From the Forum Leadership

Dear Members,

As we close another successful Forum year, we want to thank each of you for your participation, engagement, and commitment to the Mid-Atlantic CIO Forum community.

What continues to make this 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.

The 2025–2026 Forum year was marked by meaningful conversations, stronger peer connections, expanded collaboration opportunities, and continued modernization of the Forum experience. We are excited about the momentum we are building together — and even more excited about what lies ahead.

Reflection

Building on 22 Years of Success

As we reflect on the Mid-Atlantic CIO Forum 2025–2026 year, we see some very important changes. The “core” of what has made the Forum successful for 22 years is still there.

• 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.
• Member feedback consistently rates our sessions as excellent.

We continue to hear powerful testimonials confirming the value of Forum membership and the strength of our executive community.

Modernizing the Forum Experience

While preserving the foundation that has made the Forum successful, we have also modernized the way we operate and engage.

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

• 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.

More Peer-to-Peer Engagement

One of the most significant enhancements this year has been the evolution of our meeting format.

Based on direct member feedback, we introduced:

• 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.

And there is much more to come in the 2026–2027 Forum Year.

Expanding Our Partnership with Towson University

Our partnership with Towson University continues to grow in impactful ways.

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

Mentoring remains a cornerstone of our mission.

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 influenced internship and employment opportunities for students.

The impact continues to grow.

What Members Can Expect in 2026–2027

Our upcoming Forum program will continue evolving based on member priorities and emerging technology trends.

Planned enhancements include:

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

Industry Perspectives

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

We will share the full 2026–2027 Forum schedule with members over the Summer.

Upcoming Events

• Thursday, September 10th, 2026 – Forum hosted by Erickson Senior Living – How AI Is Reshaping IT Leadership, Talent, and Work. (Please note that this meeting is scheduled earlier than usual, and we encourage all members to mark their calendars now.)
• Tuesday, September 22nd, 2026 – Golf Outing and Reception at Hayfields Country Club

Additional meetings, events, and announcements for the coming year will be forthcoming. Also coming soon look for member surveys about AI use and organizational readiness, preferred social and networking events and future Forum priorities and member interests. Your feedback will continue to shape the future direction of the Forum.

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.

We look forward to another outstanding year of collaboration, learning, and leadership together.

Stay Connected

Follow updates and announcements through the Mid-Atlantic CIO Forum LinkedIn community and upcoming member communications.

Mid-Atlantic CIO Forum Advancing Leadership Through Trusted Executive Collaboration