Fall Leaders Conference 2025
The Fall Leaders Conference is open to all leaders, not just VACEOs members.
Join VACEOs on September 25, 2025, at the Jepson Alumni Center to spend the afternoon with Ross Bernstein.
Are you ready to inspire your team, sharpen your leadership edge, and connect with fellow business leaders who are striving for greatness? Don’t miss the VACEOs Fall Leaders Conference — a high-impact event open to business owners, C-suite executives, and their teams.
This year’s conference features an electrifying keynote from internationally acclaimed speaker and best-selling author Ross Bernstein. With over 50 books to his name and appearances on CNN, ESPN, Fox News, and “CBS This Morning,” Ross brings a powerful and practical message about what it truly takes to win — in sports, in business, and in life.
🎤 Keynote Highlight: Ross Bernstein
“The Champion’s Code: Building Relationships Through Life Lessons of Integrity and Accountability from the Sports World to the Business World”
Ross has spent years interviewing over 1,000 professional athletes and coaches who were all part of championship teams. His research uncovers the common traits that separate good teams from great ones — and shows how those same principles apply to building elite business cultures.
In this high-energy, visually engaging session, Ross will share:
- What makes champions in sports — and how to replicate that mindset in your business
- How servant leadership and a strong moral compass drive sustained success
- The role of integrity, ethics, and “doing things the right way” in building lasting relationships
- Practical strategies to build a culture of excellence and become a trusted partner to your clients
- How to turn disruption into opportunity and create momentum in your organization
Whether you’re a founder, executive, or rising leader, this session will leave you energized and equipped with real-world insights you can immediately put into practice.
💼 Who Should Attend?
This conference is designed for:
- CEOs, business owners, and entrepreneurs
- Senior leaders and executive teams
- High-potential managers and team leaders
- Anyone passionate about driving growth and culture in their organization
Bring your team for a shared learning experience that will elevate your entire organization.
🗓️ Don’t Miss Out!
The Fall Leaders Conference is one of the most anticipated events of the year for our community. It’s your chance to step away from the day-to-day, invest in your growth, and return with fresh ideas and renewed motivation.
The afternoon will conclude with a networking reception.
Reserve your spot today — and start building your championship team.
Sponsors
Thank you to Robins School of Business Graduate Programs, Lee Construction Group, and Fitz the Bill on 106.1 ESPN Richmond for being a sponsor of this event!
A limited number of other sponsorships are available. Contact us at info@vaceos.org for more information.
Schedule for the day:
Thursday, September 25
12:30 PM: Registration and Networking
1:00 PM: Welcome and Announcements
1:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Ross Bernstein, “The Champions’ Code” (with two 15-minute breaks)
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Reception
Join VACEOs for Fall Leaders Conference 2024: Breakthrough Conversations with Marcus Sheridan
Bring your team!
The Fall Leaders Conference is open to all leaders, not just VACEOs members.
Join VACEOs on September 26, 2024, at the Jepson Alumni Center to spend the afternoon with Marcus Sheridan – marketing expert, world-renowned speaker, and bestselling author.
Leadership in the post-pandemic era has undergone a seismic shift. It’s evolved beyond the confines of merely building a “business” to crafting a genuine “team”—a symphony of deep, human-to-human connections. This is where you, the leader, turn the ordinary into the extraordinary.
So what is the solution to this tremendous challenge? The answer rests on an often over-looked, under-appreciated skill: better leadership communication. Marcus Sheridan has built a powerful and inspiring program: Breakthrough Conversations.
Marcus Sheridan, an expert in the field of communication and leadership and a favorite of VACEOs, has developed his newest program anchored in a 4-pillar leadership communication framework—intuitive, actionable, and designed to revolutionize the way leaders engage, influence, and connect.
This program unfolds the secrets of communication, equipping leaders, managers, and team members with the tools to:
- Elevate every interaction within the workplace, from one-on-ones to team huddles.
- Instill a culture of self-solution and leadership growth within their teams.
- Foster a deeply connected team environment, nurturing loyalty and a profound sense of belonging.
- Engage with customers in a manner that cements trust and resolves concerns with unwavering precision.
Marcus Sheridan’s signature approach guarantees an immersive experience, transforming passive listening into active engagement, ensuring that each element of his program doesn’t just resonate but truly sticks, with clear, actionable takeaways for all attendees.
This program is ideal for those seeking to enhance their leadership acumen, influence, and communication prowess—fueling a robust company culture, amplified team performance, elevated sales, and fortified employee retention.
Participants will walk away with:
- The confidence to transform any challenging interaction into a positive, trust-building moment.
- The blueprint to cultivate a pervasive culture of leadership development.
- The acumen to ask the kind of questions that cut through noise and lay bare the heart of the issue.
- An enhanced awareness of conversation pitfalls and the skills to preemptively address them.
- The ability to consistently catalyze “aha” moments that propel day-to-day communications to new heights.
- A clear framework of leadership communication to apply instantaneously to both their personal and professional lives.
The afternoon will conclude with a networking reception.
Sponsors
Thank you to Robins School of Business Graduate Programs, Mike King Biz, Bamboo Teaming, and Lee Construction Group, Inc. for being a sponsor of this event.
Schedule for the day:
Thursday, September 26
12:30 PM: Registration and Networking
1:00 PM: Welcome and Announcements
1:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Marcus Sheridan, Breakthrough Conversations (with three 15-minute breaks)
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Reception
Who is this for:
This program is open to all CEOs and business leaders and their teams looking to improve their communication skills to build more connected, effective, and loyal teams.
About the Speaker
As a world-renowned communication expert, author, and keynote speaker, Marcus Sheridan helps brands, sales teams, and leaders build deeper human connections and establish more trust with their audiences.
With over 13 years of experience in the speaking industry and 23 years as an entrepreneur, Marcus has honed his craft as a master communicator, helping individuals and organizations transform the way they connect, engage, and influence.
His expertise has been tactfully applied across a diverse range of subjects including Sales, Leadership, Marketing, AI, personal development, and trust.
Marcus Sheridan’s pioneering approach to communication and connection has sparked a paradigm shift, inspiring businesses to adopt a culture of greater transparency and authenticity with their customers world-wide.
Forbes has named Marcus “1 of 20 Speakers You Don’t Want to Miss” and his book, They Ask You Answer, was named one of the “Top 5 Marketing Books of All-Time” by Book Authority.
AI-Powered Automation to Transform Finance, HR, and Sales
With every prompt you put into ChatGPT or another of the large-language artificial intelligence models producing so much buzz lately, you’re powering forward the next incredible shift in modern business operations.
These shifts began with the personal computer, which boosted output and made business fundamentals easier to accomplish. Then the Internet connected and accelerated everything. And now, AI, as it intersects with process automation, promises to deliver unprecedented new efficiencies across core functions.
The benefits will be immense, enabling organizations to achieve higher levels of productivity, accuracy, and strategic decision-making.
To better understand what’s coming down the pike, I asked colleagues at Fahrenheit (and also ChatGPT!) about what CEOs can expect as AI and automation integrate with finance, HR, and sales departments.
Finance: Unlocking Efficiency and Accuracy
Automation tools can revolutionize finance functions by reducing manual tasks, minimizing errors, and improving overall efficiency. Tasks such as data entry, invoice processing, and reconciliations can be automated, freeing up valuable time for finance professionals to focus on strategic activities.
Automation in finance also enhances accuracy and compliance. AI algorithms can analyze vast amounts of data, identify patterns, and detect anomalies, reducing the risk of fraudulent activities. With real-time insights provided by automation, financial decision-makers can make informed choices, improve forecasting accuracy, and identify cost-saving opportunities.
“Automation, AI, and algorithms may sound daunting to mid-market or small business CEOs, but they shouldn’t,” said Mark Vita, Business Advisory and Finance & Accounting practice leader for Fahrenheit Advisors. “Often the software and technology you already use can be configured to automate processes, analyze data, and deliver strategic insights for faster work and better decision making, and it’s just going to get better.”
HR: Empowering the Workforce and HR Pros
Human resources departments manage an organization’s most valuable asset: its people. Automation in HR streamlines administrative tasks, allowing HR professionals to focus on strategic initiatives like talent acquisition, talent development, and employee engagement. Automating tasks such as employee onboarding, leave management, and performance evaluations enhances the employee experience and frees up time for HR teams to engage with employees on a more personal level.
AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants can respond instantly to employee queries, delivering personalized assistance and reducing the need for human intervention. Additionally, automation can improve recruitment processes by analyzing resumes, screening candidates, and identifying the best matches, leading to more efficient and effective talent acquisition.
“CEOs should not overlook the value of automation to the HR team,” said Laura Bowser, Human Capital practice leader for Fahrenheit Advisors. “The pandemic-driven changes in the workforce and workplace will continue to drive new trends, regulations, and policies that will need the HR team’s full attention. AI and automation will help them give it.”
Sales: Enhancing Productivity and Customer Experience
Automation significantly enhances a sales team’s productivity and contributes to delivering exceptional customer experiences. CRM (Customer Relationship Management) systems powered by AI can provide valuable insights into customer behavior, preferences, and purchase patterns, enabling sales teams to tailor their strategies and offerings accordingly.
Automated lead scoring and nurturing systems also can analyze customer interactions and engagement data to identify high-potential leads and guide sales representatives on the best approach to engage with them. Automation also can streamline the sales process by automating repetitive tasks, such as proposal generation, contract management, and order processing, enabling salespeople to focus on building relationships and closing deals.
“Taking a business to the next level requires accelerating and increasing sales,” said John Atkinson, Sales Advisory practice leader for Fahrenheit Advisors. “Small investments in automation tools can deliver major returns as sales teams benefit from sharper strategies and more efficient processes.”
The Road Ahead Isn’t Scary — Unless Competitors Run it Faster
AI is not a replacement for human intelligence but a powerful tool that complements and augments human capabilities. This article is proof. Feeding the right prompts into ChatGPT automatically generated a framework and usable copy in seconds, allowing me to focus on editing, fact-checking, and fine-tuning the key message I want to share.
And that message is this: for finance, HR, and sales departments, automation frees human potential from mundane and repetitive tasks, empowering professionals to leverage their skills, expertise, and creativity to drive innovation and strategic decision-making.
Implementing AI and automation must be accompanied by robust data governance and ethical frameworks to ensure transparency, privacy, and security. And businesses need to prioritize reskilling and upskilling their workforce to adapt to the changing landscape, fostering a culture that embraces technology as an enabler rather than a threat.
Those that do embrace AI and automation will enjoy operational efficiencies that drive growth and protect against setbacks. Those that don’t will find themselves running faster and faster to chase competitors.
Rich Reinecke is co-founder of Fahrenheit Advisors, a Richmond-based business advisory firm.
Hyper Sales Growth
Bring your team! The Fall Leaders Conference is open to all leaders, not just VACEOs members.
Join VACEOs on September 21, 2023, at the University of Richmond to spend the day with Jack Daly – sales growth expert, world renowned speaker and bestselling author.
Get to the top of your sales game through Jack’s Smart Selling or Sales Management workshops.
Jack will show you how to apply street-tested techniques that will make the difference, as well as reinforce and provide accountability to ensure things are getting done in his Smart Selling workshop.
Learn effective ways to recruit, coach, and train your sales force with proven sales processes that when applied consistently ensure sales success in Jack’s Sales Management workshop.
Through these engaging and interactive sessions, you will learn what it takes to reach your full selling and management potential. Jack Daly will help you get there. To register, click HERE.
Sponsors
Sponsorship opportunities are available. Please contact Scot McRoberts to learn more.
To register now, click HERE.
Schedule for the day:
Thursday, September 21
8:30 AM – 9:00 AM: Registration
9:00 AM – 10:30 PM: Smart Selling
10:30 AM – 11:00 AM: Break
11:00 AM – 12:30: Smart Selling continues
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM: Lunch
1:30 PM – 3:00 PM: Sales Management
3:00 PM – 3:15 PM: Break
3:15 PM – 5:00 PM: Sales Management continues
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Cocktail Reception
Who is this for:
This program is open to all CEOs and their teams. Click HERE to register.
About the Speaker
Jack Daly is a leading sales speaker and trainer with over 30 years of sales and executive experience. Jack’s track record is a testament to his real-world knowledge and extensive expertise in sales and sales management. He started his professional journey at CPA firm Arthur Andersen and rose to the CEO level of several corporations, building six companies into national firms along the way, two of which he subsequently sold to the Wall Street firms of Solomon Brothers and First Boston.
In addition to his comprehensive professional background, Jack holds a BS in Accounting, as well as an MBA, and was a Captain in the U.S. Army. Jack Daly is an Amazon Best Selling Author and has written and contributed to many books, including Hyper Sales Growth and The Sales Playbook for Hyper Sales Growth. Jack is a 15-time Ironman competitor and has completed over 93 marathons in 50 states and on seven continents. He achieves these goals and lives life to the fullest by following his own Life by Design techniques.
Born and raised in Philadelphia, Jack currently resides in San Clemente, California.
The Value of a Strategic Plan
All business owners will eventually exit their business, and I believe it is important for leaders to prepare well to exit well.
There are a number of tactics that owners can implement that will help them prepare well for an exit and achieve a sale-ready posture. The beauty of adopting a sale-ready approach is that it has two powerful benefits.
First, it will make the eventual exit of your business easier, faster, and more lucrative, whenever and however that exit event may come. Business owners in a sale-ready position have invested the time in laying the groundwork that will enable a thoughtful, smooth transition into a sale or other capital-raising process. It will also enable you to respond quickly if you unexpectedly receive an attractive unsolicited offer from a potential buyer.
Second, the process of preparing your business for sale will make your business better, today. Business owners with a sale-ready mind-set think more strategically, have better insights into their companies, and make better decisions on where to take their business next. They, therefore, create a two-fold benefit: when the time comes to exit, they have a more valuable business and are better prepared to exit.
Many business owners understand the value that an annual strategic plan provides for their company’s growth but may under-appreciate its importance in an eventual exit process. Buyers seek to acquire companies at an inflection point, where their capital and partnership can make an exponential difference on the future of the business. Your ability to show potential buyers how you created annual strategic plans and executed upon them in the past will give them the confidence to believe in your current strategic plan and in how they and their capital can help support it going forward. In addition to being a great tool to manage your business outside of an exit process, developing a strategic, actionable, and relevant plan is a key step in maintaining a sale-ready posture.
In this excerpt from Chapter 2 of my book, The $100 Million Exit, Miguel Santos witnessed firsthand how the lack of strategic planning can negatively impact an M&A exit.
Weak Strategy. Weak Value.
In one case, Miguel served on the board of a PE-backed company to help provide market insights and general corporate oversight. The business had grown nicely under the leadership of an opportunistic CEO but suffered from a lack of clear strategic direction and certainly did not have a formal strategic plan. When the time came for the private equity firm to exit, the investment bankers hired to sell the company created an impressive section in the offering memorandum on growth strategy, detailing the five ways in which the company would expand over the next several years.
What buyers would soon learn, however, was that these five growth strategies were not being pursued by management, a classic mistake of overly enthusiastic M&A advisors.
Based only on their review of the offering memorandum, potential buyers bid aggressively for the business, but when the top bidders were invited to meet management, the executive team didn’t live up to the hype. Miguel recalls, “In the management presentation, we had unrealistic financial projections, these hockey stick curves, based on entering market segments that we’d never been in, nor could the CEO show any fundamental way that he had actually capitalized on such opportunities in the past.” With no demonstrable proof of executing against a strategic plan to point to, the CEO came off looking more lucky than good. As a result, buyers either dropped out of the process entirely or lowered their valuations significantly. Ultimately, the company did sell, but at a price more than 15 percent lower than where valuations had been prior to management presentations. In this case, it was easy to quantify the cost of not having a strategic plan.
In another instance, Miguel was on the buyer’s side of the table, partnering with another private equity firm to investigate potentially acquiring an attractive business in the medical transportation space. The company’s business model focused on securely transporting blood and other medical samples from hospitals to centralized testing facilities. The company had grown to more than $30 million in revenue, largely driven by trends in the industry towards centralized testing facilities fueled by consolidation within the healthcare system. The company’s geographic footprint had expanded quickly and included six cities, with plans for further expansion into additional markets.
As Miguel and his PE partner dug in deeper, however, red flags started to emerge. They learned that the company’s units in those six cities operated completely autonomously, with no unifying strategic plan, and they were having trouble replicating the successful aspects of the operation from one city to the other. “Every city unit was sort of succeeding or struggling based on its own operational plan,” Miguel realized. Furthermore, Miguel learned that each location was primarily driven by one anchor client, creating a customer concentration risk for each regional division.
In the end, Miguel and his PE partner decided the company wasn’t worth backing and dropped out of the process. Miguel recalls, “We had to ask ourselves if there was something that was replicable here, if there was a platform that we can build on.” Based on the lack of an operational plan, the answer was decidedly no.
In summary, we strongly encourage business owners to implement a strategic planning process in their business. It doesn’t need to be overly complicated or sophisticated, but it should include three elements. First, set goals for what you’d like your business to achieve over the next 12 months and document those goals with associated metrics. Second, track actual results on those metrics against your plan on a monthly or quarterly basis throughout the year. Lastly, take the time to sit down with a trusted partner or advisor, someone who is outside your company, and report to them your actual results against your strategic plan. This discipline will help you think critically and concisely about your business at a strategic level and allow your next year’s strategic plan to be even better.
Jonathan Brabrand contributed this post. It is adapted from his book, The $100 Million Exit: Your Roadmap to the Ultimate Payday. Jonathan is a Managing Director at Transact Capital Partners, a boutique M&A advisory firm and long-time corporate sponsor and supporter of the Virginia Council of CEOs.
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