As I consider my own training and consulting philosophy, I recall fondly the educators and mentors who have changed my life over the years. I am encouraged by the vision of having that same impact on the students and professional class participants I interact with. I also believe that there is much more to this training and consulting than just teaching the structure and delivery of public speaking and the techniques of communication. I am inspired by the words of Dale Carnegie in the Human Relations and Effective Speaking course instructor’s manual, The Art of Dale Carnegie Training:

"If we as trainers can inspire adults to a realization of their own unsuspected powers, we shall not have lived in vain. We are not teaching the techniques of speech. We are teaching the techniques of hope, confidence, courage, vision and better human relationships.  Ours is one of the most thrilling and satisfying experiences anyone can have!"

 

I bring to the classroom my 30 years of business leadership experience in management and sales, 20 years as a professional development instructor and professional speaker, and 12 years of service to the nonprofit community.  This unique perspective allows me to create a classroom environment that promotes improved performance and practical learning skills that can be applied immediately both personally and professionally. I facilitate this learning through implementing Active Learning principles including small class lectures, group exercises, interactive exercises, class presentations and one-on-one coaching.  Keeping in mind the different learning styles, I use creative interactive activities to appeal to various styles and meet the students where they are in accordance with their own abilities. I incorporate experiential learning instruction, exercises and activities reflective of Kolb’s four learning styles of diverging, assimilating, converging, and accommodating to engage students through feeling, thinking, watching and doing curriculum.

​

I strive to create a safe environment for all students, being respectful of student diversity and inclusion and embracing initiatives focused on acknowledging difference. I model curiosity and seek understanding, continuing to learn and grow personally. This requires me to have an open mind and to seek to understand the challenges of others.

​

The feedback process is positive, professional and personalized to the individual while highlighting the application of the feedback to the entire group of trainees. This positive feedback reduces anxiety and increases the self-confidence of the individual.  I strive to be in the moment when coaching, setting an example by demonstrating the skills and behaviors I am asking students to exhibit. I provide feedback using appropriate questioning, body language, eye contact and connecting with the students. I exhibit energy, enthusiasm and excitement for the subject and work to inspire the same from students.

​

I have always been a lifelong learner, dedicated to self-improvement and committed to the improvement of others.  My goal is to instill that same love of learning in the trainees and students I interact with.  As a consultant and trainer I am focused on not, “What can I gain?” but “What can I give?”  I realize that it is not about me but about the students.  I encourage students who may be struggling and give them additional resources to help with any challenges.

​

 I am inspired to the training role by Gonzaga’s mission of cura personalis, educating the entire person: mind, body and spirit of its students.  It is my goal to have students leave the training experience with an emotional lift, increased confidence and courage and a feeling of success.  That includes especially students and professionals who are fearful or anxious about being in a communications or public speaking environment. 

​

I continue to work on my own self-improvement and analyze my training after each program asking myself, what went well and what can be improved.  I accept feedback from participants and use training evaluations to reflect on what I can do more of, less of, or differently in the next program.

​

I have always been inspired to live my life according to the famous quote, “Success”, often attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson:

“…to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed better because you have lived.  That is to have succeeded.”