From the Forum Leadership

Mid-Atlantic CIO Forum Members,

September always feels like the “real” start of the Forum Year. There is a lot of prep and “getting ready” work in July and August; but in September we have the first Forum and our golf outing and reception. We come together in person to get reacquainted and start sharing opportunities and searching for solutions together.

What will always make the Forum special is not only the quality of the discussions, but the willingness of our members to openly share experiences, ideas, and solutions with one another.

Reaffirming

We Are Retaining Parts of the Formula

As we enter our 23rd year, we are building on the “core” of what has made the Forum successful.

• Our meetings continue to focus on topics selected by our CIO members.
• Sessions remain in-person only to foster stronger engagement and trusted discussion.
• Attendance continues to average 45–50 executives per meeting.

We continue to hear powerful testimonials confirming the value of Forum membership and the strength of our executive community. You must visit the “What Members Say” section of our website!

We Are Modernizing the Forum Experience

As promised at the end of the last Forum Year, we are preserving the foundation that has made the Forum successful, while modernizing the way we operate and engage. You will see a difference.

Community and connection remain at the center of everything we do. To strengthen both, we have in fact:

• Expanded engagement through LinkedIn
• Enhanced the security of member-shared materials
• Improved our branding and public-facing presence
• Created opportunities for both public visibility and confidential member collaboration

This balance allows us to strengthen our external presence while protecting the trust and confidentiality that members value.

Peer-to-Peer Engagement is in our DNA

Based on direct member feedback, we are having:

• More conversational Q&A sessions
• Increased peer-to-peer dialogue
• Deeper executive discussion on operational challenges
• Greater focus on practical business and technology solutions

We are committed to ensuring our meetings remain focused on today’s most pressing issues — particularly Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity — in ways that are meaningful and actionable for our members.

Expanding Our Partnership with Towson University

Our partnership with Towson University continues to grow in impactful ways – for the University, for the students, and for our Forum members.

The Forum’s support has never been solely about the scholarships. It has always been about creating experiences, mentorship opportunities, and meaningful professional growth for students.

Mentoring remains a cornerstone of our mission. There will be creative and new ways to expand the mentoring program this Forum Year.

Through increased student engagement with our members, we are helping create:

• Career-guiding relationships
• Mentorship opportunities
• Internship connections
• Exposure to executive leadership and real-world technology challenges

In several cases, Forum relationships have directly led to internships and employment opportunities for students.

Members also benefit from the TU relationship — their knowledge sharing; their research in some cases; participation in their events, clubs, and in some cases Advisory Boards. We frequently share information with our members of these opportunities through the University.

What Members Will Experience This Forum Year

Expanded Peer Discussions

• More peer-to-peer executive engagement
• Interactive conversations and collaborative problem-solving

Deeper Focus Areas

• Forum-focused deep dives on AI
• Advanced Cybersecurity discussions
• Practical business implementation strategies

Dynamic Programming

• Flexible topic adjustments throughout the year
• Sessions based on emerging member interests
• Recaps and continuation discussions from earlier meetings
• A “bridging” of conversations from meeting to meeting

Industry Perspectives

• Insights from leading vendors and industry experts
• Exposure to current market trends and innovations

Upcoming Meetings and Events

• Thursday, September 10th, 2026 – Forum hosted by Erickson Senior Living – How AI Is Reshaping IT Leadership, Talent, and Work. The format will be practical and discussion oriented and will use our member AI survey.
• Tuesday, September 22nd, 2026 – Golf Outing and Reception at Hayfields Country Club.
• Wednesday, October 28th, 2026 – Pragmatic AI, Its “Real” Challenges, and The Road to Success and ROI with AI. Gartner, Microsoft, and other experts including the Forum’s own will be helping with this Forum. You will leave with a better understanding of the economics of AI and the “road” that leads to AI adoption with ROI and positive business impacts.
• Thursday, November 19th, 2026 – Rules, Regulations, and Cybersecurity in this Age. We will use member expertise and some legal experts from outside the Forum to help cover what CIOs need to know about the legal and regulatory landscape, agent proliferation and management, and the rapid pace of risk and threat changes with AI. CIOs and CISOs must team more closely than ever!

Your experience will be different this year – we have heard you. As noted previously, you asked for expanded peer discussions, deeper focus areas, dynamic programming, and industry perspectives. You will leave the Forums with something you can use in your CIO role.

There will be continuity between the meetings, recaps, and a bridging of topics and conversations when needed. Your feedback along the way will continue to shape our approach to meetings and the future direction of the Forum.

Our Mission Remains — Community & Connection

With your support and commitment, we will continue improving our ability to provide the best possible environment for sharing ideas, best practices, and common solutions to common challenges.

Everything we do begins — and ends — with community and connection among the right people.

Thank you for being part of the Mid-Atlantic CIO Forum.

2026-2027 will be another outstanding year of collaboration, learning, and leadership together.

Stay Connected Through the Year

Follow updates and announcements through the Mid-Atlantic CIO Forum LinkedIn community and through member communications. Frequent our website!

Mid-Atlantic CIO Forum Advancing Leadership Through Trusted Executive Collaboration