I am researching ½ day to 1 day programs for the CEO of mid-size company to share best practices and show the value of L&D in the growth of the business.

Any suggestions or recommendations for this type of program?

Can't offer any recommendations but I can tell you this...

If your company hires people with all the skills they need for the job today....and does not plan to ever respond to marketplace changes and challenges...then there is no need for L&D.

If this is not the case then your CEO should be asked how he/she would plan to provide the requisite skill sets to remain competitive.

I cannot imagine a CEO sitting still for 4-hours to 8-hours to be told why they need best practices for L&D!

If the case cannot be made in 20-minutes the battle is lost.

There are only a few questions that need to be answered.
1. Is training for job skills or growth of people? If job skills only then learning is seen as a tactical function such as improving quality issues--strategic discussions will be a waste of time.
2. Can we hire people with the skills to do the job? If so, there is no need for training and you best look for a new employer.
3. Is innovation important to keeping ahead of the competition? Can training help a company innovate? If yes, there is work to be done. If no, time to move on.