Join Club E and the Private Directors Association for a panel on succession planning—what boards and founders must do before a transition is forced on them. We’ll break down CEO and key-leader continuity, emergency succession readiness, and the governance moves that protect value when leadership changes fast.

Succession planning sounds like a future problem—until it becomes a same-day decision.

At this Club E panel, produced in coordination with the Private Directors Association, directors and experienced operators unpack what succession planning really requires in private companies—beyond vague intent and annual check-the-box conversations. We’ll clarify what the board must own, what management must run, and what “good” looks like when leadership continuity is treated as true risk management.

Expect candid discussion on:

• The board’s non-delegable responsibilities in CEO succession—and where boards commonly overreach or underreach
• The “gold-standard” succession process: defining success criteria, evaluating candidates, and running a transition plan that holds up under scrutiny
• Emergency succession: what needs to be in place if a CEO is suddenly unavailable tomorrow (authority, interim leadership, and decision cadence)
• Communication under pressure: what to tell employees, customers, lenders, and investors—and in what order
• Building real bench strength: how to develop internal successors and measure readiness without bias
• Founder transitions and “shadow CEO” risk: how to define roles and decision rights to avoid split authority
• Governance that supports continuity: the cadence, documents, and board structure that make succession planning real—not theoretical

If you’re a founder, executive, investor, or director, and want leadership transitions to protect enterprise value instead of threatening it, this is the conversation you don’t want to miss.

Parking:
Free Parking is available on-site.

Registration:
PDA Members: $50
Non-Members: $65

Register

Panelists:

Michael Bromelkamp Principal Olsen Thielen CPAs

Shay Wyley Board Chair ThermFlo, Inc

 Shay Wyley serves as Board Chair of Zonatherm Products Inc. and ThermFlo, Inc., Vice Chair of Park Industries, and Board Director of Kent Worldwide, bringing broad governance experience across multiple companies and industries.

Sarah Oquist Board Chair and Former CEO Woodlands National Bank

 Sarah Oquist is Board Chair of Woodlands National Bank and the former Chief Executive Officer of Grand Casino Minnesota, with leadership experience spanning banking, gaming, and executive governance.

Greg Cash CEO, Board Cha Argent International

 Greg Cash is Chief Executive Officer of Argent International and Board Chair of Abbatia Labs in Switzerland. He also serves as an Independent Director of Neuralert Technologies, InsuLife in Switzerland, and Norman Noble in the United States.

Register

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