Why We Exist

The mission of the CEO Forum is to disciple CEOs and senior executives of major corporations so every employee might be influenced by a Christ-following leader. Senior executives of major corporations face significant pressures and make crucial decisions on a daily and often hourly basis. They manage a large portion of America’s economy and create business practices and policies modeled not only in the United States, but around the world. Competitive and on the cutting edge, they are a sometimes silent but powerful voice in the ongoing transformation of the nation’s culture.

Surprisingly, with the vast degree of influence these men and women wield, they are a largely isolated segment of society. Their intense environment is often a lonely one, demanding long hours and tough choices. Corporate executives who seek to base their leadership in the marketplace on biblical values are frequently deprived of relationships with like-minded men and women in similar positions who could offer encouragement and serve as a sounding board for practical and ethical decisions. It is this distinct niche that the CEO Forum strives to fill.

History

What makes the CEO Forum a unique and innovative outreach is its origins. The vision for the CEO Forum was birthed in 1995 when seven CEOs spent a day together in Chicago around their shared interest in integrating their biblical values into the marketplace, and in addressing the isolation of those leading companies of significant size. Realizing that a unique need for encouragement and fellowship exists among our nation’s economic and managerial leaders, the Forum was created. Since that time, the Forum has developed into a close-knit community of 150 - 200 senior executive officers of major corporations.

Fellowship, Encouragement and Spiritual Growth in a Safe Culture

The CEO Forum brings senior executives of major companies together with other like-minded corporate leaders who desire to grow spiritually, professionally and personally through their relationships with one another and with Jesus Christ. Our members continually affirm the value of interacting with their peers in the safe environment the Forum provides. They attest to how the Forum helps equip them to operate their businesses with integrity, conduct their private lives with authenticity, grow spiritually and influence society.

Our Brand Promise

1. Bible – the Forum will uphold the Bible and its authority and application in members’ lives.2. Prayer – the Forum will pray for all members and their families.3. Refuge – the Forum will be a place of spiritual refuge and encouragement for CEOs and senior executives. Safe,confidential, personal relationships will provide a unique foundation of strength for spiritual transformation.4. Discipleship – the Forum will deliver personal, high touch, high quality Christ-centered discipleship andmentoring through a network of gifted and experienced executives and spiritual coaches and prayer partners.5. Leadership – the Forum will provide spiritual leadership development through innovative and exclusiveeducational courses/programs designed for members’ distinct leadership challenges.6. Convene – the Forum will strategically convene its membership, creating venues for relationship development,spiritual encouragement, and equipping to nourish the spiritual “health” of the CEO, senior executive, and his/herfamily.7. Growth – the Forum will extend its mission reach to those CEOs and senior executives, not yet touched, andserve as a catalyst and hub of next generation Christ‐centered leadership development.

What Members Say

"The CEO Forum provides a tremendous benefit in my walk with the Lord. It’s a place where business leaders can uniquely connect, fellowship and gain perspective from the One who is infinitely greater than any business challenge we may be facing." Mark W. Albers, (Retired) Formerly ExxonMobil Corporation

"The CEO Forum offers an opportunity for fellowship and encouragement in your walk with Christ. This kind of personal support is essential to business leaders as they strive to evidence their faith and values in the workplace. Each time we meet, I come away uplifted and even more committed to putting my beliefs into action.” Cheryl Bachelder, Formerly with Popeyes® Louisiana Kitchen, Inc.

"The CEO Forum is about being shepherded by people you admire from a business and spiritual point of view. There is

nothing like it." Leo Wells, III, Wells Real Estate Funds

Opportunities for Members

Core Programs to Foster Safe and Meaningful Relationships

The Spiritual Leadership Institute (SLI) – SLI lets men and women of the CEO Forum experience spiritual transformation as they encounter God through intensive study of the Scriptures tailored to the unique responsibilities and challenges CEOs face at home and in the marketplace. SLI involves a three-year commitment with three meetings per year and culminates in participants writing a thesis paper.

Mentoring – Utilizes the significant leadership and faith experiences of its members to serve others. Based on Proverbs 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another,” the interaction between mentors and protégés provides opportunities to develop and explore professional and personal goals from a spiritual context.

Discipleship – Designed to encourage individuals to go deeper in their personal relationships with Christ and to apply His teachings to all areas of their lives. The program provides regular, in-depth, one-on-one or small group directed study and application of the Bible, either in person or over the phone. Whatever resources best meet the needs of individual participants are utilized: workbooks, direct Bible study, and/or discussion of topical books.

Annual Forum – Held over two nights each fall for both members and their spouses. While allowing plenty of time for informal conversations to build deeper friendships and to start new ones, renowned guest speakers present on topics relevant to members’ day-to-day journeys in the marketplace and on the home front.

Spring Events – Similar in purpose to the Annual Forum but shorter in duration; programs feature more targeted, issue oriented presentations.

Regional Events – There are 12 regions in geographic areas where we have a core number of members. Forum members serving as directors for their geographic areas convene their colleagues for gatherings over a meal, a social activity, a time of instruction or prayer. The regions are Atlanta, California, Central Florida, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Mid-Atlantic, Northeast, NW Arkansas, Phoenix, South Texas and St. Louis.

Annual Regional Dinners – Informal gatherings for CEOs and their spouses living in close geographic proximity to build relationships with each other and to receive an in-person update on Forum initiatives.

Cultural Impact – We prompt, encourage and exhort members to leverage opportunities, within their spheres of influence in the marketplace, to impact the business and social cultures. Current U.S. initiatives include our Media Initiative and our Values Initiative.

Office Visits – Annual office visits from CEO Forum team members.

Individual Phone Calls – Discussion/instruction times with team members as desired.

Website/Online community – Connects members through contact information, bios, photos, quick e-mail links; provides numerous Forum resources.

Monthly E-mail Devotionals – Timely and relevant devotionals written by members and e-mailed to members.

President Updates – Features updates from Rick Lytle, profiles of member CEOs, and targeted Bible studies.

Spouse Outreach – Includes monthly newsletters from Jeanne Lytle, monthly devotionals written by Becky Tirabassi, women’s luncheons at our Annual Forums and one-on-one spiritual mentoring, discipling and encouragement upon request.

Overview

PURPOSE

The CEO Forum Spiritual Leadership Institute (SLI) provides Christ-following CEOs and senior executives of major

companies a unique, high quality and contextually relevant leadership educational curriculum. At the heart of the SLI

curriculum and all educational experiences are challenging spiritual leadership development courses. These courses

integrate world class teaching, leadership case studies, intensive Bible study, the discipline of daily abiding, genuine

fellowship, dedicated prayer and personal disciplers. Each is tailored to the unique responsibilities and challenges

Christ-following CEOs and senior executives face at home and in the marketplace. Our overall desire is to reach,

disciple, encourage and equip more CEOs and senior executives of major companies in their work as leaders of

national influence for God.

COURSE AND COMMITMENT

The foundational course offering within SLI is entitled, Becoming Spiritual Leaders of Influence. The course is taught

primarily by Dr. Richard Blackaby, noted author and speaker, along with a team of teaching faculty from CEO Forum. It

meets three times a year: from noon Thursday until noon Friday. All students are responsible for transportation and

hotel expenses. For CEO Forum members, all materials, teaching and meal expenses are covered. For non-members,

tuition and meals are additional. Each session includes in-depth biblical teaching and study, case studies integrating

spiritual and secular perspectives, small group sessions, focused prayer time, Communion and meals together with

your colleagues. One-on-one discipleship occurs between sessions.

TOPICS

Year 1 - Spiritual Leaders of Influence: Called by God…Being

Session 1 – Experiencing God’s Great Salvation

Session 2 – Called to Respond: Navigating the Paradox Between God’s Nature and The World’s

Session 3 – Called to a Deeper Walk with God

Year 2 - Spiritual Leaders of Influence: Conformed by God…Becoming

Session 1 – Created to be Conformed to the Likeness of Christ – Character Transformation

Session 2 – Conforming Our Will

Session 3 – Conforming Our Choices

Year 3 - Spiritual Leaders of Influence: Commissioned by God…Becoming and Doing

Session 1 – The Source of Our Assignments

Session 2 – The Power for and Impact of Our Assignments

Session 3 – The Reward from Our Assignments: Becoming a Spiritual Leader of Influence

Graduation – Presentation of a thesis paper on “My Life as a Spiritual Leader of Influence in the Marketplace”

SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE

Discipleship

ONE-ON-ONE DISCIPLESHIP

One of the most meaningful and impactful aspects of SLI courses is a discipleship relationship between the

student and an SLI alumnus. You and your discipler will schedule a monthly call or an occasional in-person

meeting to discuss SLI materials, pray and talk about other aspects of life/interest. This discipleship

relationship is a vital aspect of making SLI courses very special in moving you toward becoming a spiritual

leader of influence in your family, your community and the global marketplace.

QUOTES FROM GRADUATES OF SLI

As I reflect over my time in SLI, it is clear that the path to becoming a “Spiritual Statesman” is a journey. It is

one that requires great preparation, discipline and ability to get back up when you fail. Unlike other personal

or professional journeys that I have pursued, this one requires a recognition that you cannot accomplish this

yourself — but need the guiding hand of the Holy Spirit. This in itself is a “relearning” process that has

required me to set aside a lifetime of training and individual striving to accept and embrace a dependence on

God. It has been a sacrifice and commitment of time and effort — but it is well worth it!

— Kevin Cramton, Operating Partner

The past three years have been some of the most impactful years of my life. Because of SLI, I am motivated

and inspired to bring all God has for me to the marketplace every day. It is my honor as well as obligation to

our family, employees, vendors and community at large to ensure that I am not only hearing God’s Word

daily but doing what it says. There is too much at stake not to be in the center of His will and SLI has

deepened my understanding of not only who God is but also what He expects from me as a spiritual

stateswoman. — Lisa Nichols, CEO

Participating and completing SLI was the most significant event in my Christian walk other than confessing

Jesus as my Lord and Savior in 1978. I was in the 2012-2015 SLI class. In each of my three years in SLI, I

experienced a major crisis in my life. SLI and my classmates were the vital resources and support I needed to

help see me through. While I was initially reluctant to carve out the time for SLI (because I didn’t think I could

find the time), I decided to step out in faith and I signed up. God was faithful in return and He “multiplied my

time” to allow me to attend and still allowed me to meet all of my other obligations…business and personal.

— Tom Manenti, Chairman & CEO

SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE

CEO Forum Region Overview

Regionalization

• Regionalization is a key strategy for the Forum as it allows us to create more occasions for encouragement and fellowship with peers who live in the same area.

• Each region has its own unique character, and the volunteer regional director(s)

(selected from CEO Forum members who live in the region) create meaningful experiences for the members in their area.

Currently

• Currently we have 12 regions, but more are beginning to appear. Regions are

“created” when we find an area that has a high concentration of members. Each

region decides when and where they want to have gatherings and the Forum staff

assists them in getting information out to their members.

Yearly Events

Each year the regions determine what events they would like to have for the year and

when. Some of the Forum staff will usually attend. Some of the events that take place

within regions are:

• Regional dinners (Spouses are invited to these dinners which are hosted by one of

the members in the region either at their home or a country club).

• Quarterly Breakfasts (Usually just the CEO Forum members attend. Some regions

have an outside speaker come in and others just have a time of sharing from the

Scriptures along with a prayer time for each other).

• Quarterly Luncheons (Again usually just the CEO Forum members attend, and the

program is much the same as the Breakfasts).

• Regional BBQs, pool parties, couple’s retreats, etc. (Many of these include the

CEO Forum member and their family).