The Vivians—A Power Couple in the Corporate World and the Community
by Jodi Weisberg

It was love at first sight when these two corporate workaholics met at a friend’s party 19 years ago in Chicago. Today, Carly and Chuck Vivian have successfully blended their families and are running a thriving business together. As individuals, they come from different backgrounds and life experiences, and have extracted the best of both their worlds to form a more perfect union—both personally and professionally.

Chuck, the middle child of seven siblings, comes from a large family. Carly’s family, on the other hand, consists of her parents and one sister. For both of them, however, their fathers were influential figures.

“My dad couldn’t read or write,” said Carly, whose father toiled as a shop mechanic. “Education was something he always felt he missed. He was extremely proud that I excelled in school, which motivated me to do more.”

And do more she did! Carly earned her BA in business administration and accounting from Western Michigan University, and received a master’s in management from Stanford University. She is a CPA and has worked for major international corporations, including Coca Cola and McDonald’s.

Chuck’s father was an officer in the Illinois National Guard and to help make ends meet worked many jobs, including parking cars and driving a taxi.

“One of the most important lessons I learned from my parents is to never make excuses for anything,” said Chuck. “If you want to do something, get up and do it.”

Chuck took that advice to heart and excelled in the corporate sales and marketing arenas. With a BA in business administration, he held senior positions with Computer Motion, Inc.; Alliance Medical Corporation; and the U.S. Surgical Division of Tyco Healthcare Group.

“Neither of us have complaints about corporate America,” said Chuck. “We enjoyed our time there and it confirmed our strong work ethic.”

Several years ago, however, Chuck was approached by friends to do some consulting work. When he decided to start his own firm, the Cogency Group, he asked Carly to join him.

“We wanted to spend more time together and tap into each other’s expertise,” said Chuck of their decision to work together. “It is a blessing to work with Carly because she is one of the sharpest people I have ever met.”

After spending decades in the corporate world, Carly is also enjoying her new working arrangement.

“Our backgrounds are different but synergistic,” she said. “Chuck focuses on sales, and I focus on organizational effectiveness. And we don’t compete against each other, which reduces any areas that could be sensitive.”

When they married, they blended their families, which included five children. Carly said she had to be very structured. “Raising kids, working, and traveling for my job required that I be organized. I had to have systems in place. Now I put systems in place for businesses.”
Their kids grew into adults with children of their own. But the Vivians are not resting on their laurels. In addition to busy work schedules, they have eagerly committed to charitable and community causes.
Chuck is on the board of the Lost Boys of Sudan, which serves the Sudanese community. “These are boys between the ages of four and twelve, who walked from Sudan to Ethiopia and then back again, before being flown here by the U.S. government,” said Chuck. “It is an honor for me to help and to mentor them.”

Brenda Felldin, immediate past president of the Lost Boys of Sudan, said Chuck is an important addition to their board. “We are excited to have him on the board because of his marketing and sales background and his leadership skills,” she said. “He is also a wonderful mentor to one of our boys, who just received his business degree from ASU.”

According to Felldin, Chuck’s involvement goes well beyond the board meetings. “He’s taking this young man to a business conference in Atlanta so he can network as he looks for a job,” she said. “That shows real dedication and commitment. Chuck is a true role model for these young men.”

Carly has focused her time on two community boards: the American Heart Association and the Arts & Business Council of Greater Phoenix.

“Carly is a superb board member who takes her duties very seriously,” said Debra Payne, executive director of the Arts & Business Council. “She is already on key committees and is just a breath of fresh air. She brings a different thought process and perspective to our organization, and we are so glad she is on our board!”

Valerie Jones, executive director of the American Heart Association, also sang Carly’s praises. “We love her and really enjoy having her on our board,” said Jones. “She donated her skills and time to work on our strategic plan, and she has great empathy for our cause. Her step-father died of a stroke, so she brings her own personal story to our cause.”

What does the future hold for the Vivians? Now in their 50s, they have no retirement plans.

“Chuck and I have similar goals regarding retirement,” said Carly.

“We’d like to be in a position to retire in the next 10 years, but whether we do or not will be a matter of choice,” she said.
Chuck said that retirement is nowhere in sight. “Before my dad died in 2007, he told me to buy a house that has no stairs and to get into a profession where I never had to retire. I took his advice on both!”

Moore Receives Lincoln J. Ragsdale Outstanding
Director Award

BBOD Project Selects
State Bar of Arizona
for Diversity Award

Photos

2007 BBODP Annual Dinner

2006 BBODP Annual Dinner

2005 BBODP Annual Dinner

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Partial List of Present
and Past Participants

Ed Beasley
Patricia Bennett, DVM
Adriane M. Brown
Dominique K. Brown
F. David Egbero
Kenny Harris
Mernoy Harrison
Dana Jamison, M.D.
Evon Jones
Carl Landrum
Gordon Lewis
Denise Meridith
Cathy Clardy Patterson
Marshall Porter
Judge Maurice Portley
Judith Register
Toni Stockton, M.D.
Hon. Phil Westbrooks
Kimulet Winzer

LINKS

Arizona Informant

Aspen Institute