Virginia CEOs

What actually sets your business apart when everyone's competing on price and features?

That's the question we're digging into at the 2026 Fall Leaders Conference on October 1 at the Jepson Alumni Center in Richmond.

Keynote speaker Dan Gingiss, CSP has spent 20 years figuring out why some brands stick and others disappear. You'll walk away with a practical framework and ideas you can use the next day.

This is our only public event, open to all business leaders and their teams. Registration is live! Find the link in our bio.

What a great day in Roanoke!

Dr. Alice Louise Kassens came to The Stone House at Black Dog Salvage and gave a room full of CEOs a straight look at where the economy is heading and what to watch for. The conversation was good enough that we all stuck around well past when it was supposed to end.

VACEOs has been doing this across Virginia for years. If you're a CEO or business owner in the Roanoke area and you haven't connected with us yet, now's a good time.

Thank you to everyone who attended, we will see you soon!

We loved getting the chance to wrap up some new member boxes right after wrapping up Retreat.

A warm welcome to our newest members:
Jair Drooger, Zach Miller, Nate McFarland, Alex Murdock, Ryan Cannon, Paul Hubbard, James Kastelein, and Margaret Baudinet!

These CEOs are stepping into a community of Virginia's top business leaders who show up for each other, challenge each other, and grow together. We are so glad you're here.

Here We Grow. 🌱

Boxes, bags, and a car full of "This has to be everything, right?" VACEOs Spring Retreat 2026 here we come.

Spring Retreat update 👇

170 VACEOs members and sponsors are already registered
That’s nearly 70% of our community
Every Roundtable and Forum is represented

⏳ Today is the LAST day to lock in the discounted room rate at the Cavalier Resort. Don't miss out!

Book your room and register:
https://vaceos.org/spring-2026-retreat/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
VACEOs announces groundbreaking new member benefit designed to bridge the gap between executive communication and human understanding.
The CEO Translator is here.

The VACEOs team is on-site at The Cavalier Resort Virginia Beach this week, putting the finishing touches on plans for our upcoming Spring Retreat (April 29 – May 1). We can confidently say: this one is going to be special.

We're bringing together Virginia CEOs for three days of peer connection, candid conversation, and the kind of perspective-shifting that only happens when you step away from the day-to-day.

(We may have also confirmed that the espresso martinis at The Cavalier are excellent. Research. Purely research.)

Members: Register by March 26 to lock in your no-fee registration benefit, link in our bio.

What does it really take to expand nationally?

“Growth should refine who you are — not change it.”

That insight from Rohana Meade, President & CEO of Synergy Technical, anchors her contributed article for VACEOs.

Drawing from her experience building a national customer base as cloud technology and managed IT were still emerging, Rohana shares six lessons on scaling with clarity, discipline, and strong core values.

From sharpening positioning to creating repeatable delivery models, her perspective resonates with growth-minded CEOs navigating expansion and leadership at scale.

🔗 Read the full article and explore more CEO-focused insights through the link in the comments.

Our Quarterly Luncheons are some of our favorite gatherings. It’s always great seeing the VACEOs community reconnect and learn from one another.

On January 29, we’ll spend time with Alex Goldfayn as he walks us through OUTGROW, his simple and proven system for winning market share through fast, proactive actions.

This is one of our biggest programs of the year, and as a bonus, everyone who attends will receive a copy of Alex’s book, OUTGROW.

The luncheon is for VACEOs members and sponsors only, but if you’re a CEO who would like to attend and learn more about our community, DM us. We’d love to meet you.

Growth

We’re excited to spotlight VACEOs member Chris Gerarge, President of Vanwin Coatings of VA. Chris brings thoughtful leadership, a commitment to culture, and a passion for talent development to our community.

Check out his full profile to learn how he’s growing a legacy business, building strong teams, and shaping the future of Hampton Roads.