East Brunswick, NJ, June 08, 2020– Vistage, the world’s largest CEO coaching and peer advisory organization for small and midsize businesses, today announced that Brian Fitzgerald, President and CEO of New Jersey’s largest disability services not-for-profit Easterseals, is the recipient of their Lifetime Achievement Award. The Vistage Lifetime Achievement Award honors the accomplishments and ongoing commitment to learning and development of a longstanding Vistage member. These members draw from a deep well of experience and are generous in their support of fellow members. Their business achievements are inspirational and they have a track record of great decisions that benefit their companies, families and communities. Fitzgerald has been a member of the Vistage CEO membership group since 1993. He has been with Easterseals for more than 40 years, starting his career as an intern in 1974. His drive and passion for the disability community has extended over multiple decades, in a variety of roles, and with tremendous contributions to this community. Prior to becoming President and CEO of Easterseals New Jersey in 1989, he served in various leadership positions including Chief Operating Officer, Senior VP of Operations, VP of Employment Services Division, and Executive Director of their Raritan Valley Work Center. For a period of a time, he also served simultaneously as the Chief Executive Officer of Easterseals Houston, Texas. He has also served as President of the Easterseals Leadership Association and liaison to several committees of the National Easterseals Board of Directors. Brian has frequently shared his driving belief that “everyone deserves a chance to reach their full potential.” Prior to fully devoting his career to Easterseals and the disability community at large, Fitzgerald was a commissioned Regular Officer in the United States Army from 1967 to 1972. During his tenure he completed a tour in Vietnam where he was recognized for his valor and meritorious service. He then obtained his BA in History and a Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling from Seton Hall University. Fitzgerald has been credited with being an innovator in strategic planning for Easterseals on both the local and national level and is a recipient of many awards for his service and leadership, including the NJBIZ ICON Award in 2019, Medders Award for Outstanding Executive Leadership in 2007, the ACCESS NJ Community Service Award in 1999, Easterseals New Jersey Leadership Award in 1995, and the Community Services Distinguished Career Award in 1985. Under his leadership, Easterseals New Jersey continues to receive recognition from trade groups and legislative parties in various areas for outstanding work in social services. “I am honored to be recognized by Vistage,” said Fitzgerald. “It’s a tremendous organization that has helped and advised me throughout my career. I credit and thank the organization for all that I have achieved and been able to accomplish for people with disabilities.” “We know that Brian’s motto and guiding light has been that ‘everyone deserves a chance to reach their full potential,’” said Jeff Hutsell, Vistage Chair. “We know that he has dedicated his career to making sure that all Easterseals NJ consumers have the opportunity to reach that full potential.” For more information on Vistage, visit www.vistage.com. About Vistage Worldwide, Inc. Vistage is the world’s largest CEO coaching and peer advisory organization for small and midsize businesses. For more than 60 years, we’ve been helping CEOs, business owners and key executives solve their greatest challenges through confidential peer groups and one-to-one executive coaching sessions. Today, more than 23,000 members in 20 countries rely on Vistage to help make better decisions for their companies, families and communities. The results prove it: Vistage member companies grow 2.2 times faster than average small and midsize U.S. businesses, according to a 2017 study of Dun & Bradstreet data. Learn more at vistage.com. About Easterseals NJ For more than 100 years, Easterseals New Jersey has helped individuals and families with disabilities or special needs live, learn, work and play in their communities with equality, dignity and independence. Annually, over 5,000 people in New Jersey with developmental disabilities receive services in programs designed to help them achieve independence and full community-integration. For more information on Easterseals New Jersey and its statewide disability services, visit http://www.eastersealsnj.org./
