JOIN US FOR: Director Of The Year | Directors Summit

Join Corporate Directors Forum

The premier network for Southern California’s board members and c-suite leaders

Make Corporate Directors Forum
Your Greatest Asset

Elevate Your Leadership Through Connection and Insight

Corporate Directors Forum is where Southern California’s most influential directors and executives connect, learn, and lead. Whether you currently serve on a board, aspire to board service, or work closely with boards, CDF provides the peer-to-peer education, strategic relationships, and timely insights that keep you ahead of the governance curve.

As a member, you gain access to a carefully curated community of peers who understand the complexities of governance and leadership at the highest levels. Here, you build relationships that inform your boardroom decisions and keep you ahead of governance trends, locally and globally.

Meet Our Members & Strategic Partners

What Our Community Says

As a member of the Corporate Directors Forum and a past Director of the Year honoree, I have seen the enduring impact this organization has on the quality of board governance and leadership. Serving now as Co-Chair of the Spring Directors Summit, I am especially appreciative of the strategic clarity, inclusivity, and renewed momentum that Jessica Grounds has brought as CEO. Under her leadership, Corporate Directors Forum has become an even more vibrant, future-focused community for directors and executives—one that not only facilitates candid peer dialogue, but also equips leaders to navigate emerging risks, stakeholder expectations, and the evolving demands of the boardroom.
Terry Funk GramCEO
The Corporate Directors Forum is my stop for top-tier professional networking and world-class monthly speakers. This is a very well run San Diego professional organization that I recommend to my colleagues of all disciplines.
Steve MartinSVP & Chief Financial Officer, AmpliPhi Biosciences
The collaborative structure and spirit of the Forum leverages its diverse industrial representatives to surface a comprehensive set of issues Directors may face, and finds common ground in ways to work through these challenges
Mark SoppFormer CFO, Leidos Holdings, Inc., SAIC
If you are looking for ideas for what good boards should be doing, you need look no further than the Corporate Directors Forum. Inspiration, best practices, information and networking – they have it all.
Randy ClarkVP, Human Resources Diversity & Inclusion, San Diego Gas & Electric
We are delighted with our long association with the San Diego Corporate Directors Forum. CDF’s focus on developing best practices in the boardroom through education and networking provides an invaluable service that strengthens boards and the companies they represent.
Paul J. HeringCEO - MMA West Region, Barney & Barney, a Marsh & McLennan Agency
Our company always finds Directors Forum to be an environment that fosters productive collaboration on a range of issues facing public companies and investors.
Mark PreisingerDirector of Corporate Governance, The Coca-Cola Company

A Carefully Curated Community of Leaders

Our Membership Committee carefully reviews each application to ensure cultural fit and mutual value. We seek leaders who value integrity, ethical conduct, and meaningful contributions to the governance community.

Membership Qualifications

  • Current or aspiring board members and senior leaders with a genuine interest in corporate governance
  • Service on corporate or nonprofit boards, or significant leadership experience (typically 10+ years)
  • A reputation for ethical conduct and professional integrity
  • Commitment to relationship-building without soliciting members for sales purposes

Applications are reviewed monthly, with decisions communicated within 30-45 days.

Apply for Membership

Membership Tiers

INDIVIDUAL

$500 Annually

Your gateway to San Diego’s most connected governance community.

Benefits of Individual Membership Include:

  • One (1) Complimentary admission to all monthly member programs (10 per year)
  • Discounted rates for Director of the Year Awards and Directors Summit
  • Special pricing on Institute programs
  • Special pricing for strategic partner events located throughout Southern California
  • MCLE and CPE credits at all CDF-accredited programs
  • Direct access to a network of directors across diverse industries and backgrounds
  • Trending governance topics and up-to-date resources from local, national, and global perspectives
APPLY FOR MEMBERSHIP

CORPORATE

Silver: $3,500
Annually

Extend the value of CDF membership across your leadership team.

Benefits of Individual Membership Include:

  • Four (4) complimentary admissions to all monthly member programs for your board members, c-suite, management team, or valued clients
  • Company logo and weblink featured on CDF's Corporate Member webpage
  • One (1) complimentary invitation to the exclusive VIP Reception for Director of the Year
  • One (1) ticket to our annual Director of the Year Awards, alongside honorees, past recipients, sponsors, and CDF leadership
  • Discounted rates for Director of the Year Awards and Directors Summit
  • MCLE and CPE credits at all CDF-accredited programs
  • Enhanced visibility within San Diego's premier governance community
APPLY FOR MEMBERSHIP

Become A Strategic Partner

For professional service firms seeking to contribute thought leadership and connect with board-level decision makers.

Strategic Member Information Coming Soon

Why San Diego’s Top Directors Choose CDF

Peer-to-Peer Education

There's no substitute for learning from those who sit in the same seats you do. Our programs deliver practical insights from fellow board members and c-suite leaders who understand the real-world challenges of governance.

Stay Ahead

From AI in the boardroom to geopolitical risks, stay informed on the trends and issues shaping governance today. Our programs tackle current topics in real time, ensuring you're never caught off guard.

Strategic Networking

Build relationships with board members and executives across industries in Southern California and beyond, extending to the broader governance community across the globe.

Regional to Global Perspective

Access local expertise with national and international reach. CDF connects you to governance best practices wherever they emerge.

Beyond The Membership Premier Access to the CDF Institute

Corporate Directors Forum Institute designs and delivers cutting-edge public programs that advance modern governance and leadership. We collaborate with strategic partners and pursue grant-funded initiatives to advance effective governance, identify critical gaps in board education, and develop the next generation of high-impact board leaders.

As a member of Corporate Directors Forum, you gain preferred access to our Institute’s cutting-edge programs designed for modern board and c-suite leaders:

  • Directors Summit: Our annual national governance conference
  • Avenue to the Boardroom: Executive mentorship program for aspiring directors
  • Accelerate: Global director connections and insights
  • Monthly educational programs addressing the most pressing governance challenges

Members receive discounted rates on all Institute programs.

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Monthly Events - Tackling Today's Board Challenges

Our programs address the challenges you face in real time, providing actionable insights from peers who navigate the same complex landscape.

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Join San Diego's Premier Governance Network

Become part of the community where Southern California’s top leaders connect, learn, and shape the future of corporate governance.

Apply for Membership Today