Stop Leading Alone.
Start Thriving Together.
The Presidents' Leadership Council is an exclusive, confidential peer advisory group for business leaders who are ready to scale their companies, solve their toughest challenges, and build a more profitable future.
Does This Sound Familiar?
Running a business can be an isolating experience. You face challenges that most people around you simply don't understand.
The Loneliness of Leadership
As the president or CEO, you can't always share your biggest challenges with employees, partners, or family. You carry the weight of every decision alone — and it's exhausting.
Stuck in the Same Patterns
You know your business needs to grow and evolve, but when you're deep in the day-to-day, it's nearly impossible to gain the perspective needed to see what's really holding you back.
Missing Outside Perspective
Your advisors — accountants, attorneys, consultants — give you technical expertise, but nobody gives you the honest, peer-level perspective of someone who has been exactly where you are.
Decisions Without a Sounding Board
Major decisions about hiring, pricing, strategy, and growth require more than gut instinct. You need trusted peers who can challenge your thinking and help you see your blind spots.
Your Trusted Circle of Business Leaders
The Presidents' Leadership Council (PLC) is an exclusive, confidential peer advisory forum designed specifically for presidents, CEOs, and partners of small to mid-sized businesses in the Chicago area.
Each PLC group is carefully curated with non-competing business leaders who meet monthly to tackle real challenges, share hard-won wisdom, and hold each other accountable to their highest potential.
Led by Lori Dann — a values-based, results-oriented business expert with decades of experience — PLC provides the structure, facilitation, and community that transforms good leaders into exceptional ones.
Explore Membership →What You Gain as a PLC Member
Membership in PLC is an investment in yourself and your business that pays dividends for years to come.
Trusted Peer Relationships
Build deep, lasting relationships with fellow business leaders who understand your challenges and genuinely want to see you succeed.
Accountability That Works
Stop letting important goals slip through the cracks. Your PLC peers hold you accountable to the commitments you make — with encouragement, not judgment.
Collective Wisdom
Tap into the diverse experiences and expertise of your fellow members. Get fresh perspectives on your toughest challenges from people who've been there.
Business Growth
Members consistently report accelerated growth, improved profitability, and better decision-making as a direct result of their PLC participation.
Complete Confidentiality
Everything discussed in PLC stays in PLC. Share your real challenges without fear — our strict confidentiality agreement protects every member.
Expert Facilitation
Lori Dann's expert facilitation ensures every meeting is productive, focused, and valuable — turning peer conversations into actionable insights.
How PLC Works
A structured, proven process designed to maximize value for every member at every meeting.
Apply for Membership
Submit your invitation request. Lori personally reviews each application to ensure the right fit for both you and the group.
Meet Your Peers
Join a carefully curated group of non-competing business leaders at the same stage of growth as you.
Monthly Forum Meetings
Attend structured monthly sessions where members present challenges, share wins, and receive peer input and accountability.
Grow & Thrive
Implement insights, hit your goals, and watch your business transform with the support of your trusted peer community.
Meet Lori Dann
A values-based, results-oriented business expert dedicated to helping small business leaders achieve maximum success — and the founder of the Presidents' Leadership Council.
Lori's Story
Lori Dann founded the Presidents' Leadership Council in 2019 with a clear mission: to create a confidential, supportive environment where small business leaders could stop leading alone and start thriving together.
With decades of experience in business, executive strategy, and leadership development.
"I've seen firsthand how transformative it is when business leaders have access to a trusted circle of peers who can offer unbiased perspectives, hold them accountable, and help them see the blind spots they've been missing."
Lori's approach is grounded in values-based leadership and results-oriented strategies. She believes that the best business decisions come from a combination of strategic thinking, collective wisdom, and genuine human connection. Through PLC, she has curated exclusive forums where non-competing business leaders meet monthly to tackle their toughest challenges, share their experiences, and accelerate their growth.
As a facilitator, Lori creates a safe space for vulnerability and honest conversation. Her members consistently describe her as insightful, empathetic, and deeply committed to their success. She doesn't just guide discussions — she helps leaders discover their own answers, build confidence in their decisions, and develop the skills they need to lead with clarity and purpose.
Areas of Expertise
Lori brings a comprehensive skill set to help business leaders navigate their most critical challenges.
Executive Strategy
One-on-one guidance to help leaders sharpen their skills, make better decisions, and achieve their goals with clarity and confidence.
Leadership Development
Building high-performing teams and developing the leadership capabilities that drive organizational success and sustainable growth.
Business Consulting
Strategic guidance on scaling operations, increasing profitability, and building sustainable business models that stand the test of time.
Change Management
Navigating organizational transitions, managing growth challenges, and leading teams through change with confidence and clarity.
HR Consulting
Talent acquisition, team building, performance management, and creating cultures that attract and retain top performers.
Pricing Strategy
Developing pricing models that maximize profitability while delivering exceptional value to customers and the market.
Professional Background
Founder, PLC — Presidents' Leadership Council
Since 2019, Lori has built and facilitated exclusive peer advisory forums for small business leaders, creating a trusted community where presidents, CEOs, and founders can share experiences, solve problems, and accelerate growth.
Thought Leadership & Media
Lori is a recognized thought leader in the small business community. She has been featured in Financial Times, NFDA and other business publications.
Women-Owned Business
PLC is a proud women-owned business. Lori brings a unique perspective to peer advisory facilitation, combining deep business acumen with genuine empathy and a commitment to creating inclusive, supportive environments where all leaders can thrive.
Lori's Leadership Philosophy
"The best leaders don't have all the answers — they have the wisdom to surround themselves with people who can help them find the right ones. Success isn't about doing it alone; it's about building a circle of trust where you can be vulnerable, ask the hard questions, and grow together."
This philosophy is at the heart of everything Lori does with the Presidents' Leadership Council. She believes that when business leaders have access to trusted peers, expert guidance, and a confidential space to work through challenges, they can achieve extraordinary results — not just in their businesses, but in their lives.
Ready to Join the Conversation?
If you're a president, CEO, or partner of a business with 3–50 employees and are committed to growth, Lori invites you to explore membership in the Presidents' Leadership Council.
What Our Members Say
Don't take our word for it. Hear from the business leaders whose lives and companies have been transformed by PLC.
"PLC has been an unexpectedly grounding part of my business journey. It's a safe place where we can talk openly about strategy, pressure-test ideas, and work through real decisions with people who genuinely understand what it means to own a business. And what makes it extra meaningful is the trust, support, and great people you meet. That combination is what makes PLC truly valuable."
"Being part of this experience has allowed me to avoid mistakes others have already made by learning directly from their insights and experiences. It's a safe, supportive environment where I've been able to grow while building strong, meaningful connections. I've also become much more intentional with how I use resources—reducing waste and ultimately making better decisions overall."
"This experience has significantly improved both the speed and confidence behind my decision-making. Having fresh eyes on challenges has helped uncover better solutions, and it's made a noticeable difference in how quickly we can quote and process orders. If you're looking for a peer group that will respectfully listen while also challenging you to think differently, PLC is absolutely the right place."
"Lori brings in great groups of entrepreneurs who are all passionate about their work—and she offers a place to get real about our struggles and, of course, our successes. I love meeting other talented people and have used them in my business; I have had people join PS and I have increased my network of professionals. I enjoy having time in my schedule that allows me to share the good, the bad and the ugly with others who know what it's all about - and we care enough to help one another move forward. Not only that, but great referrals are always shared."
"Presidents' Leadership Council is an assembly of a great group of business owners that form a great circle of trust through Lori's mentorship and guidance."
"I was really looking for a group of peers, as I often find myself 'alone' in my job since I'm the only owner. It has been a wonderful resource to bounce ideas off other folks in a similar situation. It's a very reasonable commitment and worth it."
Essential Information for Small Business Presidents
Insights, interviews, and stories from the Presidents' Leadership Council community.
Fill Your Sales Funnel From the Top
Expert guidance on implementing effective lead generation and prospecting strategies to strengthen your sales pipeline.
Continue Reading →
The Anticipation of Parenthood Is Exciting!
Smallwave Consulting helps business owners plan temporary departures to enjoy parental leave without financial stress.
Continue Reading →
Why Small Business Leaders Need Peer Groups
Peer groups help small business owners overcome isolation and burnout by providing confidential spaces to share challenges with others who understand entrepreneurship.
Continue Reading →
Buying or Selling a Small Business
Matt Friscia discusses key challenges in selling small businesses, including maintaining clean financial records and reducing owner dependency.
Continue Reading →
Build Authentic Relationships Using LinkedIn
Interview with Outworks co-founder on leveraging LinkedIn for relationship-building rather than transactional sales tactics.
Continue Reading →
5 Challenges Every Small Business Should Address in 2024
Small business leaders must prioritize automation, talent retention, branding, customer experience, and financial management to succeed in 2024.
Continue Reading →
.jfif)
-0001.jpg)
Is PLC Right for You?
PLC is designed for a specific type of business leader — one who is committed to growth and ready to invest in their success.
- ✓
You are a president, CEO, or business partner of a company with 3–50 employees
- ✓
You are committed to growth and open to honest feedback from trusted peers
- ✓
You value confidentiality and are willing to extend the same trust to your fellow members
- ✓
You can commit to monthly meetings and follow through on your accountability commitments
- ✓
You are ready to both give and receive — contributing your own expertise while learning from others
- ✓
You want more than just networking — you want deep, meaningful relationships that drive real results
Ready to Stop Leading Alone?
Membership in PLC is by invitation only. Take the first step today and discover what's possible when you surround yourself with the right people.
Request Your Invitation
Membership in PLC is selective and by invitation only. Complete the form below and Lori will personally reach out to discuss whether PLC is the right fit for you.
Let's Start a Conversation
Lori personally reviews every application to ensure that each new member is the right fit for the group — and that the group is the right fit for them. There's no pressure, no hard sell. Just an honest conversation about your goals and whether PLC can help you achieve them.
All inquiries are completely confidential. Your information will never be shared with third parties.