Jack Stillwaggon
Avoided Retirement and Evolved
Jack Stillwaggon graduated from Iona College in 1969 and, unlike many of his peers, has avoided full retirement. He left corporate America in 2010, at the age of 63, knowing that while finding a job at that age was possible, it was less likely. Selling his house, he moved away from the commuter belt to Essex, CT, to be near his kids in New York City and Connecticut. Then came COVID, travel restrictions, family responsibilities, and caring for his terminally ill wife, which ultimately marked the end of his working years.
Upon college graduation, after serving as an officer in the Marine Corps, Jack started his career at Avon where he gained experience in operations, sales management, general management, and human resources. He has had extensive P&L responsibility in the U.S. and around the world throughout his career with experience in both consumer products at Avon and Stanley, and business services at Olsten and Lee Hecht Harrison.
Finding a Lifelong Network in EF
Jack met Bob Sloane in 1995, when the Executive Forum (EF) was just five guys meeting in borrowed office space. They met in person every other week, bringing leads to share—even if they were pursuing those leads themselves. Bob sought members who embraced this mindset of generosity. Jack landed a job in just two months and was immediately convinced of EF’s value.
Over the next 30 years, he stayed involved because he believed in the EF concept. He built a vast network - meeting one person, then three more, then watching his contacts grow exponentially. EF became a core part of his professional identity. He always took EF calls and advised others to do the same. In the early days, most members were in consumer products, but over time, the mix broadened to include attorneys and professionals from other industries—all proving that people help people, regardless of industry specialty.
Giving Back to EF
Jack served on the EF Board for five years, where he developed an onboarding process to help new members integrate quickly and effectively. He valued the professionalism and camaraderie of the Board, always looking forward to meetings. His approach to networking? Treat it like putting a merger together: identify skills and needs, research companies, find solutions, connect with decision-makers, and secure meetings. In recognition of his noteworthy contributions to the EF, Jack was a recipient of the Robert C. Sloan Award in 2010.
Words of Wisdom for New EF Members
For new members of EF, Jack offers clear advice:
- Get involved. Don’t just join—volunteer for a committee and call people.
- Build relationships. Identify the best contacts and reach out.
- Engage search consultants. Tell them what you want to do and ask if it makes sense.
- Use humor and stay productive. Transition can lead to drifting; fight that by pressing on.