ChairWaves

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. He had to unlearn his instinct to “fix” things and instead embrace what his members really needed: a space to feel seen, challenged, and supported. In this episode, Monty shares how one member’s deeply personal breakthrough changed the dynamic of the entire group, and why asking the right question is always more powerful than giving the right answer.

To connect with Monty, email [email protected].

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 long road from entrepreneur to executive coach, and what it means to lead with love, humility, and courage. From launching a tech company to stewarding a decades-old Vistage group (and guiding MBA students at UC San Diego), Mark’s story is one of second chances, big lessons, and giving back.

To contact Mark, email him at [email protected].

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. Her tight knit group thrives on supporting her too. 

If you would like to contact Ramona, she can be reached through email at [email protected] or on her cell at 319-212-0366. She’d love to hear from you! 

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, Danielle is also writing a book on the subject of inspiration and the psychological states that can facilitate it into practice. When it comes to helping leaders in her peer groups, it is key that her members be both intentional and accountable so that they may inspire others through the work that they are doing for themselves. 

If you have questions for Danielle or are interested in contacting her for more information about the work that she is doing, she can be reached at [email protected] 

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 executives from central Texas. And while it may seem like a simple ask for a CEO to get personal development and accountability training through executive peer groups, not everyone feels comfortable doing so. That’s where Delise’s expertise in organizational culture development and operationalizing through values and behaviors comes in handy. 

It is quite a balancing act for Delise, who also still runs her own company and is not only a Vistage Chair, but also a speaker. 

If you’d like to contact Delise you can check out her website, The Culture Think Tank, or contact her by email at [email protected]

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. Recruited during the pandemic, he built his first group entirely over Zoom, proving that connection and community can thrive even in the most uncertain times. With a calm, thoughtful presence and a wealth of experience, Mike brings wisdom, positivity, and heart to every conversation. 

The best way to contact Mike is through his LinkedIn profile or by email at [email protected]

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 IT, she got her coaching certificate and began a new career that would eventually lead her to Vistage. Three years in as a Vistage Chair, Christine is having a lot of fun with her group but also understands that her members get the most value from the group when they are transparent about the things that go wrong. 

If you would like to contact Christine or have questions about her Chief Executive group in the Greater Minneapolis-Saint Paul area, you can reach out to her through LinkedIn. 

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 how peer groups can change lives and help others, even when there are still hard times ahead. And she puts into practice one of her favorite ideas, that no one should have to “go it alone.”

If you would like to contact Lori, the best way to reach her is through her LinkedIn profile. 

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 digital training business before the dot com bubble. He’s going to tell you how he started a company, ran it for 27 years, sold it, and then managed to get himself fired from it. “I was not employable,” he recalled. And, he’s going to tell you how he made the transition from being a longtime Vistage member to being a Vistage Chair. This was a terrific interview with a fascinating person and I really enjoyed my conversation with Brant Houston from Houston and I think you’ll all enjoy this episode as well. 

You can reach out to Brant via email at [email protected] or [email protected] or you can call him at 504-458-1971.

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 the sage advice that her father would dole out at the family table, as a foundation for successfully running her groups. She’s used to having 12-16 strong personalities in one room and hopes that people walk away from each session with personal and professional growth, as well as a little bit of fun. 

Bridget also owns her own leadership development business and if you’d like to contact her regarding that or Vistage check out her business website perspectivestraining.com or email her at [email protected]