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, poet, and according to his website, an accomplished bowler as well. An individual with a unique style to chairing, Artie is doing exciting things with his groups in Central Ohio, and it was a pleasure to hear all that he has to say.

If you would like to connect with Artie, he invites you to visit his website, and “Ask Anything”.

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 integration and that inspired her to be a change agent for diversity among peer groups for business owners and CEOs. After 25 years as a Vistage Chair in New York, Norma says the best way to serve the members of her group is by listening–to hear the things that aren’t being said. She credits her success to bringing together leaders whose strengths are often different from each other so they can learn to see things from a different perspective–the things that aren’t usually seen in their normal environments. 

Get in touch with Norma on LinkedIn. 

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 face. Summer’s group, just formed in 2024, is off and running, and it’s a credit to her great passion for helping others. 

You can connect with Summer on LinkedIn.  

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 both facing challenges and leaning in to new opportunities to grow their businesses. Her message to prospective additions to her groups…”If you’re on the fence, waiting, why not lean in? What if this is the best experience of your life?” 

If you have questions or would like to connect with Brenda, you can contact her via email at

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. Her background as a founding member of a start-up bank in the early 2000s is a comfort to those in her group who are working through serious financial issues, and often a starting point for deeper conversations. A.R. is invested in the growth and overall success of her members–walking the journey with her members so they know that burdens are easier carried when you have a good support network. 

You can connect with A.R. on LinkedIn.

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 marketplace. According to Bob, one of the few Master Chairs who facilitates three different groups, it’s not about having all the answers, but being able to ask the right questions. So sit back and relax (it’s one of Bob’s favorite things to do) and let’s see if I did just that!

If you’d like to talk to Bob and learn more about the groups he chairs, or simply have a chat, contact him via email at [email protected].

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 Vistage Chair for a Small Business group, Anna works directly with those who need someone to help them write the next chapter of success in their businesses. 

If you’d like to connect with Anna, feel free to reach out to her on LinkedIn. 

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 creating a place where his members can give as much as they receive, open up to a different level of learning, and have the courage to not only say hard things, but to hear them as well.   

If you would like to speak with Chuck directly, the best way to contact him is through his website.

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 who are on their journey to change and grow. Sue’s credentials include both an MBA and a Doctorate, so if you have questions, the doctor is in!

Connect with Sue on LinkedIn or by email at [email protected]

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 startups and Fortune 500 businesses alike. Coaching the inaugural mountain group has some unique challenges but also many things in common with those in large metropolitan areas. In this episode, we find out why Jon Strickler is a champion in more than one way and why Eagle County is lucky to have him. 

Connect with Jon on LinkedIn, by email at [email protected], or by phone at 720-393-0793.