National and Chapter Committee Definitions

National Committees

Board Director Opportunities

The Board Director Opportunities Committee (BDOC) serves as a resource for PDA chapters to assist experienced and aspiring board members in PDA on their journey to become outstanding board directors.

In conjunction with the chapters, this includes helping private companies understand the value of good governance and independent directors as well as how PDA’s ecosystem can provide high-caliber board candidates. It also includes helping PDA members create and execute a strategy to prepare for board opportunities as well as use primary and supplementary approaches to source board opportunities such as networking and PDA’s board posting service.

Cyber 

An increasingly prominent issue facing businesses large and small today is Cyber Security. The Private Directors Association® has made Cyber Security a board governance information priority since 2016 and continues to expand its efforts in this area. Through webinars, whitepapers and other educational resources, PDA is providing the highest level of insights and guidance for private company owners. 

Diversity Equity and Inclusion

The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee promotes PDA values to reflect its stated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The committee’s primary imperatives are to ensure diverse representation in PDA branded activities and to support PDA committees in their recruitment of diverse members.

One of their immediate tasks (tactics) is:  Assist the Chapter leaders and program organizers in the recruitment of and recommendation of qualified females and persons of color to be panelists for webinars and Chapter programs.

ESOP

The ESOP Committee focuses on educational materials and experiences related to private company governance issues in companies that are partially, or entirely owned, by its employees through an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), an ERISA regulated defined benefit plan that invests primarily in the stock of the sponsoring privately-held company; focuses on developing relationships with the owners and CEOs of ESOP companies; assisting owners and CEOs in development of Boards of Directors; assisting owners and CEOs in finding Directors for their Boards; educating owners and CEOs on effective board management and governance.

Membership, Engagement, Retention and Analytics

The Membership and Engagement Committee develops processes that encourage membership in the Private Directors Association® and its Chapters; promotes interest in membership; and works with members on annual membership renewals.

Private Company Advocate

The Private Company Advocate Committee will create mechanisms to increase the engagement of Private Company owners and CEO’s in PDA products and services. The term “Private Companies” includes the four pillars of Family Businesses, ESOPs, Private Equity, and Early Stage.

Private Equity

The purpose of the PDA Private Equity Committee is to lead and support the evolution of board governance best practices in private equity firms, their portfolio companies, and the institutions that invest in them. In particular, we are interested in encouraging greater emphasis on governance excellence procedures and on diversity on the boards of PE portfolio companies. As part of that effort, we envision a greater representation of “non-investor” independent directors on boards of those firms. 

Sponsorship 

The Sponsorship Committee defines requirements for levels of national sponsorship; develops benefits that encourage sponsorship of the Chapters; reviews applications and interviews companies interested in sponsorship; responsible for communicating with sponsors on annual renewals; works with the CEO in setting annual sponsorship fees; works with the marketing staff to provide sponsor logo and other information for communication of sponsorship.

As Chapters are officially chartered in other cities, the Committee will coordinate links to existing local sponsors, and facilitate in gaining National Sponsors as PDA grows nationwide. 

Chapter Committees 

Board Director Opportunities

The BDOC at the chapter level assists PDA members for the chapter on their journey to become outstanding board directors.

This includes helping private companies in the chapter’s local market understand the value of good governance and independent directors as well as how PDA’s nationwide ecosystem can provide high-caliber board candidates. It also includes helping PDA members in the chapter create and execute a strategy to prepare for board opportunities as well as use primary and supplementary approaches to source board opportunities such as networking and PDA’s national board posting service.

The chapter BDOC liaises and collaborates with the national BDOC in support of a One PDA culture (e.g., mutual sharing of lessons learned).

Membership, Inclusion and Engagement

The Membership, Inclusion and Engagement Committee develops processes that encourage membership in the Private Directors Association and its Chapters; promotes interest in membership; advocates for inclusion for all chapter activities and works with members on annual membership renewals.

The Committee’s Engagement Team reaches out to all New Members to welcome them to PDA and provide guidance as to PDA’s Resources; Events Schedules; and creating connections to other Members of interest. Also, the Engagement Team will reach out to all members and invite them to participate on a Committee where they can make a difference and further engage in networking.

The Committee uses the Event Lists to identify Guests who would like to have questions answered, be introduced to PDA Members, and will invite all Guests to consider a quick pathway to Membership.

Sponsorship

The Sponsorship Committee defines requirements for levels of local sponsorship; develops benefits which encourage sponsorship of the Chapter; reviews applications and interviews companies interested in sponsorship; responsible for communicating with sponsors on annual renewals; works with the Treasurer in setting annual sponsorship fees; works with the Communications and Marketing committee to provide sponsor logo and other information for communication of sponsorship.

Program

The Program Committee’s focus is to source subjects and presenters to create monthly programs for members and private company owners/managers related to practical experiences in effective private company governance; prepare a budget for approval by the Chapter Board of Directors for speaker and venue costs; annually prepare a calendar of programs for the Chapter; solicit speakers, panel members, and moderators for each program event; and, work with the Sponsorship Committee in developing venues for each program.