A practical executive accelerator for newly appointed and early-tenure association CEOs.

The early years are not a warm-up. They are where board trust, staff confidence, strategic momentum, and leadership credibility begin to take shape.

CEO Seat: First Moves gives association CEOs the structure, peer perspective, and executive support to make the early moves that matter most.

Executive team in strategic leadership discussion.

The cost of a misstep in the early years can be far greater than the cost of support.

New CEOs are expected to build trust quickly, read the culture, support the board, lead staff, and make strategic decisions before they have perfect information.

CEO Seat: First Moves helps leaders slow down the right things, speed up the right things, and make early choices with greater clarity.

The experience at a glance

A focused executive experience with one virtual playbook session, one in-person intensive, and three facilitated virtual check-ins.

Part One

Executive Playbook Session

Virtual
August 31, 2026
10–11:30 a.m. CT

Identify the early moves that shape credibility, priorities, listening, and leadership agenda-setting.

Part Two

In-Person Executive Intensive

Chicago
September 29, 2026
9 a.m.–6 p.m. CT

Focus on board leadership, staff alignment, financial acumen, strategy, and personal leadership sustainability.

Part Three

Facilitated Executive Support

Virtual
October 26, December 7, and January 28
2–3:30 p.m. CT

Apply what you learned, troubleshoot real-time challenges, and gain peer perspective.

What you’ll work on

The curriculum focuses on the leadership areas that most often define the early CEO experience.

Board Credibility

Build trust, strengthen governance relationships, and navigate the board-management partnership with confidence.

Staff Trust and Alignment

Create clarity, strengthen culture, and lead your team through transition without losing momentum.

Strategic Focus

Identify the priorities that deserve your attention and avoid getting pulled into every urgent issue.

Financial Leadership Confidence

Strengthen conversations around reserves, investments, risk, and long-term organizational health.

Decision Discipline

Assess tradeoffs, manage competing priorities, and make confident decisions without perfect information.

Maintaining Your Personal Edge

Build habits that support resilience, focus, work-life integration, and sustainable leadership under pressure.

Who should attend

CEO Seat: First Moves is designed for association CEOs who want practical support, peer perspective, and clearer early-move priorities.

Newly appointed association CEOs
Early-tenure CEOs seeking practical executive support
CEOs preparing to lead board, staff, financial, and strategic conversations at a higher level

Program investment

Early pricing is available through August 1, 2026.

Member Registration

Early: $1,575

Regular: $1,890

Nonmember Registration

Early: $2,025

Regular: $2,550

Association CEO reviewing a strategic leadership plan.

Optional Hogan Assessment + Coaching

Participants have the option to complete a Hogan leadership self-assessment (HPI, HDS, MVPI), paired with a one-hour personalized coaching debrief. This assessment provides a clear, objective view of how you lead—your strengths, potential blind spots, and the drivers behind your decisions. It is designed to accelerate self-awareness, sharpen leadership judgment, and help you navigate the realities of the CEO role with greater clarity and intention.

The CEO role has a way of revealing leadership strengths - and gaps - quickly. This assessment helps you see them before they show up in real time.

Early add-on rate: $1,000 through August 1, 2026.

Regular add-on rate: $1,300.

Part of CEOnly®

CEO Seat: First Moves is part of CEOnly®, Association Forum’s executive leadership platform for association CEOs and future CEOs. Explore additional CEOnly® offerings, including CEOnly Connections. Future CEO programming launches in January.