Louisiana Economic Development (LED) has opened the doors for applications for its esteemed 2024-25 CEO Roundtables series. This annual program, known for its yearlong commitment to fostering peer-to-peer learning among leaders of second-stage companies, aims to create a collaborative platform for insights and knowledge sharing.
The CEO Roundtables initiative will form up to eight regional cohorts, each comprising 15 to 18 qualified decision-makers from companies with annual revenues ranging between $600,000 and $50 million. The participant companies must have staff sizes of no less than five employees and no more than 99 employees. Locations for the 2024-25 roundtables will be determined based on the number of qualified applicants in each region.
Brenda Guess, Assistant Secretary at LED overseeing the Small Business Services team, emphasized the program’s significance, stating, “The CEO Roundtables program is a testament to our commitment to creating a thriving business environment in Louisiana. By bringing together the brightest minds in our business community, we aim to foster innovation, promote collaboration, and propel the economic growth of our state.”
A flagship initiative of LED, the CEO Roundtables program plays host to a diverse group of business owners and executives across various industries, including manufacturing, healthcare, energy, agriculture, advertising, accounting, arts and entertainment, information technology, and more. The interactive sessions focus on facilitating meaningful discussions in crucial business areas such as marketing, strategic planning, operational efficiency, organizational structure, and leadership.
Stephanie Hartman, Director of LED Small Business Services, highlighted the program’s success, saying, “Since the start of this program, we have seen 532 companies graduate from CEO Roundtables and create 2,690 new jobs in the state. The roundtables pay dividends towards business growth for those who are accepted and graduate from the program. We are excited for CEO Roundtables to enter into its 11th consecutive year of providing this unique peer learning experience.”
Interested companies can submit their applications until the end of March at OpportunityLouisiana.com/CEO-Roundtables. After the application period concludes, LED-appointed regional vetting committees will review the applications and offer seats to ensure an optimal business mix in each region.
For further information, interested parties can contact Taylor Boudreaux, LED Small Business Program Manager, at [email protected] or 225.342.4680.
About LED: Louisiana Economic Development (LED) is dedicated to strengthening the state’s business environment and creating a more vibrant economy. In 2023, LED attracted more than $25 billion of capital investment, resulting in the creation of 19,000 potential new and retained jobs. Discover how LED cultivates jobs and economic opportunity for the people of Louisiana and employers of all sizes at OpportunityLouisiana.gov.
