Jack Altschuler

My business experience

I have 25 years' experience as a CEO/entrepreneur of the industrial water treatment company I founded. I am also past-president of the international trade association of my industry.

Since 2005 I have been delivering my workshop, "Fully Alive Leadership," to Vistage groups and companies in the U.S. and internationally. This workshop emphasizes the importance of how we "show up" as leaders, and its impact on our success and the overall quality of our lives.

My Vistage experience

I have been a Vistage Chair for nine years, leading two Chief Executive and one Key Executive groups.

Vistage is about people who want to be at their best, who refuse to live life on auto-pilot and who embrace change that leads to growth. The business acumen and group wisdom amazes me at every meeting. There are always wonderful nuggets of gold offered by my very generous members in support of one another. This is a roll-up-the-shirtsleeves, practical MBA that applies to all facets of life.

My Vistage groups

Members of my Vistage groups represent a wide array of industries, including industrial and commercial real estate brokerage, custom wire and cable manufacturing, heat seal lidding for food and pharmaceutical products, organizational development learning programs and consulting, solid surface manufacturing, cabinet manufacturing, commercial and residential real estate development, specialty insulation for nuclear power plants, plumbing valves and fixtures, advertising specialties, high-end flooring and home furnishings, commercial and industrial roofing and exteriors, auto dealership, craft beer brewery and pub houses, contract manufacturer and assembly, precision metal machining and engineering, and others.

Each group's "personality" is different, but all members are direct with and supportive of each other—providing not what we want to hear, but what we need to hear. All members are caring and wise, yet display these traits each in a unique way.

Who is the "ideal" Vistage member?

Chemistry and relationships are important, so the first criterion for an "ideal" member is fit, both with the group and with me. The ideal member is someone we want to hang out with.

An ideal member wants to both give and get, is willing to take chances and speak the truth to help another member and listens to the truth others offer to him or her.

An ideal member is a lifelong learner, someone who is more interested in learning than knowing and who is willing to relinquish the need to be right in favor of growing.

An ideal member adds to the group's diversity, which enriches every discussion

More about Jack Altschuler

I have a B.S. in Business Administration, with a major in economics, from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

I have had many years' continuing affiliation with The Mankind Project and Victories of the Heart (where I was honored as Man of the Year in 2004), both personal growth organizations.