Excelling in sports often leads to celebrity status. That celebrity status makes people want to hear what you have to say - about anything and everything. However, success in athletics doesn't guarantee success at the podium. Whether accepting an award, introducing someone, making comments on behalf of a charity, unveiling a marketing strategy, or fulfilling sponsor engagements, your words and your delivery can separate you from the pack.

"Unleashing The Power of The Podium" will maximize your celebrity status as a dynamic speaker. Learn to wow key audiences, media, sponsors and the public with your agility of words and powerful presence.

Developing a Dynamic Speaker - Our Approach: Before anyone can improve their communication skills, they need an accurate assessment of their current speaking ability. We begin with pre-session questionnaires and phone conversation, evaluation of previous speeches, written material and/or audio and video tapes. When appropriate we'll attend one of your speaking opportunities prior to the training session.

The following is a sampling of content areas:

• Stage presence: putting nervousness in perspective
• Putting your ideas into a high impact speech
• How to prepare to maximize your return on investment
• Using voice as a tool to convey control, interest and believability
• Gestures to animate and illustrate
• Controlling the question and answer session with finesse
• Knowing when and how to use audiovisual aids
• 6 steps to adding creativity to your presentations without major risk
• Accepting awards with grace

Private Coaching
Speech Delivery
Both content and delivery focus available and geared to the client's specific needs. All of the items such as body language, gestures, voice projection and speech are rehearsed in a 1-on-1 setting for high impact and limited time.

Speech Writing
SMC will develop your "stump speech" or one for a specific occasion with a strongly focused theme. This is a highly collaborative process that begins with gathering and organizing information to support your brand and positioning on the topic.

We write all speeches to be adapted to multiple audiences and time frames. A typical speech includes multiple modules on certain concepts that can be interchanged to better suit different audiences and speech lengths. The key is to develop a speech that can be professionally delivered without having to write a new one for each engagement. It's important to give the speaker the tools to consistently deliver a high impact speech while maximizing the speaker's time and energy. Speeches are written to be customizable at will.

Phone Consultations
Phone consultations can be arranged as part of the coaching agreement.

Group Training
This highly interactive Presentation Skills training can be conducted for any group of athletes, coaches or administrators. All training sessions include video taping and critiques. Based on your needs these can be for large or small groups, with short or extended sessions.

Professional Speaking: Many sports professionals are reaping the rewards of sharing their story with corporate America. We have helped sports celebrities and professionals such as owners of professional teams, broadcasters, professional athletes like Olympians Dan Jansen and Kerri Strugg, Professional athletes including among others, NFL MVP and quarterback, Peyton Manning, and collegiate coaches make money with their words by developing their speech, coaching them on delivery and developing marketing systems, strategies and tactics.

Note: The above mentioned options are a select and limited list of offerings. They'll not all apply to you or your organization. Therefore, our fees are structured based on what elements are best suited to your needs.

Keynote Speaking
Kathleen Hessert is a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) and member of the National Speakers Association. With a background in broadcast media and decades of experience in the sports arena she has become a frequent speaker at conferences and conventions, providing insight to athletic and business-related audiences.

Sample Speech Topics:

• Star Power: How to Get it- How to Keep it!
• When it hit's the Fan: Planning for the Inevitable Crisis and Developing Media Savvy
• Winning Media Strategies and Techniques
• Communicating with Power...Comfortably!
• Crisis Planning: The Ultimate Prevention Tool
• The Internet Dilemma: Rumor Control and Reputation Management
• Success Is a Choice: World Class Athletes and Executives
• Mental Toughness in Sports and in Life