Bernhard Bernie Kerschbaum

About Bernhard Bernie Kerschbaum

Think back to the playground. When kids meet, they don’t check titles or resumes. They get curious. They explore. They build trust and community instinctively, without the labels and hate that are far too common in today’s world.This is the foundation of Love to Uplift.I didn\'t learn this in a boardroom; I learned it by growing up, moving between countries, and constantly being the \"new kid\" who had to find his tribe.Over my 25+ years of leadership, I have confirmed that truth: resilient organizations are built on trust—and by leaders who truly care for their people. They lead with • that eliminates labels • that replaces hate • that remove divisionsToday, I work with leaders who apply these principles to uplift people, organizations, and communities.We connect, collaborate, and share our knowledge to create ripples that go far beyond what any of us could imagine—creating a lasting legacy of peace, opportunity, and prosperity.Love to Uplift guides my work as a Vistage Peer Group Chair, Executive Coach, and Business Mentor.I ask probing questions, listen deeply, and hold you accountable. I don\'t just want you to succeed; I want to challenge you to become the best version of yourself—for your company, your family, and your community.We are building a better playground—one trusted relationship at a time.If you are ready to uplift, let\'s start a conversation: https://tinyurl.com/CallBernie

Experience

1. Vistage Group Chair Peer Advisory Group Facilitator Coach

   Vistage Michigan

   May 2023 — Present

   True leadership isn\'t about having all the answers; it\'s about having the courage to ask the right questions in a room where it is safe to bring all of you.As a Vistage Executive Peer Group Chair, I lead groups grounded in the Love to Uplift philosophy: We are a collaborative of curious, open-hearted leaders working to eliminate labels and divisions.We operate on a set of Group Fundamentals that include:• Bring All of You: We leave titles and ego at the door to bring our authentic, imperfect selves.• Rise by Uplifting: We commit to Co-Elevation, ensuring nobody fails on our watch.• Be \"Carefrontational\": We speak straight and challenge the status quo because we care.• Explore Curiously: We listen without judgment to see \"the other side of the beach ball\" and uncover root causes.• Reject Mediocrity: We model excellence to achieve together what we cannot achieve alone.In this trusted space, we create positive ripples of opportunity and prosperity for our businesses, our families, and our communities.For over 65 years, Vistage has been the world\'s leading framework for executive effectiveness. In my groups, we combine that proven model with a commitment to leading with Love.

Education

• University of Applied Sciences Koblenz

  Dipl-Ing (FH) - equivalnet to M.Sc., Materials Engineering, Glass and Ceramics

  1990 — 1995

• BG Ried i.I.

  Matura (High School Diploma), Gymnasium (advanced secondary education - college prep)

  1981 — 1990

Skills

• Project Planning
• Materials
• Quality Assurance
• Strategic Planning
• Product Development
• Management
• Team Building
• Business Development
• Project Management
• Process Improvement
• Operations Management
• Root Cause Analysis
• Engineering
• Manufacturing
• Lean Manufacturing
• New Business Development
• Continuous Improvement
• Business Process Improvement
• Negotiation
• Manufacturing Operations Management