Seth Kahan Hosts CEO Symposium in Washington DC on Global Expansion and International Partnerships

Washington, DC, December 02, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Kahan says, "We are in a radical period of 'Grow or Die' for many organizations. International expansion presents both a significant opportunity and a nest of critical challenges. I hosted this event to bring together some of the most prominent minds in the DC CEO community, and was enormously pleased to have Greg Balestrero as my chief presenter."

Since Balestrero joined PMI as CEO, October 20002, it has grown in membership from 92,000 to 310,000. Membership outside of the US has expanded to 182 countries, and 45% of its membership. This membership is served out of 9 offices in 6 countries. The fundamental strategy to achieve this growth was based on multi-pronged strategy that focused on value at the member and consumer level, wherever the individual lived in the world.

Topics covered included:

* Using Organizational Strategy to Generate International Expansion
* Leveraging Board Development for Strategic Growth
* Business Mechanisms that Accelerate Growth Overseas, including:
- Market Research
- Monitoring Global and Local Trends
- Building Local Teams
- Being Responsive and Adjusting in Real Time to Changing Needs
- Strategic Account Management
- Building Alliance with Service Providers

Executives in attendance included:

* Greg Balestrero, CEO, Project Management Institute
* Tony Cancelosi, CEO, Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind
* Julie Coons, CEO, The Electronic Retailing Association
* Rick Cristol, President, Kellen Company
* Mark Hillman, President, Hillman Capital Management Inc.
* Petra Mollet, VP Strategy, American Public Transportation Association
* Penny Pompei, President, Pompei International, Inc.
* Mary Power, Executive Director, HR Certification Institute
* Kathy Warye, CEO, APIC - Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc.

Kahan adds, "I will be bringing executives together throughout 2010 to progress issues of major impact. My goal is to build a thriving CEO community in Washington that takes the tough issues head on and provides members with real tools they can use to succeed in our current business environment."

Seth Kahan is a business consultant specializing in executive leadership, change, new business models, and performance improvement. Kahan has worked with the President of the World Bank, Director of the Peace Corps, senior managers at Shell in New Orleans and Rijswijk, NASA, US Geological Survey, Prudential Retirement Savings, and over 20 associations. He has Board Approval in Change Leadership by the Society for Advancement of Consulting, and pens the popular Fast Company expert blog, Leading Change (SethFast.com). Kahan's next book, Getting Change Right: How Leaders Transform Organizations from the Inside Out, will be published by Jossey-Bass in May 2010.

Further information:
Seth Kahan, Principal
Performance Development Group
301/229-2221
seth@visionaryleadership.com
VisionaryLeadership.com

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