Explore every episode of the podcast ChairWaves

Stephanie Geisler didn't know what Vistage was until weeks before starting Chair Academy. No prior peer group experience, no long research phase, just a moment of clarity she trusted enough to act on. On this episode of Chairwaves, the Salt Lake City Chair talks about why she leans on intuition even though she has no shortage of data to guide her.

Stephanie has continued to trust that instinct throughout her time as a Chair. She now runs five Vistage groups, each one launched in response to what her members needed at the time. Before becoming a Chair, Stephanie co-founded a company that reached twenty-five million in revenue by year three before going on to lead the University of Utah's full-time MBA program, where she grew the share of women in the cohort from eighteen to forty percent alongside a jump in national rankings. For Stephanie, chairing isn't just a profession. It's a calling.

The best way to reach Stephanie is through email at  stephanie.giesler@vistagechair.com or by text 801-721-4476. 

AI and automation may be reshaping office jobs, but Sacramento, CA Vistage Chair Jason Harbinson believes demand is swinging back toward the skilled trades. As AI changes the nature of knowledge work, manufacturers and repair shops are still searching for talented people to fill roles that can't easily be replaced. 

This episode of the Chairwaves podcast explores Jason's uncommon perspective as a Vistage Chair. While many Chairs reflect on lessons from past careers, he's still actively building and leading JH Motorsports, the performance auto parts company he founded two decades ago. That founder mindset carries into his groups, where he encourages members to experiment with AI instead of fearing it and creates opportunities for members across his groups to build relationships through his monthly Friday Dutch lunch tradition. The best way to connect with Jason is through LinkedIn or by email at jason.harbinson@vistagechair.com. 

Ask Mary Edwards how she rose from an entry-level job in health insurance to executive leadership roles at some of the biggest names in consulting, and she'll point to one thing: doing what you say you're going to do. The North Dallas, TX Vistage Chair believes reputation isn't only built by what you accomplish, it's broken by what you promise and fail to deliver, a philosophy that guided her throughout her career before she became a Vistage Chair.

On this episode of Chairwaves, Mary talks about starting out on the career path expected of her before realizing within weeks it wasn't the right fit. After a long career in consulting and a few attempts at retirement, she's now just five meetings into building her own CEO peer group, and she's already intentional about bringing together leaders with different backgrounds and experiences who have the courage to challenge one another.

Connect with Mary by email at mary.edwards@vistagechair.com, on LinkedIn, or by text at 412-913-5472.

Adam Harris spent eight years as the youngest Vistage Chair in the world, taking on the role at just 31 after his time as a CEO had ended. He built his group in the UK, then made the leap to relocate his family to New Zealand in 2019, stepping away from chairing when remote leadership wasn't yet an option for Vistage. Just months later, COVID hit, and virtual became the only option.

Now based in New Zealand with time split in Australia, Adam works as an EOS implementer and Vistage speaker, bringing his chair background directly into the room with clients. He's candid about who he's for and who he isn't, drawing a clear line between leaders who want surface-level conversation and those ready to do the real work. With his wife considering becoming a Chair herself and Adam eyeing a return to chairing in Australia, this episode of Chairwaves explores what staying connected to the Vistage community looks like even outside the chair seat. The best way to reach Adam is through his website or via email at adam@frankandfearless.com.

Most people spend their careers trying to avoid hearing no's. Columbus, Ohio Vistage Chair Shannon Lee actually went looking for them. When building her first group became the hardest stretch of her career, she gave herself a goal of ten no's a week and made a game out of getting them.

Shannon spent years in education and the nonprofit world before realizing her real passion was helping leaders of leaders show up as their best selves. On this episode of Chairwaves, she gets into how she decides whether a prospective member is a good fit, and why she brought an HR leader into her CEO group to give members a perspective they'd been missing. If you're in the process of building a group right now, hearing how Shannon changed her thinking is worth the listen.

You can reach Shannon on LinkedIn or via email at shannon@shannonmlee.com 

Leadership books have a funny way of circling back to the same uncomfortable truth: you can't lead other leaders until you've done the hard work of leading yourself. This is something Denver, CO Vistage Chair Melissa Edison Barnes is navigating in real time as she builds her first Vistage CE group. 

Melissa brings a resume that spans General Mills and Harley-Davidson to early-stage startups and a successful business exit. But it's her origin story, being raised by an entrepreneur who lived through the full range of small business highs and lows, that shapes how she shows up as an emerging Vistage Chair. On this episode of Chairwaves, she talks about the discipline it takes to build a group and what she learned from her own business exit — selling an office snack delivery business just before COVID. 

You can connect with Melissa on LinkedIn or via email at melissa.edisonbarnes@vistagechair.com.

Sometimes the biggest challenge for a CEO isn’t knowing what to do. It’s actually doing it.

In this episode of the Chairwaves podcast, Craig James, a Vistage Chair from Westwood, Massachusetts, shares one of the lessons that surprised him most about working with business leaders: even successful CEOs need accountability.

Craig also shares his journey from finance and sales to entrepreneurship, teaching at NYU, and eventually becoming a Vistage Chair. An interesting part of his story is how a Myers-Briggs assessment pointed him toward teaching, social work, and sales—three paths that seemed unrelated at the time but ended up shaping the work he does today helping leaders grow and succeed. 

The best way to connect with Craig is via email at craig@westwoodexecdev.com. 

There’s something rare about a leader who still takes the time to send handwritten birthday cards.

Quebec City TEC Chair Louis-Samuel Jacques has spent the last eight years building peer groups and intentionally investing in the leaders within them. In this episode of Chairwaves, Louis-Samuel talks about the shift from being a consultant focused on solving problems to becoming a Chair focused on helping leaders think better, challenge assumptions, and grow through the strength of the group.

He also shares how a well-kept secret in Quebec became a thriving peer advisory community, why he stopped trying to build groups of six and started building systems designed for twenty, and how asking better questions changed the trajectory of his career.

Blending the mindset of an economist with the experience of a seasoned Chair, Louis-Samuel offers practical insight for anyone leading executives, building community, or trying to create more impact in their work. 

The best way to connect with Louis-Samuel is through LinkedIn.

Great coaching isn’t always about direction. Sometimes it’s about attention.

That idea comes through clearly in the latest episode of Chairwaves featuring New York City Vistage Chair Allan Fried. In this episode, Allan shares how his background in the music industry eventually led him into coaching, meditation, and Vistage, though he admits it took hearing about the organization three separate times before he finally saw himself becoming a Chair. He also explains how listening with real attention can open the door to deeper conversations and better outcomes.

What makes Allan’s story especially interesting is the path he took to get here. From Capitol Records and entertainment startups to coaching and Vistage, Allan’s career path has been anything but conventional. This Chairwaves episode is a thoughtful conversation about leadership, self-awareness, and personal reinvention.

The best way to reach Allan is by email at allan.fried@vistagechair.com.

What kind of space do you create when you walk into a room?

When Erik asked Ken Mandelbaum what he’s learned in 13 years as a Vistage Chair, Ken’s answer had little to do with tactics or process. Instead, the Northern New Jersey Chair focused on the idea of “space”: the environment leaders create through the way they listen, speak, and show up for others. In this episode of the Chairwaves podcast, Ken shares how a background that began in a family retail business eventually led him into transformational leadership work and ultimately into leading Vistage groups of his own.

Ken also talks about what makes a Vistage experience truly valuable for members, as well as his work as a best practice Chair for the Northeastern United States and Israel. This Chairwaves episode is a thoughtful look at leadership as a human experience, not just a business function. 

The best way to contact Ken is through email at Ken@kenmandelbaum.com

Most people think they need to reinvent themselves to stay relevant. Mikki Williams took the opposite approach—and it worked for decades.

This Chairwaves podcast episode features Chicago, IL-based Chair Emeritus Mikki Williams, a serial entrepreneur whose career spans professional speaking, leading Vistage CEO peer groups, and now building a social media following in her 80s . When asked how to build a brand that lasts, she points to a simple but overlooked idea: your brand is built by paying attention to what makes you different and leaning into it. 

Mikki didn’t set out to become a Vistage Chair, but once she did, she built a highly structured environment that drove long-term retention and deep accountability. Now, as a Chair Emeritus, she remains an active voice in the Vistage community while continuing to evolve her own platform in unexpected ways.

You can contact Mikki through her website, via email at mikki@mikkiwilliams.com, or follow her on Tiktok, Instagram, Facebook or Youtube.

What actually drives performance inside a company? It comes down to how well people show up for each other.

In this episode of the Chairwaves podcast, Philadelphia, PA Vistage Chair Chris Donnelly breaks down the kind of leadership that doesn’t show up in the numbers. Drawing from his military background, Chris explains why real camaraderie, relying on the people around you to step up and deliver, has become the lens he uses to evaluate businesses and leadership teams.  His path from the Navy to investment banking to leading and exiting his family’s plumbing business shaped how he leads and makes decisions. 

Chris also reflects on stepping into leadership during personal loss, building a company that could run without him, and why pushing people, not protecting them, is what makes a Vistage group valuable.

The best way to connect with Chris is on LinkedIn. His contact info is there, and he welcomes texts. 

Fenella Kim had no network, no resources, and no roadmap when she arrived in the United States—but she figured it out anyway.

Fenella is a Long Island, NY-based Vistage Chair who went from high-voltage electrical engineer to serial entrepreneur, building and exiting multiple companies after arriving in the U.S. In this episode of the Chairwaves podcast, Fenella shares how a single mentor changed her trajectory and how that experience shaped her commitment to paying it forward. Today, she’s all in on that mission as a Vistage Chair and venture capitalist. Fenella is grounded in a belief that Vistage works—because it helps leaders grow, strengthens families, and creates real impact in the communities they serve.

This is an inspirational episode that shows what’s possible with persistence and an abundance mindset. 

The best way to connect with Fenella is via email at fenella.kim@vistagechair.com

There’s a difference between having the answers and knowing how to help someone find their own.

On this episode of Chairwaves, I talk with Machen MacDonald, a Vistage Chair based in Grass Valley, California. Machen is a former financial advisor turned certified coach who works with private clients in addition to leading his Vistage group. In his work, Machen has seen a consistent pattern—leaders either don’t know how to get what they want, or they’re not fully clear on what they want in the first place.

Machen and I talk about his transition from financial advisor to coach, and what he’s learned about helping leaders get clearer on their direction. In his Vistage group, that often shows up through the idea of leading with love—creating a space grounded in trust, vulnerability, and clear thinking. It’s a shift from how most executives were wired, but it’s central to how he helps people grow.You can connect with Machen on LinkedIn, by phone at 530-906-1119, or by email at machen.macdonald@vistagechair.com.

Most business leaders think their challenges are unique. They’re not—and that realization can change everything.

In this episode of Chairwaves, Gary Ostermueller, a Vistage Chair in New Jersey, talks about what changed for him after joining a TEC group. He noticed that even though businesses can look completely different on the surface, they’re all dealing with the same core problems. People issues, cash flow, leadership pressure—it all overlaps more than most leaders realize. That insight became a foundation for how he now shows up as a Chair.

Before becoming a Chair, Gary spent three decades in a family-run manufacturing company, and that experience allows him to relate to leaders at every level. He brings a perspective to his group that spans the shop floor to the boardroom and has built a group grounded in compassion, real care, and a willingness to challenge each other.

The best way to connect with Gary is through LinkedIn or via email at gary.ostermueller@vistagechair.com 

If you’re not willing to dig into the details, you’re probably missing the real issue.

In this episode of the Chairwaves podcast, Vistage Chair Michael Edwards, based in Lincoln, Nebraska, talks about how an unexpected path, from grocery stores to law school to building software companies, ultimately led him to Vistage. He shares how his legal background trained him to slow down, listen carefully, and examine the fine details that others often overlook—a mindset that now defines how he leads his group.

What makes Michael’s group different is its blue-collar mix of leaders, many from small towns surrounding Lincoln, bringing practical, hands-on experience into every discussion. It’s a group shaped by leaders from small towns and hands-on industries, and that difference is something he’s proud of.

You can connect with Michael via email at michael.edwards@vistagechair.com, through the Vistage website, or through LinkedIn. 

If you’ve got people, you’ve got problems. That’s true no matter where you are in your leadership journey.

Rick Vanasse has built a practice around helping leaders at every level navigate one of the hardest parts of business—leading people and building strong organizations. From emerging leaders learning how to influence, to CEOs learning how to step back and truly listen, Rick sees the same challenges show up again and again when it comes to leading people. Leading well is an ongoing process, not a fixed skill.

In this episode of Chairwaves, we talk through Rick’s journey from manufacturing to healthcare, his work with leaders navigating family business transitions, and how his battle with stage four cancer reshaped how he thinks about resilience, humility, and relying on others.

This is a thoughtful conversation about leadership, transitions, and what really matters.

The best way to connect with Rick is by email at rick.vanasse@vistagechair.com or on LinkedIn. 

In a recent Vistage meeting, Atlanta-based Vistage Chair Meredith Jolly’s group worked through issues worth more than $20 million to the companies involved. For Meredith, that experience perfectly captures the power of peer groups: leaders getting perspectives they might never have considered on their own.

On this episode of the Chairwaves podcast, Meredith shares the journey that led her to become a Vistage Chair. She started as a part-time secretary at a fintech startup while in college and worked her way into the CEO role. Along the way she experienced the full lifecycle of a company—from startup growth to exit—and later led a private-equity-backed turnaround before becoming a Chair. Today she co-chairs a group in Atlanta where trust, candor, and a wide range of perspectives shape the discussion. As Meredith notes, there’s a Vistage saying that members come for the Chair but stay for the group—and she’s seen that dynamic take hold as members challenge, support, and learn from each other.

The best way to contact Meredith is by email at meredith.jolly@vistagechair.com or through her website.

Arturo Lopez didn’t build his Vistage groups the traditional way. Instead of recruiting from the usual executive circles, he looked for something different: good human beings with potential.

On this episode of the Chairwaves podcast, I talk with Houston Vistage Chair Arturo Lopez. Arturo’s career and education took him through seven countries before he began building his career in Houston. He explains how he built two CEO groups made up mostly of leaders under 50 from a wide range of cultural and professional backgrounds. His approach is simple: go where diverse entrepreneurs already are, ask trusted connections for introductions, and focus on finding people with character and potential rather than polished credentials. Arturo also shares the mindset that drives his work as a Chair. For him, the relationships formed in a Vistage group are lifelong. He approaches the role with a genuine love for entrepreneurship and a desire to help leaders grow beyond the title of CEO and become better people all around.

You can learn more about Arturo and reach him through his website.

For most of his career, Rick Rodgers kept one thing to himself: he has dyslexia.

He built a life in high-performance roles as a firefighter, paramedic, NASA rescue specialist, Wall Street professional, and commercial banker by working harder, pushing further, and proving he belonged. It wasn’t until his mid-30s, when he was finally diagnosed, that he began to understand how much that hidden struggle had shaped him.

In this episode of the Chairwaves podcast, Rick shares the moment during his Chair training when he chose honesty over self-protection. That shift allowed him to lead differently. Dyslexia, which once drove him to overcompensate, now shapes how he creates space for honesty and accountability in his Vistage groups. We talk about the loneliness of leadership and why so many accomplished executives still feel they have to project certainty instead of asking for help. Rick is now helping Chairs and CEOs better understand neurodiversity in their members, teams, and families.

The best way to reach Rick is by phone at 303-520-6447 or via email at rick.rogers@vistagechair.com

Most new leaders aren’t short on talent—they’re short on someone they can talk to.

Jim Heller has spent his career navigating that reality. As a fourth-generation leader of a Detroit-based machining company, he joined Vistage because he didn’t want to be the one who derailed the family business. Eight years later, after firing himself as CEO and helping transition the company to outside leadership, he discovered something even more meaningful: the power of simply being present for other leaders.

Now a Vistage Chair with four groups in Michigan, including an Emerging Leaders group he launched during COVID, Jim is passionate about developing first-time leaders and believes many of them are stepping into bigger roles without enough time or guidance to grow. Supporting them is one of the ways he chooses to serve. 

If you care about developing leaders at any level, you’ll appreciate this conversation!

If you’d like to connect with Jim, you can reach him via email at jheller@vistagemichigan.com or on LinkedIn. 

If you can’t walk away from your business and have it still run, do you own a company or do you just have a job?

Cynthia Goro’s perspective comes from experience. She grew up in her family’s garbage truck manufacturing business in Iowa, became president, and led the company through rapid growth, restructuring after 9/11, and a successful exit. Along the way, she discovered that real value isn’t just revenue or market share. It’s creating a business that continues to run, grow, and lead even when the owner steps away.

In this episode of Chairwaves, we talk about Cynthia’s four Vistage groups, family business dynamics, imposter syndrome, and what it means to build a legacy that benefits employees, the industry, and the community. This is a candid conversation about building something that lasts.

You can reach Cynthia via email at cynthia.goro@vistagechair.com or by cell phone at 319-830-3555.

When things go wrong in business—or in sports—the fastest way forward usually starts with personal accountability. In the latest episode of the Chairwaves podcast, Lance Vieira explains why leaders have to look in the mirror before blaming circumstances and why trying to solve everything on their own often creates bigger problems. Drawing from decades as a football coach and business leader, Lance shares how adjustment, preparation, and self awareness shape better decisions when pressure is high.

As a Denver based Vistage Chair working with a small business group, Lance runs his group like a team built on trust and discipline. Lance focuses on building a strong bench and shows genuine care for the people in his group. 

Lance can be reached via email at lance.vieira@vistagechair.com or by cell phone at 720-394-7789. 

Some people sell products. Bob Wightman sells possibility, and a path to better decision-making. After 40 years in banking, including starting two banks from scratch, Bob now helps business owners and executives navigate the unknown through peer advisory groups.

From the chaos of the '80s banking collapse to leading five Vistage groups—four with a co-chair—Bob’s journey is packed with insight. In this episode of Chairwaves, he talks about drawing out what matters most to his members, identifying risk (a habit he can’t quit), and why helping others find the right peer group—not necessarily his—is what keeps him going. Because the truth is, almost every business owner can benefit from a peer group.

You can reach Bob directly at 214-564-0997 or via email at bob.wightman@vistagechair.com.

What happens when a group of CEOs shows up with both head and heart? According to Salt Lake City Chair Laura Langehaug, that’s when real leadership conversations begin.

 In this episode of the Chairwaves podcast, Laura shares how her background in human capital and executive recruiting helped her recognize a common thread among high-performing leaders: isolation. Her Vistage group breaks that pattern, with diverse voices, generational perspectives, and a culture built on trust and openness. We talk about how shared values—not similar resumes—create real connection, and how Laura’s approach helps leaders open up, support each other, and grow together.

You can contact Laura through her Vistage profile or through LinkedIn. 

What does a college basketball coach know about business?

Matt Doherty gets that question a lot. But once he lays it out—recruiting, training, budgeting, board management, media relations—it’s clear the overlap is bigger than people think. In this episode, Matt unpacks how leading high-performance teams on the court prepared him to guide business leaders in the boardroom.

From playing alongside Michael Jordan at UNC to being named National Coach of the Year, Matt's journey is full of highs, setbacks, and serious leadership lessons. After being asked to resign from his dream job at North Carolina, he went on a deep dive into executive coaching, emotional intelligence, and the power of culture. Now, as a Vistage Chair, he uses those hard-earned insights to help CEOs navigate their own leadership challenges.

This one’s for anyone who’s ever had their leadership questioned, and came back stronger.

The best way to contact Matt is via email at matt@dohertycoaching.com 

Some people crumble in adversity. Others discover a kind of fuel. For Heatherann Antonacci, that fuel has always been an inner spirit, a quiet resilience she believes everyone has, even if they haven’t tapped into it yet.

In this episode of Chairwaves, Heatherann shares her journey from a career on the business side of academia to leading four Vistage groups in Orlando. From guiding students to guiding CEOs, she’s learned that strong leadership doesn’t come from being the smartest person in the room—it comes from curiosity, humility and the courage to grow. She also breaks down how she vets potential members and the value of personal development in shaping better leaders.

The best way to reach Heatherann is through her LinkedIn profile.

Sarah Castle spent 15 years at Amazon, helping launch products and lead technical teams, but today she’s focused on something very different: creating space for business leaders to think, grow, and challenge themselves. As a Charleston-based Vistage Chair, Sarah brings a balanced combination of enterprise experience and coaching expertise. In this episode of Chairwaves, we talk about her passion for teaching, the challenges of inheriting a well-established group, and how she keeps her corporate lessons relevant without turning every conversation into an Amazon case study.

Connect with Sarah via email at sarah.castle@vistagechair.com or learn more on her website.

Rob Halverson has spent his career in the trenches with small business owners, from supporting Snap-on Tools franchisees across the country to leading peer groups in Omaha, Nebraska. As a Vistage Chair, he leads a Small Business group that gives smaller-scale entrepreneurs the peer community and strategic insight they’ve often been missing.

In this episode, Rob shares how his background prepared him to guide Omaha’s small business founders, why retirement didn’t stick, and how he’s building a true incubator for small businesses that often face big challenges without a strong peer network. If you’ve ever felt like small business owners are left out of the conversation, this one’s for you.

Connect with Rob using his Vistage email: rob.halverson@vistagechair.com, on LinkedIn, or via his website.

Jeff Oak spent his career fixing what others broke, leading complex turnarounds at massive health systems where ethics weren’t just an HR talking point—they were the whole strategy. Now, as a Vistage Chair, he brings that same clarity to business leaders who want more than just better numbers.

In this episode, we talk about why integrity is more than a checkbox and how culture, not just strategy, determines whether a company sinks or survives. Jeff also shares how his work connects deeply to purpose and legacy. And yes, we get into his cool side hobby of growing oysters on Long Island.

Feel free to reach out to Jeff through his website. 

Before becoming a Vistage Chair, Howard Alt played key leadership roles in growing and selling businesses in the plastics industry—including one that manufactured massive paper tubes. He also spent eight years as a Vistage member, doubling his company’s size, increasing profitability, and ultimately setting himself on a path to guide others.

Now 18 years into chairing, Howard reflects on what makes a great group tick. He shares about the early days of being a Chair, how he creates a culture where trust runs both ways, and how his members are quick to open up and work through personal and professional roadblocks. Howard leads by example and sets the tone for a group that stays engaged and invested. 

To contact Howard, visit his website or email him directly at howard.m.alt@gmail.com

Cindy Cornell’s leadership journey includes global corporate finance, executive coaching at top universities, and a commitment to personal development that shows up both in the boardroom and on the water, where she spends her free time racing sailboats. As a Vistage Chair, she’s focused on helping members make smarter decisions by creating space for deep conversations and peer accountability—bringing a unique perspective shaped by her finance background and years of coaching senior leaders.

In this episode, we explore how her financial background shapes her approach to coaching CEOs, how she’s building a thoughtful and diverse peer group in Connecticut, and how Vistage tools are helping her members navigate growth and complexity. Her insights are grounded, practical, and immediately applicable.

You can connect with Cindy through her Vistage website or through her LinkedIn profile.

Tom Klein has opened luxury hotels around the world—and now he leads CEOs in San Francisco. In this episode of Chairwaves, Tom shares lessons from decades leading teams at top hotel brands like Ritz-Carlton and Fairmont, where he served as regional VP overseeing eight hotels. He also breaks down what it really takes to build a high-performing team, from hiring the right people to creating a culture of ownership, trust, and accountability. Now, as Chair of a CE and Key Executive group, Tom leans on that global perspective to create a room where authenticity and personal growth are non-negotiable. We talk about the hard shift from operator to facilitator, the art of culture-building, and why—after every meeting—he drives the seven hours home from San Francisco with a big smile on his face.

The best way to contact Tom is at tom.klein@vistagechair.com.

Spending over three decades at Ford taught Dave Alden how to thrive in large organizations—and how to navigate change. That experience paid off when he moved from Detroit to Philadelphia and rebuilt his entire Vistage Chair practice from the ground up. His method? Coffee with one new person every day.

In this episode, Dave shares what it was like stepping into a group built by another Chair, the key differences between running a CE group and a Vistage Inside group, and how he earns trust in complex organizational settings. Whether he's talking with business owners or leadership teams, Dave brings the same steady, grounded approach that defined his corporate career.

The best way to contact Dave is by email at david.alden@vistagechair.com or you can also connect with him on LinkedIn. 

Leadership isn’t always lonely, especially when you’re co-chairing with someone who pushes you to grow.

In this episode of Chairwaves, Vistage Chairs Daron Shepard and Mike Tetreau break down how they built a successful co-chairing partnership and what it’s teaching them about leadership. They explore the mindset shifts required to move from solo to shared leadership, the pressure points in small businesses right now, and how football influences their coaching practices.And just when you think the conversation’s winding down, it goes deeper. They end with the kind of moment that reminds you why this work matters—and why the right Chair can shift more than just your business.

You can contact Daron and Mike via email at daron.shepard@vistagechair.com and michael.tetreau@vistagechair.com. 

What do you do when Monday hits and you've got zero RSVPs for a critical event that’s supposed to happen this week? If you're Vistage Chair Tim Cole, you dig deep. Tim talks about the moment he realized his drive to succeed wasn’t just about him, but about showing his daughters what it looks like to push through.

We also unpack Tim’s journey from corporate tech at IBM to running a Hallmark subsidiary to starting a ceramics dinnerware company, a business he ultimately walked away from rather than compromise on quality. Along the way, he moved to Colorado to be closer to family and start from scratch again. If you’ve ever faced a tough pivot or wondered how far your values can carry you, Tim’s story offers some real clarity.

You can reach Tim via email at tim.cole@vistagechair.com.

Julianne Roth had a choice: buy an existing business or build one from the ground up. She chose to start from scratch and it paid off. In this episode, Julianne shares how she launched her home care company, scaled it into the top 4% of the industry, and led it through a successful acquisition, all while raising kids and staying true to her standards. That same clarity and resilience now fuels her work as a Vistage Chair, where she leads two CE groups, including a 30-year legacy group she was handpicked to take over. We also talk about her second act as a horse farm owner, where 40 chickens and some horses keep things interesting between CEO meetings.

You can contact Julianne at julianne.roth@vistagechair.com or at 860-478-4445.

What if building a Vistage group didn’t require selling at all?

Suzanne Livingston has spent the last 20 years helping hundreds of Vistage Chairs discover a deeper, more sustainable approach to recruiting members—one rooted in purpose, not pressure. She’s not currently a Chair herself, but she’s worked alongside them long enough to know what actually works and what leads to burnout.

In this episode, Suzanne breaks down why so many new Chairs struggle to get traction and how success starts when you align your group with your greater purpose instead of focusing on sales tactics. If you’ve ever felt out of sync with traditional member-building strategies, this episode offers a different and more sustainable way forward.

You can connect with Suzanne via her LinkedIn profile, visit www.suzannelivingston.com to join her email list, or reach out directly at connect@suzannelivingston.com.

Sometimes the million-dollar insight doesn’t come from the $100 million CEO. It comes from the $5 million CEO sitting across the table. That’s the power of Vistage, and it’s the kind of magic Nancy Capistran sees in her groups every month.

Nancy is more than a Vistage Chair: she’s a crisis strategist, a leadership coach, and a self-proclaimed “911 call for executives.” Her journey spans startups, multibillion-dollar companies, and even a stint at the FBI Citizens Academy. In this episode, we talk about what it means to lead in a crisis, how growth can feel like chaos, and why the hardest times in business are often the best times to be part of a peer group.

To connect with Nancy, visit her website, find her on LinkedIn, or email her at nancy.capistran@vistagechair.com.

The values that guide Charlie Hoch today were forged in the military and they haven’t faded one bit.

Charlie Hoch isn’t just launching his first Vistage group, he’s doing it with the intensity and integrity of a former Marine, corporate executive, and leadership trainer. In this episode, we talk about the moment a sergeant major told Charlie to “put the shovel down” (yes, it’s as brutal and brilliant as it sounds), how military leadership shapes his approach today, and why he believes building a peer group is the most fun, and most meaningful work, he’s ever done.

Charlie brings the same integrity and leadership style he learned in the military to every conversation he has with prospective members. He’s not selling: he’s inviting. If you’re ready to grow, he’ll meet you where you are.

You can reach Charlie via email at charlie.hoch@vistagechair.com or by phone or text at (901) 491-8334.

Joe White believes in the power of teams—not just in sports, but in business.

In this episode, Joe breaks down the crossover lessons from his career as a baseball pitcher, teacher, and high school coach into his current role as a Vistage Chair. Be sure to listen when Joe walks through his CPC leadership model:  Coach it, Practice it, Challenge it. Most leaders skip the third step, they teach and rehearse but never truly challenge their people. And when those people fail under pressure, no one’s surprised. Joe’s approach is grounded, practical, and battle-tested—and it’s helping business leaders play a bigger game.

Whether you're coaching athletes or executives, the fundamentals are the same: leadership is personal, failure is essential, and growth happens when you’re pushed just beyond comfortable.

You can reach out to Joe via email at joe.white@vistage.com or check out his website www.coachjoewhiteconsulting.com.

Amanda Carrothers grew up with Vistage speakers at the dinner table—literally. Her father, a longtime Chair, exposed her early to the power of peer advisory and the people who make it work. Years later, she bought a training and development company at age 21 and turned it into a global business serving clients like the UN and World Health Organization.

Joining Amanda in this episode is Emma Doyle, Vistage’s 2024 Top New Speaker and a former professional tennis coach who now helps leaders show up with curiosity and connection. Together with Erik, they explore what makes a group thrive, how to create space for deep transformation, and what great speakers actually bring to the room. Amanda shares why passion—not polish—is what leaves a lasting impression, while Emma explains how a single question helps her align each session to the Chair’s vision.

You can connect with Amanda on LinkedIn or at www.amandacarrothers.com and with Emma at www.emmadoyle.com.au 

What does it take to build a peer group that actually accelerates growth? According to Denver-area Vistage Chair Michael Flannery, it starts with members who are as eager to give as they are to receive. In this episode, Michael shares how his career as a serial COO and business builder led him to Vistage—and why his groups are full of leaders with big visions and open minds. These are not “lifestyle business” CEOs. They’re founders and executives who crave scale, challenge assumptions, and genuinely want to become better leaders.

Michael also explains why stepping away from the day-to-day to join a Vistage group—just 5% of your time—can actually save you time. With the right peer group, better decisions come faster. If you’ve ever questioned the ROI of joining a CEO group, this conversation will make you think again.

The best way to reach Michael is through LinkedIn or by email at michael.flannery@vistagechair.com.

For our 50th episode of Chairwaves, we’re joined by New York City Chair Mark Taylor, who tackles one of the toughest challenges in group dynamics: How do you serve CEOs ranging from $5M to $350M in revenue? His answer: Triads—small groups of three members with shared characteristics who meet regularly to give each other focused, actionable feedback.

Mark reflects on 20 years as a Chair, the business failure that set him on a better path, and the surprising coaching method that transformed his practice. He also shares how becoming the first Vistage Chair certified in Positive Intelligence sparked a ripple effect that’s now impacted 500+ Chairs and their members. With his energy, insight, and commitment to helping others lead better, Mark was the perfect guest to mark this milestone episode.

The best ways to connect with Mark are via LinkedIn, through his website or by email at mark@marktaylor.nyc.

Facilitating a Vistage group solo means juggling a lot—coaching, listening, guiding, and watching the room. But what if you didn’t have to do it alone?

Aviva Leebow Wolmer and Renee Klein believe two leaders are better than one. Their partnership raises the bar for member impact, decision-making, and group dynamics. With distinct strengths and shared values, co-chairing enables them to stay fully present, read the room, and challenge members more effectively. One leads while the other watches for subtle, game-changing cues, resulting in deeper discussions, broader networks, and sharper insights.

In this episode, they share what it takes to build high-performing peer groups from scratch, why being “coachable” is non-negotiable, and how their shared commitment to growth shapes everything they do. Their “BOGO” model is a high-impact strategy for accelerating growth, deepening engagement, and expanding their reach across multiple groups.

Want to connect or learn more? Reach out to Renee and Aviva on LinkedIn, or email assistant Jessica at jessica@empowerleadership.net. 

If you’ve ever reached a point where you thought, “I don’t know how to go on,” you’re not alone—and Steve Sager gets it. Years before selling his business, Steve hit a wall that nearly ended his entrepreneurial journey. From sweeping shop floors in his dad’s countertop business to leading a successful tech company for 19 years, Steve shares his full-circle journey and why he now helps other CEOs avoid the mistakes he once made. With support from Vistage and a dose of hard self-reflection, he found his way forward—and now he’s paying it forward as a Chair. His advice? Ask for help. It’s not weakness—it’s wisdom.

Want to reach Steve? Email him at steve.sager@vistagechair.com or call 303-419-9800.

After 18 years running a digital marketing agency, Denver Vistage Chair Mindy Phillips knows the realities of growth, exit, and reinvention. Now, she’s guiding small business CEOs through challenges she understands firsthand. In this conversation, Mindy shares how her experience scaling an agency prepared her to lead a peer group and why the first year as a Chair is more demanding than expected. She even likens building a Vistage group to online dating—because finding the right members is all about chemistry, trust, and a leap of faith. And through it all, her members continue to sharpen her own leadership by reminding her that the right questions matter more than fast answers.

Connect with Mindy through email at mindy.phillips@vistagechair.com or by phone at 303-517-3849.

Marc Wallace has no plans to slow down—and he’s counting on his members to be the first to tell him if that time comes. The longtime Colorado Vistage Chair has built an ecosystem of groups where candor, trust, and real human connection are the norm. Drawing from an extraordinary career at Dow Chemical, launching and taking a consulting firm public, and navigating personal loss, Marc shares how he’s turned those experiences into wisdom for his members. From helping CEOs open up about life beyond business to inviting his wife into retreats and gatherings, helping members connect on a personal as well as professional level, Marc’s story is proof that staying engaged could be the real secret to longevity—in life and in leadership.

The best way to contact Marc is through email at mark.wallace@vistagechair.com or by phone at 303-641-5804.

Ana Quinn knows what it’s like to guide people through uncertain times. When a career change landed her in coaching just before 9/11, she found herself helping people navigate layoffs, immigration challenges, and personal upheaval. That experience still defines her approach today: meet people where they are, clear the “head trash” that gets in their way, and help them reach their full potential.

Her path to becoming a Vistage Chair started with a nudge from her husband, Chris, but her years of coaching and helping leaders through change made the decision an easy one. Today, Ana and Chris co-chair multiple Vistage groups while running a family business with their two sons — a partnership where his big-picture vision and her execution mindset turn ideas into action.

The best way to connect with Ana is through LinkedIn. 

Recruiting new members isn’t just a process—it’s a skill, and one Scott Bunce had to learn the hard way.

Scott’s journey is anything but ordinary. From running global hotel operations to stepping into a Chair role after the sudden passing of his mentor, Scott now leads a thriving group—and is helping his wife launch her own. In this episode, we talk about the emotional transition from member to Chair, the unexpected challenges of recruiting, and what it takes to let go of your “consultant brain” in favor of becoming a true facilitator. Scott breaks down how he evolved from a passionate member into a Chair who’s reshaping the group from the inside out.

To reach Scott, you can email him at scott.bunce@vistage.com or call him at 970-389-4187.