YPO San Diego Gold, Chairmen’s Roundtable, and Entrepreneurs’ Organization Celebrate the Power of Mentorship

YPO San Diego Gold Chapter (YPO SD Gold), Chairmen’s Roundtable (CRT), and Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) came together on January 13 at Fairbanks Ranch Country Club to celebrate the impact of mentorship within the San Diego business community. The biannual event convened mentors and mentees from all three organizations to reflect on the outcomes of their collaborative mentoring efforts and reaffirm a shared commitment to leadership development and service.

Over the years, more than 1,000 San Diego-area CEOs have participated in mentorship programs supported by YPO SD Gold, CRT, and EO. These initiatives continue to foster meaningful professional relationships, strengthen local businesses, and create lasting community impact.

The evening opened with remarks from Steve Mendell, former Chairman of Chairmen’s Roundtable and current YPO San Diego Gold Board Member. Nick Apostolopolos, EO Board Member, served as Master of Ceremonies.

A central highlight of the program was a panel discussion featuring mentor-mentee pairs who shared real-world perspectives on the value of mentorship. Panelists included Brad Shoen (YPO San Diego Gold) with Lisa Druxman, Founder and CEO of Fit4Mom; Brad Lee (CRT) with Nilay Thakkar, Founder and CEO of Excelerate; and Ginny Beneke, Chair of CRT, alongside Jennifer Barnes, Founder and CEO of Optima Office. The discussion explored lessons learned, best practices, and the mutual benefits mentorship provides to both mentors and mentees, followed by an interactive audience Q&A.

“Every time I mentor a young entrepreneur, I’m reminded that legacy isn’t what you build for yourself, it’s what you help the next generation build faster and wiser,” said Tammy Moore, CEO of Oscar’s Brewing Company, past Chapter Chair of YPO San Diego Gold, and current Board Member and Forum Officer.

Chris Crane, CEO and Co-Founder of Edify and longtime YPO San Diego Gold member, added, “The mentoring panel demonstrated how valuable strong mentors are to young entrepreneurs. Even after decades of mentoring, I walked away with new insights and a deeper appreciation for the impact of these programs.”

Guests enjoyed food and beverages throughout the evening and had the opportunity to update professional headshots for business and social media use, rounding out an event that blended connection, learning, and celebration.