2024 ACE Summit


November 13-15, 2024

Four Seasons Hotel
New Orleans, LA

Take your business to the peak of success.

Designed exclusively for current ACE Peer Group members and alumni, this three-day summit is a rare opportunity to take a deep dive into a particular topic and to network with an incredible group of leaders who’ll dramatically broaden your perspective.

In addition to interactive educational sessions led by Grow Group executive coaches, we’ll learn directly from hotel staff !


When I first signed up to go to the ACE Summit, I thought it would be a nice mini-vacation. It was that and a lot more. The time I got to spend with other ACEs was just as valuable as the presentations.”
— Brian Strathmeyer, Strathmeyer Landscape, Dover, PA




2024 ACE SUMMIT

Agenda and Details to Come!

See 2023 Below as an example: 

AGENDA

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8

11:30 am - Please plan for flight arrivals before 11:30 am to Calgary International Airport (YYC) or any day prior.

3:00 pm - Registration Opens

4:00 pm - All: Think, Plan, Act
Marty Grunder, President and CEO of The Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping Co.
Chris Psencik, Partner & Vice President, McFarlin Stanford

5:00 pm - All: Banff and Intro to Speakers & Our Sponsors
Jim Cali and Jason New, Founding Principals, McFarlin Stanford

5:20 pm – 6:00 pm - All: State of the ACEs: Past, Present, and Future
Power of Group in the Room – and Prospective ACE’s
Vince Torchia, Vice President, The Grow Group

6:30 pm - Welcome Reception, Dinner & Awards – Fairmont Banff Springs
Spouses and guests included

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9

7 am – 10 am - Breakfast - Spouses and guests included

8 am - All attendees: Do a 180: Check Your Blind Spots
Tracy Wallingford & Megan Parker, Executive Leadership Coaches, McFarlin Stanford

9:30 am – 9:45 am - Break

9:45 am

Breakout Room 1
For Owners and CEOs only: Is The Price Right? What to Know About Value Creation
Jennifer Murray, Vice President, McFarlin Stanford

Breakout Room 2
All attendees: Facility Non-Negotiables
Jason New, Founding Principal, McFarlin Stanford
Tommy Cole, Vice President, McFarlin Stanford

Breakout Room 3
All attendees: Compensation Planning: Leveraging Compensation to Achieve Business Goals
Vince Torchia, Vice President, The Grow Group
David Garza, Executive Coach, McFarlin Stanford

Breakout Room 4
All attendees: Finding the Funny in Failure: How to lead with Resilience and a Smile
Michael Bosco, Executive Leadership Coach, McFarlin Stanford

10:45 am – 11:00 am - Break

11:00 am

Breakout Room 1
For Owners and CEOs only: ACEs by the Numbers: Where Do You Stand?
Liz Helton, CFO, McFarlin Stanford
Steven Allie, Vice President, McFarlin Stanford

Breakout Room 2
All attendees: 10 Must Haves for Operational Excellence
Tommy Cole, Vice President, McFarlin Stanford

Breakout Room 3
All attendees: Temp to Perm versus H2B versus Green Cards to Citizenship
James Cali, Founding Principal, McFarlin Stanford
David Garza, Executive Coach, McFarlin Stanford

Breakout Room 4
All attendees: Pest Curious – How to Integrate a New Profit Center
Michael Bosco & Dauphin Ewart, Executive Leadership Coaches, McFarlin Stanford

NOON - Group Photo - Spouses and guests included

12:15 pm - Enjoy Banff and surrounding areas such as Lake Louise on your own

5:45 pm  - Walk/Ride to Your ACE Happy Hour

6:00 pm - ACE Happy Hour at Designated Locations in Banff

6:45 pm - Last call and Walk to Dinner

7:00 pm - Dinner and ACE Competition - Downtown Banff - Spouses and guests included

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10

7 am – 10 am - Breakfast - Spouses and guests included

8 am

Breakout Room 1
For Owners and CEOs only: What bankers find attractive: How to Get Swiped Right by Lenders
Jennifer Murray, Vice President, McFarlin Stanford

Breakout Room 2
All attendees: Gamify your Culture – Competition Creates Engagement = Results
Chris Psencik, Partner & Vice President, McFarlin Stanford
Michael Bosco, Executive Leadership Coach, McFarlin Stanford

Breakout Room 3
All attendees: Harnessing Artificial Intelligence

Breakout Room 4
All attendees: You all have Big Hairy Aggressive Goals; what is standing in your way of achieving them? A Big Hairy Aggressive GORILLA!
Megan Parker & Tracy Wallingford, Executive Leadership Coaches, McFarlin Stanford

9:00 am - Break

9:15 am - All: The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel Team
Presentation of How they Think Plan & Act in Today’s Marketplace & Group Activity

10:45 am - Break

11:00 am - All: Best Practices Panel: From our 2023 Award Winners, ACE Team Initiatives That Delivered Results
Jim Cali & Jason New, Founding Principals, McFarlin Stanford
Vince Torchia, Vice President, The Grow Group

11:30 am - All: The Wrap-Up & Take-A-Ways
Marty Grunder, President and CEO of The Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping Co.

NOON - Departure

4:00 pm - Please plan for flight departures after 4 pm from Calgary International Airport (YYC) or anytime Saturday, November 11th.

 

Event Details


Registration Fees
  • Current ACE Members: The registration fee is included in your annual ACE membership, but you still need to sign up for the event so we can plan accordingly. Hotel and travel costs are not included.

  • ACE Alumni: $1,695 per person

  • Leadership Team Members: $1,695 per person

  • Spouse or Guest: US$995 per person

Registration includes the welcome reception, dinner both nights, and breakfast both mornings. Hotel, travel, and other meals are not included. There are not refunds available for tickets.

 

Hotel Arrangements

We will reserve your room for you when we receive your registration.
You will receive a room confirmation once the accommodation list is finalized.

QUESTIONS?
We’re always happy to answer them. E-mail peer.groups@mcfarlinstanford.com

QUESTIONS?

We’re always happy to answer them. E-mail vince@growgroupinc.com, or call us at 513.620.5200.