Testimonials and Successes

Vistage CEO Peer Advisory Groups, Executive Coaching, Business Consulting and Strategic Planning

What People are Saying:

"My business was growing faster than I could manage. I also knew at some point in the near future I wanted to sell my company and retire. After meeting Scott, I felt he was the right person to help me build my company and set it up for acquisition. He implemented the processes to manage my growth as well as develop an exit strategy to sell the company. In about three years the company almost tripled in revenue and we successfully sold it. Scott oversaw the strategy, growth and even the due diligence during the sale. Scott was a huge Mentor to me. During this timeframe Scott also helped me mentor my son who now runs my other business. I got to retire. Because of Scott’s business knowledge, financial knowledge, management skills, experience and teaching abilities, I fully endorse Scott as an executive coach and mentor."
Russ Scheppmann
CEO APS Technology​
"Through Vistage, I have worked with my peers collectively and with Scott individually. Discussing issues in the group such as managing the personalities of four different generations in the workforce and how to manage through the CV19 issues have been instrumental. In the 1 to 1 setting, Scott has been extremely valuable to me, especially with his experience working with family owned businesses and his understanding of finance. He helped me with the negotiations and contract associated with my joining a new company as President."
Brandon Richards
President- AleSmith Brewing
"Vistage really helps push me towards focusing on working at the level of a CEO instead of drifting down into the direct project involvement level. Both the meetings and one-on-one sessions with Scott help keep me focused on the big picture, and make me think about how to empower my team to take action while I look up and out at the next big thing that will shape and evolve my company. Our next phase of growth is focused on conversion from projects to products. Having a dozen CEOs work with me on this transition is outstanding. The one to one meetings focus on me being the best I can be at running the business and seeing the future."
Sumner Lee
CEO- FUSE Integration
"Vistage has been a great organization for me to join. Between the team processing opportunities and issues for me and for each of the other members, I learn so much about the complexity of growing a business. The 1 to 1 time with Scott has been invaluable because we cover so many topics- navigating a family owned business, reorganizing management roles, strategic thinking, the tradeoffs between risks & benefits, to name a few."
Ben Weinrib
Eddy Pump- CEO
"I have been a peer of Scott in a Vistage CEO Advisory group for the past three years. The breadth of his knowledge and experience make him an ideal candidate for executive coaching and mentoring. The experiences and knowledge gained by Scott through his strong leadership at many companies, and through the various projects and programs that Scott has managed and served as the lead throughout his career will be extremely beneficial to many Vistage candidates and C-level executives. Given Scott's experience within the C-suite that included CEO, President, CFO, and CIO, as well as with public and private companies and several family-owned businesses, both large and small, I find his mentorship and peer advisory to be top 10% and of significant value-add to my professional and personal development. I recommend him without hesitation and trust you will find him to have the requisite skill sets and acumen to be the right mentor for you and your business. If you wish to speak with me directly about how Scott can add value to you, please contact me."
David H. Crean, Ph. D
Managing Director Objective Capital Partners
"I’ve been in the flower business for more than 25 years and know most everything about raising, packaging and marketing flowers. Scott knows so much about running and growing companies. For Bandy Ranch Floral, it is a great combination. Not only does Scott's Business Consulting help Bandy Ranch, but he uses a pragmatic approach that makes me wiser about operating as a company."
Steve Dodge
President- Bandy Ranch Floral
"I had been travelling for several weeks and when I returned, my “apparent” cash position was in crisis. Between the Vistage group discussion and my 1 to 1 meeting with Scott, we developed a 10 point plan that I implemented immediately. Within 3 weeks, the underlying issues were uncovered, resolved and procedures developed, including the cash position, an enhanced relationship with my bank, customer & vendor discussions and most of all, employee training requirements. The ability to address issues so quickly and openly, that is the value of the group."
Milan Djokich
President- MMD Construction
"I joined Hi Tech Honeycomb because of Scott and moved from Cleveland to San Diego to learn from him. He is a really smart guy, a great mentor, boss and individual. I fully endorse Scott in his role as an executive coach and mentor."
Matthew Gluntz
President Lamina Technologies USA
"The following e mail from our Vistage Chair, Scott Skillman, says it all about how our Vistage Peer group has collaborated and supported each other in the second quarter of 2020. It is this type of leadership and guidance I both personally and professionally rely on for our business."
"Now, THAT'S real team work!"
Jason Rattray
LNDRY – Business Owner

Date:  April 22, 2020

Subject: Summary of CV19 steps we have taken to date

All,

As a group, we have done a great job of working together both on and through the CV19 situation.  This will continue.

 Here is a recap:

  • January 15, our war room strategy assignment for the February meeting was: “Assume in Q2, the market crashes and the economy tanks—What does your Company need to do in the first 30 and 90 days.”  How ironic, huh?  Talk about being prepared.
  • Since mid- late March we have been holding a weekly one hour ZOOM call to discuss the status, issues, offer help, next steps discussions
  • Holding monthly group meetings via ZOOM
  • We had 45 minute speakers and Q & A on, SBA loans, Labor & HR rules and laws, wealth mgmt (employer benefit adjustments, estate & will needs for owners, company insurance…all related to CV19)
  • Everyday availability of direct discussion and researching answers between each of you and me
  • We discussed each company’s numerous immediate defensive needs, including Cash mgmt. (cash is king), employee layoffs/furloughs, customer & vendor interaction, forecasting sensitivity, work from home keys to success, what if an employee is sick/exposed. etc
  • We worked on PPP, being first in line, finding banks for those who had trouble with their own
  • We have discussed if and how to bring workers back, develop audit trails for use of PPP funds
  • We have access to Vistage webinars on mgmt. during difficult times- Paul Lencioni (author of The Five Dysfunctions of a Team), Jim Collins (author of Good to Great)
  • We have access to Vistage network groups questions, answers, data and info updates
  • We have discussed opportunities out of the crisis
  • In between group calls & zooms, the level of interactive discussions between members through e mail and phone calls has been outstanding as well
  • While our Defense programs need to remain vigilant, we have moved the conversation to Offense—how do we make sure we are effectively prepared for the reopening of business-
  • Develop a real plan- revenue ramp up, labor return & ramp up, supply chain status, customer perspective, marketing plan—how do we ramp up faster than our competition or absorb market share lost by others
  • More scenario planning-pricing what-ifs, what of employees are not coming back, customers ready but vendors not (and vice versa), etc
  • The new norm- work from home being part of the new model (how to measure success), supply chain changes, digital marketing focus, etc
  • What business model changes to make part of the norm, what new customers or verticals are now on the radar
  • How has the company culture changed, what to do
  • New process, not old inefficient process
  • What are the new risks? Predict, adapt

Finally – 

Start jotting down your notes for performing a Post Mortem on the whole CV19 business impact—the good the bad, the ugly .  What we did well, what we could have done better (and how) and of course, what went really sideways (and how to prevent in the future)—it is a learning and preparing exercise.

Team, keep up the great work and utilize the benefit of your sounding board.  I am proud to be associated with each one of you.  ROCK STARS.

Regards,         

Scott