Verne, NPS, and 2 Cool Things

If you aren’t subscribed to Verne Harnish’s weekly email, do it now.   He routinely shares compelling stories from fast growing companies (Gazelles), and shares the strategies, tools and tactics they use to be great.

Cool thing #1.  This week’s edition discusses Net Promoter Score and a Gazelles online seminar that I plan to attend — after I hear Amy Case’s presentation “NPS Demystified” at our CEO Retreat on April 26.  We have tracked our NPS for several years, but have not implemented an NPS strategy.

Cool thing #2.  Larry Weinberg, the CEO of BOWA, the construction firm he highlights in this issue, is a high school classmate of mine.  I haven’t seen him in thirty years, but I had the misfortune of being in his weight class in wrestling.  Think muscle-bound, wrestler-tough guy vs. very skinny boy scout.  Anyway, his firm BOWA is averaging an NPS of 97 in 2012, after booking a 93 for 2011.  This is simply unheard of.   Most companies score below 50, and the 80s are for the very few, like Apple.

By the way, NPS for the VA Council of CEOs, measured just this month, is 79.  Not too shabby.  But … Larry is still beating the crap out of me!

CEOs to focus on “The Top Line”

This year’s CEO Retreat addresses “The Top Line.”  After several years of getting lean and mean, top line opportunities are there for smart, focused business owners and CEOs.   Keynote presenters will include sales guru Jack Daly, Net Promoter Score expert Amy Case, and economist Alan Beaulieu.  As always, the CEO Retreat will offer equal time in small groups for peer exchange and learning.
More than 100 VA Council of CEOs members are expected at the annual gathering, April 25-27 at Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg.   See more details here.

CEO Retreat Program Announced

The Virginia Council of CEOs recently announced the program for the 2011 CEO Retreat.  This much anticipated annual event will feature presentations by small business blogger Jay Goltz and economist Alan Beaulieu.  Also speaking will be the author of “How to Hire A Players”, Eric Herrenkohl and the CEO of Geomagic, Ping Fu.

The CEO Retreat will be held on April 6-8 at Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, Virgnia.  Your can download the CEO Retreat 2011 Brochure or see the VACEOs web site for more details.

More than 100 CEOs of small and mid-sized Virginia businesses are expected to attend.