Bringing together non-competing owners and managers with similar problems and goals

Here's your opportunity to share management ideas and solve difficult problems with a select group of non-competing fellow EASAns.

As a participant in EASA’s Roving Chief Executive Program, you’ll meet regularly with the same group of owners/managers of electrical sales and service centers for a truly open exchange of information. Participants share experiences and help one another solve business problems common to all of them. This pooling of talent and experience benefits every member of the group. It’s like having your own consulting firm or outside board of directors.

Participants usually meet twice each year with their assigned group; and meetings usually rotate among the members' locations, so that everyone has the opportunity to see the operation of other companies firsthand.

Many Chambers of Commerce and local business groups across the United States and around the world achieve great success on a local basis with similar programs for unlike, non-competing businesses. Known by such names as “networking groups,” “profit improvement programs” or “entrepreneurs’ round tables,” such programs have been received enthusiastically by owners/managers of all size EASA companies.

Many EASAns say one of the greatest benefits of their membership is the opportunity to discuss common problems and concerns with the owners and managers of like, but non-competing, businesses at EASA chapter/regional meetings and conventions. Building on this idea, we believe even greater management benefits result from the RCE program, which fosters regular meetings of non-competing EASA owners and managers in a confidential, small-group setting. Within this framework, participants pool their talents and experience to solve mutual problems and concerns.

When you apply for the Roving Chief Executive Program, EASA’s staff will notify those existing groups that are seeking new members. It’s also possible that new groups will be put together. In either case, we try to achieve the following:

• Sufficient geographic distance between members to avoid competitors.
• Regional proximity to keep down transportation costs.
• Good personal chemistry among group members.

To assure that no competitors are assigned to your group, an EASA staff member will review with you the names of all those in your prospective group. (Once a group has been formed, its members establish meeting dates and agendas and decide how to maintain their membership policies.)

If you feel the initial selection process was unsuccessful for your group, you may ask to be assigned to another group after the first meeting. If you decide to remain in a group, you will be asked to sign its charter and commit to attending six to eight more meetings of that group over the next several years. This way each member of the group will host one meeting. After that, groups may redefine their charters, change their membership, or disband.

Depending on the group, meetings generally last two days and begin on a Friday at or near the host’s designated hotel or motel. After touring the service center, the group will meet the host’s key employees and hear a presentation about the company.

To give everyone an opportunity to get to know each other socially, group members also dine together.

On the first full day of the meeting, the host usually leads off with a discussion of his/her key problems. The real benefits of participating in the group become apparent quickly as the other members—your peers—share their experiences and solutions to similar situations.

Following each meeting, the Management Services Committee asks each group to complete and return a brief evaluation form. This helps the committee monitor the progress of each group and provides suggestions for improving the overall program.