Our Coaches
Speechworks's coaches have top-notch communication skills plus business experience in sales, law, banking, and print and broadcast journalism. That experience works for you, helping you create a persuasive message and deliver it with confidence.
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Joey Asher, PresidentAs President of Speechworks, Joey Asher combines his skills as an attorney and journalist to help executives communicate a clear, simple message even if the content is complex. He has authored four books: Communication & Selling Skills for Lawyers, Even a Geek Can Speak: Low-Tech Presentation Skills For High-Tech People, How to Win a Pitch and his newest book, 15 Minutes Including Q & A. Prior to joining Speechworks, Joey was a lawyer at Troutman Sanders L.L.P. in Atlanta and an adjunct professor of law at Emory University School of Law. He also has seven years of experience as a newspaper reporter for the Gannett newspaper chain in Georgia and New York.
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Meg AltenderferMeg is a seasoned training professional who has coached executives in major corporations including The Coca-Cola Company and CNN/Turner Broadcasting. Her corporate training experience helps her to quickly understand how to help her clients improve their communication skills to meet their business needs. Meg has held a variety of sales and sales training positions within The Coca-Cola Company. In her position as Sales Training Manager, Meg developed and delivered professional development workshops, trained over 1,000 entry-level to upper management personnel and developed a goal-based simulation workshop for advanced leadership and management skills. |
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Carmen BurnsCarmen Burns is a communication coach and media strategist for Speechworks. She is a widely recognized and respected television journalist in the Atlanta area. Her style puts people at ease and builds instant rapport. It's a trait that makes Carmen successful as a journalist and a coach as she helps executives become more comfortable with their message and their audience. Carmen was an anchor and reporter for the NBC affiliate WXIA-TV for sixteen years. She also anchored for CNN Headline News and Georgia Public Television. During her career at WXIA, Carmen covered the Olympic games in Barcelona, Lillehammer, and Atlanta. She has won three Emmys for her work. |
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Lizzie CrawfordLizzie Crawford's background in financial services gives her the experience to help her clients communicate clear messages no matter how technical. She helps her clients win more business and she develops business for Speechworks. Lizzie understands the needs of today's business people like few communication skills consultants. As a former banker for SunTrust and research analyst for Sanford Bernstein in New York City, she has been in the boardroom and understands firsthand the communication challenges facing executives. |
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Jan McKenzie
Jan McKenzie helps her clients communicate more effectively in a variety of corporate settings. Jan spent the last 19 years developing leadership at every level in corporate America. In her previous role as Director of The Weather Channel Companies award-winning Learning and Development initiative, she has coached and developed executive teams at companies such as Engauge Interactive and worked with institutions such as Eckerd College, Gallup, Franklin-Covey and Ken Blanchard to create and implement company-wide change initiatives. Jan has won the John O Wynne Leadership Award and the Cable and Telecommunications Best Practices Award. |
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Marilyn RingoMarilyn is our lead media strategist. With a background in journalism and media relations, Marilyn oversees our media training program and offers our clients the direction and confidence they need to get results from media interviews. Marilyn is a former News Anchor for CNN Headline News and an Emmy Award winning television producer and reporter. As producer and co-host of Georgia Public Television's business show, Success Track, she has interviewed and coached top executives from across the country. She has hosted and produced Turner Broadcasting programs including Good News and "Women of the '90s Report." |
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Nancy ThomasNancy develops new business and effective speakers at Speechworks. Her broad experience in government affairs and international protocol adds great dimension to her coaching style and her ability to connect with a wide array of audiences. Nancy began her career on Capitol Hill where she worked in legislative and administrative positions in the U.S. Congress. Her government experience led her to Atlanta where she served as the Director of Protocol for the 1996 Olympic Games. She has more than 19 years of experience working with international and government dignitaries in the United States and abroad. |
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Nancy VasonNancy's background combines extensive sales and marketing experience with strong coaching skills. Throughout her career, she has focused on helping business people deliver strong messages and achieve results. Prior to joining Speechworks, Nancy worked for ten years for Bellsouth, where she provided consultative solutions for customers, created presentations for executives and taught sales techniques. For the past ten years as a consultant and coach, she has helped numerous clients improve their communications and sales effectiveness. She has also developed training programs that focus on improving job performance. |
