New England Executive Summit
Hosted in Burlington Tuesday, May 5, 2026 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. EDT
Event Overview
Every Decision, Obstacle, and Success Has Shaped the Leader You Are Today
The Vistage Executive Summit is your day to build on that experience through expert insights, meaningful peer connection, and practical tools that drive growth.
My biggest takeaway from the Vistage Executive Summit is the importance of aligning long-term planning with both business goals and personal well-being. Success isn’t just about short-term wins—it’s about building something sustainable over time. When both areas are nurtured, they reinforce each other, leading to more consistent progress and a better quality of life.
— Davinder Harcharan Singh, Vistage member and 2025 Executive Summit attendee
Due to unforeseen circumstances, the morning keynote speaker has changed. We’re thrilled to announce that Dr. Greg Wells, founder of Wells Performance, Inc., will be presenting on how to navigate disruption and harness it to achieve growth and sustainable high performance.
Event Speakers
Tara Bayke
Economist, ITR EconomicsAnticipating Changes in Business Direction
Anticipating changes in the market over the second half of 2026 and through 2027 will be essential for leaders preparing for the next stage of the economic cycle. ITR Economics expects approximately two notable shifts in business trajectory during this period, and understanding these movements will help leaders stay proactive rather than reactive.
This presentation will provide you with invaluable insights from ITR Economics’ latest forecast to help inform your decision making on how to navigate forthcoming changes effectively. By leveraging these insights and actionable recommendations, you can ensure your organizations remain resilient in the ever-evolving market landscape.
Dr. Greg Wells
Founder, Wells Performance, Inc.The Adaptation Advantage: How High Performers Can Thrive in an Era of Change
In an era of rapid disruption and uncertainty, the ability to adapt to change isn't just beneficial—it's essential. Global shifts, technological advancements, and unforeseen challenges are rapidly transforming the way we live and work. Amidst these changes, high performers are expected to deliver more impactful results than ever before.
The pressing question is: How can we not only navigate disruption but harness it to achieve growth and sustainable high performance? In this session, you will learn:
- How the Brain Processes Change: Understand how we perceive and respond to change, and how to rewire your thinking for positive adaptation.
- Physiological Adaptation Mechanisms: Discover how the body adapts to stress in both the short and long term, and how to support this natural process.
- Managing Mental and Physical Impact: Learn tactics to mitigate the effects of a challenging environment on your well-being.
- Leadership in Disruptive Times: Explore strategies for maintaining peak performance and guiding your team through high stress and rapid change.
- The Scientific Shift for Positive Growth: Uncover the key physiological approach that enables leaders and teams to adapt positively and thrive.
Anne Petrik
VP of Research, Vistage Worldwide, Inc. | Summit EmceeAs emcee for this Summit, VP of Research Anne Petrik will share the latest data from the Vistage CEO Confidence Index, adding context about peer sentiment and CEO priorities to the program throughout the day.
See below for a full listing of breakouts
See below for a full listing of breakouts
Celebrate your community's Vistage Member Excellence Award winners and finalists and connect with fellow peers. Refreshments to be served in the Marketplace.
Breakout sessions
11:20 - 12:20 PM
Financial Insights to Grow and Elevate Your Business Valuation
Presenter: Bob McDonnell, Business Development Director | Preferred CFO
Gain practical insight into how your business creates value. This session explores how mindset, team structure, and financial tools enable clearer decisions. Learn the difference between historical reporting and forward-looking planning, review essential financial tools every CEO should understand, and see how profitability, risk, and predictability influence valuation. You’ll leave with a framework to evaluate your financial foundation and identify next steps to strengthen it.
Topic: Financials - Financial Management
11:20 - 12:20 PM
Predictable Marketing ROI: A Framework for Guaranteed Outcomes
Presenter: Lori Turner-Wilson, CEO & Founder | RedRover Marketing
Marketing shouldn’t be a black box. In this workshop, Lori shares her 12 Battles™ Framework—a proven system that reveals hidden gaps costing you growth and replaces gut instinct with data-backed decision-making. Learn how to uncover true customer drivers, conduct perfectly legal competitive surveillance, identify the touchpoints most responsible for a customer's decision to purchase, pressure-test strategies before spending, and build a pay-for-performance team.
Topic: Customer Engagement – Marketing
11:20 - 12:20 PM
AI Decisions Separating Today's Winners from Tomorrow's Laggards
Presenter: Rahul Parikh, Business Partner | RapidDev
AI isn't coming — it's already reshaping how businesses compete, operate, and serve customers. But you don't need a data science team, a CTO, or unlimited runway to be on the right side of that divide. This session is built for the real-world, non-technical CEO: with practical applications across operations, sales, and customer service; an honest look at the risks and what actually goes wrong; and a decision framework that tells you exactly when to buy, when to partner, and when to walk away — without betting your business on unproven technology.
Topic: Business Operations – Technology
11:20 - 12:20 PM
The Revenue Growth Habit
Presenter: Lisa Manning, Certified Outgrow Advisor | Outgrow
Companies often believe growth requires new products, new markets, or major investments. In reality, consistent growth comes from small, proactive actions repeated every day. In this talk, Lisa Manning shows how organizations implement simple habits that increase customer communication, strengthen relationships, and drive predictable revenue growth of 15–30%. Takeaways:
- Turn everyday client conversations into growth opportunities
- Identify leading indicators that forecast future revenue
- Build a repeatable rhythm for sustained organic growth
Topic: Business Operations - Productivity & Execution
11:20 - 12:20 PM
Who Else has the Keys to Your Company?
Presenter: Chris Brescia, Founder | Freshtech IT
One in twenty Vistage member companies will suffer a cyber breach. That translates to one in nearly every Vistage group. Many never fully recover. In this executive level session, Freshtech's Founder and Chief Cyber strategist exposes where hidden vulnerabilities threaten enterprise stability and value and how CEOs can proactively reduce risk. Includes a live cyber risk scorecard and practical steps to reduce exposure and strengthen recovery capacity.
Topic: Business Operations – Technology
1:15 - 2:15 PM
Lead Your Market and Win More Customers in the Age of AI
Presenter: Bob Ruffolo, Founder & Chief Executive Officer | IMPACT
Learn how strong companies become the most known, trusted, and recommended brands in their market. Discover how market leaders use content, search, AI, YouTube, and social media to get found by more buyers, earn trust earlier, and influence decisions long before sales conversations begin. You’ll also see how the Endless Customers System™ helps businesses stand out online and consistently attract the right customers.
Topic: Customer Engagement – Marketing
1:15 - 2:15 PM
What To Do if Economists Are Right: Depression-Proof Business & Life
Presenter: Paul J. Brahim, CFP®, CEPA®, Managing Director, SVP - Financial Advisor | Wealth Enhancement Group
With ITR Economics forecasting a depression ahead, what should CEOs do now? This session translates economist's outlook into practical actions leaders can apply immediately.
Key takeaways:
- Turn economist’s depression forecast into practical business and personal financial strategies
- Strengthen cash flow and operational resilience before a downturn
- Protect personal liquidity and wealth while leading through uncertainty
- Spot opportunities that often emerge during depressions
Topic: Financials - Financial Management
1:15 - 2:15 PM
Beyond the Hype: Practical AI Solutions for Your Business
Presenter: Jon Adams, Co-Founder and President, SALIX Data
You’ve sat through countless AI presentations, but few focus on real-world applications, proven successes, and potential pitfalls. This session will equip you with actionable use cases, a clear understanding of what’s possible today, and a framework for evaluating future AI and automation opportunities in your business.
Topic: Business Operations – Technology
1:15 - 2:15 PM
The Growth Playbook: Scaling Smarter With Remote Teams + AI
Presenter: Pranav Dalal, CEO and Founder | Office Beacon
Discover how an AI plus human hybrid model is redefining workforce productivity. With 25 years of operational insight, Office Beacon shows how to remove workflow bottlenecks through targeted AI tools and high-performance remote teams. Learn how AI-assisted executive support, Prospectly’s AI-driven network expansion, and optimized hybrid workflows unlock immediate gains in efficiency and scale. This session gives leaders clear, actionable steps to integrate AI into daily operations in a way that empowers teams and accelerates scale.
Topic: Leadership - Hiring Recruitment & Sourcing
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