Peer Groups
Why you need CEO peers to challenge your assumptions.
As a CEO and business owner, I needed more perspective. I was stale. I felt isolated at the top.
Even worse, no one was challenging my assumptions. Advice was everywhere — and always had an agenda attached.
I knew this: what I was doing was not producing the growth I wanted.
Something had to change.
I needed someone to question my answers.
I gathered with a dozen business owners — a CEO peer group. We met confidentially to share experiences and insights. We described our challenges and opportunities, identified blindspots — and greatly benefited from each other’s agenda-free recommendations. We learned, as Daniel Joseph Boorstin said: “The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance. It is the illusion of knowledge.”
The results were substantial: my company became more professionally managed, process driven, and — when I was ready — sellable.
This experience also improved my life beyond business. Held accountable by my peers, I allocated my time better. I stopped doing other people’s work. I was able to get home earlier. Life got better.
Want to grow — personally as well as professionally? Feeling “isolated at the top?”
I convene monthly meetings of business leaders, meet individually with members, and bring in experts (on topics of management and beyond).
Groups are for business owners and CEOs; for key executives (who report to CEOs); for an internal group inside a single company; and for micro-enterprises and solo practitioners.
To amplify my coaching and facilitation, I am affiliated with Vistage International. My Vistage groups have access to the resources and knowledge of the world’s leading chief executive organization with 45,000+ members around the world and enough alumni to crowd Ohio Stadium.
Are you right for my groups?
Here are the minimum qualifications.
Two of my Vistage CEO peer groups are for leaders who run companies with annual revenues of $1M+, are facing the challenges and opportunities that come with growth and success, and want to share experiences and be held accountable by peers. Members live in central, western, and eastern Ohio.
An additional double CEO peer group is for leaders of not-for-profit enterprises.
Two Key Executive peer groups are for executives who report directly to a CEO, are being groomed for the CEO position at companies with annual revenues of $1M+, and want to share experiences and be held accountable by peers.
One Vistage Inside peer group is for the single company’s leadership team (working for a Vistage CEO member). This group meets monthly — inside their company, with me as their Vistage chair — to develop individual leadership skills, team collaboration, and an ever stronger sense of shared purpose.
Qualitatively, I admit people who: are smart, ambitious, and successful; are trusting and trustworthy; are earnest, but don’t take themselves too seriously; are kind-hearted; play the big game — are willing to bring their biggest challenges; can engage — show up on time; focus (phones down); lean in, will confront their peers kindly, and are experienced enough to know they need to change — and energetic enough to do it.
My groups are for “A” Players. If you are an “A” Player, here is a message for you.
Here’s what members say.
“Through ten years with Artie Isaac, I experienced the development of a supportive, challenging CEO peer group that held me accountable for personal and business growth. As a result, I have developed lifetime relationships with terrific people, achieved 300% growth over five years, and gained insights about all aspects of running a business I might otherwise never had. That’s ROI. That’s Artie.”
Doug Lunne
President & Creative Director
LMG – Lunne Marketing Group
(former Vistage member)
“The time with Artie and especially my Vistage group members has been invaluable for my company, my career, and my life beyond the office. I would encourage anyone interested in learning more about themselves and their business, while connecting with others, to contact Artie in order to find a Vistage group that is right for them. I am grateful that someone cared enough to suggest Vistage to me years ago, and now I am encouraging others reach out and engage as well. I am confident that you will find value through membership that far outpaces the costs.“
Mike Davis
President
Engineered Profiles LLC
“I have grown as a leader throughout my time with Vistage, with Artie as the facilitator. The camaraderie, mentorship, professional development, collaboration, and support I’ve received have been key to my own professional growth and thus the growth of Bridgeway Academy. This has been especially relevant while working through leading an organization through a pandemic. Vistage has been a lifeline for me and Artie has a way of drawing out the best in others through his supportive nature. He asks tough questions and is supportive and generous in his time and resources. I am so fortunate to have Vistage, and Artie Isaac in my life.”
Erin Nealy
Founder/Executive Director
Bridgeway Academy
“Artie has been a trusted coach and advisor since I joined Vistage in 2012. He’s highly trained in many coaching methods and has a deep wisdom when it comes to asking the questions that are difficult to answer, but must be answered for positive growth. During the challenging days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when there are no easy answers and great uncertainty, Vistage serves as a lifeline for processing issues and finding solutions to challenges alongside trusted colleagues.“
Christy Farnbauch
Executive Director
CATCO
(former Vistage member)
“As a new Executive Director, the Vistage team and chair have been helpful and gave me great strategies to work closely with my Board to achieve organizational outcomes.“
Angel Harris
Executive Director
Dress for Success Columbus
(former Vistage member)
“With depth and consciousness as a leader, Artie provides excellent support, knowing when to let the group process and when to gracefully move conversation forward. I always walk away with new nuggets of wisdom, challenged to deepen my self-awareness, and re-energized to do the hard work that leadership requires.“
Rebecca Wiggins
Organizational & Leadership Consulting
Row Together
(former Vistage member)
“Leadership can be lonely. My business partner and I had recently parted ways. I felt lost, angry at the events, and alone. I struggled with direction. A good friend pointed me to Artie Isaac, saying, “If he cannot help you, he will point you to someone who can.” Artie chairs several Vistage peer groups where, once a month, about 15 of us solve our most pressing business challenges. We meet one-on-one outside of the group as well. I value the confidentiality. It allows us to share issues which are deep and personal. We often laugh. We sometimes cry. We always grow. Their honesty and friendship have taken the loneliness out of leadership, and they have helped me build a better more profitable business. I also value the leadership artistry Artie Isaac demonstrates as our Chair. If you don’t know him, I encourage you to introduce yourself. If you’ve found leadership to be lonely, make community your priority this week. You cannot afford to wait any longer.”
John McNeal
Vistage Chair
2reveal
(former Vistage member)
“Artie is the reason I fly back from San Francisco to Columbus monthly for my Vistage meetings. He has curated a great collection of business owners for our group and does a masterful job of facilitating the discussion. He asks insightful questions, brings theory and outside expert ideas in when appropriate, and challenges us to think in new ways.”
“I greatly admire Artie’s heart-centered ability to improve lives through his coaching and peer support processes. Artie creates peer groups of unlike-minded individuals who show up to work, play, and challenge each other in profound ways. I was stuck and searching for motivation when Artie invited me into the Working Surface group. I was enthusiastically welcomed and offered unconditional encouragement and positive regard. I experienced an immediate improvement in the quality of my work and my days. Also – Vistage is really fun. Artie makes plenty of room for that, too.”
Matt Slaybaugh
Achievement Skills Coach
CoachMatt.co
“Artie blends his unique brand of intentional calm with a prismatic view of issues and the world. He masterfully imparts this way of life to members of his Vistage groups. Through his expert coaching: Problems become issues. Issues become actions. Actions reinforce calm.“
“My Vistage experience has been amazing. My peers are smart, thoughtful, kind people who put challenges into perspective, and take a holistic approach to every issue. Artie is a highly skilled chair who facilitates when necessary, brings us excellent speakers, and holds us accountable for our actions. I have been so lucky to be in one of his groups.“
Blythe Coons
Executive Communication Coach & Trainer
Articulation
(former Vistage member)
“Vistage has been an incredible experience for me both personally and professionally. Artie is hands-down the best facilitator I have ever worked with and I so value the opportunity to be vulnerable amongst peers and process issues that I’m navigating.“
“At first, Vistage helped me with business. What I didn’t understand at the time, and am not sure I will ever understand, is that Vistage helped me form as a better human. From business person, to husband, to son, to brother, to an other-centered human, Vistage has impacted every aspect of my life. I am a better person, in every way, having known Vistage and Artie Isaac.“
Timmy McCarthy
Entrepreneur & Social Change Advocate
“Vistage has been completely transformative for my business during my four years with Artie Isaac in a CEO group. Every month I come away with new insights, actionable tools, and invaluable peer review. Artie’s leadership in a room of leaders is thoughtful and passionate. I’m looking forward to year five!”
April Zimmerman Katz
President
The Zimmerman Companies
“My membership in Vistage has been instrumental for me as an entrepreneur and has paid for itself four-fold in my first year as a member. The input and counsel that I receive from Artie and my peers is invaluable. Not only has Vistage been a profitable investment in my business, but it has genuinely made me a better person. I grow mentally, emotionally and spiritually from each monthly meeting.“
Kristen Schmitt
Principal
Thrive to Lead
“I have had the pleasure and benefit of being a member of one of Artie’s Vistage groups for three years. The members of our group truly care about each other’s success, which leads to extremely focused and engaging meetings. I always come away with actionable items. I highly recommend meeting with Artie. Within five minutes, you will understand why Artie has become one of the most well-known and well-respected Vistage chairs in the country.”
Travis Timmons
Founder and CEO
Fitness Matters
(former Vistage member)
“Artie Isaac masterfully harnesses our group’s talent, insight, wisdom, and expertise through organized and perceptive facilitation. I benefit greatly from my investment in the group. It’s helpful to get away from the business for a day each month to gain a unique perspective, and in times of great need, processing issues with my peers has been immeasurably valuable. Artie leads with his head, his heart, and some (very dry) humor. I feel as though I have a room full of consultants who are there — all in — to support me. Sometimes it’s tough to break away from my rigorous schedule, but every time I do, I am grateful for the learning. I recommend Vistage and Artie Isaac to any smart, ambitious, open-minded leaders of growing businesses.”
Rachel Friedman-Webb
Founder + CEO
TENFOLD
(former Vistage member)
“I am the executive director of a Columbus-based nonprofit and Vistage is helping me grow into a better leader and human being. Through Vistage, I develop genuine and authentic relationships with more than 20 nonprofit colleagues. Together, we forge new opportunities to do good in the community. We share our fears and work together to overcome what is holding us back. We meditate together and we laugh together. Artie’s Vistage experience is invaluable. If you are considering Vistage, I highly recommend a conversation with Artie.“
Matthew Goldstein
Executive Director
Besa
(former Vistage member)
“Artie Isaac is an extraordinary human being. He is intelligent, open-minded, creative, intuitive, hilarious, candid, interesting, interested, and of very high integrity. I have only the highest praise for Artie. As a member of one of Artie’s Vistage groups, I have grown as a person and as a business owner. He is a key reason our group is so functional, productive, and connected. I highly recommend Artie as a speaker, facilitator, Vistage chair, and friend.”
Casey Brown
Founder and President
Boost
(former Vistage member)
“Artie is a remarkable leader, mentor, facilitator, coach, speaker, and consultant. I have had the opportunity to know Artie over the last few years as a member of one of his highly functioning Vistage groups. Through his efforts and facilitation, I continually receive a tremendous return on my investment. I highly recommend Artie as a Vistage chair, speaker, consultant, and coach.“
Alec Broadfoot
Founder and CEO
Vision-Spark
(former Vistage member)
If you are right for one of my Vistage groups…
I will apply my best efforts and energies to improving your life — and the lives of your families and employees — substantially.
If this sounds like you — or a friend you want to introduce to me — please contact me. I’m here for you. I care.
Wait. What?
You don’t have time?
If your answer is “I don’t have time,” then I am here to question your answer. (Members say, “I come to Vistage to have my answers questioned.”)
Here are the Top 10 Reasons People Do NOT Join Vistage: