"What Keeps CEOs Awake at Night," was the theme of the Arthur W. Page Society's annual Spring Meeting, held at the St. Regis Hotel in New York, April 3-4. Nearly 200 of the top U.S. corporate communications and public relations executives met to discus the key business issues that are top of mind among CEOs today and their relevance to the practice of corporate communications and public relations. The Page Society is a select membership organization composed primarily of the chief corporate communications officers and public relations leaders in the country.

The seminar addressed a wide range of issues impacting the current business, economic and political landscape including CEO reputation, leadership, corporate trust, new business regulations and governance. According to Michael Dell, CEO, Dell Computer Corporation, who addressed the group on Thurs., April 3, "In order to re-establish a culture of integrity in the US business community, we - CEOs and workers at every level - need to recommit ourselves to the practice of basic principles such as telling the truth, not lying and not stealing. The country's business reputation is everyone's responsibility." Dell said that what keeps him awake at night is concern about whether his company is working fast enough to deliver tangible benefits - one customer at a time - and how his organization is continuously broadening its brand appeal.

Other speakers at the event included Leon Panetta, former congressman and Clinton chief of staff, Bethany McLean, of Fortune, who helped break the Enron story, Richard Breeden, past Securities and Exchange Commission chairman and Marilyn Carlson Nelson, CEO, Carlson Companies. (For summaries of the speakers' messages, click here.)

Mary Matalin, assistant to President Bush and counselor to the Vice President, was the keynote speaker at a gala dinner that kicked off the 20th anniversary celebration of the Page Society and which drew an additional 100 guests.

At the gala, also held at the St. Regis New York, the Page Society saluted the work of the late Arthur W. Page as it marked the 20th anniversary of the organization that brings together the top leaders in communications and public relations. Arthur W. Page is credited for having set the professional operating standards and principles of business conduct that guide the leading professionals in the field of corporate communications and public relations in the country today. He served as vice president of public relations for AT&T from 1927 to 1946.

About the Arthur W. Page Society

The Arthur W. Page Society is a professional association composed primarily of the chief communications officers (CCOs) of the world's top multinational corporations, and the CEOs of the world's largest public relations agencies. The organization's members also include academics from the leading business and communications schools.

The Page Society is dedicated to strengthening the management policy role of chief communications officers. The Page Society is upheld by management concepts, known as the Page Principles, which have been tested for more than half a century and have earned the support and respect of chief executive officers throughout the country. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Arthur W. Page Society.