ChairWaves

When your members name the group “The Refinery” and plan their own retreat, you know something special is happening.

Vistage Chair Jim Ristuccia shares how a retreat full of logos, laughter, and cross-talk turned his CE group into something deeper. From career Navy officer to award-winning COO to full-time Chair, Jim brings a systems mindset and deep emotional intelligence to his work—including a one-of-a-kind Emerging Leaders group...

When a career banker walks away from the industry without a plan, the next chapter isn’t usually “Vistage Chair of five groups and best practice leader for all of Chicago.” But that’s exactly how Aimee Daniels rewrote her story.

In this episode, Aimee shares the moment she stepped away from corporate life and stepped into something entirely new—eventually becoming a Vistage Chair, mentor, and trusted voice among her peers. We talk a...

Before Monty Montoya was a biotech CEO or a Vistage Chair, he was a 22-year-old harvesting corneas from cadavers—an intense, hands-on start to a career in ophthalmology that would eventually earn him the Visionary Award from the Ophthalmology World Leaders. After nearly two decades as a Vistage member, Monty stepped into a new role: Chair of the very same group that had shaped him. That transition—from peer to coach—wasn't easy...

San Diego-based Vistage Chair Mark Fackler didn’t always see himself as a leader. In fact, for much of his early life, he coasted—doing just enough to get by. That changed one day, mid-career, when a crisis with a client forced him to ask a hard question: Was he willing to keep failing quietly—or finally try his hardest and risk failing loudly? That moment became a turning point. In this episode, Mark reflects on that shift, the lo...

Ramona Wink is a fan of the F-word. Feelings that is. As a trained mental health professional, Ramona encourages the members of her Des Moines, IA based Vistage group to explore their feelings, trust in the process, and be an active part of the network of support that lifts each other up in times of both personal and professional need. Her group’s motto is “We are better together,” and it’s not just about supporting the members. He...

A person can be inspired by something or they can be inspired to do something, and according to San Diego Vistage Chair and Speaker, Danielle Baldwin there is a difference. What inspires people and what gets them to turn that inspiration into action is of profound interest to her. So much so that, in addition to running her own business, chairing three Vistage groups, working as a Vistage Speaker, and Vistage faculty member, Daniel...

Not all peer groups look the same, and that’s a good thing. San Antonio, TX, Vistage Chair, Delise Simmons leads two very different groups of executives. After decades of work in the airline industry helping to develop and cultivate positive corporate culture, Delise has taken her talents to the next level, leading one group of private equity members from around the country in virtual sessions, and another group of female-only exec...

Fairfield, CT based Vistage Chair Mike Tetreau has followed a unique and impactful path—beginning in engineering and consulting, growing through international sales and turnaround leadership, and eventually serving two terms as First Selectman (mayor) of his hometown. A true believer in giving back, Mike now leads multiple Vistage groups and finds deep fulfillment in helping CEOs and advisors grow both professionally and personally...

Sometimes losing your job comes as a surprise. But what do you do when you’re the one in charge of phasing out your department? When faced with that exact scenario, Christine Pouliot, longtime global leader in IT, started her own business. During her 35 year career with one company, Christine learned that she loved the “people development” aspect of her job. So on the advice of a friend who worked in HR, instead of continuing on in...

The year 2020 was a transformative one for Lori Halverson in more ways than one. As the world was shutting down for a pandemic, Lori was also losing another source of global connections when she retired from her corporate job after twenty plus years. But Lori knew that she wasn’t ready to stop working, and becoming a Vistage Chair was just the transition she needed. As a co-chair of two groups in the Denver Metro Area, she has seen...

When you meet Brant Houston, the first thing you need to know is that his name is pronounced “House-ton” and not “Hue-ston” like the city. But if you meet Brant Houston, you’ll likely be in or adjacent to Houston because that’s where he lives and where the Vistage Chief Executive group that he has chaired for a decade is based. Brant has great stories and a lot of wisdom. He’s going to tell you how he became successful with a digit...

According to Central Wisconsin Vistage Chair, Bridget Wenman, good news travels fast. That would explain how an area that only had one Vistage peer group for 30 years exploded to six in the past decade. In 10 years she has added four Chief Executive groups, one Key Executive group, and one Advancing Leaders group to a vibrant and close knit community. Bridget draws on her childhood experiences, as the youngest of 15 children, and t...

What is it that makes businesses successful? According to Hershey, PA Vistage Chair, Kirsten Yurich, it is both the head and the heart. Being technically accurate can only get you so far, after that it is the human connection that gets you across the finish line. Kirsten wasn’t formally educated in leadership, she learned while on the job. As a board certified behavioral analyst, she worked her way up to become a CEO and now has mu...

Raleigh, NC area Vistage Chair, Chris Quinn and his wife, Ana, are taking “family business” to the next level. As Co-Chairs of 12 groups with nearly 200 members, Chris describes their teamwork as ideal, with him being the visionary and Ana being the implementor. Together they not only lead their groups, but also help other Vistage Chairs with business development and recruiting. Their two adult sons, now members of an Emerging Lead...

Anyone can get FOMO. Even longtime CEOs who have completed multiple exit strategies. Just ask Dallas/Ft. Worth area Vistage Chair, Dwain Farley. Having never heard of CEO level peer groups, Farley was first introduced to them when he was recruited to be a Chair, and suddenly wondered what his career would have been like if he had been part of a peer group. Six years and three groups later, this former IT guy finds himself creating ...

As the youngest of 10 siblings, Jesse DePriest learned early on about “good, productive conflict,” especially when it came to working on the family dairy farm in Alaska. Years of collaboration and teamwork helped him as he transitioned into his time in the Army, first as a helicopter pilot and then as an officer in aviation leading others. After completing his service, and moving into the private sector to work in Industrial Engine...

Nashville native, but also first generation American, Rod Thurley learned that he had a gift for talking and selling while attending college in Tennessee. He used those skills while working in the automotive industry and then when he transitioned into the RV industry. Six months after starting work at an RV dealership, at just 31-years-old, he bought the business and dedicated himself to running it for the next two decades. During ...

Bloomington, IN Vistage Chair, David Quick’s life changed one day while eating lunch in the “middle of nowhere.” That day, he met with a Master Vistage Chair and was inspired to take his career in a new direction. After serving in the Navy and then having three different CEO gigs by the age of 42, David was wondering “now what?” He says he can’t remember if he found Vistage or Vistage found him, but either way it was a match and fo...

Inspirational. Hard-working. Fearless. Just a few of the words I would use to describe THE Pete Thomas. Based in Ann Arbor, Pete’s first group launched in January of 2025, but his story didn’t start out in Michigan. As a child, he lived in 13 cities in his first 13 years, experiencing a lot of hardship during those early days. At 13 years-old, that all changed, and Pete was ready for it. An avid reader with a love of learning, Pete...