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The California Business Roundtable Difference

The Roundtable is a membership-focused organization which represents virtually every major industry segment.  Roundtable membership is limited to leading companies doing business in California, and participation is limited to chief executive officers and senior operating executives of these companies. Through this membership structure, the Roundtable speaks with a powerful and influential voice.

The principal strength of the Roundtable is the ability to bring a front-line CEO perspective and executive level leadership to California’s public policy arena.  While some associations represent specific industries, and other general business groups concentrate on impacting the legislative process, the mission of the Roundtable is to apply the knowledge, experience and insight of its CEO members, working in partnership with public leaders, to identify and solve complex problems affecting California’s overall economic vitality which are fundamental to fostering a sound business climate.

The Roundtable does this in a proactive process – identifying, analyzing and impacting a limited number of key issues requiring public policy action. Thus, the Roundtable will concentrate on three or four major issues at any given point, but its efforts will complement and reinforce the more immediate focus of many other business trade associations.

Through its "big picture," proactive focus on key business issues, combined with the prestige and influence of its members, the Roundtable is a powerful and compelling advocate for a strong economy and a healthy business climate in California. 


VISION

Given the enormous demands on business leaders and trade associations, it is often difficult to "stay ahead of the curve." Too often, priorities are driven by immediate threats from legislation, regulation or the initiative process.

The Roundtable provides the vision to identify issues critical to a healthy business climate and the leadership to address those issues before they become full-blown crises.

ANALYSIS

As issues are identified, the Roundtable brings together the resources to analyze all facets of the problem in a consistent and coordinated effort. Through "issue teams" comprised of Roundtable members and deputies and supported by Roundtable staff and consultants, the problem is carefully reviewed. Economists and other experts are consulted and ultimately an action plan is approved.

ACTION

Under the leadership of issue teams, the Roundtable mobilizes the resources needed to implement action plans, which may include any combination of legislative or regulatory efforts or even a proactive ballot measure. Tactics employed by the Roundtable include earned media, advertising, direct lobbying, coalition building, grassroots and outreach activities. On a selective basis, the Roundtable will call on its members' principal officers and senior executives to assist.

A POWERFUL ADVOCATE FOR CALIFORNIA BUSINESS

Through its "big picture," proactive focus on key business issues, combined with the prestige and influence of its members, the Roundtable is a powerful and compelling advocate for a strong economy and a healthy business climate in California.

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