Business Disruptions
JAN 9, 2025 RI 2025 Rhode Island CEO Summit
ThursdayPreparing for Economic Changes & Challenges in 2025
Bruce Van Saun, CEO, Citizens Financial Group
DEC 5, 2024 RI CEO Wisdom Exchange
ThursdayCreating a Winning Culture & Clam Chowder
Todd Blount, CEO, Blount Fine Foods
OCT 10, 2024 RI CEO Wisdom Exchange
ThursdayDifferent Generations in the Workplace—Recruiting, Engaging, & Retaining
Nishita Roy-Pope, CEO of Tribe Academy
Includes a Q&A Session with a panel from different generations:
- Paris Cooke-Brown - Student, Brown University
- Spencer Berryman - Early Career, Citizens Bank
- Tamara Tardy - Mid-Career, UiPath
- Victoria Armstrong - Senior Leader, Loftware
SEP 21, 2024 RI Member Social
SaturdayExclusive—Members Only, with significant others welcome
Catered reception, beverages, boat rides, & peer conversations
AUG 22, 2024 RI CEO Wisdom Exchange
ThursdayGenerative AI
Todd Knapp, CEO of Envision Technology Advisors
Jim Rowan, Head of Deloitte’s Strategy and Analytics Practice
What CEOs of small, medium, & large businesses need to know about AI and its impact on business success
AUG 3, 2024 RI Member Social
SaturdayExclusive—Members Only, with significant others welcome
Catered reception, beverages, boat rides, & CEO to CEO networking
JUN 20, 2024 RI CEO Wisdom Exchange
ThursdayWhat RI CEOs Need to Know about Crime that May Effect Their Business
Steve O'Donnell, retired Head of the Rhode Island State Police & FBI task force
MAY 9, 2024 RI CEO Wisdom Exchange
ThursdayHow CEOs make their companies indispensable—with
products and services that customers can't live without
James Kerr, CEO of Indispensable Consulting
MAR 28, 2024 RI 2024 CEO Summit
ThursdayPrepare to Win
Rear Admiral Peter A. Garvin, President, U.S. Navel War College
Kevin M. Graney, President; General Dynamics Electric Boat
MAR 12, 2024 RI Accel Advisory Board Briefing
TuesdayGet Answers to a Strategic Challenge
Join a small group of peers to help find solutions to the strategic challenge another chief executive is currently facing
MAR 5, 2024 RI Accel Advisory Board Briefing
TuesdayGet Answers to a Strategic Challenge
Join a small group of peers to help find solutions to the strategic challenge another chief executive is currently facing
JAN 25, 2024 RI CEO Wisdom Exchange
ThursdayWhat all CEOs Need to Know about Business AI—Artificial Intelligence
Todd Knapp, CEO of Envision Technology Advisors
DEC 7, 2023 RI CEO Wisdom Exchange
ThursdayHow to Best Prepare for the Economic Changes Coming in 2024
Jason Draho, Head of Asset Allocation Americas, UBS Global Wealth Management
NOV 11, 2023 RI CEO Fall Social
SaturdayHow to Best Prepare for the Economic Changes Coming in 2024
Venue: The Rhode Island Yacht Club
OCT 5, 2023 RI CEO Wisdom Exchange
ThursdayBuilding a Foundation for a Better Rhode Island
Marc Parlange, President of the University of Rhode Island
AUG 24, 2023 RI CEO Wisdom Exchange
ThursdayManaging Workforce Risk in Unpredictable Times - learn more
Robin Jones, Deloitte Principal, Workforce Transformation
Eric Cormier, Insperity Manager, HR Services
JUL 22, 2023 RI CEO Summer Social
SaturdayManaging Workforce Risk in Unpredictable Times - learn more
Venue: WaterFire Brazier Society VIP area
JUN 8, 2023 RI CEO Briefing
ThursdayWhat Successful Businesses Do Differently in Rhode Island
Cheryl Merchant, CEO of Taco Comfort Systems
APR 27, 2023 RI CEO Wisdom Exchange
ThursdayThe State of Business In Rhode Island
Daniel McKee, Governor of Rhode Island
MAR 23, 2023 RI 2023 Rhode Island CEO Summit
ThursdayThriving in Unpredictable Times
Brian Moynihan, CEO of Bank of America
Tom Burnham, Head Coach of American Magic Team—America's Cup 2024
Tom Burnham will talk about High-Impact Decision Making
Brian Moynihan will engage in a candid conversation with Steve Zubiago
FEB 18, 2023 RI CEO Winter Social
SaturdayThriving in Unpredictable Times
Venue: The Preserve Sporting Club & Residences
JAN 12, 2023 RI CEO Wisdom Exchange
ThursdayBusiness Strategies that will Maximize Success in 2023
Helena Foulkes, former President of CVS Pharmacy & CEO of Hudson's Bay
OCT 10, 2022 RI CEO Wisdom Exchange
MondayMaximizing Rhode Island Workforce Development
Matthew Weldon, Director, R.I. Dept. of Labor & Training
Shannon Gilkey, Rhode Island Postsecondary Commissioner
Angelica Infante-Green, Commissioner, R.I. Secondary Education
SEP 09, 2022 RI CEO Wisdom Exchange
ThursdayGetting to the Right Strategy for Your Biggest Leadership Challenge
AUG 13, 2022 RI Member Social at WaterFire
SaturdayGetting to the Right Strategy for Your Biggest Leadership Challenge
Venue: WaterFire - Brazier Society VIP Venue
JUN 9, 2022 RI CEO Wisdom Exchange
ThursdayWhat CEOs need to know about Cybersecurity & Breaches
Kiran Mantha, Principal, Deloitte Advisory, Cyber Risk Services
Todd Knapp, CEO of Envision Technology Advisors,
Jason Kravitz, Head of Nixon Peabody's data privacy & cybersecurity practice.
See the CEO Briefing documents & videos
MAY 5, 2022 RI CEO Wisdom Exchange
ThursdayFinding and Retaining the Right Talent in 2022
Mike Zani, CEO of The Predictive Index & author of The Science of Dream Teams
MAR 25, 2022 RI CEO Wisdom Exchange
FridayGaining Strategic Advantage in this Rapidly Changing World
Dan McKee Governor of Rhode Island
Alicia Rose, Deputy CEO of Deloitte
Ross Gittell, President of Bryant University & Distinguished Economist.
All website content
Copyright © 2006-2026 The CEO Council
LLC – All Rights Reserved.
The logo and name "The CEO Council"
are registered trademarks of The CEO Council LLC.
CEOx and Clarion are service marks of The
CEO Council – All Rights Reserved.