We went to Montana to begin something. We came home with a community.
CIO Ascent has completed its inaugural executive retreat, bringing technology leaders together September 17–20, 2026, with Bozeman, Montana, as our base camp for Yellowstone country and the surrounding mountains.
For a new organization, a first retreat is a meaningful moment. It is where the mission moves from words on a page into a shared experience. Seeing CIOs get outside, spend time together, and begin building relationships made this an especially rewarding start.
A First Gathering Worth Celebrating
CIO Ascent was created to give Chief Information Officers a different way to connect. We wanted an experience with time for conversation, room to recharge, and opportunities to get to know one another beyond a job title.
Our first retreat brought that idea to life. The setting was spectacular, but the most important part was the people who chose to be there and help shape the community from its very first gathering.
The first CIO Ascent retreat, September 2026. A new community taking its first steps together.
From Forest Trails to Yellowstone
The retreat combined time in Yellowstone National Park with experiences in the mountains around Bozeman. The route brought us through forested trails, along waterways, and into landscapes that made it easier to slow down and take in where we were.
The agenda paired Mammoth Terraces, Old Faithful, and Midway Geyser Basin with Grand Prismatic Spring on our Yellowstone day. The next day's program brought the group back into Montana's mountain country, with a morning around Hyalite Reservoir.
Those shared experiences gave conversations room to develop. Walking together offered a different pace from the meetings and deadlines that usually shape an executive's day.
The Beginning of Something That Lasts
The goal of CIO Ascent is to build an enduring community of technology executives who connect, collaborate, and recharge together.
A few days away can create the beginning of a relationship that lasts much longer. The value continues when members return to their organizations with new perspectives and a wider circle of peers.
Our inaugural retreat gave that mission a place to begin. It also gave us an opportunity to listen, learn, and carry members' feedback into the experiences we build next.
Thank You for Being Part of the First Ascent
To the members, board, partners, and everyone who helped bring this first retreat together: thank you. Launching a community takes people who are willing to show up, contribute, and help make it their own.
We are proud of this beginning and excited about what comes next. Yellowstone will always hold a special place in the CIO Ascent story.
Join the CIO Ascent Community
Membership is completely free. If you are a technology executive interested in future retreats, apply to become a member. Once approved, you will receive a retreat invitation with the details you need to participate.
Connect. Collaborate. Recharge.
Photography & credits
Photographs from the CIO Ascent retreat collection.