CXO EXCHANGE TEMECULA VALLEY
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REF · Formerly Renaissance Executive Forums

Monthly Peer Forums, Temecula Valley.

Confidential, monthly peer-advisory forums where leaders bring their real challenges to a room of peers who get it — and leave with clarity and momentum.

Express Interest by Emailing Mike Richardson See the Forums →
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Why a monthly forum

The peer-advisory forums are the core of the CXO eco-system.

Between events and summits, the monthly forum is where the real work happens. Small, curated groups of true peers — meeting every month, in confidence, to work on each other's most important issues. "For peers, with peers, by peers."

Invitation Only
How it works. Each forum has +/- 15 members and a dedicated professional facilitator, and is invitation-only so every conversation stays among true peers. Members bring real, current issues. The group offers challenge, perspective, and experience. Everything said in the room stays in the room.
Forums

Running now, launching now, and coming soon.

The REF Temecula Valley Monthly Peer Forums roster. Each forum meets monthly, is invitation-only, and is anchored by a facilitator with deep experience in that leadership discipline.

Active · Meeting Monthly

CEO Peer Forum

The founding REF Temecula/Murrieta CEO Peer Forum. A monthly confidential peer-advisory forum for CEOs and Presidents of "Big Small" companies — the group that convenes the whole CXO Exchange community. See the founding members below and hear about their experiences so far.

+10
15 Founding Members
See the room →
Member Testimonials
Hear their experience →
Mike Richardson
Mike Richardson
Facilitator · CEO Peer Forum
in
LinkedIn · One Year In
A year of the REF Temecula/Murrieta CEO Peer Forum
Read on LinkedIn →
 Express Interest →
Launched · September 2026

NextGen Peer Forum

For sons, daughters, and other rising stars — the next generation of leaders growing into ownership, succession, and senior roles inside their families' and companies' futures. A forum built for the specific realities of stepping up.

Mike Richardson
Mike Richardson
Facilitator · NextGen
The Peering Podcast · Ep 17
Why a REF NextGen Peer Forum — with Bill & Cassidy Wilson, Wilson Creek Winery
45:31 · Listen or watch →
in
LinkedIn · Launch Announcement
Announcing the REF Temecula/Murrieta NextGen Peer Forum
Read on LinkedIn →
 Express Interest →
Launched · September 2026

Operations Leadership Forum

For operations leaders — 2nd-in-command COOs, Chiefs of Staff, VPs of Operations, sometimes Presidents and GMs. The people running the day-to-day of "Big Small" companies, together with peers who share their reality.

Ben Norton
Ben Norton
Facilitator · Certified EOS Implementer
The Peering Podcast · Ep 16
Why a REF Operations Leadership Peer Forum — with Ben Norton
38:17 · Listen or watch →
in
LinkedIn · Launch Announcement
Announcing the REF Temecula/Murrieta Operations Leadership Forum
Read on LinkedIn →
 Express Interest →
Launching · Q1 2027

HR Leadership Peer Forum

For HR executives and senior HR leaders — CHROs, VPs of HR, Directors of People. The peer forum at the heart of the HRX initiative, purpose-built for HR leadership in mid-market "Big Small" companies.

Tracy Ward
Tracy Ward
Facilitator · Forward Talent Strategies
The Peering Podcast
Why a REF HR Leadership Peer Forum — with Tracy Ward
Podcast episode coming soon
Express Interest →
Launching · Q1 2027

Nonprofit Leader Peer Forum

For Executive Directors, CEOs and senior leaders of Temecula Valley nonprofits — funding, board, staffing, succession, the whole load. The peer forum at the heart of the NPX initiative, purpose-built for nonprofit leadership.

Kim Gerrish
Kim Gerrish
Facilitator · Nonprofit Consultant
The Peering Podcast
Why a REF Nonprofit Leader Peer Forum as part of a larger Non-Profit Support Eco-System for Temecula Valley — with Kim Gerrish and Tammy Marine
Podcast episode coming soon
Express Interest →
Launching · Q1 2027

AI Peer Forum

For the CEOs, COOs and senior leaders accountable for AI inside Temecula Valley's "Big Small" companies — tools, data, risk, people and return. The peer forum at the heart of the AIX initiative, purpose-built for leading AI adoption without a big-company AI team.

Vivian Welsh
Robert Welsh
Vivian Welsh & Robert Welsh
Co-Forum Leaders · Co-Founders, Vivians
The Peering Podcast
Why a REF AI Peer Forum — with Vivian & Robert Welsh
Podcast episode coming soon
Express Interest →
Launching · Q1 2027

2nd CEO Peer Forum

Demand for the founding CEO Peer Forum has us opening a second CEO forum in Q1 2027 — same format, same confidentiality, curated to keep peer fit tight. Expressions of interest welcome now.

Scott Thornton
Scott Thornton
Facilitator · President, Temecula Winnelson
The Peering Podcast · Ep 18
Why a REF CEO Peer Forum — with Scott Thornton
46:06 · Listen or watch →
 Express Interest →
Coming Soon · 2027 & Beyond

Specialist Peer Forums for Functional Leaders

More specialist forums are on the roadmap for functional leaders — Finance & Accounting, Sales, Marketing, Technology, and more. Same format, same confidentiality, purpose-built for each discipline. If you're a functional leader who'd want in on one of these when it launches, tell us now and we'll be in touch as they open.

Express Interest →
CEO Peer Forum · Founding Members

The founding circle of the REF Temecula/Murrieta CEO Peer Forum.

Fifteen local CEOs and presidents who anchor the community and convene the CXO Exchange.

Mike Richardson
Mike Richardson
CEO, Facilitator, Coach
REF Global
Ryan Christopherson
Ryan Christopherson
President
Unified Orthopedics
Katelyn Gilmore
Katelyn Gilmore
General Manager
Paradise Chevrolet Cadillac
Kim Kelliher
Kim Kelliher
President
Grapeline Wine Tours / Stryder Transportation
Jason Kendall
Jason Kendall
President
Kendall Farms
Tammy Marine
Tammy Marine
CEO
Habitat for Humanity Inland Valley
Jeff McClain
Jeff McClain
President
Patriot Pipeline
Ross McCune
Ross McCune
President
Caisteal Builders
Brooke Nunn
Brooke Nunn
CEO
Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce
Heather Sanford
Heather Sanford
CEO
Mission Hope
Colton Telford
Colton Telford
Co-Founder & CEO
Oili
Greg Thomas
Greg Thomas
General Manager
Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District
Scott Thornton
Scott Thornton
President
Temecula Winnelson
Jim Toth
Jim Toth
Franchise Owner
Chick-fil-A Temecula
Bill Wilson
Bill Wilson
CEO
Wilson Creek Winery
Member Testimonials · CEO Peer Forum

Hear it from the founding members themselves.

Short (about a minute each) video reflections from the founding CEO Peer Forum members on what the forum has meant for their leadership and their businesses. Click any thumbnail to play.

Mike RichardsonForum Leader · REF · Convener, CXO Exchange
Bill WilsonCEO · Wilson Creek Winery
Brooke NunnCEO · Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce
Katelyn GilmoreGeneral Manager · Paradise Chevrolet Cadillac
Kim KelliherPresident · Grapeline Wine Tours / Stryder Transportation
Jason KendallPresident · Kendall Farms
Tammy MarineCEO · Habitat for Humanity Inland Valley
Jeff McClainPresident · Patriot Pipeline
Ross McCunePresident · Caisteal Builders
Heather SanfordCEO · Mission Hope
Colton TelfordCo-Founder & CEO · Oili
Greg ThomasGeneral Manager · Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District
Scott ThorntonPresident · Temecula Winnelson
Watch the full playlist on YouTube →

Which forum is right for you?

Membership is by invitation and carefully curated to keep peer fit tight. Tell us your role and your company and we'll be in touch about the right forum for you.

Express Interest by Emailing Mike Richardson Apply to Join the LinkedIn Group →
CXO Exchange stands with SAVE TEMECULA — Fight the Powerlink. savetemecula.org →