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The Esteemed Coterie

San Diego's Best CEO Peer Group San Diego's Best CEO Peer Group

The Esteemed Coterie is a private peer group for CEOs, founders and business owners in San Diego County. Members meet in small, confidential forums with leaders from other industries to work through real decisions with people who sit in the same chair. There is no revenue minimum. Membership includes monthly in-person meetings plus one-on-one coaching sessions with Executive Director Gary Peterson.

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Leaders from organizations including

500+

Direct Connections

$2B+

Combined Revenue

21+

Years Avg Business Age

100%

Member Retention

Our members lead companies across San Diego's key industries

  • BIOTECH

  • DEFENSE

  • TECHNOLOGY

  • HEALTHCARE

  • MANUFACTURING

  • PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Real leaders. Real conversations.

No name tags. No elevator pitches. Just CEOs helping CEOs work through real decisions.

Esteemed members gathered at a San Diego networking event
Team strategy session with business leaders
Esteemed members in a collaborative peer advisory meeting
Esteemed leaders in conversation on a San Diego rooftop overlooking the bay
Esteemed speaker presenting at a San Diego business gathering
Esteemed members gathered at a San Diego networking event
Team strategy session with business leaders
Esteemed members in a collaborative peer advisory meeting
Esteemed leaders in conversation on a San Diego rooftop overlooking the bay
Esteemed speaker presenting at a San Diego business gathering

A local room and a local network

Members work with peers from other industries in San Diego County. Membership is for San Diego County only.

Private Equity

Capital partners & investors

The Esteemed Difference

A peer group for CEOs who want honest feedback, not only validation.

  • The Peer Group

    Small, confidential forums of non-competing CEOs, founders and owners, meeting in San Diego County. Real decisions. Candid feedback.

  • One-on-one coaching

    Membership includes monthly in-person meetings plus one-on-one coaching sessions with Executive Director Gary Peterson.

  • A San Diego County room

    The Coterie is for CEOs, founders and business owners in San Diego County only. There is no revenue minimum.

How it works

  1. Meet

    Book an intro call with our membership team. Coffee, lunch, iced tea, or phone — whatever works for you.

  2. Apply

    After we meet, you'll complete a brief application so we can review fit and next steps together.

  3. Join

    If invited, you'll be placed in a forum group with non-competing peers. Monthly meetings begin immediately.

In the news

Members and their companies have appeared in outlets such as these.

Meet Our Members

CEOs, founders and business owners in San Diego County.

“Esteemed is a close community of elite leaders that support and celebrate each other.”

Gerry Widemer

CEO, simplicityDX

Gerry Widemer
“Esteemed helped me develop a skillset to become a leader, not just a manager.”

Jake Harmon

Callaway Golf

Jake Harmon
“Each session armed me with new tools to evolve as a more effective business owner.”

Nathan Craig

CEO, Culture Insurance

Nathan Craig

What Other Members Say

“Esteemed has helped me solve so many problems and I always look forward to new ideas, creative approaches, and specific tactics that I can implement immediately.”
Karin Backstrom

Karin Backstrom

CEO, Backstrom Labor Law

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Your network

Local institutions and a San Diego County peer group.

  • Padres

    Executive Events

  • UC San Diego

    Research & Talent

  • LEAD SD

    Leadership Programs

  • SD Chamber

    Business Advocacy

  • PE Firms

    Capital Partners

  • M&A Advisors

    Transaction Support

  • Investment Banks

    Deal Financing

  • Family Offices

    Strategic Capital

Who the Coterie is for

The Esteemed Coterie is for CEOs, founders and business owners in San Diego County. There is no revenue minimum. We do not use an employee-count bar.

  • CEO, President, or Founder

    You're the decision-maker.

  • $5M+ Annual Revenue

    You've built something with real complexity.

  • 20+ Employees

    You manage teams and systems.

  • San Diego Based

    Local leaders. In-person meetings.

  • Values Fit

    Humble. Hungry. Engaged.

Ready to Get Started?

If you lead a company here, a first conversation is an easy way to see whether it might fit.

Book an Intro Call →

Frequently Asked Questions

Smaller groups. More selective. San Diego focused. Plus an AI Chief of Staff that remembers your business context.

A custom-trained AI that knows your goals, challenges, and context. Unlike generic AI, it remembers everything.

Membership investment is discussed directly with our team based on your situation and goals.

Start by booking an intro call with our membership team. After we meet, you will complete a brief application. If invited, you join a forum of non-competing peers.

Monthly in-person meetings. Plus one-on-one coaching sessions and access to your AI Chief of Staff.

From the Esteemed Journal

If you lead a company here

Book a brief intro call. If there is a mutual fit, we will follow up with next steps.

Book an Intro Call →