How I help people improve their presentations

A lot of STEM professionals struggle to connect with “regular people,” outside of their fields. I’ve sat through some really bad PowerPoint presentations that should’ve been fascinating! Sound familiar?

But there are other STEM professionals who seem to be able to explain super complicated things in a way that anybody can understand. Think Jane Goodall, Bill Nye, Adam Savage, and Neil DeGrasse Tyson. How do they do it? They make their subjects relatable to their audiences. They don’t use technical jargon right off the bat without explaining what they’re talking about. And they’re energetic, enthusiastic, and entertaining!

My mission is to make my clients’ subjects seem like the most exciting things in the world. The more quote/unquote “boring” the subject matter, the more I love creating cool presentations about it that make my clients look like rock stars!

I’ve always been insanely curious about STEM subjects: biology, geology, astronomy, technology, paleontology, engineering, fractals…you name it! Over the years I’ve learned a lot about a wide variety of topics, which makes me really good at trivia games. But I can also put that vast storehouse of random knowledge to practical use in my work, and I have a knack for quickly understanding what my clients are talking about.

I’m still learning

I joined Toastmasters in 2013 after receiving some less-than-stellar reviews of a workshop I was running. It’s helped me tremendously in terms of the skills I’ve developed and the lessons I’ve been able to pass on to my clients. I help them to develop better public speaking habits, like speaking clearly, using body language and gestures, and varying the pitch and tone of their voicees so they don’t sound like chilly automatons onstage.

I’m a charter member of the Presentation Guild, an organization developed by and for members of the presentation design community. It’s a nerdy place I can geek out about presentation design and continually learn from the best in the business.

And when I’m not working…

I enjoy finding local trails where I can hike with my German Shepherd, Casey. I try to get out there at least four times a week, and so far we’ve explored Tick Gulch, Pokèmon Alley, and The Pit.

My son has gotten me really interested in car culture. We enjoy watching Donut Media on YouTube, The Grand Tour, and going to live drift shows and cruise nights. I may not know how to hammer a screw, but I sure appreciate those who do!