Steve Riege, president of Ovation Leadership in Mequon
Name: Steve Riege
Title: President
Company: Ovation Leadership
Company address: 11613 N. Lafayette Place, Mequon
Company web site: www.ovationleadership.com
Industry: Consulting
Education: B.A. from UW Eau Claire
Family: Wife Maryanne, five children, two grandchildren
Hobbies and Interests: Music, recreational sports, hunting
Favorite book and/or movie: “My current favorite book is ‘They Marched Into Sunlight.'”
Favorite musician/band: “It’s a tie between Steve Miller Band and Tower of Power.”
Favorite place to visit/vacation: Drylake
Favorite local restaurant: “The Calderone Club with Frank and Tony.”
Words to live by: “Keep Smiling”
What is your core philosophy for doing business? “Very few people achieve the grade of what we assess critically to be a ‘Rare Leader.’ Typically, business people underachieve because they fall short of establishing a trusting relationship with their team, their clients, suppliers, etc. Trust based upon shared human vulnerabilities is the foundation on which to build success. Any attempt towards business without a collaborative trust, is both lonely and with certainty of failure.”
Who is your role model and why? “It depends on which direction I am headed. It’s like a compass. For example, if my interest is business, I emulate several mentors. In music I have bass players or conductors who have influenced me, etc. Overall I admire people who listen to the call of God to walk with Him.”
What was the funniest thing that has ever happened to you? “A few years ago, a friend retired, claiming he wanted to follow his dream of writing his life story within a rock opera. Most of his friends (including me) had little knowledge of his musical background. As I learned more, he asked me if I knew any bass players. In the end, we had made a virtual recording of his compositions with each of us recording our parts remotely, and the editor mixing the final cuts. The band finally met at the CD signing party. He met his goal, the album sells on ITunes, and to my surprise I became a published musician.”
