--- title: "CEO to CEO: Face-to-Face Meetings" id: "12466" type: "post" slug: "ceo-to-ceo-face-to-face-meetings" published_at: "2015-10-19T10:13:00+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-15T02:50:51+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2015/10/19/ceo-to-ceo-face-to-face-meetings/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2015/10/19/ceo-to-ceo-face-to-face-meetings.md" excerpt: "In your own words, what’s the value of face-to-face meetings? Even with technology, nothing beats the value of face-to-face meetings and conferences. They provide you with the opportunity to network with colleagues and to continue the discussion. This keeps the..." taxonomy_category: - "Meetings / Events" taxonomy_post_tag: - "ASAEcenter" - "Communications" - "Meeting Planning" - "Meetings" - "Networking" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_persona: - "Executive Leadership" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » CEO to CEO: Face-to-Face Meetings ### In your own words, what’s the value of face-to-face meetings? Even with technology, nothing beats the value of face-to-face meetings and conferences. They provide you with the opportunity to network with colleagues and to continue the discussion. This keeps the conversations personal and allows you to be more in touch with one another and build long-lasting and important relationships. We are better able to socialize, foster trust, and reach consensus around an issue more quickly when we sit across the table from one another. *—Maxine Somerville, executive director, United Nations Foundation, Washington, DC* In my experience, people effectively participate in face-to-face meetings and may not be easily distracted by office activities surrounding them. Face-to-face meetings enable participants to know when to ask questions and takes away the limitation on the number of questions or input one is likely to add on a conference call. Face-to-face meetings also provide enhanced networking opportunities during breaks when participants can further clarify points. *—Avhapfani Tshifularo, executive director, South African Petroleum Industry Association, Sandton, South Africa* One of my favorite CEOs of all time once told me, “The best fertilizer for your crops comes from the farmer’s own boots.” He was reminding me that it is not enough to sit behind a desk; you must get in front of your employees, customers, boards, or members. The best way to communicate remains face to face. We certainly utilize the most up-to-date technologies to follow up on great ideas from our conferences, but the best ideas come from people who are together feeding off ideas from each other. *—Larry Montague, president and CEO, Technological Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry, Norcross, Georgia* When I am sitting in a lecture or training session, the venue’s vibe and the interaction with my colleagues carry the message better than the spoken words. Being physically present allows for a multisensory learning experience. Electronic media doesn’t let us feel the message. The emotional impact is lost. Face-to-face meetings allow me to submerge myself in the experience of learning, whether I am the student or the teacher. *—Ann Turner, Ph.D., FASAE, CAE, executive director, American Association for Laboratory Animal Science and the AALAS Foundation, Memphis, Tennessee* Tags: [#Communications](https://associationsnow.com/tag/communications/) [#Meeting Planning](https://associationsnow.com/tag/meeting-planning/) [#Meetings](https://associationsnow.com/tag/meetings/) [#Networking](https://associationsnow.com/tag/networking/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoAttend the 2025 ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition in Los Angeles!June 9, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/06/09/attend-the-2025-asae-annual-meeting-exposition-in-los-angeles/) - [VideoAttend the 2025 ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition in Los Angeles!June 9, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/06/09/attend-the-2025-asae-annual-meeting-exposition-in-los-angeles-2/) - [VideoAttend the 2025 ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition in Los Angeles!June 9, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/06/09/attend-the-2025-asae-annual-meeting-exposition-in-los-angeles-3/) - [VideoAshley Cobb Shares Her Experience at the 2025 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 12, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/08/12/ashley-cobb-shares-her-experience-at-the-2025-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2015%2F10%2F19%2Fceo-to-ceo-face-to-face-meetings%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !