Vistage Recognizes Ellen Wood with Lifetime Achievement Award

Ellen is CEO and co-founder of Austin-based professional services firm vcfo

AUSTIN, TX – CEO and Cofounder of vcfo Ellen Wood has been awarded the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award by Vistage, the world's most extensive CEO coaching and peer advisory organization for small and midsize businesses. The Lifetime Achievement Award honors long-standing members who see no finish line in their pursuit of excellence. These leaders, recognized regionally, for their bold decisions that benefit their companies, communities, and beyond, inspire their peers. Ellen received this award through the 2024 Austin Member Excellence Awards program, after being nominated by fellow members and voted as the recipient by the regional chairs.

Industry-wide Impact

Ellen co-founded vcfo 28 years ago with the innovative concept of the “Virtual CFO” after experiencing the need for strategic help during her tenure as a first-time CFO. Recognizing a gap in the market for resources to assist with substantial expansion, acquisitions, and sales, Ellen pioneered fractional CFO and CHRO solutions designed to support small and medium-sized businesses. Under her leadership, vcfo has supported over 6,000 clients and continues to evolve its service offerings to meet emerging industry and market needs. Headquartered in Austin, with offices in Denver, Dallas, and Houston, the firm provides an integrated suite of finance, HR, and transaction advisory services, bringing the wisdom of senior executives to clients in an affordable, fractional manner.

Ellen’s vision for vcfo emphasizes delivering strategic support that small and medium-sized businesses need but often cannot afford full-time. The team at vcfo provides flexible, game-changing finance and HR solutions, allowing clients to adjust the level of involvement as their business needs change. This approach ensures that client companies are strengthened through expert support while facilitating seamless transitions when a full-time resource becomes necessary.

Community Involvement

Ellen is also deeply committed to her community. She has served as Chairman of the Board for University Federal Credit Union (UFCU) and the Austin Chamber of Commerce. While serving on the Chamber Board, she opened and led the Technology and Innovation initiative for several years, focusing on expanding international capital relationships and enhancing local support for the vibrant technology community. She serves on the board of Opportunity Austin and the Central Texas Quality of Life Foundation and in committee positions for the Capital Area Boy Scouts, Austin Area Research Organization (AARO), UFCU, and E3 Alliance.

Leaders Recognizing Leaders

On receiving this prestigious award, Ellen states, “It’s an incredible honor to receive the Vistage Austin area Lifetime Achievement Award, especially being nominated and recognized by my peers who have been such an incredible support system for me over the past 10 years. Joining Vistage marked a pivotal moment in my career and the trajectory of vcfo. Special thanks to my Vistage Chair, Bill LaRosa, whose belief in me inspired the courage to take on the hard challenges that have made all the difference. His favorite question merits mention here, “But what if you could?”

“Ellen is a leader with vision, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. She approaches challenges with a spirit of generosity, kindness, and authenticity, always striving to improve and support those around her. If you don’t know Ellen yet, I encourage you to connect with her – you will undoubtedly benefit from her insights and leadership.” – Bill LaRosa, Master Chair, Vistage.

About Vistage Worldwide, Inc.

Vistage is the world's largest CEO coaching and peer advisory organization for small and midsize businesses. For over 65 years, Vistage has 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 45,000 members worldwide rely on Vistage to help make better decisions for their companies. The results are evident: Vistage CEO members grew their annual revenue on average by 4.6% in 2020, while nonmembers with comparable small and midsize businesses saw revenue decrease by 4.7%, according to a Dun & Bradstreet data study. Learn more at vistage.com.

About vcfo

vcfo is a professional services firm offering a customized team model to assist companies with finance, HR, and transaction advisory services. As trusted advisors to the CEO and management team, vcfo provides expert guidance and assistance to help solve the most complex operational business issues. vcfo utilizes industry best practices and proven methodologies, enabling business leaders to focus on driving objectives and growth plans. Since 1996, vcfo has supported more than 6,000 clients nationwide. For more information, please visit vcfo.com.