VACEOs Presents McCabe Award to JJ White
The Virginia Council of CEOs (VACEOs), a non-profit association serving more than 200 small and mid-sized business owners and CEOs through peer roundtables and exclusive learning events, presented the Charles E. McCabe Leadership Award to JJ White on May 1, 2025 at the annual VACEOs Spring Retreat held at Kingsmill Resort.
The McCabe Leadership Award, presented by the VACEOs Board of Directors, recognizes members who make significant, long-term leadership contributions to the association. Chuck McCabe, Founding Chairman of the Council, was fittingly named as the first recipient of the award in 2017.
JJ White joined VACEOs in 2010. At the time, he was growing his Dale Carnegie franchise into one of the most successful in the nation.
It didn’t take long for JJ to get involved in leadership. In 2016, he chaired the Membership Committee and led the very first “One Great CEO” campaign. Some may recall that the initial One Great CEO message featured a realistic photo of the One Great CEO logo being tattooed on a man’s arm. The headline read, “You don’t have to get the tattoo, like JJ did …”. JJ went on to grow that campaign – and VACEOs – with it.
In 2017, JJ joined the VACEOs Board of Directors. He was soon elected vice-chairman and then chairman of the Board in 2019. Of course, he led his CEO Roundtable multiple times. But what everyone who knows JJ is sure of, is that he is a leader of leaders – and we are fortunate to have had him lead us.
David Ingram, the 2023 McCabe award recipient and a close friend of JJ’s, said while reading the award citation, “One of the core values of EOS is Help First. There’s no one that exemplifies that value better than JJ White.”
Why Retreats Matter for VACEOs Roundtables and Forums
Retreats are not just a tradition—they’re a powerful and enjoyable best practice for VACEOs Roundtables and Forums. We strongly encourage every group to take a two- to three-day retreat each year. Forum expert Mo Fathelbab puts it best: “A single retreat can have as much value for group growth as six to 12 months of meetings.”
These retreats aren’t just casual getaways. They’re thoughtfully planned with a formal agenda, often including the same updates and presentations you’d expect at a regular meeting. Many groups also incorporate exercises designed to deepen understanding and strengthen connections among members. Some even bring in outside facilitators to guide development or learning sessions.
But retreats aren’t all business—play is a key ingredient to their success. Over the years, our CEOs have bonded through activities like fishing, biking, off-roading, climbing, shooting, baking, gaming, racing, wine tasting, attending NBA and NFL games, factory tours, and more. Cooking together and exploring unique dining experiences have also become favorite traditions for many groups.
Each group makes the experience their own. One VACEOs Roundtable gathers annually at a member’s house on the Chesapeake Bay. Another Forum explores a new city each year, leveraging member connections to visit interesting businesses or entrepreneurs.
Ultimately, retreats offer our CEO peer groups a chance to recharge, reconnect, and come away with deeper, more meaningful relationships.
Celebrating International Women’s Day with VACEOs: A Call to Action for Young Leaders
Contributed by Debbie Fisher, Director of Graduate Programs, Robins School of Business.
For the past eight years, the Robins School Graduate Programs proudly partnered with VACEOs to host our annual International Women’s Day Celebration—a gathering that sparks inspiration, fosters connection, and challenges us to think bigger. This year, we had the privilege of welcoming Sue Davies, EVP and CHRO of Markel Group, as our keynote speaker. Joining Sue for our panel conversation were Regina Elbert, SVP and CHRO, Dominion Energy, Paola Cardenas, MBA Student. The panel session was moderated by Elizabeth Chu, CEO, Valorem Advisors.
Sue’s message was clear: success is never a solo journey. She spoke on the power of support, networking, and community, reminding us that lifting others up is just as important as climbing the ladder ourselves.
At a time of rapid change and uncertainty, taking a moment to reflect on women’s achievements—and the work still ahead—felt especially critical. A sobering statistic from the IWD website puts things into perspective: “At the current rate of progress, it will take until 2158—roughly five generations from now—to reach full gender parity.” That’s a reality we can’t afford to accept.
The Power of Paying It Forward
Sue’s career has taken her across four industries and continents, shaping her leadership in ways she never imagined. But what truly propelled her forward were the people who believed in her, challenged her, and opened doors. She shared insights from the Markel Style, a philosophy that creates an environment where individuals are encouraged to reach their full potential. Sue emphasized that her greatest growth didn’t come just from observing successful people—it came from those who helped her believe in herself.
Her message to us as leaders?
- Success isn’t just about what we achieve—it’s about who we lift along the way.
- There will be moments to step sideways, step back, or pause before the next big leap. That’s okay.
- Clarity in our values and vision will keep us focused, even in times of uncertainty.
What This Means for CEOs
If you’re early in your career—or at an inflection point—keep this in mind:
- Believe in yourself. Take the opportunities that scare you. Step outside your comfort zone.
- Listen and learn. Seek advice, welcome feedback, and surround yourself with people who challenge you.
- Open doors—and walk through them. Take bold steps, even when you’re unsure.
- Be the leader you needed. If someone has inspired you, now is the time to pay it forward and be that person for someone else.
Change doesn’t happen by waiting. It happens when we act—together.
Building Relationships Through Volunteering
“Business does not thrive without relationships”, Todd Mawyer, President of TK Promotions
In early and snowy January, I was fortunate to assist with our board retreat. While the board did important work on strategy which was inspiring, I was also excited to see board members connect with one another. Many had not met each other before, but after spending time working and eating together, they each left the snowy retreat with a new relationship or two.
At VACEOs, our Roundtable and Forum groups offer some of the most valuable opportunities for CEOs to connect and collaborate. Sharing experiences with fellow CEOs isn’t just insightful, it can spark lifelong relationships that help both personally and professionally. The opportunities for connection don’t stop there. Larger events like the Quarterly Luncheons, Spring Retreat, and even informal gatherings provide powerful networking opportunities.
However, there’s another, often overlooked, way to connect and deepen relationships within the VACEOs community: volunteer opportunities. As a member-led organization, VACEOs relies on active involvement from members to help guide the organization forward. Volunteering not only helps shape the future of VACEOs, but it also connects members and sponsors in meaningful ways.
What makes these volunteer opportunities truly valuable are the connections that happen when members work together on common goals. Committees bring together members from different Roundtables and Forums, creating an environment where each can connect with fellow CEOs beyond their regular group.
This collaborative setting fosters a unique bond between members who share a deep understanding of the challenges and rewards of leading a business. The result is not only more productive interactions, but also an expanded network that can offer new insights and opportunities for their business
K.Alferio, President of The Cultural Arts Center sums it up perfectly, “I am not an extroverted networker in new situations, so it can be hard for me to get maximum benefits from organizations. I am perfectly comfortable addressing hundreds of people from a stage…but getting involved on a face-to-face level can be difficult. This is where volunteering comes into play. Working on committees, volunteering to help at events, etc. gives me the chance to meet a few people at a time and become more attuned to the group. Roundtables are a great way to become involved in a small setting, but if you are looking for ways to glean real benefit from VACEOs…or any group…consider volunteering and becoming an active part of the member community. It makes a big difference for me.“
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