Vistage International names 2005 Cope Award winner
media contact:
Tony Vignieri
Vistage International
858.509.5882
tony.vignieri@vistage.com
(Lancaster, Penn.), July 21, 2006 – Vistage International, the world’s leading chief executive organization, has named Lancaster business advisor Rick Oppenheimer the winner of the 2005 Don Cope Memorial Award, the highest award a Vistage Chair can receive. Vistage Chairs lead small groups of chief executives who meet monthly to exchange ideas and help one another solve business problems. Chairs also coach each member individually. Oppenheimer currently coaches and meets regularly with more than 60 South Central Pennsylvania business leaders in various industries.
The Don Cope Award honors a high-performing Chair who has enthusiastically supported the Vistage mission of “increasing the effectiveness and enhancing the lives of chief executives in word and deed for at least 10 years.
According to Rafael Pastor, Vistage CEO and Chairman of the Board, the Don Cope award recognizes more than just high performance.
"This award is about passion, commitment and dedication to the Vistage mission over a long period of time," Pastor notes. "As a Chair and as a human being, Rick embodies not just what we do as an organization, but who we are and what we stand for. He has served his Vistage members and fellow Chairs at the highest levels for more than a decade, and for that we honor him."
Oppenheimer was presented the Cope trophy by Greg Wells, Vistage Chief of Regional Operations and will be honored at a series of upcoming conferences for Vistage Chairs. In addition, Vistage executives will host a formal dinner to honor Oppenheimer in his hometown, to be attended by his family, friends and group members.
Michael Hagy, Vistage Regional President for the Mid-Atlantic region based in Philadelphia, believes his colleague is most deserving of the tribute.
"Rick almost single-handedly developed the South Central Pennsylvania area into one of Vistage's most successful U.S. markets,” said Hagy.
He added: "Rick is also a leader within the Chair community. Although well into his 70s, he shows no signs of slowing down. A true role model, Rick encourages second- and third-career folks to recognize what wonderful work we do and how much of our lives we can continue to devote to this kind of work."
about Vistage International
Vistage International and its affiliates have more than 13,000 members in 15 countries representing the world’s leading chief executive organization based on revenue. Vistage members generate nearly $300 billion in annual revenue and have more than 2.1 million employees around the world. Vistage is dedicated to increasing the effectiveness and enhancing the lives of chief executives. Member companies are better run and grow their revenues, on average, at twice the percentage growth rate after joining Vistage.
Vistage affiliates include TEC, The Executive Committee and The Executive Connection in the following areas: Florida, Michigan, Wisconsin, Argentina, Australia, Canada, Brazil, Chile, Germany, Mexico, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and South Africa.