Hero CEO Summit - Phoenix

Harnessing AI for Purpose, People, & Profit

JANUARY 18-21, 2026

Lead the Future with Intelligence,

Impact, and Integrity

Artificial intelligence is transforming how leaders think, operate, and scale — but true success in the AI era requires more than technology. It demands vision. It demands courage. And it demands a deep commitment to aligning Purpose, People, and Profit.

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The 2025 Hero CEO Summit brings together CEOs, executives, and industry trailblazers for a powerful experience focused on the strategic role AI plays in building stronger organizations and more impactful leaders. This is where bold ideas meet actionable frameworks, and where the next generation of leadership begins.

AGENDA (Subject to Change)

Sunday, November 10

2:00PM -- Informal get-together

Location: Aunt Chilada's

(7330 N Dreamy Draw Dr., Phoenix, AZ 85020)

Monday, November 11

(Location: Desert Financial Credit Union)

148 N. 48th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85034

7:30AM -- Breakfast

8:00AM -- Start of Programming

9:00AM -- Executive Interview, Jeff Meshey -- President & CEO, Desert Financial

9:35AM -- Panel Discussion

10:15AM -- HERO CONNECTION TIME

10:35AM -- Executive Interview, Michele Woods -- Partner, Aunt Chilada's

11:20AM -- Hero Factor Discussion with Jeffrey Hayzlett -- Chairman, C-Suite Network™

12:20PM -- Working Lunch

1:50PM -- Rapid Fire Spotlights

3:15PM -- HERO CONNECTION TIME

3:30PM -- Panel Discussion

5:00PM -- Conclusion of Programming

6:30PM -- Dinner @ Stockyards Restaurant

(5009 E. Washington, Phoenix, AZ 85034)

Tuesday, November 12

(Location: Desert Financial Credit Union)

148 N. 48th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85034

8:00AM -- Breakfast

8:30AM -- Programming Begins

9:00AM -- Rapid Fire Spotlights

9:45AM -- Fireside Chat

11:30AM -- Executive Interview, Marcia Mintz -- CEO, Boys & Girls Club of the Valley

5:30PM -- C-Suite Network ™ Executive Mixer

OUR EVENT HOST

JEFFREY MESHEY

President & CEO,

Desert Financial Credit Union

HERO CLUB MEMBER HOSTS:

EVAN DASH

Chief Executive Officer, StoreBound

RACHEL DASH

Co-Founder & Chief Strategy Officer, StoreBound

Event Speakers:

OSCAR CANTÚ

Senior Vice President, Private Wealth Advisor

Family Wealth Director, Alternative Investment Director

Morgan Stanley

VINCENT J. SEGE

Senior Vice President, Private Wealth Advisor

Alternative Investment Director, Portfolio Manager

Morgan Stanley

NATE KIEVMAN

Chief Executive Officer, Clearlight

JENNIFER BERMAN

Chief Executive Officer, MZQ Consulting, LLC

GERARD FOX

Founder & Owner, Gerard Fox Law

MICHAEL WILLIAMS

General Manager & Managing Director

Summit One Vanderbilt

JOE TOLZMANN

Chief Executive Officer

RocketPlan Inc.

RAMEZ FAKHUORY

Vice President

IRA Club

JOSÉ ALARCÓN

Managing Partner

Intelligent Bills

MARIBEL LIEBERMAN

Chief Executive Officer

MarieBelle

ERIC EAGER

Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder, 4impactdata

MICHAEL BRINKER

Chief Financial Officer

Give Corporation

Additional Speakers:e

MICHELE WOODS

Partner/Owner

Aunt Chilada's

MARCIA MINTZ

Chief Executive Officer

Boys & Girls Club of the Valleu

NATE KIEVMAN

Chief Executive Officer

Clearlightre

MELISSA ANDERSON

Chief Executive Officer

Public Goodere

MICHAEL VAN ERDEWYK

Chief Executive Officer

Bright Buckse

ANITA WINKLES

Chief Executive Officer

Renatus Care LLC

MICHAEL BRINKER

Chief Executive Officer

Renatus Care LLC

OLIVIA GAMBER

Chief Executive Officer

Career Evolved

TOM PARSONS

President

Media High Ground

JILL PARSONS

Founder

Media High Ground

DENNIS BLITZ

President

The IRA Club

RANDY TATE

Co Founder & Chief Executive Officer

iFlip Invest

IRINA ALEXANDER

Co Founder & Chief Executive Officer

The Academy of MotivAction

JOSH ANDERSON

Co Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Rule 27 Design

WARREN JONES

Founder

Rule 27 Design

AGENDA

(subject to change)

SUNDAY, JANUARY 18

Partners Council Meeting

Joint Thought Leader and CEO Reception

VIP Comedy Club Experience

A high-energy, laughter-filled evening designed to break down barriers and “take the armor off.”

Special conversation: How improv mirrors the real-world experience of being a CEO, founder, or investor -- and why adaptability, courage, and presence of mind are today’s ultimate leadership tools.

Executive Networking Opportunities

MONDAY, JANUARY 19

Hero CEO Welcome & Introductions

Set the tone and grounding the room in shared values, strategic ambition, and what it means to lead as a Hero CEO in the AI era.

 

The Unstoppable AI Mandate for Hero CEOs: From Theory to Measurable Results

A powerful, no-nonsense look at why AI adoption is no longer optional and how top leaders are using it to eliminate noise, accelerate execution, and deliver measurable impact.

 

The Human Edge: Strategic Leadership in an AI-Dominated World

Explore the irreplaceable power of human judgment, culture-building, vision, and emotional intelligence—where AI amplifies leadership but never substitutes for it.

 

The AI Frontier: Context, Risk & The Path to Exponential Growth
A masterclass in navigating the real-world risks, regulatory landscape, and exponential opportunities that define this next frontier of business transformation.

 

The Accountability Matrix: Arming Top Talent with the Power of AI

How to structure roles, expectations, and high-performance systems that give every team member AI-enhanced capabilities -- and eliminate execution gaps across the organization.

AI 500: Advanced Deployment Strategies for C-Suite Results

Deep dive into high-level implementation across operations, sales, marketing, customer success, finance, and more -- built for CEOs who want enterprise-level outcomes.

 

Precision Playbooks: AI-Driven Case Studies

Real companies. Real deployments. Real results. A curated walkthrough of AI playbooks delivering clarity, scale, and competitive advantage

INVITE ONLY: CEO Dinner

TUESDAY, JANUARY 20

Revenue Acceleration: AI as Your Chief Growth Officer & Other Agentic Powerhouses

Explore how autonomous agents, AI-driven pipelines, and automated decision systems can function as a 24/7 growth engine.

 

Activation vs. Stagnation: Building the AI-First Operating System

Shift from dabbling to operationalizing. What it takes to build a company where AI isn't a tool—it’s the backbone of execution.

 

Ethical Governance: Leading with Integrity in the AI Era

Move beyond compliance into trust-building frameworks that make you the values-based leader customers, employees, and investors follow.

 

The Implementation Engine: From Strategy to Q1 Results

Turn ideas into outcomes. A roadmap for rapid adoption that delivers measurable wins in the next 90 days.

 

The Hero CEO 90-Day AI Integration Blueprint Workshop

A hands-on, guided session where each CEO builds a personalized implementation plan aligned with their business goals, capabilities, and team structure.

C-SUITE NETWORK™ Executive Mixer

INVITE ONLY: CEO Dinner

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21

Breakfast

Departure

Summit Highlights

- A curated program built exclusively for The Hero Club CEOs, founders, and investors

- Expert-led keynotes, workshops, and discussions exploring modern leadership, innovation, and the evolving role of AI in executive decision-making

- Practical frameworks and peer collaboration sessions that help you sharpen strategy, elevate clarity, and accelerate outcomes

- High-trust networking experiences — from evening receptions to focused working sessions -- crafted to spark partnerships, connections, and long-term partnerships

- A premium experience that blends purposeful programming with cultural immersion, providing space for reflection, focus, and meaningful connection

- A final night celebration and The Hero Club Pinning Ceremony recognizing leaders who embody principle-driven leadership and a commitment to service

Summit Inclusions

Everything is taken care of, so you can focus on connection, clarity and

the impact you’re here to make. Your Summit package includes:

  • 3 Nights Accommodation the 4.5 Star Kimpton Hotel Palomar Phoenix

    Settle into a premium King or Twin Share room at the Kimpton Hotel Palomar Phoenix, a 4.5 star, modern downtown hotel that offers comfort, style, and the perfect base for four days of leadership, collaboration, and connection.

  • Daily Breakfast, Lunch & Select Dinners

    Most of your meals are arranged for you, including daily breakfast, relaxed shared lunches, and two evening group dinners — allowing you to stay fully present without managing logistics.

  • Welcome Reception, Before a Comedy Club Experience

    Begin The Hero Club CEO Summit with welcome reception -- a relaxed, conversation-led gathering designed to spark connection and set the tone for the days ahead. The evening continues with a comedy club experience, offering a light and energizing way to ease into the Summit and meet fellow members.

  • Two Days of The Hero Club Executive Programming

    Take part in highly-curated sessions led by C-SUITE NETWORK™ leaders and invited experts. These deep-dive workshops and forums explore modern leadership, AI-driven change, and practical strategies for business growth and community impact.

  • Group Excursion to the Musical Instrument Museum

    Enjoy a curated visit to one of Phoenix’s most celebrated cultural attractions — a refreshing opportunity to shift pace, explore, and connect outside the meeting room.

  • Formal Farewell Dinner & The Hero Club Pinning Ceremony

    Close the Summit with a meaningful evening that celebrates new connections, shared insights, and The Hero Club’s commitment to leading with integrity and purpose.

PRICING PACKAGES INCLUDE:

Hotel Accommodations

All Meals

Transport to/from Venues

Single Room: $2,399

Twin Share Room: $1,799

Day Attendee Only: $950

** (this includes meals & experiential activities. Does not include hotel or breakfast)

What You'll Learn:

  • Harness AI Without Losing the Human Advantage

    Explore how AI can strengthen your leadership, enhance culture, streamline operations, and open new pathways to growth — all while preserving the values and vision that make your organization unique.

  • Learn from Visionary Leaders & Innovators

    Hear from top voices in AI, leadership, and business strategy who are already transforming their companies and industries. Gain insights you can apply immediately to drive smarter decisions and unlock greater impact.

  • Build Relationships That Elevate Your Leadership

    Connect with like-minded executives committed to leading with integrity, purpose, and performance. The Hero Club community is known for its authenticity, collaboration, and powerful support network

AGENDA (Subject to Change)

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19

Late afternoon -- Informal get together

MONDAY, OCTOBER 20

8:00AM -- Morning Programming Begins (Panel Discussions, Executive Presentations, Workshops)

12:00PM -- Lunch

1:00PM -- Afternoon Programming Begins

(Panel Discussions, Executive Presentations, Workshops)

6:30PM -- Dinner

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21

8:00AM -- Half-day of programming

Experiential Activity in the afternoon

HERO CLUB SUMMIT (BLACK HILLS)

HERO CLUB SUMMIT (DALLAS)

Hero Club Summits

Puerto Rico, Phoenix, NYC

About The Hero Club

The Hero Club is an invitation-only membership organization for CEOs, founders, investors and influencers.

Our members lead by putting humanity at the forefront in their business, where the metrics of success are measured beyond profit. We believe in the values of leading with integrity, transparency, serving our communities and sharing in our success. Along with operational excellence, this enables our members to grow faster, smarter, and more sustainably – what we call, The Hero Factor. Together, we empower great leaders with the right resources, relationships, education, and experiences in order to drive change and take our member companies to the next level.

Learn more about The Hero Club on our website:

https://heroceoclub.com/

Questions about the event?

Email: [email protected]