LEADERSHIP EVOLVED

If you’re exploring your first—or next—paid board role, there’s a truth worth understanding clearly and early:

Boards don’t hire résumés.
Boards hire judgment.

And the path to a board seat looks nothing like an executive job search.

The CEO Roundtable, along with FEI Twin Cities and Private Directors Association Minnesota are hosting a session designed to deliver clarity on how boards actually think, how directors are actually recruited, and why accomplished CEOs can get overlooked—while others get the call.

This will be a candid, practical session led by two seasoned professionals who sit at the intersection of governance, board creation, and board recruitment:

Eric Mahler, Founder of Aretos Advisory, is a board advisor with more than 30 years of experience helping boards and executive teams navigate governance, capital allocation, and high-stakes decision-making across diverse ownership structures.  (See attached or registration page for full bio)

Mark Rogers, who leads Robert Half’s Executive Search Board Practice and has spent more than two decades advising organizations on board composition, governance, and director selection across public, private, and nonprofit environments. (See attached or registration page for full bio)

Between them, they’ve built boards, advised boards, recruited directors, and been accountable to boards across PE-backed companies, public enterprises, founder-led and family businesses, and mission-driven organizations.

What you’ll gain from this session

• What different boards focus on, the topics dominating boardroom conversations today, and how all that shapes who they seek to fill seats.
• How boards find directors and the signals they actually pay attention to when evaluating potential directors.
• Why executive job search logic fails in board search—and how to approach crafting a personal, board-worthy, game plan for today’s board landscape.
• How board networking really works—and what separates visibility from credibility.

If board service is on your horizon—or already part of your portfolio—this is a conversation worth your time.

CEO Roundtable members, please use the registration link in the event email (the link for members and guests is located there). 

Morning Momentum is back on February 11 for a high-impact gathering for business owners and executive leaders who value real conversation and practical insight.

Hosted by Lakeside HR Group and The Bailey Group, this event is designed exclusively for business owners, CEOs, and company presidents to connect, share perspectives, and strengthen their leadership community. Attendance is intentionally capped to encourage meaningful dialogue and engagement.

Table topics include:

• Erin Hargrove, Lakeside HR Group, Leading Through Change — How leaders create stability, trust, and momentum when everything around them is shifting.
• Kristin Nordling, Lakeside HR Group, Interview Process: Finding the Sweet Spot — How to balance speed, input, and confidence so hiring decisions move forward without dragging on — or missing the mark.
• Mickey Moore, The Bailey Group: Calm on the Outside, Pressure on the Inside — Emotional intelligence as the leadership skill that keeps pressure from leaking.
• Jim Willenbring, The Bailey Group, Stuck in the Weeds — Exploring why many CEOs struggle to step out of day-to-day decisions and how that choice quietly limits growth.

Date and time: Wed, Feb 11, 2026 from 7:30-9:30AM

Cost:  $20

Register for Morning Momentum: CEO Roundtable members, please see the events email that went out on 2/2/26 and use the registration link located at the bottom of the email.

MN PFML Clean-Up Q&A – Join the Horton Group on Tuesday, February 5th at 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM.

As Minnesota employers begin to understand the impact of MN PFML on their operations, we are excited to be joined once again by Jessica Roe and Brycie Wasson to answer your “clean-up” questions.

In this session, Jessica and Brycie will discuss some of the early trends that she is seeing and answer your questions live.

You can register here.

2026 Health of the Nation – Thursday, February 12, 2026, 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM CST.  The Horton Group will discuss what trends they are seeing that are driving healthcare costs in 2026. (register)

Making Sense of the New Child Accounts Under the OBBBA  – Thursday, February 19th at 10am

On December 2, 2025, the IRS issued Notice 2025-68 announcing upcoming regulations and providing initial guidance regarding Trump Accounts. Created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), “Trump Accounts” are a new type of tax-favored savings account for children under the age of 18 that will be available in 2026. Employers can contribute to the Trump Account of an employee or an employee’s dependent pursuant to a Code Section 128(c) Trump Account Contribution Program.

In this session, they will discuss:

• General Overview
• Specific Rules
• Employer Contributions
• What We Don’t Yet Know

You can register here.

2026 AI in HR Playbook – Tuesday, February 24, 2026, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM CST .  Join one of Horton’s HR experts to understand how AI is shaping HR.  (register)

2026 Pharmacy Trends – Tuesday, March 10, 2026, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM CST  joined by pharmacy experts, Horton will discuss the increasing cost of pharmacy to employers and actionable steps to curb costs (register)

State of Healthcare Economics – Tuesday, April 14, 2026, 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM CST .  Horton will discuss tools and strategies that employers can use to maintain affordability for employees and practical action steps (register)

Workforce Trends – Thursday, May 7, 2026, 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM CST.  This webinar will discuss the new era of work and how it is challenging traditional models and forcing digital transformation  (register)

The CEO Roundtable is joining FEI, PDA and ACG Minnesota to bring the expertise to you, in one room, for one day, for a session designed to keep you current on capital markets and M&A trends.

This event will cover the challenges and opportunities shaping today’s M&A environment, including how deals are sourced, financing options, what buyers and sellers are prioritizing, and an update on key transactions.  You’ll hear timely insights into the trends and forecasts that will define the deal-making landscape in the year ahead.

1. Current trends, challenges, and opportunities in the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) market, including deal volume, valuation shifts, and sector-specific dynamics.
2.  Overview of the key components of the M&A process, including deal sourcing strategies, financing structures, and stakeholder priorities from both buyer and seller perspectives.
3.  Review of recent M&A transactions and capital market developments and their impact on strategic decision-making and future deal activity.

For more information, click the registration link for the line-up of speakers and panelists and the day’s agenda.

*CEO Roundtable members receive a special ticket price of $55. Be sure to use the link in your email to redeem this rate.* 

Presented by CEO Roundtable Strategic Partner – Felhaber Larson: Scott Blake and Brian Benkstein will discuss best practices if ICE visits the workplace and/or initiates an I-9 audit.