MAY 7 - MAY 8, 2026
THE DRAKE / OAK BROOK, IL
The best leaders never stop looking for better ideas. They put themselves in rooms where the thinking is sharp, the challenges are shared, and the lessons come from experience.
The Cottingham & Butler CEO Summit exists because that room is hard to find—so we built it. A space where speakers have real credibility, the conversations have real depth, and every leader at the table has something to contribute. This is where you step back from running your business long enough to think strategically about where it's headed—and leave ready to do something about it.
Agenda Highlights
Economic & Geopolitical Realities
Tariffs, inflation, and global instability aren't going away. How to plan and lead when the only certainty is uncertainty.
Building Leadership Bench Strength
How to build leadership depth across your organization so you can scale, transition, and compete without scrambling.
Technology & AI
What's real, what's hype, and where your competitors are already gaining ground.
Workforce & Generational Shifts
Baby Boomers are exiting, Gen Z is entering, and Millennials now make up the largest share of the labor market. What the demographic shifts mean for hiring, retention, leadership, and how business gets done.
Navigating Consolidation
Where capital is flowing, who's acquiring, and how to position strategically—whether you're buying, selling, or competing against those who are.
Why the CEO Summit?
All sessions, meals, evening receptions, and peer networking included. Travel and accommodations are on your own, with preferred hotel rates available.
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Everyone at the table carries real responsibility—the conversations go deeper because of it
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Built for real peer-to-peer connection, including leaders in your industry
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Intimate enough to actually talk to the experts, not just listen to them
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Content driven by what CEOs are dealing with right now
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Insight from people who've actually done the work
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Connections that become trusted sounding boards long after you leave
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A rare chance to work on the business, not just in it
Register Now!
