Guide to CEO Forums

The Guide to CEO Forums provides chapters with a comprehensive overview of the CEO Forum Program, including guidance on organizing, managing, and facilitating CEO Forum groups. This tool highlights the program’s structure, materials, and leadership framework to ensure consistent quality and impact across all forums. Click here to view the CEO Forum Program.

Overview:
The CEO Forum Program is one of SCORE Orange County’s premier offerings. It provides small and mid-sized business leaders with a confidential, peer-driven environment for shared learning and leadership growth. Aligned with SCORE’s mission to foster vibrant small business communities, the program brings together CEOs to exchange insights, address challenges, and strengthen their companies through collaboration and mentorship.

This resource hub includes all the CEO Forum Guides, Templates, and Meeting Leader Materials needed to run a successful group. From organizational frameworks to participant orientation tools, the collection ensures that each forum operates with consistency, professionalism, and purpose.

How to Use This Tool:
Use this resource hub as a central reference when launching or managing a CEO Forum group. Chapters can adapt the included guides and templates to fit local needs while maintaining alignment with SCORE’s national standards for quality and structure. Meeting leaders, coordinators, and chapter chairs will find this tool especially useful for onboarding new participants, managing operations, and sustaining effective peer groups.

Key Components:

• Organization Guide
  Outlines program structure, leadership roles, and operational procedures.
• Member Orientation Materials
  Includes ready-to-use templates such as the Member Guide, About Your Forum sheet, Goal Setting Template, and sample member applications.
• Meeting Leader Resources
  Provides tools for tracking attendance, managing discussions, and evaluating meeting effectiveness, including the Meeting Leader Profile, Attendance Tracker, and Issue Index.
• Recruitment and Outreach Materials
  Contains flyers, candidate briefing documents, and welcome letters to attract and onboard new participants.
• Branding and Administrative Tools
  Offers templates such as the Annual Commitment Letter, Tent Card Template, and Guest Speaker Survey to streamline operations and maintain a professional presentation.
• Governance and Oversight:
  The program is managed by an executive committee of experienced SCORE leaders, including all forum meeting leaders and a membership chair, ensuring a consistent standard of mentorship and peer engagement.

Accounting:

CEO forums must be governed by an activity code. If a chapter does not have an activity code for its CEO program, you must request one by emailing accounting@score.org.