Written by Scot McRoberts, Executive Director, Virginia CEOs
Every year I walk away from Spring Retreat thinking the same thing: this is exactly what a strong peer group organization is supposed to look like. VACEOs has been bringing together CEOs and business owners across Virginia for over 25 years, and Retreat is where that membership pays off most.
We spent a few days at the Cavalier Resort, Marriott Virginia Beach Oceanfront, and what struck me most wasn’t any single session or speaker. It was watching our members actually exhale. Step back from their businesses. Have conversations they can’t have anywhere else.
That’s the thing about peer advisory that’s hard to explain to someone who hasn’t experienced it. There’s a depth of honesty in the room that doesn’t exist in most professional settings. One of our members put it well: “There are very few places where you can be this honest about the realities of leadership, and walk away stronger because of it.” That’s not something we manufacture. It’s something our members create together, because they’ve built real trust with each other.
Our speakers this year pushed us to think differently about leadership, resilience, and where we’re headed long term. The best keynotes give you something to bring back Monday morning. One attendee told me, “I left with not just inspiration, but practical shifts I can implement next week.” That’s the bar we’re always aiming for.
The informal time matters just as much as the programming. Meals, walks between sessions, late conversations that go longer than expected. A lot of the real relationship-building happens in those moments. One participant said the relationships are what truly set VACEOs apart, and I think that’s right. The content gets members in the door. The community keeps them.
I also think we undervalue the permission to slow down. CEOs don’t often get it. Time to actually reflect on where they are, not just where they’re going. The retreat creates that space, and it’s a vital part of leading well.
We’ll carry the momentum from this one into the rest of the year. That’s always how it goes. And I’m already looking forward to our 2027 Spring Retreat at The Omni Homestead Resort. Here we grow.
