History  
The Vision and History of CEO Dialogues, Inc.

“HELPING CEOs pursue biblical excellence in nonprofit service” was the vision of the CEO Dialogues founders in 1992. For many years before that, Ted Engstrom, president of World Vision, had networked CEOs together in regional one-day roundtables.

To meet the growing response from CEOs, Bob Andringa, managing partner of The Andringa Group (and later the president of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities) and Ted Engstrom asked other Christian leaders to volunteer their time and create a ministry targeted specifically to CEOs. And so CEO Dialogues, Inc. was born in 1992.

Ted Engstrom, then president emeritus of World Vision, served as chairman of the board and Bob Andringa served as president. Other trustees (and their positions at the time) included Jerry E. White, international president of The Navigators; George R. Grange II, Esq., co-founder Gammon & Grange, P.C.; Richard W. Mason, CEO, Motor Racing Outreach; Paul D. Nelson, president, Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability; and John Pearson, president/CEO, Christian Management Association.

When the Lord called Ted Engstrom home in 2006 at age 90, the trustees asked Bob Andringa to assume the role of chairman of CEO Dialogues, Inc. John Pearson was named president. Other current trustees include Chip Grange (secretary-treasurer), Fred Laughlin and Jerry White (vice chairman). Dale Lefever and Rob Stevenson served as trustees in 2006 and 2007. Trustee bios are posted under “Board of Trustees.”

Between 1995 and 2005, the programs of CEO Dialogues, Inc. were managed by Christian Management Association (www.CMAonline.org). Since 1992, dozens of one-day dialogues have been held throughout the U.S. in Seattle, New York City, Newark, Philadelphia, Indianapolis, Chicago, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C., Alexandria, Va., Dallas, Colorado Springs, Palm Springs, Calif., Orange County, Calif. (Brea and Dana Point), and other cities.

Bob Andringa, John Pearson, Bill James (Emerging Leaders Institute), Dan Bolin (Dan Bolin Resources), Tony DeCaro (senior consultant with CMA) and others have served in formal roles with CEO Dialogues, Inc. over the years to organize and facilitate the dialogues.

Hundreds of ministry CEOs have connected and gained encouragement and confidence in their CEO roles because of the volunteer leadership of CEO Dialogues, Inc.

PETER DRUCKER said, “The only thing we know about the future is that it will be different.”

Ministry CEOs know they will continue to need each other and learn from each other about the future. Effective CEOs understand the power of connecting together once a year at a CEO Dialogue.