Member Spotlight: Member's Seminar Gets Off to Flying Start

August, 18, 2009--Last week sixty-plus business owners gathered in an airplane hangar outside of Chicago to listen to a longtime executive search professional/behavioral psychologist offer his research and views on how businesses should approach the current marketplace. With a Cessna Citation Sovereign Jet as the backdrop, Vistage member/speaker Russ Riendeau gave a 90-minute talk, peppered with aviation metaphor, on growing sales in a tough economy. The event dubbed “Fly Vistage Air” delivered advice on topics such as effective messaging for a fear-based marketplace, building accountability and incentivizing top performers.

“My goal was to change people perceptions of business processes by putting them in a different learning environment,” said Russ. “Sitting next to a jet that goes 600 miles an hour allowed them to engage and utilize more of their creative capacity around ideas for growing  their business in today's tough business climate. Vistage has taught and given a lot to me over the years, and I wanted to give back.”

The origins of his talk, titled “Growth Strategies in a Tough Economy: From the 40,000 Foot View to Sea Level,” are no less interesting than the setting he choose. The idea came to him while attending a session on aviation at the 2007 Milken Institute Global Conference. Panelist at the talk were defending the high cost of corporate jets, citing the efficiency that the jets create for company executives, whose time is valuable. Russ began thinking of how an aircraft is a good metaphor for speed and efficiency improvements needed at many companies. He resolved to hold a business seminar in a jet traveling cross country. It would be a first—the fastest business seminar ever held—and a unique and memorable way to learn.

Sometimes we have to scale down our dreams.

After running into difficulty securing a large jet for the event, Russ, put the idea into hibernation. Then, one recent hot day last month, Russ attended a talk being given by Vistage speaker Peter Schutz, the former CEO of Porsche. Inspired by Shultz speaking in dealership filled with Porsches, Russ changed his tactic. Indeed, it proved more feasible to give a talk next to Jet, instead of in one.

“My Chair Dennis Kleper helped me set the agenda so it focused 100 percent on the needs of the CEOs in the audience,” said Russ. His guidance reminded me of a quote I heard from another professional who said:  If the audience has a good experience they will remember you. If they have a bad experience they will never forget you.’”

Of the event, member Anthony Madonia, President of Anthony Madonia and Associates, said: “I really enjoyed it! This is very much out-of-the-box thinking. I gained great insights, especially into the value of accountability.”

Guest Jacqueline Camacho, Director of JJR Marketing, who traveled two hours to attend, had this to say: “I was inspired to attend by the setting—very unique and different. I love the idea of looking at your business objectively. I think this is a brilliant idea!”

“Sometimes you hear speakers and it’s really theoretical, and that’s great but what does the theory mean to me?” said Vistage member Kim Kleeman, CEO of Shakespeare Squared. “Russ gave concrete practical examples …and tactics I could take away.”

“People left the event with a strong visual metaphor that inspired to take action,” said Russ, “That’s what I wanted to give back. Thanks to generous help of my Chair and the Vistage Events and Communications people, I was able to do exactly that.”

By Paul Diamond, Web Editor, Vistage International © Vistage International.