ChairWaves

If knowledge is power then Ozzie Gontang is one powerful man. From the lessons of Socrates to modern Nobel Prize winners and everything in between, Ozzie — a peer group facilitator since 1986 — uses his knowledge to help others become better leaders and better human beings. No longer chairing groups of his own, he now is a leading resource for all Vistage Chairs who are looking to learn and grow i...

Vistage members aren’t the only ones learning and growing from their time in peer groups. Some of the biggest changes happen with those leading the groups, that is, if they have the patience to stick it out. St. Louis, MO Chair, Jeff Hindman has been leading groups since 2009, and is the true definition of perseverance and determination. Starting his first group during the Great Recession was not...

Let’s admit it, some of us are just inherently more interesting than the rest of us. Such is the case with my most recent guest on ChairWaves, former advertising and public relations professional, Artie Isaac. Besides the fact that he chairs the most diverse array of groups, from a Chief Executive Group, to a Small Business Group, to an Insidel Group, and several others, he is also a deep thinker,...

Did you know that being part of a dynamic peer group can extend your life? Ok, it hasn’t been statistically proven, yet. But, according to longtime Vistage Chair, Norma Rosenberg, it certainly has had a positive impact on the quality of her life, leading to what she believes is a longer, healthier, happier life. Growing up in Baltimore, she had a front row seat to neighborhood and community integr...

Summer Dixon Goldman is doing big things in Louisville, KY with her newly minted Vistage Small Business Group. Don’t let the name “Small Business Group" fool you, her members are motivated entrepreneurs making waves in their respective industries. As a former CEO she understands how lonely it can be when you don’t have others around you who understand the challenges those in leadership positions f...

Brenda Lawrence knows what she’s doing. Not just because she has multiple coaching credentials and years of experience working both nationally and globally in service, but because she understands that helping others fulfil their potential as leaders is her true calling, her “why.” Brenda believes that the work she does with her Vistage groups empowers her members to create a strong foundation for...

A.R. Smith comes from a family of entrepreneurs. She understands what it takes for business owners to persevere, even in times of adversity. So it’s no surprise that she became a Vistage Chair in 2020, during the pandemic. As business owners were increasingly feeling isolated, A.R. sought to build a space for them to connect, and in some cases develop some of the best friendships of their lives. H...

It takes guts to admit defeat. And, it takes even more to want to use that experience to help others avoid the same fate. For nearly 30 years, Bob Carrothers has been coaching entrepreneurs and business owners as a Vistage Chair, taking the lessons from both his personal successes and failures, to help those who are laying everything on the line to bring something new and exciting to the marketpla...

Thirty years ago Anna Kennedy hopped across the pond with her family looking for a change. After a brief stop in Minnesota, she settled in Los Angeles and the rest, they say, is history. Or more accurately, “her story.” Business development isn’t her only specialty, she is also an accomplished author and ghostwriter, helping others bring a voice to their life’s work. Now in her 8th year as a Vista...

The American Dream is alive and well in Chicago, Illinois with Chuck Andrews. From janitor to sales manager to CEO and business owner to Vistage chair, Chuck knows what it’s like to have it all and then to have to start all over again. With an immeasurable amount of knowledge that is both intellectual and experiential, he has spent the last decade facilitating Vistage groups in the hopes of creati...

Sue Tinnish knows a thing or two about a lot of things. But mostly, about how to pass on her extensive knowledge to the next generation of leaders. From corporate banking to working in higher education and rising to the position of college dean, and now to being a Vistage Chair, Sue’s passion for organizational development and management is an incredible resource for top CEOs and business leaders...

From West Point to parts of the Western Slope, Jon Strickler’s unique experience and sense of grit led him to start the first ever Vistage group in the Colorado Rockies. Looking for a way to give back to the community he lives in, becoming a Vistage chair has enabled him to combine his valuable leadership training and operational business experience with his love of bringing added value to startup...

The stars have truly aligned for Vistage chair, Chet Tart. From bartering rides in exchange for a parking space with college friend Jay Leno to being mentored by Larry King, Chet has seemingly found himself in the right place at the right time often throughout his career in broadcasting. Luckily for his Vistage group members, his place is now with them. His desire to constantly improve his craft i...

Karen Kemerling is an executive business coach and business strategy coach as well as one of Vistage’s newest chairs. In this episode Karen talks about the importance of creating an environment of psychological safety for her members, accountability partners, and how one of the first things she learned as a Vistage chair is the art of rejection. Connect with Karen via email or on LinkedIn .

Welcome to Chairwaves, where every episode we feature a Vistage peer group chair. In our first episode we interview Nigel Alexander. Before taking over as chair, Nigel Alexander was a member of his Vistage group for 25 years. He now finds himself in the unique position of coaching those he was once peers with. Alexander’s group benefits from his extensive experience and specialized knowledge in th...