Jeffrey Bannon

Jeffrey Bannon is the President and CEO of BusinessTalk. BusinessTalk offers communication skills training to executives and lawyers across the United States and around the world. He has assembled a team of experienced, talented instructors to work with BusinessTalk's clients in customized programs and in one-on-one coaching sessions.

Mr. Bannon has designed programs, facilitated workshops, and coached attorneys at top law firms including Sullivan & Cromwell, Milbank Tweed, Proskauer Rose, Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, Akin Gump, and Blank Rome (among others). He has also worked extensively with senior executives at leading corporations including Merrill Lynch, IBM, JP Morgan Chase, Avon Products, Pricewaterhouse Coopers, and Citigroup.

Jeff has traveled around the world as a featured speaker for his clients. His international experience includes programs in London, Paris, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Singapore.

Jeff attended Phillips Exeter Academy and earned his B.A. in Economics from Dartmouth College. Before joining the world of business communication skills training, Jeff enjoyed a successful career as an actor. He performed on Broadway in "Showboat" and "Kiss of the Spider Woman," and appeared in several national television commercials.

Audrey Amey, Instructor

Audrey Amey has over 15 years experience as a performer and corporate communicator. In addition to 10 years as a Stand Up Comedian and international performer, she has facilitated events in Fortune 500 companies and top universities. She is an award-winning member of Toastmaster's International and is Past-President of the Times Square Corporate Chapter of Morgan Stanley. She has conducted corporate training using multimedia and interactive improvisation. Audrey earned her B.A. in Speech Communication from the University of Maryland at College Park and is a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City.

Hallie Baron, Instructor

Hallie Baron has been in the marketing and communications business for 25 years. Her career has been divided between the non-profit and corporate worlds, giving her a unique perspective on the opportunities and lessons each can offer the other.

Hallie's areas of expertise cover all aspects of marketing and communications, including presentations skills, professional coaching, speech writing, advertising, and media relations. She also has extensive experience in strategic planning and design, web design and development, event planning and execution, and collateral development and production. Hallie has worked with staff at all levels including senior management, boards of directors and industry leaders in a variety of capacities.

Hallie received her B.S. from the University of Massachusetts.

Barbara Brocklebank, Lead Instructor

Barbara Brocklebank has over 12 years experience as a consultant and corporate trainer. Barbara works with executives at all levels helping groups and individuals prepare for important presentations and business communications.

She has conducted hundreds of skills development programs for a diverse group of industries including: technology, financial, health care, pharmaceutical, legal, scientific and consumer products.

Some clients include KPMG, Moodys, Milbank Tweed, Sullivan & Cromwell, Deloitte and Touche, AON, Risk Management Services, Abbott, Pfizer, Aventis, Sanofi, Teva, Sybase, TIAA-CREF, Fidelity, FTI Consulting, State Farm, Mattel and Estee Lauder.

She believes that compelling speakers are created, not born, and that all executives can improve their natural speaking style to inform, motivate or inspire their audiences.

Prior to entering the consulting and training world, Barbara was a Vice President of Marketing for Shoppers Drug Mart, the largest drug store chain in Canada.

George Goodman, Esq., Instructor

George Goodman is a licensed attorney who has over 15 years of experience in interviewing, training and mentoring attorneys. He worked at LeBoeuf Lamb Greene and MacRae for 16 years, six of those years as a Partner. While there, he devoted a great deal of time to the hiring and development of attorneys, including performing over 200 interviews and mentoring and training dozens of young attorneys.

Following his career at LeBoeuf, he worked for a boutique real estate law firm and as a consultant to Brady & Associates Career Planners LLC, a legal industry training and outplacement firm. He specialized in evaluating and improving the interviewing skills of attorneys. He also performs volunteer work coaching individuals in the basic operation of personal computers.

George has a BS from Regents College and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Benjamin Cardozo School of Law where he was a member of the Law Review.

Roy Havrilack, Lead Instructor

Roy Havrilack has been training attorneys and executives in dynamic presentation, communication and managerial skills for several years. Clients include top law firms and financial corporations such as Sullivan & Cromwell, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, White & Case, Merrill Lynch and Avon Products.

Roy brings years of experience working in television, film and theater as an actor, director and producer. He recently starred in the award-winning independent film, "Say That You Love Me", and was a recurring character on "One Life To Live".

In February 2006, he co-founded SkyTown Entertainment, LLC (www.skytownentertainment.com). SkyTown works with companies to create and produce videos to help them achieve their marketing, sales, human resources and corporate communication needs. Recent clients/projects include Louis Licari for HSN/America (Home Shopping Network) and QVC/UK, Cheskin, Commit Media, Taymor Industries Inc. and LIM (Laboratory Institute of Merchandising) in New York City. SkyTown also produces short and feature length films.

Roy holds a B.A. in Theatre Arts from Oneonta State University.

Debbie Hildebrandt, Instructor

Debbie Hildebrandt provides training and private coaching to individuals seeking to improve their spoken communication skills. Over the past 19 years, she has coached executives in a variety of industries including accounting and professional services, pharmaceutical, financial, health care, communication, commercial real estate and technology. Clients include Deloitte& Touche, KPMG and Cushman & Wakefield. Debbie has also conducted group training sessions at Mattel, Johnson& Johnson, Bell Atlantic, Tufts Health Plan, Fidelity, Fleet, Nextel Partners, Microsoft, Weyerhaeuser and Fujitsu.

Private sessions vary from improving one-to-one communication to preparing and rehearsing for a major presentation or speech. Group sessions include communication skills for meetings and presentation. Debbie also serves as a guest speaker for several organizations such as Fox-Midwest, Colby College and Hyatt Hotels.

In addition to her corporate work, Debbie has been a member of the Training and Development staff at Brown University where she designed and delivered programs on management development, presentation skills, conflict resolution and team building. While an instructor at the University of Hawaii, she taught courses in both the speech and business education departments. Debbie lives in the heart of Boston. She holds an MBA and undergraduate degrees in both education and psychology.

Jeanne Jones, Instructor

Jeanne Jones adds 20 years of experience in business, education and theatre to her coaching for BusinessTalk. She specializes in presentation skills and professional image development for a diverse group of financial services, law firm and professional services clients.

Earlier in her career, Jeanne worked extensively as an actress on Broadway and in the regional theater. She also performed in commercials and soap operas. Her substantial business experience began in industrial films and trade shows. She has worked both as a spokesperson and training specialist for technology, financial services and consumer products companies. Jeanne has also taught at several colleges and lectured throughout the United States as a clinician in the education field.

Jeanne graduated magna cum laude in Education from the University of Illinois and holds a Masters in Education from the University of Northern Iowa.

Lauren McDonald, Instructor

Lauren McDonald has received certifications from the Anthony Robbins Business Program and the Communico MAGIC (Make a Great Impression on Your Customer) Course, which she has been instructing since April 2004. She also served on the Board of Directors for the New Mexico Academy of Healing Arts for 5 years. As Business Manager at the Academy, Lauren learned firsthand the importance of business communication. She has continued to fine-tune her training and facilitation skills as a resort director in Colorado at Fairfield Pagosa. Lauren received her Bachelor's degree from the University of New Mexico.

Wayne Meledandri, Lead Instructor

Wayne Meledandri has spent the last several years coaching individuals and groups on sharpening their communication skills to achieve greater impact in their presentations. His diverse client base ranges from lawyers at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, White & Case LLP, Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP, to associates and executives at Merrill Lynch to executives at Avon Products, Inc., and Merck & Co.

Wayne is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University and graduated from Coach University, the nation's premier coach training institute. He is a member of the International Coach Federation. Prior to coaching, Wayne enjoyed 25 years in the performing arts. He performed a leading role in the Broadway production of "A Chorus Line" and has acted in theaters across the US and Canada. Wayne has enjoyed guest starring roles on television and appeared in several regional commercials.

His directing and choreography has been seen in theaters around the country and internationally at London's Covent Garden Music Theatre Festival.

Jane Petrov, Instructor

Jane Petrov has trained attorneys and executives in dynamic presentation and managerial skills at top law firms and financial corporations including Sullivan & Cromwell, Milbank Tweed, Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, White & Case, Blank Rome, Merrill Lynch and Avon Products.

Jane brings years of experience working in, television, film and theater as an actor, director and producer in New York City. In February 2006, she co-founded SkyTown Entertainment, LLC, a full-service video production company (www.skytownentertainment.com). Clients include Louis Licari Salon for QVC/UK and for HSN America (Home Shopping Network), Cheskin, Commit Media, Taymor Industries and LIM (Laboratory Institute of Merchandising).

Jane holds a B.A. in International Communications from The George Washington University.

Jeff Reid, Director of Financial Management

Jeff Reid comes to BusinessTalk with 15 years of experience as a broker and owner of a niche market Californian real estate firm. Born and raised in the Stanford/San Francisco area, Jeff joins BusinessTalk with a rich diversity of experience as a broker, financial consultant and even as a political strategist. He ran for office in Orange County, ousting an entrenched incumbent and earning statewide endorsements.

An Eagle Scout and an honors graduate of the University of California (Irvine Campus, Legal Studies), Jeff has brought his talents as a videographer/editor into our classroom and his financial acumen to our books. He can even get the camp fires burning without matches, untie knots of unknown origin, and create a life saving high protein scrumptious meal from grubs, worms and berries. All making for a fine combination to save us in the rough and tumble world of New York business.

He can be found during his off time taping and distributing DVDs for a variety of live shows in New York City.

John Sirabella, Director of Marketing & Program Management

John Sirabella has over 20 years of experience in marketing and communications. He worked for over 15 years developing and managing the U.S. sales, marketing, and communications strategies of the National Film Board of Canada (NFB). John helped to position the agency as an internationally renowned and award-winning producer and distributor of theatrical, educational and television documentaries and animation. His strategic skills were crucial to their success in securing Academy Award® nominations and Academy Awards®, corporate sponsorships and government funding.

John started his career as a communications skills instructor at Consolidated Edison and has been a marketing consultant for clients in the film, fashion and beauty industries. He has worked as a management consultant at the World Trade Institute and has taught film history and criticism at New School University. He holds an M.A. in Film & Media Studies from New School University and an M.A. in English from New York University.

Michael Scott, Instructor

Michael Scott brings 30 years of experience as a trainer, acting coach and Broadway actor to BusinessTalk. His client list includes General Motors, Prudential, Sullivan & Cromwell, White & Case, Millbank Tweed, Avon Products and McDonalds. Michael has appeared in 6 Broadway shows, most recently "110 in the Shade" with Audra McDonald. Film and Television appearances include "Proud", "Law and Order" and "One Life to Live". Michael graduated from California State University Long Beach with a degree in Speech and Communications.

Greg Zane, Instructor

Greg Zane has trained attorneys and executives in dynamic presentation and managerial skills at top law firms and financial corporations including White & Case, Milbank Tweed, and Merrill Lynch.

Greg is a highly successful Broadway actor. He was featured in "The King and I" (1996 Broadway and 2000 West End/London Revivals), Radio City Christmas Show, "A Chorus Line", the Alberta Ballet, the Hawaii Ballet Theatre, and the Los Angeles Chamber Ballet. Greg has also excelled as a director and teacher. He has directed major productions of "The King and I", "Carousel", "Peter Pan", "The Sound of Music", "Seussical" and "Annie". He has taught on faculty at the Broadway Dance Center (ballet) and the American Ballet Theatre. In the business world, he was employee of the year at Manpower Temps and has worked for companies such as The Contemporary Museum of Art (Honolulu), Simon & Schuster and ESPN.

Joyce Keene, Director of Consulting Services

Joyce Keene has over twenty years experience in professional development. She is an organizational psychologist who was awarded the prestigious "Knowledge Stars" award from the College of Law Firm Management for her innovative lawyer-program design and creative product development. Her accomplishments include mentoring anthologies authored by law firm partners, an interactive board game about the business of law, formal matter-debriefing protocols and video productions on networking, effective feedback, ethics/risk management, organizational change and lateral partner integration. Joyce earned her Masters degree in organizational psychology from Hahnemann Medical School/Graduate Division.

Gail Parker, Lead Instructor

Gail Parker brings over a dozen years of experience to communications consulting. As the Director of Training and Development for a New York based consulting firm, she customized workshops for Fortune 500 companies for both groups and one-on-one workshops with senior executives. Her expertise includes skill building in presentation, media interaction, negotiations, sales, leadership challenges, style issues, panel discussions and one-on-one problem solving. Her work takes her around the world for companies such as Merrill Lynch, JPMorganChase, American Express, Alliance Bernstein, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Avon, and to law firms such as Milbank Tweed, Davis & Gilbert, Dewey & LeBoeuf and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.

Ms. Parker also worked with The Brighton Group, a strategic-management company emphasizing time management, sales and communications, and taught speech and theater at New York University.

Ms. Parker pioneered and facilitated a workshop in interview skills that became required curriculum for the New York Job Security Division of Hospital Union 1199. She also developed and taught the seminar for the New York Labor Division and not-for-profit organizations throughout the state of New York. Often a guest lecturer on communications issues, Ms. Parker has been featured in articles in The New York Times, Glamour magazine and the Wall Street Journal.

Gail graduated with honors from Ithaca College, where she earned a B.F.A. in communications. After graduating, she spent 15 years touring the United States as an actress.

Anderson Weekes, Instructor

Anderson Weekes is a program designer and the Chief Instructor for BusinessTalk's Writing Programs. He is also an independent researcher who has taught philosophy, translated scholarly articles and books, authored studies for specialists, and most recently co-edited and contributed to a book on the nature of consciousness. A Fulbright Scholar who studied extensively abroad, he holds a doctoral degree in philosophy. His interest in writing and grammar is not separate from his scholarly research, but part of a larger philosophical interest in languages and comparative linguistics.