About Marc Fest

Clients consistently praise Marc Fest’s Elevator Speech Training with comments such as “total game-changing work” and “seriously one of the best trainings I have ever received” (browse over 500 similar testimonials at www.elevatorspeechtraining.com/testimonials).  Marc helps professionals excel in fundraising, partnership building, idea pitching, and other goals. He is the founder of ElevatorSpeechTraining.com, a communications consultancy, MessageHouse.org, a messaging toolkit, and Elvay, an AI-powered Elevator Speech Training tool. He is a former vice president of communications for the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the New World Symphony. He is the author of several books, including “Elevator Speech Training,” and “The Message House Method.” When not coaching clients, he enjoys posting occasional short stories about his Everglades farm life at www.mf.ly.

PRICING

One-on-one training: $450.

Multiple one-on-one  trainings within the same organization: $450 each up to 20; $400 each thereafter.

Group training: $2,400 (up to 300 participants).

One-on-one sessions are one hour, groups 90 minutes, all via Zoom.

Guarantee
30-day, 100% money-back guarantee if not satisfied.

Questions? Please email contact@est.io or call (202) 548-7000

Elevator Speech Training is fiscally sponsored by NEO Philanthropy and powered by solar energy.

Contact Marc Follow on LinkedIn

“I thought I was a good quick pitch but Marc made me better.”
Robert Hammond, Executive Director
The High Line

“If only all my one-hour meetings were so productive!”
Priya Jayachandran, CEO
National Housing Trust

“I wish every community organizer in America could have this one hour training. We would go a long way toward changing this country.”
Madeline Janis, Executive Director
Jobs to Move America

“In a short hour I went from a decent pitch to a targeted, clear, well focused ask.”
Joshua Ginsberg, President
Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies

“I had no idea so much could be done in just one hour, total game-changing work!”
Heather Ferguson, Executive Director
Common Cause New Mexico

“In just one hour, Marc made me more confident in my messaging and I left with an understanding of what I need to work on to be able to speak with more impact.”
Trude Rauken, Interim Executive Director
Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance

“I am a seasoned public speaker and generally pretty confident in my messaging. However, in just one hour Marc helped me greatly improve the quality of my elevator speech and increase the impact of my delivery.”
Nancy Parrish, Executive Director
Women’s Action for New Directions (WAND)

“It was enlightening and refreshing to come away with new ideas in such a short amount of time. Thank you!”
Suzanne Graham, President
Downtown Akron Partnership

“This one hour session was more impactful for me than the hours, days, weeks that I have spent in other communications trainings.”
Dan Nissenbaum, CEO
Low Income Investment Fund

“This was the best bang for the buck in training I can recall — from just a couple of hours, I gained lots to act on both immediately and over the long term.”
Stephen Burrington, Executive Director
Groundwork USA

“This is seriously one of the best trainings I have ever received.”
Marielena Hincapie, Executive Director
National Immigration Law Center

“Every leader of a non-profit should take this training as it will dramatically improve their ability to talk about their organization.”
Eric Cohen, Executive Director
Immigrant Legal Resource Center

“Anyone could benefit from this training opportunity.”
Bob McFalls, Executive Director
Florida Philanthropic Network

“Within the first 15 minutes, Marc was able to distill my message and help me succinctly reframe my story with authenticity and clarity.”
Lauren Deen, Executive Producer
Laurendeen.com

“In just an hour with Marc, we unpacked and tightly re-packaged some of the most complex elements of what we do.”
George Tsiatis, CEO & Co-Founder
The Resolution Project

“The only way is up on this elevator pitch session. It was fun and elevating skills hidden within to maximize the pitch I have used with donors to now use on the team I work with.”
Milan Balinton, Executive Director
African American Community Service Agency

“I gained a lot of helpful insights from the training. It was a highly productive use of just one hour — I highly recommend it.”
Richard Dubois, Executive Director
National Consumer Law Center

“We always say our work is too complex or bespoke to have an effective ‘elevator speech.’ Marc proved us wrong.”
Kim Latimer-Nelligan, President
Low Income Investment Fund

“Elevator Speech Training is truly exceptional.”
Anne Evens, CEO
Elevate Energy

“I highly recommend this training.”
Jojo Annobil, Executive Director
Immigrant Justice Corps

“Marc says he’ll help you with your pitch, and that’s true — you will pitch better because of his help. But the deeper thing is that he helps you think through your organizational values, strategy, and planning. It’s communications as a lever to useful introspection about your work in general. Thank you, Marc, and funders take notice: please keep giving us access to his wonderful service!”
Sahar Massachi, Executive Director, Co-founder
Integrity Institute

“Marc helped me transform a wordy description of what I do into a much clearer, concise message that resonated with me as well as my clients. Thank you!”
Lindsey Martinez, Founder & CEO
StarPoint Advisors

“My team regularly talks about the elevator speech training with Marc as one of the most effective and immediately applicable professional development opportunities we’ve had in our careers.”
Marisa Jones, Interim Executive Director
Safe Routes Partnership

“Developing my engagement skills has been extremely helpful not only in my professional role as an Executive Director of an art museum, but as a human as well. Marc has energized and inspired me to be an more effective communicator in all areas of my life.”
Jon Fiume, Executive Director & CEO
Akron Art Museum

“Marc was prepared. He’d studied up on my background and my new position. And he was quick, candid, entertaining, disarming, efficient, and fruitful.”
Ethiel Garlington, Executive Director
Historic Macon Foundation, Inc

“I can’t believe how exceptional Marc’s training is. I learn more from him in 10 minutes than I have from hours of working with other communication coaches!”
Heidi Binko, Co-Founder & Executive Director
Just Transition Fund

“Marc is able to synthesize large amounts of narrative material and come up with succinct pitch that will appeal to the people we aim to “sell” to. This is very useful.”
Usha Srinivasan, President & CEO
Mosaic America

“Marc really helped me focus in on the true essence of my offer to help is cover the pain, opportunity, track record, and why it all matters. Very powerful session and recommended.”
Sean Penrith, CEO
Gordian Knot Strategies

“The urgency of climate change demands effective and persuasive communication with friends, allies, and allies-to-be. I have been thinking constantly about how to put Marc’s advice into practice since our session.”
Daniel Bresette, Executive Director
Environmental and Energy Study Institute

“Marc has the gift of helping you communicate in an authentic way. I left the training with real tools and strategies to use across my work.”
Resha Conroy, Fellow
EGF Accelerator

“Marc has a unique ability to tweeze out clarity from chaos. He provides the space for you to test out your ideas, and asks questions that get you closer to presenting those ideas clearly to everyone. “
Hetal Jani, Founder and Executive Director
SPEAKHIRE

“His fun energy made the process feel engaging and approachable. Marc did a great job of listening and reflecting back, so by the end we identified the core of my message — something that felt very true about my work, but that I’d never quite named in years. He’s really good at this!”
Reva Patwardhan, Board member / executive coach
Rethink Media / Greater Good Coaching

“Oftentimes we get bogged down in the mechanics of what we’re doing, and we forget to take a step back and reflect on the why. That “why” is critical to authentically articulate so that people you’re connecting with are moved by the aspirational message of how you’re changing the game. I loved having the chance to re-articulate the why and ground myself in the dream and hope of what we’re building.”
Iara Peng, Founder and CEO
JustFund

“The Elevator Speech Training is invaluable for honing and sharpening how you communicate about your work and mission in a more compelling and persuasive fashion. “
Adam Taylor, President
Sojourners

“As a director of a large academic research center, one of my key challenges is translating our work into impact-focused, understandable language for different audiences. Marc did in an hour what I’ve been attempting to do for years.”
Zeve Sanderson, Executive Director
NYU Center for Social Media & Politics

“Coming out of our elevator pitch training, I have a much clearer, more concise, and more compelling way to talk about our organization and what makes us a special in how we build power.”
Benjamin Zucker, Co-Director
Step Up Louisiana

“Elevator Speech Training helped us translate our successes more clearly to crucial investors like Morgan Stanley.”
Julia Kumari Drapkin, CEO
ISeeChange

“I thought I would feel awkward and self-conscious in the sessions, but Marc immediately made me feel at ease. He also gave thoughtful and specific feedback that left me feeling much more confident in pitching to prospective funders.”
Amy Renshaw, CEO
Code/Art

“In just one training session with Marc, he helped me uncovered the important WHY of my life work! And he gave me the tools to communicate that why to prospective clients. Elevator Speech Training was truly transformational for me and for my coaching!”
Kim Gattle,

“An approachable, interactive and energetic coaching style that made the training worthwhile and easy to apply!”
Nicole Melaku, Executive Director
National Partnership for New Americans

“Marc is a brilliant teacher. He broke down what always feels daunting, breaking down your complex organization to a 2 minute rap, into its component parts. The tools he provided I will return to again and again.”
Lauren Jacobs, Executive Director
Partnership For Working Families

“I can’t think of a more streamlined, to-the-point, and helpful one-hour training session I have ever experienced.”
Ben Strauss, CEO and Chief Scientist
Climate Central

“Marc quickly brought into focus how I could be more effective in delivering the importance of my work. It was a joy to work with him.”
Ruth Ann Norton, President & CEO
Green & Healthy Homes Initiative

“Elevator Speech Training is a game changer.”
Alec Rieger, Founder
Civic Stage

“In one short session, Marc was able to get me to explain in plain terms the importance of my medical research for the future of young people in our country.”
Cynthia Harper, Professor
University of California, San Francisco Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health

“Marc helped me think about delivering a message that captivated the intended audience, in my case investors.”
Lori Little, CEO
LIIF Affiliate – NAHT

“Marc zeroed in on exactly what I needed to do to improve my speaking and didn’t waste any time. Incredibly helpful.”
Ashley Lowe, CEO
Lakeshore Legal Aid

“In one hour, I was able to focus and see more clearly how we can better illustrate the need for our work and tell our story.”
Diane McCloskey, Executive Director
CLEARCorps Detroit

“Marc is an exceptional coach who knows exactly what he is doing.”
Ryan Myers-Johnson, Executive Director
Sidewalk Detroit

“Elevator Speech Training is a must have for nonprofit leaders, Marc did an outstanding job!.”
Lionel Bradford, President
The Greening of Detroit

” ‘Selling’ myself or my organization is not something that comes naturally to me, and this training helped me understand — in only an hour! — how to make my presentation more positive and structured.”
MaryAnn Wilkinson, Executive Director
The Scarab Club

“In just an hour, Marc helped me distill complex institutional language into a much more relatable, emotionally resonant way about speaking about organizational vision.”
Joshua David, Co-Founder
The High Line

“This session has given me a powerful boost to articulate my elevator speech, to understand my intentions and ways to present the essence of my message. Marc goes above and beyond.”
Alice Abarbanel, Director
Radcliffe College Oral History Project

“Marc energy was contagious. I feel that he made a impact so quickly on how I communicate and I felt supported through the whole process.”
Pamela Ayres, President
FAR Conservatory of Therapeutic and Performing Arts

“I truly appreciate this training. I was able to refocus on the work that we do and transform our mission statement into something shorter and more concise for funders and donors to better understand the work the we do.”
Kevin McNair, Executive Director
1Nation Mentoring

“One hour with Marc was like turning on a light in a dark room: our way forward is much clearer.”
Mike Shesterkin, Exec. Director
SMSBF

“Marc very quickly helped me drill down to some key talking points and themes. It was the boost I needed to get to work crafting our 50th Anniversary talking points and communications.”
Anne Brasie, Executive Director
Clinton River Watershed Council

“Why didn’t I do this sooner? My time with Marc opened my eyes to a more compelling, robust and untapped asset: My story!”
Michael Pettry, President
Cape Fletcher Associates

“The intricate detail, personality assessment and pre planning set the stage for an engaging and interpersonal session.”
Terry Smith, President and CEO
M-PowerHouse of Greater Pittsburgh

“Most of us speak by instinct, but Marc’s Elevator Speech Framework helped me craft a stronger pitch by adding a step-by-step structure to that invaluable first-impression moment.”
Terry FitzPatrick, Co-chair
Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking – ATEST

“Please do yourself a favor and learn about Marc’s “secret sauce.” It will change your life.”
Alberto Rodríguez, Board Member
OneAmerica

“In just one hour Marc was able to inspire new ideas and refine my well-worn pitch by providing a fresh perspective and challenging me to take a bird’s-eye view of my organization’s goals.”
Nicholas Richberg, Managing Director
Miami New Drama

“Marc has a unique ability to distill a complex story down to its essence, and create an engaging narrative out of it.”
Manoj Kesavan, Executive Director
Que-OS / BOOM Charlotte

“Marc was amazing in getting me to understand the importance of getting right to the point in a creative and appealing way!”
Karla Redding-Andrews, VP/Executive Director
Otis Redding Foundation

“The training felt very personalized to my needs. In just an hour, I learned several easy ways to significantly improve my presentations.”
Leigh Henderson, Managing Director
Teatro Visión

“It was wonderful training, very Hands-On, with the knowledge of someone who is intimately familiar with the ins and outs of fundraising and organizations.”
Michel Hausmann, Artistic Director
Miami New Drama

“In just two sessions with Marc, I refined my thinking, approach, and elevator speech — but more importantly, the process helped me refocus our institution’s strategic priorities.”
Susan Welsh, Executive Director
Museum of Arts and Sciences

“After the training, I feel much more confident to approach anyone, particularly donors.”
Rodrigo Garcia, Artistic Director
Teatro Visión

“I was able to determine where my pitch needed improvement, speaking more actively about the importance of my business rather than assuming the listener doesn’t know or hasn’t heard of it.”
Mikhaile Solomon, Executive Director
Prizm Projects, Inc.

“I found his take on connecting abstract concepts, personal experience, and concrete examples a very helpful way to frame speaking points.”
Jason Su, Executive Director
Guadalupe River Park Conservancy

“His instruction provided much needed direction as to how to hone the argument, key details to include, and how to deliver the presentation.”
Robert Pesich, President
Poetry Center San Jose

“Marc taught me that I needed to start with the part of the speech that I was using at the end. He taught me that if I start with something unique about our news organization people will pay attention to the rest of the story.”
Hilda Gurdian, Publisher
La Noticia

“You helped put into words our superpowers and how we can distinguish ourselves from others. The steps you provided can be used in many scenarios. Thank you.”
Trami Cron, Executive Artistic Director
Chopsticks Alley Art

“By the end of the hour, I felt prepared to create a more compelling upcoming presentation to a potential big funder.”
Megan Fluke, Executive Director
Green Foothills

“Marc’s insights are exceptionally productive in a very short amount of time. “
Kevin Cadette, Executive Director
Black Angels Miami

“Well, the hour I spent with Marc today may be the critical piece of this elaborate puzzle that helps my organization move the needle on the change our city so desperately needs. I’m always looking for a better way to get ppl to absorb the urgency of our campaigns and doing this work with Marc is making that happen.”
Odessa Kelly, Executive Director
Stand Up Nashville

“Marc’s training was like hitting a re-start button on our usual framing.”
Gladys Limon, Executive Director
California Environmental Justice Alliance (CEJA)

“Elevator Speech Training was very effective for me and for the entire team at Media Impact Funders, where we are constantly working to convey our purpose through presentations and discussions, even more so now that all of our elevator rides happen figuratively on Zoom.”
Vince Stehle, Executive Director
Media Impact Funders

“What a great training! Marc was thought-provoking, positive, and offered helpful new ideas. I also appreciated that he had spent time in advance of our session to learn about my organization – we were able to get right to work. An hour well spent!”
Carol Emig, President & CEO
Child Trends

“It was very helpful to have a full hour with one coach’s full attention and help.”
John Smillie, Executive Director
Western Organization of Resource Councils

“In just one hour, with this training, I was able to distill a short and moving way to communicate my organization’s unique add and impact as well as a way to naturally and compellingly transition the conversation to directly asking for support from potential funders.”
Stephanie Ettinger De Cuba, Executive Director
Children’s HealthWatch

“We were inspired enough to gather our entire staff on a giant zoom call and talk about it. Because we are global we wanted to give everyone the opportunity to benefit from a really insightful and helpful process. The early results have been amazing.”
Kathleen Rogers, President
Earth Day Network

“The one hour session was a great reminder of how important this elevator-pitch work is. You can get so busy in the day-to-day, it was an extremely useful reminder that this is a valuable thing to spend time on!”
Brady Walkinshaw, CEO
Grist

“The training was really excellent – well-paced and fun, and even more critical now given the greater need to be effective at making a pitch on a very tight timeline. “
Sirine Shebaya, Executive Director
National Immigration Project

“This one hour training helped me get out of my own way and hone in on the core essence of what people need to know to be able to say ‘yes.'”
Munro Richardson, Executive Director
Read Charlotte

“Mark’s training was very helpful in my continuing to improve and shape ways to present short effective messages about the Environmental Law & Policy Center’s strengths.”
Howard Learner, Executive Director
Environmental Law & Policy Center

“I’m impressed how quickly Marc was able to help me hone in on the most resonant and memorable aspects of my pitch. He really gave me a lot to work with and think about!”
Derek Johnson, Executive Director
Global Zero

“In just one hour with Marc, I was able to develop usable talking points that will increase my ability to fund raise, build awareness and call to action all those I interact with.”
Debra Cronmiller, Executive Director
League of Women Voters of Wisconsin

“The strategies Marc shares can be applied far beyond an elevator speech.”
Vivian Stockman, Executive Director
Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition

“Marc’s Elevator Speech Training was, quite simply, transformational. He helped me clearly talk about work, connect with my audience, and communicate in a way that’s authentic and people-centered. Foundation and non-profit leaders who want to communicate effectively should not miss this!”
Heidi Binko, Executive Director & Co-founder
Just Transition Fund

“Got some great, practical feedback on upping the emotional impact when I talk about my organization’s mission. So helpful!”
Sarah Milligan-Toffler, Executive Director
Children & Nature Network

“This was a well-used hour to step back and make sure that our most basic communication reflects the current needs and connects them to not only our long term mission and but with the shared values of our current and future partners.”
Andrea Ponsor, CEO
Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future

“Marc was so prepared and tailored the training so well to me and my work that I got a great deal out of the training and will be able to put it to use immediately.”
Tom Fritzsche, Executive Director
Milk with Dignity Standards Council

“In just an hour I left with concrete ways I can be more effective.”
Rachel Micah-Jones, Executive Director
Centro de los Derechos del Migrante, Inc.

“Honest feedback is critical and I definitely got that! Thank you!”
Lindsay Harper, Executive Director
Georgia WAND

“Marc blew me away and I can’t wait to recommend him to my colleagues.”
Cecili Thompson Williams, Executive Director
Beyond the Bomb

“Elevator Speech Training helped me hone my message.”
Shelly Prichard, President & CEO
Wichita Community Foundation

“Miraculous improvements… in one fast-paced hour.”
Roz Savage, Author, Environmentalist
First woman to row solo across three oceans

“I like how after each iteration of my speech, we went over pluses and deltas and worked to improve my speech. It was a very focused activity that helped me think about not only how to structure my speech, but also to include elements of viscerality and urgency, so listeners are moved to support our work.”
Anni Leming, Co-President
Asian American Association of New Mexico

“It was a great training that provided me with concrete things on how improve my elevator speech. Watching myself, debriefing after to identify areas of improvement was incredibly helpful.Thank you Marc, truly appreciated your patience and support.”
Julieta Garibay, Director and Cofounder
United we Dream

“The modeling of story examples was so helpful.”
Quyen Dinh, Executive Director
Southeast Asia Resource Action Center

“The training gave me some really great tips on making a strong presentation of my organization!”
Ralph Williamson, President
Faith Organizing Alliance (FOA)

“The framework was a gamechanger for me in focusing my ideas into a coherent message, and the constructive feedback Marc gave in an hour left me eager to present rather than dreading it.”
Lara Bergen, Founder
Press Pass NYC

“Thanks to Marc’s culturally informed coaching, we won a pitching contest at a Japanese food conference which may very well open a door for us to this important market. “
Stefan Fak, CEO
Lotao, Inc.

“Grantees consistently give this training high marks and wish they had access to it sooner.”
Dana Bourland, Vice President, Environment
JPB Foundation

“My grantees loved the training.”
Geri Mannion, Program Director
Carnegie Corporation of New York

“Marc made the hour both engaging and effective, helping me to think about my role and my work in new ways and to become a better advocate for my organization.”
Aoife Toomey, Vice President for Development
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

“Marc did his research and was well prepared to talk about our specific value proposition and how it could be improved. He offered memorable tips and tricks and was enjoyable to talk to. A great resource for anyone looking to pitch their ideas!”
Meagan Hartman, VP & Director of Business Development
Wisewood Energy

“Marc’s sessions are a masterclass in how to get your message across in a way that’s true to you, concise, and effective. I cannot recommend it enough.”
Sisi Wei, Editor in Chief
The Markup

“I have the highest praise for Marc program. I have already started using the tips and pointers that allow me to communicate more effectively to achieve important and meaningful outcomes in all my professional endeavors.”
Ted Dawson, Professor
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

“We all know what it’s like to be constantly bombarded with information. Marc gave me an entirely new perspective on how to deliver a message that people will remember.”
Chris McCahill, Managing Director, SSTI
University of Wisconsin-Madison

“Marc’s training helped me become a more effective communicator and manager of a team. I learned how to engage with others at a personal level. Awesome!”
Lisa Campbell-Thornton, Vice President, Human Resources & Administration
Asian Americans Advancing Justice-AAJC

“Marc is both kind and skillful in his guidance through pitch-crafting. He made what was for me a potentially self-conscious experience into a friendly, encouraging exchange. The distance he took me between a “before” pitch and an “after” pitch in the space of ONE HOUR was sheer magic.”
Diana Divecha, developmental psychologist, community faculty
Yale Child Study Center

“The best 60 minutes I have ever spent on professional-skills development.”
Karen Florini, VP – Programs
Climate Central

“I found Marc Fest’s elevator speech training very useful. In my role as Vice President of Communications at the Shriver Center on Poverty Law, I am working to improve the effectiveness of our messaging and storytelling to internal and external audiences. Marc provides great templates and tips for distiling and refining key talking points. These are especially critical tools at a time when quality journalism at shrinking newsrooms is behind paywalls but bad narratives and misinformation are rampant and free.”
Dawn Raftery, VP of Communications
Shriver Center on Poverty Law

“In just an hour, Marc’s expertise and specific suggestions and practices helped me become not just a better communicator, but a more authentic and vulnerable leader.”
Jane Norman, Chief of Staff
Ballot Initiative Strategy Center

“Building trust takes time and any tips to help make connections more efficiently serves us all well in today’s environment. Marc has some great tips and insights to help accelerate the process of building trust and credibility.”
Alicia Cramer, Sr. Vice President
The US Endowment for Forestry and Communities

“Marc offers an efficient and effective training with concrete tools that apply to so many aspects of work and life.”
Vina Kay, Vice President, Movement Capacity Building
Race Forward

“My audience in my organization is everyone at all levels. Before I would ramble on and on or have to restate my message because I left out pertinent information due to nervousness and uncertainty if the message would be received. Marc helped me deploy practical skills and resources that I already had to help “calm the noise” and be more effective in my communication. For example, creating talking points that are concise but then allow my authentic self to show in my delivery and practice breathing exercises prior to a presentation.”
Tracy Dennis, Director of Human Resources
NILC

“Marc had incredible insight and his advice was spot on. Thank you for opening my eyes!”
Denise Chilow, VP Strategic Initiatives
LifeMoves

“Best two hours of training I could ask for.”
Peter Stangel, COO
US Endowment

“This training was very helpful and I greatly appreciate Marc’s patience, guidance, and most of all knowledge in helping to put together a succinct and impactful elevator speech.”
Cheryl Cato Blakemore, VP, Strategic Communications & Public Engagement
Race Forward

“Marc is a master of communications! In a few short sessions, he has greatly improved my ability to effectively advocate for our non-profit to funders, government officials and local residents. Thank you!”
Scott Kratz, Senior Vice President
Building Bridges Across the River

“I sell complex ideas constantly–to my boss and colleagues, to partners, to donors, and to the public. In today’s world, people expect a Twitter to TikTok length explanation. If I can’t pitch my idea concisely and convincingly, I run the risk of losing the listener. Marc’s format is intuitive and helps create a compelling story. He has numerous hints and examples that make it easier to understand how to more effective communicating my ideas. He can draw from many experiences to help create a pitch, even if he’s not 100% familiar with your specific situation. I sure wish I’d had this training at the start of my career.”
Peter Stangel, COO
US Endowment

“Marc did his research and came to our meeting full prepared. I got so much out of our one hour together. Can’t wait to try out my new elevator pitch!”
Scott Kratz, Senior Vice President
Building Bridges Across the River

“I appreciate they way you quickly walked me through the framework.”
Kant Desai, Senior Principal
Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund

“Marc Was able to quickly see and plainly explain ways that my words were not helping me get through to my audiences. In my role, it’s important to make quick and meaningful/memorable connections, and Marc’s tips and strategies will positively influence the way I do that going forward.”
Katya Spear, Senior Outreach Specialist/Managing Director
COWS/ The Mayors Innovation Project

“Great guy, great personality. Puts you on the spot in a good way. Makes it fun and easy to learn from.”
Faron Mclurkin, Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships
Race Forward

“Marc is himself a great communicator and the session was enormously useful. Effective communication that resonates with the audience couldn’t be more important”
Andrew Scherer, Professor
New York Law School

“Marc was super flexible when dealing with me, which I appreciated. My schedule and work has been a bit hectic so I wasn’t able to fully dive into the training but he pushed through and found ways to be as helpful to me as possible.”
Carolyn Smith, VP Strat Comms
Low Income Investment Fund

“Marc Fest provided a great, efficient training with personality, genuine interest and background preparation.”
Ian Leahy, Vice President of Urban Forestry
American Forests

“I really enjoyed Marc’s training and consider this experience as an important part of my professional growth. Knowing how to speak persuasively and succinctly is more important than ever when folks have so many distractions and demands on their time.”
Shaheen Ashraf-Ahmed, Development Officer
Environmental Law & Policy Center

“Marc is extremely knowledegable and empathetic; he tailors his coaching to you based on your experience, background, and needs to maximize uplifting your pitch delivery as well as mindset and approach towards conversations and pitching. Thank you Marc!!”
Jordan Sun, Chief Innovation Officer
San Jose

“I had a great experience working with Marc! We were able to really dive into an effective elevator speech in only one hour, thanks to the advance prep work that Marc completed and the knowledge and experience he brings to the session.”
Meghan Paulas, VP of Network Advancement
ACS

“Marc is clearly very adept with language and its impact. It was really fun to combine the knowledge of my organization and its challenges with Marc’s talent for communication to come up with new ideas.”
Jill Dash, Vice President of Strategic Engagement
ACS

“It was quite amazing that we achieved what we did in an hour.”
Kiryn Hoffman, Chief Advancement Officer
New York Hall of Science

“Marc made me feel at ease at the start of our session, which allowed me to be more open to his observations and recommendations. The time flew by.”
Patricia Watson, Chief Philanthropy Officer
The Trust for Public Land

“Marc was in outstanding coach and collaborator. He was well prepared and genuinely interested in helping me. I was skeptical when I signed up, but became a convert in less than an hour.”
Karen Ebben, Board Member
FAR

“It was a valuable and well spent one hour. I have participated in other workshops of similar training and they do not compare.”
Monica Tabares, Vice President
The Greening of Detroit

“This was one of the most impactful trainings I have ever participated in.”
Alexandra Nassau-Brownstone, Director, Resident Outcomes & CORES
Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future

“Marc’s personalized feedback, provided in real-time, was both efficient and effective. Great use of an hour.”
Tracy Kaufman, Chief Operating Officer
National Housing Trust

“I feel better equipped to communicate a sense of urgency when trying to influence colleagues and external parties”
Angela Bruno, CFO
National Housing Trust

“A lot of value packed in one hour – Marc gives strong feedback on how to up your brand message game, including providing fresh and impactful language.”
Diana Martin, Chief marketing Officer
Healthier Generation

“The energy, commitment, and compassion Marc shows up with in the session is brilliant. It’s important to help us break out of ourselves and validates instead of intimidates as we’re vulnerable talking through work that is core to how we show up in the world. It is an education as well as a service.”
Erik Paul Howard,
ErikPaulHoward.com

“Marc was engaging, thoughtful and very specific in his feedback. An hour later, I feel more prepared and confident engaging with potential donors.”
Clint Hill, Chief Development Officer
United Way of Central Carolinas

“These sorts of trainings always make me nervous but Marc was able to instantly put me at ease, workshop things with me, and share smart suggestions that I could start implementing immediately.”
Sarah Treuhaft, Vice President for Research
PolicyLink

“Our non-profit is about to create a 3-minute presentation to compete for a $250K grant, and the skills we gained in one hour of training with Marc will make that presentation much more compelling.”
Melissa White, Development Director
California Environmental Justice Alliance (CEJA)

“In one hour, I had a clear, concise and powerful message to share with future donors. Marc helped tighten up my messaging for the most impact.”
Heena Khatri, VP of Board
OneAmerica Votes

“I’ve been an advocate for almost 20 years–I wish I had this training in the beginning! The hour flew by. Not only is the elevator speech framework highly adaptable and useful, the real-time coaching helped me apply it. I’m excited to try it out.”
Michelle Rodriguez, Chief of Programs
NELP

“Mark’s training was value-added and fit well into my busy schedule. Because I’m often in situations where sharing information about my organization with others is limited, his advice on how to message information effectively was timely and effective.”
Delmar Gillus, Jr., COO
Elevate Energy

“The training was easy, fun and provided me with practical feedback that I will put to immediate use.”
Chris Jones, Senior Vice President and Chief Planner
Regional Plan Association

“Our times demand effective, fast-paced communication that also engages at a personal level. Marc’s coaching helps professionals move beyond recitation of mere facts and figures and provides a solid formula on how to connect with an audience of one or many and get them invested in your story.”
Erik Meyers, Vice President
The Conservation Fund

“My elevator speech was improved *at least* 100% in the fun hour I spent with Marc.”
Kyra Shields, Bright Cities Program Director
Healthy Babies Bright Futures

“I’ve worked with several communications consultants over my career, and Marc is exceptional. He gets right to the heart of the matter and is an amazing wordsmith.”
Laura Johns, Director of Philanthropic Engagement
The Partnership Fund

“Speaking effectively is an art that many have lost along the way and need to be reminded of techniques that can help make your case. People mistake providing a lot of information as being able to communicate, in reality people need to understand what point you are trying to make without really going into so much overburdensome details. Marc really has helped me understand the process in three steps.”
Nancy Batista, Field director
Poder Latinx

“If we want to change the world for the better, we’ve got to reach the hearts and minds of a whole lot more people. Marc’s training gave me a fast blast of new inspiration on how to do just that!”
Alexandra Pardal, Head of Campaigns
Digital Action

“See above.”
Lauren Boro, Board Member
HIP Housing

“Marc’s ability to hone in on the most important details in crafting an elevator pitch was exceptional. Marc’s ability to take make “the general specific” was exceptionally helpful. I am so grateful to have been able to participate.”
Amanda Aqirah Stanley, Project Manager
Alliance of Families for Justice

“Mark is a master at getting you to craft a compelling and powerful elevator speech!”
Dina Burstein, Project Director
Tufts Medical Center

“A master, power hour honing my elevator pitch. I truly leveled up!”
Victoria Dunning, Program Officer
Ford Foundation

“Effective communication is arguably the most important skill in any profession, especially for leaders of organization. The ability to articulate your idea and bringing people of diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives together around that idea – is invaluable.”
Fritzstep Bondoa, Director of Policy
Harlem Children’s Zone

“We can spend years on projects that we understand extremely well, but we usually don’t know how to talk about it effectively. Marc will help you to do just that and in a split second!”
marc flajolet, Associate Professor
the rockefeller University

“Marc has a way of channeling your strengths and focusing on how to better utilize that through your training to elevate the weaker points. Marc is kind, confident and endearing. His energy makes the room comfortable enough to want to be helped, taught and ultimately want to change or adjust bad habits.”
Michael Gonzales, Director of Program Administration
Central Park Conservancy

“Communicating effectively matters because messaging means everything. Oftentimes we only get one chance to speak to some audiences so being able to articulate your message clearly and concisely means everything. Marc has excellent communication skills. I appreciate that he takes his training step by step to ensure that you understand before moving forward.”
Keisha Robinson, Deputy Director
Black Leaders Organizing for Communities (BLOC)

“Marc seems to have a true gift for boiling down your project into a concentrated and impactful “amuse bouche” to help start a meaningful conversation with a potential funder.”
Lucie Faulknor, Producer
Serendipity Films, LLC

“Marc is an exceptional human being :)”
Geraldine Mannion, Managing Director
Carnegie Corporation

“I really appreciate Marc’s investment of and efficient use of time. In just one hour, he is able to digest your message and help you transform it into an effective representation of your work and goals. His confidence in you is infectious, and I now feel much more prepared to pitch my project !!”
Falon Smith, Managing Director of Research Dissemination
Children’s Healthy Weight Research Group

“Marc’s framework is extremely clear and effective — it translates to any context — and he comes prepared to help you get the most out of the time together. I’ve already recommended the training to colleagues.”
Julie Bosland, Associate Director
Living Cities

“I now have the tools that allow me to confidently frame a quick speech about myself. Confidence is everything, so this training is great for that.”
Jeffrey Ferguson, Associate Training
Living Cities

“I went into the training thinking that I already had a great pitch. It amazed me at how much the pitch improved after just one hour with Marc.”
Falon Smith, Managing Director of Research Dissemination
Children’s Healthy Weight Research Group

“Marc has a gift! After just one hour, I felt a surge of confidence in my ability to pitch a product of concept.”
Nicolette Lodico, Director, Global Information and Knowledge Management
Ford Foundation

“Any fundraiser would benefit from spending some time with Marc and learning about his approach. Absolutely one of the most valuable coaching sessions I’ve ever experienced.”
David Emery-Peck, Principal Gifts Officer
Trust for Public Land

“The man has no fear, and it was inspiring.”
Rod Judd, Director of Membership + Industry Engagement
PeopleForBikes

“Marc’s training was exceptional and far exceeded my expectations. I would highly recommend it and I felt like I received way more than an hour of training, and I will use the techniques and structure that he taught me in a multitude of ways.”
Brooks Rainwater, Senior Executive
National League of Cities

“This 1-hour session was one of the most transformative professional development exercises I’ve done in a long time. Thank you, Marc! Thank you, Erb Foundation!”
Wendy Palms, Development Director
Huron River Watershed Council

“Marc helped me prepare for an upcoming important meeting with the White House to advocate for resources to make affordable rental housing energy efficient and climate resilient. Marc’s insights and suggestions were incredibly helpful to make my presentation more effective, dynamic, and resonant. Thank you for this extremely valuable hour of training!”
Ellen Lurie Hoffman, Senior Director of Federal Policy
National Housing Trust

“I think public speaking doesn’t come naturally, we have to learn it, keep at it and get better by the day. I’d recommend this sessions for anyone looking to improve on this lifelong art of conversation with others. It’s unbelievable how much you can learn within the hour!”
Olufunke Baruwa, Regional Program Officer
Ford Foundation

“Marc gives incredibly practical advice that you can start using immediately! This one-on-one training will absolutely better my ability to speak on behalf of the organization that I love and engage others to make an impact.”
Lara Edwards, Development & Membership Coordinator
Friends of the Rouge

“Marc’s training was an empowering way to start my day; the one hour flew by. Highly recommend – especially for folks who have been at their organization for many years and want to freshen up how they speak about the work and why it matters.”
Daniel Hatcher, Director of Community Partnerships
Alliance for a Healthier Generation

“I’ve come across a number of prompts and exercises for this type of skill building but the Framework provided in this training was hands down the best.”
Julie Hutcheson, Director of Impact
Green Foothills

“This was a quick learning and optimization tool that has allowed me to think about my pitch differently, tweaking the minutiae enough that at the end the aggregated whole pitch made much more coherent sense with a solid ask.”
Nathan Ulsh, Director of Policy and Operations
San Jose Downtown Association

“Very productive way to spend an hour – way more than most meetings. Instant utility. Really, really good.”
Marty Davey, Director of Product and Service Development
New Ecology, Inc

“I found the training to be so precise and effective in the little bit of time we had – starting off right from the top with a quick demo and then workshopping it from there was the perfect approach.”
Jane Patton, Senior Campaigner
Center for International Environmental Law

“My Elevator Speech Training with Marc was an hour full of helpful suggestion and reminders about how to convey my organizations mission, and the urgency of our work, in the most compelling way(s).”
Steve Hurley, Chief Development Officer
National Consumer Law Center

“I was super impressed by how much training/learning could be done in one hour!”
Anne Griffith, Senior Director, National Initiatives
Enterprise Community Partners

“In just one hour this excellent training helped me distill down complex policies and programs into effective talking points that will be useful in a variety of situations. Thanks, Marc!”
William Bryan, Built Environment Project Manager
Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance

“Marc’s training was super helpful; His framework will now be a go-to resource!”
April Hewko, Program Manager
Equal Justice Works

“Most productive hour of my week, by far. Thanks, Marc!”
Kevin Davis, Washington Representative
UCS

“Time is in short supply for all of us but this would be an hour well spent for anyone doing this work, regardless of their level of experience.”
Damien Filer, communications director
Progress Florida

“Marc is incredibly insightful and a wonderful listener, which allows him to hit the exact points that can be improved and shares very concrete strategies and insights to address these.”
Jessica Cohen, Director of Communications
The Miami Foundation

“Marc is knowledgeable, empathetic, imaginative, and very effective teacher! As a Program Officer at a donor collaborative fund, the ability to communicate effectively is critical in our efforts to build a rock-solid case for our value-add to the funder intermediary landscape. Not only do we raise funds in order to make long-term funding commitments to local and state-based organizations working daily to protect and expand democracy, we’re simultaneously drawing attention to the need for philanthropic organizations to view their work through a racial justice lens. Effective communication is central to all of this. Thank you to Marc for his expert-level support!”
Raymond Partolan, Program Officer, Voting Rights
State Infrastructure Fund, NEO Philanthropy

“I truly enjoyed this training – clear, direct, and engaging! I came away with a great set of tools that will help me craft more succinct and impactful statements.”
Estelle Arnal, Associate Director of Philanthropy for Institutional Support
Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival

“In an era where “communicating at” has muffled the ability of an audience to hear you, it is becoming more important than ever to communicate effectively. One of the many ways Marc helped me was understanding the difference between communicating the information that mattered versus the information that did not.”
Norris Williams, Business Starts and Growth
Living Cities, Inc.

“It was so valuable to have one hour with Marc. We quickly improved how I explain a proposal, and I learned how to apply Marc’s basic strategies to different situations.”
Jehan Laner, Community Lawyer / Staff Attorney
Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC)

“Marc was responsive to my goals and we had a great session workshopping some strategies to connect better with colleagues and to grow my network. I would recommend this training for everyone.”
Liz Taufa, Policy Attorney and Strategist
Immigrant Legal Resource Center

“I am excited to share what I learned with my colleagues. Marc helped highlight how to use persuasive techniques meaningfully, and I will incorporate his tips into my work. Marc is so engaging, the hour went by too quickly. I only wish I had more time to receive more tips.”
Priscilla Olivarez, Policy Attorney & Strategist
Immigrant Legal Resource Center

“To be a lawyer, lobby effectively for legislation, or obtain grants for your organization, you must communicate effectively. Having credibility is everythng. Even though I know it’s important to be clear and back what you say with statistics and evidence, it was helpful to have Marc explain the psychology as to how individuals make decision and how to best persuade them to either donate money or vote for your bill.”
Carla Gomez, Senior Staff Attorney
ILRC

“This training demonstrated to me how just a few minutes of time dedicated to your pitch can make a meaningful difference in achieving my organization’s goals.”
Alex Cabral, Director of Lending
National Housing Trust

“One hour with Marc helped me to focus on why our work matters, and more important, how to frame it in ways that make people care.”
Peter Girard, Director of Communications
Climate Central

“Even though I wasn’t sure what I was getting into, as it was my first time in a training of this kind, Marc made me feel comfortable with discussing how I approach my interactions with other people and helped me to adapt his framework to my own professional role and needs.”
Leandro Ucciferri, Global Partnerships Manager
Ranking Digital Rights

“Having Mac as speech coach even just through a few trainings makes me feel supported and privileged to grow at the personal level.”
Chia-Chia Wang, Organizing and Advocacy Director
American Friends Service Committee

“Marc is great at what he does and it was a pleasure connecting with him to brainstorm ways to show up as my best self in the office. Thank you!”
Angel Harris, Director, Communications
Housing Partnership Network

“An organization’s ability to foster effective communication from within is directly tied to its success in fulfilling its mission – I will be carrying what I learned from Marc with me for the rest of my professional life.”
Emily LaDouceur, Business Support Specialist
Mountain Association

“Being able to communicate effectively is an essential aspect of my job. Our funding, partnerships and marketing depend on it. It is one of the key aspects of my role that decides the growth and well-being of the CityParks Learn’s programs and Marc’s training has helped me to understand ways in which I can consistently communicate effectively.”
Chrissy Word, Director of Education
City Parks Foundation

“Marc really helped me pull apart my pitch and find what was most compelling, what was not, and really come away with a message that I can use in a number of different professional settings.”
Nathan Hart, Foundation and Corporate Relations Manager
Sustainable Conservation

“Marc was a great trainer! Very empathetic and encouraged me to be more authentic in the way I interact with donors, for example by providing concrete examples and speaking from a place of curiosity. He helped me address the barriers I was putting up that were affecting my confidence levels in my job. In my job it’s important for me to get our org’s message across effectively in a way that matches the attention span of donors and highlights our org’s “superpowers”. This training has boosted my confidence and I appreciate the mantra Marc helped me come up with “I am a channel for justice and joy”. I repeat this phrase daily now and it brings me comfort and motivation to do my job well and to the best of my abilities. Thanks Marc!”
Natasha Piette Basheer, Development Officer
Tahirih Justice Center

“Maybe this is useful, maybe not. Cut and condense as you see fit. It would be difficult to overstate the gulf between “helps you prepare an elevator speech” and the deeply personal, reflexive, and co-created experience of working with Marc. Weeks after our second one-hour session, I’m still reflecting on how he managed to tip the scales of ‘efficient yet intentional’ and ‘impactful but not overwhelming’ so drastically in our favor. Marc and I worked together to identify specific skills, habits, and techniques – tailored to my personal and professional experiences – valuable to nurture thriving personal and professional relationships. Perhaps more importantly, he worked with me to reconsider, reframe, and reimagine some aspects of my professional worldview, which will undoubtedly lead to more positive professional relationships for the remainder of my career. As an advocate for democratizing energy decision-making, I’m thankful Marc and I had the opportunity to further the development of my professional voice, which I use to join and support the pursuit of energy equity and environmental justice.”
Will Collier, Project Manager
Southface

“Because we honed in on some of my attributes, I was asked to create a statement about myself. This was somewhat difficult as I’m usually the person lifting others, but I’m very humble. We brainstormed and I was able to create a mantra that I will use daily. I learned some ways to combat my nervousness as I tend to tense up before meetings where I know I’m going to speak. I feel equipped now.”
Yvette McKenzie, Executive Coordinator, Office of the President
The JPB Foundation

“I have been engaged with the public my entire adult life and I have tried to incorporate certain elevator speeches. The one I had in my head for my current job was too formal and not necessarily understandable. Marc taught me how to slow down, emphasis key words and think more about what is meaningful to my audience.”
Robert Allen, Lending Director
Mountain Association

“We live in a world where we are constantly inundated with other people’s words. Marc’s incisive and specific advice helped me craft a message that could cut through the noise, describing my work in an engaging, compelling, and succinct way that inspired people to take action. I’m a lawyer. Words are my profession. But Marc helped me frame things in ways I never had before, stepping out of jargon and into the hearts of the listener. I’ve worked with communications experts many times over the 20 years of my professional career, but my hour-long session with Marc was by far the most productive comms training I’ve ever had.”
Rose Cahn, Senior Criminal and Immigrant Justice Attorney
ILRC

“In my role, it is important that I communicate in a concise and clear way that does not keep the audience guessing. Marc addressed those challenges with me in a thoughtful, meaningful, and relatable way that made me feel very comfortable being vulnerable. I am a firm believer that you cannot address what you will not acknowledge…Marc made me feel comfortable acknowledging those challenges in order to find sustainable solutions.”
Tracy Dennis, Director of Human Resources
NILC

“Communicating successfully is the art of unlearning treacherous paths, and learning how to walk down new unknown paths while bringing others along. No matter who you are, or where you are in your path, this training will be useful! Marc makes sure to tailor the experience to just you, so you are sure to learn at least the first steps to your new path forward.”
Juanita Monsalve, Senior Marketing & Creative Director
United We Dream

“My session with Marc was extraordinarily helpful in building my skills as a communicator, particularly in this new world of virtual interactions. The training was engaging, and entirely tailored to my individual needs, and I was amazed by how much I learned in just one hour. Most significantly, the skills I built (and tips I picked up regarding simple things like camera positioning and mic setup) were ones I could immediately put into action. I can’t imagine a better use of professional development time and resources for staff across industries.”
elissa gelber, Senior Associate
CSSP

“Marc works with you to find and hone the story within your pitch. Absolutely transformational!”
Grey Elam, Director of NYC Programs
Central Park Conservancy

“Marc controls the room very confidently and calmly. He allows you to find your own solutions which then transitions to great breakthroughs in speech performance. Communication is very necessary at a time where emotions and thoughts are often bottled up creating tension that bleeds onto all aspects. Communicating effectively, especially at work can and will ultimately create a better environment for all.”
Michael Gonzales, Director of Program Administration
Central Park Conservancy

“This is the most helpful training I have personally attended. It’s short, right to the point and personalized. Marc will put in so much prep before the session which really shows how much he cares about watching people succeed!”
Andrea Cota Avila, Development Manager
Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition

“Marc has a super efficient and practical training that helped improve my communication skills, both for the elevator pitch and for other settings.”
Megan Essaheb, Director of Federal Affairs
People’s Action

“Marc was highly effective in his training. My only regret is not signing up earlier for more sessions! Communicating effectively matters more than ever because now we are in a world where it could be the difference between us getting funding to make sure staff members get what they need to stay efficient or us not getting enough funding to sustain the work that we do to move democracy forward. I believe every organization needs a Marc.”
Velvet Johnson, Programs Director
Mississippi Votes

“As I begin to perform more in-person public speaking, it’s more important than ever that I relearn how to communicate effectively and efficiently. Marc’s training helps with both, making sure your presentation is targeted, informational, and concise for maximum effect on your audience.”
Kentiya Orange, Policy & Legal Advocacy Manager
Ballot Initiative Strategy Center

“Grateful for Marc and his training. I feel like I gained so much, even in a short amount of time, and appreciate the skills-building and message development that provided clarity on my approach.”
Lauren Reliford, Political Director
Sojourners

“Marc’s training gave me the “secret sauce” of confidence that will make a difference in interviews, pitches, and donor conversations. I know my elevator pitch will bring in more recognition for my organization!”
Elizabeth Hengen, Community Relations Manager
Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC)

“Marc emphasized straightforward techniques that anyone can incorporate. He helps clean up your message and delivery so that you can inspire action.”
Maria Roumiantseva, Coordinator
National Coalition for a Civil Right to Counsel

“Marc’s training was transformative. We worked on content, style, speech, and delivery in just one hour! I can carry myself with much more confidence now.”
Maliha Sadiq,

“Training like this is either a great starting point or a booster for anyone wanting to become a better storyteller!”
Fernanda Villasenor, Principal
CFE Fund

“Marc was super professional, helpful and attentive during our hour training.”
Jennicet Gutierrez, National Development and Organizer
Familia: Trans Queer Liberation Movement

“Marc is a Swiss army knife for improving presentation of one’s mission / position”
Katie Fallon, Senior Policy Program Manager, Housing Matters Initiative
Urban Institute

“In only 60 minutes with Marc, I learned invaluable techniques about how to better connect with audiences to generate interest, enthusiasm, and momentum – skills that will be useful in any public speaking engagement.”
Jim Gallagher, Director of Grants Management
Ford Foundation

“Marc was experienced and friendly which made it easier to embrace my pitfalls conducting a presentation to key people. I believe I will remember and carry on his recommendations and advices for a long time.”
Chia-Chia Wang, Organizing and Advocacy Director
American Friends Service Committee

“Marc was a fantastic guide and coach in our session. He was very easygoing, yet structured. In my role, it is imperative that I am able to speak concisely, yet compellingly, to current and prospective donors. Marc gave me a number of excellent tips on how to take my pitch to the next level.”
Mia Briones, Director of Major Gifts
Harlem Children’s Zone

“Marc is great at zeroing in on key points – even in the midst of brainstorming – and guiding you how to build on these to succinctly but powerfully share a message with a targeted audience.”
Eugene Patron, Communications Manager
Fund for Public Health NYC

“Marc provided specific and useful principles that can be used not only in my professional life, but my personal life. He provided useful and practical tools to be incorporated fairly easily. In addition, he made illustrated how simple concepts can be quite powerful in a few sentences.”
Quintilia Avila, California Director of Civic Engagement
NALEO Educational Fund

“Thank you for an hour well spent! Marc came incredibly prepared for the session and did his best to tailor the techniques to be relevant to my organization and the work that I do. It was a very productive session. I look forward to applying what I learned.”
Amanda Nguyen, Program Officer
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

“Marc helped me take a big complicated story and tell it short, sweet, and to the point.”
Deirdre O’Shea, Senior Foundations Relations Manager
Immigrant Legal Resource Center

“Just one hour drastically improved the effectiveness of my pitch. The improvements suggested were immediately actionable and amounted to a big difference.”
Jorge Gonzalez, Digital Access Director
The Miami Foundation

“Marc convinced me in an hour that public speaking is something I can actually learn to enjoy!”
Rachael Young, Director of Grantmaking
Just Transition Fund

“As Marc said, improvement comes through practice and application; this is not a silver bullet. But what a great component to the journey it was. I’m looking forward now to practicing the valuable insights from just a short session.”
Adam Meier, Director: Green, Healthy, and Sustainable Products
Housing Partnership Network

“In just an hour Marc showed me practical ways I could be more effective and persuasive as a presenter and more visible as a leader at my organization.”
Medha Chandra, Associate Director
ILRC

“In just one hour, Marc was able to help me think more strategically about how I communicate with others, especially with those who can be particularly difficult to work with. He taught me how to be disarming and show just enough emotion to make for a more compelling argument. I also loved how Marc tailored my training to my most specific and pressing communication needs.”
Chad Eric Smith, Director of Communications and Brand Management
Mural Arts Philadelphia

“In just one hour, I learned to effectively speak about my work in a way that is simple, yet compelling. It challenged me to think about what makes our work unique and how to boil that down to its essence.”
Jamila Henderson, Senior Associate
PolicyLink

“This training was an excellent complement to the practice of of developing unique value propositions, by focusing on preparing and delivering that message in a way that illuminates benefits to the client, develops a rapport, and encourages them to ‘take the next step’ in the sales process.”
Mark Stutman, Mid-Atlantic Regional Manager
New Ecology, Inc.

“Incredulous that a short investment of an hour has provided me with the confidence to express what our non-profit accomplishes in a manner that will engage a listener and not bog the message down with too much detail. A great hour spent!”
Carol Kelley, Finance
New Ecology

“Marc’s insightful feedback enabled me to articulate ideas which I had a hard time getting across.”
Justin Iovenitti, Energy Engineer
New Ecology, Inc.

“It was helpful to break down my elevator speech in parts and also have someone who provided the confidence and feedback to continue improving!”
Rafaela Rodriguez, Director of Outreach and Communications
Worker-driven Social Responsibility Network

“I can’t believe how, in just one hour, I went from bumbling around a conversation about my job to having a structured recipe for success!”
Amanda Winn, West Coast Project Manager
HOPE

“I gained so many great tools in this hour-long training!”
Tiffany Eng, Green Zones Program Manager
CEJA

“Marc’s collaborative approach and laser focus on story-telling through simple and clear messaging helped me build an impactful narrative to tell our story–in just one hour!”
Maheen Shafiabady, Business Operations & Communications, Manager
HEART of San Mateo County

“It’s amazing how much we accomplished in two one hour sessions. I feel more confident about presenting myself and my work in meetings and over the phone!”
Teleia White, Director of Individual Giving
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation

“The training is helpful in making sure that I am sharing information that is most important to the listener. It was a great reminder to speak with intentionality.”
Shelly Ridgeway, Director of Marketing & Communications
United Way of Central Carolinas

“The personalized training allowed for a direct approach to focus on key areas for maximum effectiveness.”
Kamilah Wallen, Grants Administration Manager
Miami Foundation

“The skills and format of this training can be adapted to everything else, this training will help me more clearly communicate my message.”
Yadira Hernandez, Finance and Administration Director
California Environmental Justice Alliance

“Marc is a master of his craft, and I learned so much in such a short period of time about how to structure my pitch in a way that succinctly draws people in and calls them to action.”
Caroline Beaton, Manager of Impact Operations
Exposure Labs

“While I’d love to have more time for this training, the hour long session is very productive. It’s a challenge to watch yourself give a pitch repeatedly, but it is so helpful in honing your message and improving your delivery. I highly recommend the training!”
Shannon Lee, Senior Urban Conservation Manager
The Conservation Fund

“The ground I was able to cover in just one hour with Marc was phenomenal. I’ve taken part in separate training that lasted hours and didn’t come close to the value and insight this training provided. We got right to business and the guidance and feedback was extremely helpful.”
Richard Sheward, Director of Innovative Partnerships
Children’s HealthWatch, Boston Medical Center

“This training was very useful, and something staff, executive leadership and board could benefit from. This is practical, easy-to-do, and every-day relevant. I have a much better sense of the importance of what I communicate, why, what and how I speak.”
Ana Traverso-Krejcarek, Manager
Highline Network

“Marc is an excellent training leader and coach. This training was a game changer for me – although I am a seasoned communications professional, I felt sharpened by this framework and I will take it back to our communications team.”
Monica Novoa, Communications Director
National Employment Law Project (NELP)

“All communication is about engaging your audience and striking an emotional chord, one powerful enough to compel action. Marc’s training showed me how to create a narrative to accomplish just that — keep it simple, relatable and provide resolution to a problem. I will use this approach going forward.”
Jenny Riley, Associate Director, Marketing
Elevate Energy –

“I didn’t know I could accomplish so much in an hour! This training not only gave me specific advice for my chosen “elevator speech”, but also gave me the tools to apply the same learnings to other elevator speeches I may have to give in the future!”
Lakeshia Wright, Senior Program Officer
Institute for Sustainable Communities

“I learned how to craft a more effective speech and elevate the most salient points with limited time. This is super helpful for me as someone who spends a lot of time networking with others from all kinds of backgrounds.ref”
Gabriel Jones, Senior Associates
Arabella Advisors

“This training was excellent! I learned so much in this one hour session and came away with multiple recordings of myself as well as a written breakdown of everything we covered, both of which have been so valuable.”
Stephanie Stohler, Toxic-Free Future
Toxic-Free Future

“This was a very helpful session and Marc is a great trainer. He listens carefully and provides valuable insights into how to communicate a compelling message effectively and succinctly. In a time when every word matters — and you often get only a few seconds of someone’s time — this is more important than ever! I would highly recommend the training to anyone who is looking to boost their communication skills.”
Julia Appel, Senior Program Manager
Tufts University

“Marc is fantastic he makes a connection immediately and couple that with no boring slides, jargon or cookie cuter training material made for an amazing but short experience.”
Teria Powell, Events and Program Manager
11th Street Bridge Park

“Really enjoyed the session, I can already see it benefiting my work and academic life. Appreciate the feedback Marc gave me, looking forward to see his passion project pan out!”
Adib Santos, Working Student – UX Designer
Axel Springer

“He made the session super dynamic, time passed very quickly, he is very professional, I appreciated the time that he took for answer questions and clarify doubts”
Karla Gonzalez, Operations Manager
CASA Virginia

“Marc: Very encouraging and pleasant. He made me think about why we need to communicate, and he trained me on how I could do effective communication.”
CAIXIA NIU, Strategic Communication and Public Policy Manager
The Ford Foundation

“In times of rapid change and faster innovation cycles, we are constantly inundated with new information. To stand out from the information masses, I must always be prepared to deliver a message, even in a short period of time. Marc’s “Make a Point” framework is an extremely valuable support in this respect.”
Can Balyos, Management & Tech Trainee
Axel Springer SE

“This is an amazing education in communicating clearly and effectively! Working with Marc is really engaging and fun, and I’ll be making use of the tools and techniques from this training indefinitely.”
Todd Gilbert, Information Management Specialist
Ford Foundation

“Marc gave me the tools needed to apply a pitch to any scenario.”
Melissa Szaja, Director of Philanthropy
The Miami Foundation

“Very clear communicator!”
Meghan McCormick, Senior Research Associate
MDRC

“Whether on a personal or professional level, it is essential to be able to convey a concise message that hits all checkpoints.”
Ariel Quinones, Senior Grants and Systems Associate
The JPB Foundation

“Marc is a brilliant teacher and a master at his craft. His lessons in communication are a true gem to anyone looking to land that next pitch! His tools and methods offer instant gratification as well as long lasting results!”
Michael Garvey, Economist
DOE

“My Elevator Pitch session with Marc was an action-packed hour and ended with several helpful takeaways I could immediately deploy. I was so impressed by how prepared Marc was for our conversation and how quickly he digested the complexity of the material I was struggling to communicate. In addition to giving me several useful devices to remember his lessons (pull the fish out of the bucket!), he also helped me package many mouthfuls of ideas into bite-sized teasers.”
Cynthia Conti-Cook, Tech fellow
Ford Foundation

“Marc employs the perfect blend of specificity and accessibility to help us deliver effective elevator speeches. First impressions are super important, so this is a highly valuable skill”
Michael Abdelmessih, Assistant Project Manager
New Ecology, Inc.

“Extremely constructive training!”
Spencer Gorman, Assistant Project Manager
New Ecology

“Marc did a great job with this training, and showed me characteristics of effective communication that applied to more scenarios than I thought especially in a hybrid world!”
Alex Peffer, Coordinator
ACLU

“I promote and research communications/messaging tactics on specific issues, in my policy work. To apply the same principles to myself is a luxury, indeed, but also a form of care and “practicing what we preach.” It deepens those implications for my work, and reminds me that I am also worth this investment and attention. Stay tuned for ROI!”
Sara Bartel, sr atty
ChangeLab Solutions

“Marc has perfected the balance between being an extremely good listener and graciously pushing the client to dig deeper for clarity. The fisherman story/metaphor is so effective. A good way of reminding yourself that showing is as important as telling when it comes to building trust with the audience.”
Santiago Carrillo, Assistant Director
Living Cities

“Communicating effectively matters because it can open up opportunities, promptly and in a memorable way.”
Chantal Bannerman, Research Staff Associate
Columbia Population Research Center

“Marc taught me invaluable tips and tricks to enhance my ability to meaningfully engage with others!”
Courtney Bagans, Collective Impact Assistant
The Miami Foundation

“This felt like magic and boosted my confidence”
LaTysa Flowers-Jackson, Community Support Services JEDI Director
YMCA of San Diego County

“Marc is a kind person who extensively researches your organization before meeting you. That means that when you walk into his session, every second is productive and targetted to help you improve how you present your work and your organization.”
Catalina Vallejo, Program Director
Just Tech – SSRC

“In one hour, Marc helped refresh my pitch so that it gets people excited to work together rather than getting lost in the wave of information and calls to action that bombard us day to day.”
Natasha Riveron, Healthy Parks and Places Manager
Safe Routes Partnership

“In my line of work as an organizer, is it imperative that I am able to communicate effectively about my org’s goals and initiatives. If I am to build power and expand our base, I need to be able to grab people’s attention and get them invested in our work.”
Kosar Kosar, Multicultural Oeganizer
Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition

“Marc Fest was very thorough and asked me my needs and provided the information I was seeking to help me to look at another way of presenting and asking for the money, which was very useful.”
Jodye Newton, Director of Corporate and Community Relations
Fort Worth Report

“This was great because it will help weed out unnecessary banter ams get to the point.”
Janet Jones, Reproductive Health Coordinator
Bold Futures

“What I enjoyed best was that Marc took a real life example and showed me step by step on how to improve my communication skills. It was very beneficial.”
Josy Dussek, Director, Arts Operations
City Parks Foundation

“I’ll do this after the second training!”
Nathan Hart, Foundation and Corporate Relations Manager
Sustainable Conservation

“Marc knows his stuff. He quickly targeted in on my concerns and reminded me of what I bring to the table. Having awareness of how you come across, with honest and fair criticism, is extremely important in regards to effective communication. The entire hour was rich with information and great insight. I would highly recommend this training. Everyone could learn something from Marc.”
Jennifer Martin, Lending Specialist
Mountain Association

“Marc was amazing coach that instantly made me (a novice in this space) instantly comfortable. I found his template driven approach, with real-time collaboration and feedback, extremely useful and will recommend this training to current and future colleagues.”
Joshua Perrin, Communications Manager
Center for the Study of Social Policy

“My work relies on my ability to network and communicate. Working with Marc gave me new communication tools that will make sharing the Island Press story more effective and powerful. He’s helping me to get people to listen.”
Jen Hawse, Partnership Manager
Island Press

“Marc was very engaging and attentive. He helped me turn my ramblings into an impactful and meaningful elevator speech.”
Caliste Chong, Senior Program and Policy Analyst
Nemours Children’s Health1

“Marc is a maestro who wants you to succeed!”
Kevin Collins, Project Manager
New Ecology, Inc.

“I’ve struggled with how to effectively communicate the more technical work that we do in an accessible way that can capture the attention of a diverse array of individuals – Marc helped me reflect on what we are really trying to get at and provided helpful tools to successfully do this.”
Courtney Cooper, Science Associate
UCSF Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment

“I approached Marc with a goal: to be more concise in my writing and more impactful in my speech. I saw a difference within 30 minutes. Absolutely amazing!”
Xavier Richardson,

“Marc was patient and extremely helpful in honing and improving the structure, content, and story connections.”
Donna Golub, Training Coordinator
Immigrant Legal Resource Center

“Communicating effectively matters more than ever to me because it is essential for my work and beyond. Marc is exceptional with his approach by getting me understand that I can communicate effectively by using simple words like kids do. Thank you Marc for your patience.”
Jean Alofan, Field Technician
NEWECOLOGY

“Marc was able to deliver a powerful lesson in the most humble and accommodating format.”
Akshay Malik, Infrastructure Innovation Coordinator
City of Philadelphia

“Marc is really great at empowering the skills you have and capitalizing on them. He adds without taking anything from you in the process. Great for confidence-building which is ultimately the only way to effectively communicate— you must have confidence. It’s integral.”
Tamila Kianfard, Manager, Development
Southface

“I thought I did a pretty good job communicating in plain language, but Marc helped me realize I could go a lot further and connect with our audience more effectively as a result.”
Tricia Embry, Marketing and Communications Manager
Southface Institute

“Marc is extremely effective and goes the extra mile and that makes him extra special.”
Mirna Gonzalez, Lead Organizer
CASA

“Marc’s training has helped me become more aware of my negotiating patterns and more thoughtful about how I am received. In just one hour (and over Zoom!), I am closer to being the speaker I want to be.”
Joseph Jung, Program Analyst
Carnegie Corporation of New York

“Marc’s Elevator Speech Training was impactful. Marc is personable, supportive, and offered a tailored coaching session unique to my own needs. I walked away from the training with new tools in my toolbox that I could immediately begin implementing to be a more effective communicator. Thank you, Marc!”
Paul Gels, Associate Director of the State & Community Health Advocacy Program
Community Catalyst

“Marc was very encouraging, enthusiastic, and focused!”
John Pollock, Coordinator
National Coalition for a Civil Right to Counsel

“Training with Marc helped me identify what my pitch is missing and concrete steps to fill those gaps.”
Michele Crosby, Director, Foundation Relations
Equal Justice Works

“Marc helped me to speak more pointedly and powerfully without loosing my own voice. He helped to bolster my confidence in what I am saying and how I am saying it”
Tammy Thomas, Sr. Organizer
Community Change

“Marc dives right to the heart of whatever it is that trips you up during public speaking. He is extremely professional while addressing personal matters that touch work performance.”
Brittany Wienke, Senior Fellow
Natural Areas Conservancy

“In one hour we were able to dig into the details of how and why to create a compelling an elevator pitch and get into very productive live edits with a clear direction forward.”
Clara Pregitzer, Deputy Director of Conservation Science
Natural Areas Conservancy

“I really got a lot out of my hour of training with Marc, from how to improve my presence in the virtual space to advice for framing my organization’s work. The training felt like a productive conversation, and I left feeling more equipped for conversations with donors.”
Genevieve Oliver, Manager, U.S. Institutional Partnerships
Center for Reproductive Rights

“From a beginner’s perspective, I think I have gain some insights and knowledge on how to present myself accordingly. This one to one coaching really helps me. Thank you Marc.”
Shinn Yang, Finance Director
Solar One

“I’ve just wrapped up my first session with Marc and am excited by what we accomplished in just an hour – reframing my mindset on public speaking as a gift and refining our elevator pitch to make the proposal more accessible and enticing.”
Emily Sherrod, Dir. of Partnership Development
CIty Parks Foundation

“Marc was able to understand the importance of my work and frame it in a way that would speak to more people.”
Julia Raskin, Trails Program Manager
Natural Areas Conservancy

“Working with Marc was a tremendous way to start my workweek. His insight into how to project one’s passion for the message being deliverer will naturally gain the listener’s buy-in. This was a 5 star experience.”
Rob Baker, Project Management
New Ecology, Inc.

“Marc is highly personable, which makes those of us who are shyer feel at ease. He listens well, does his research on who you are beforehand, and has a fantastic ability to use themes that are relevant to you based on the research that he did before the session.”
Maisha Nelson, Director of Human Resources & Administration
Immigrant Legal Resource Center

“Marc is fantastic. In just one hour I became more confident, articulate, and persuasive. Everyone should take this training.”
Christopher Zoia, Communications Manager
Immigrant Justice Corps

“The shrewd insights and practical takeaways from this engaging one-hour session will stay with me for years to come!”
Emily Toder, Information Management Specialist
Ford Foundation

“I’ve spent 10+ years honing messaging and I still get stuck because of the spaces we enter as professionals require specific language (words matter!). This experience was great at tooling back to normal speak for a broader audience – because words matter!”
Fai Foen, Director of Green Infrastructure
The Greening of Detroit

“The “deep dive” into what I thought was a pretty solid pitch, really helped me to improve my communications. It is remarkable what can be accomplished in one hour when what you say is heard, interpreted and optimized.”
Mari Veliz, Healthy Watersheds Manager
Ausable Bayfield Conservation

“This hour of training was more of a treat than a mani-pedi. Intense pandemic work doesn’t leave much left over for refreshing our stories, but I’m glad I made time for a skillfully guided reset.”
Sabrina Roach, Program Director
National Digital Inclusion Alliance

“The training gave me several takeaway’s that I will try. Also, the idea to log the calls to see if some scripts are more beneficial than others in reaching donors.”
Allison Rhodes, Major Gifts Officer
United Way of Central Carolinas

“The training crystallized how I can briefly / vulnerably include my personal story in a pitch, to emotionally connect with my audience and drive them to action. Invaluable!!!”
Cassie Manjikian, Special Projects Manager
California Environmental Justice Alliance (CEJA)

“In just one hour, Marc provided a framework I could easily use to craft and deliver my message in a way that inspires action.”
Tawechote Wongbuphanimitr,
Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future

“The Elevator Speech Training was so beneficial to my work and provided me with several important tools to strengthen our messaging and storytelling. Highly Recommend!”
Shelly McPhail, Grantwriter/Researcher
National Consumer Law Center (NCLC)

“While intense, I found the session to be energizing due to the focus on self-improvement–how I communicate, what I value, and how to forge connections with others in an efficient way and informative way. We accomplished a great deal in just an one hour. Marc came impressively prepared.”
Dave Wright, Director of Project Development
Groundswell

“The worksheet provided to walk you through crafting a winning elevator speech is fantastic, well thought out, and very useful. I felt lightyears ahead of where I was when the class first started. It’s amazing what you can accomplish in just one hour!”
Radiah Shabazz, Communications Manager
Institute for Sustainable Communities

“In a short period of time, the training allowed me to see the strengths and weaknesses of my “elevator speech.” I will most certainly be able to apply the lessons learned in my communications moving forward.”
Emily Russell, Director of Major Gifts
American Forests

“The training was really great and helped me to almost fully develop a pitch in just one hour! I appreciated the critical feedback and the emphasis on what was working so that I could continue to build on that.”
Jaime Love, Associate Director of US Programs
Institute for Sustainable Communities

“Communicating effectively on your needs or feedback is not a robotic or singular experience to rush through. It is an experience of building trust and understanding. Thank you, Marc! I learned so much from just an hour. I could have stayed on the call for another to be honest. Days after our call, I am still thinking about how to apply so many incredible takeaways to future business and personal relationships.”
Reine Couverchel, OPS
NEO Philanthropy

“Marc is a rare sort of teacher. His approach to coaching is not only analytical and constructive, he almost demands you to operate in purpose when you pitch. I work in primarily remote environments. Often times, getting to a solution and proving how/why something is beneficial is the first priority. This experience really humanized and humbled my communication style and made me realize the importance of taking a step back to communicate with more pure intention.”
Maisha Billingsley, Client Operations Manager
JustFund

“Marc is a very thoughtful and kind person who does not judge. He wants you to be able to express yourself how you want to. In today’s world, we have short attention spans, which means when we communicate with others we are trying to network with, we need to know how to express ourselves and our ideas succinctly. Marc certainly helps you do that.”
Daniel O’Brien, Senior Associate
Environmental and Energy Study Institute

“I am extremely grateful to the training that I received from Marc. His knowledge and expertise will fundamentally help me be more affective in my communications.”
Xiomara Napoleon, Public Relations Manager
The Salvation Army

“Marc started the session by asking me about my work history and my hobbies and it really allowed him to tailor the session to what he thought i would respond to. He listened as i listed my weaknesses/problem points and was able to give me tools to counter them. I was blown away by our session.”
Priscille Navas, Development Associate
Guttmacher Institute

“I learned so much in just 1 hour! Marc is very kind and personable and makes the training stress free and fun. I feel more confident with the communication tools Marc shared.”
Hazel Paguaga, Program Associate
The Funders Network

“Now with a short time span is more important than ever on how to convene your point, Marc helps you on how to be more concise improving communication skills and body language.”
Zaira Macegoza, Individual Giving Manager
National Domestic Workers Alliance

“Marc was phenomenal! Being a young professional in my line of work causes me anxiety about talking to people who have much more experience. However, Marc managed to assist in alleviating these feelings of my anxiety with his suggested talking points and general advice. 10/10 experience.”
Gabrielle Davis, Building Clean Program Associate
BlueGreen Alliance Foundation

“It was great to workshop the hearing analysis with Marc, and improve the impact and accessibility of an issue that’s important to me and my work.”
Sarah Lee, Senior Community Organizer
Immigrant Legal Resource Center

“Marc really knows how to extract key reflection questions that make it easy to communicate our message, value and mission with precision and clarity.”
Kimberly Ladd, Consultant
Aligned Hope

“Communication matters more than ever because it’s a way for people to understand your needs or asks and their way of expressing their interest or commenting on your thoughts.”
Karen Valdez, Community Organizer
Virginia Organizing

“This training really helped me to identify some of the shortcomings in my communication style and provided me with the tools to become a more effective communicator. Good, clear, and concise communication is more important than ever in this age of constant distraction. I look forward to testing out my new tools and learning more in my next session with Marc.”
Ulrike Nischan, Senior Associate
The Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund

“An hour with Marc helps me to explain what I do in a clearer and less complicated way. I found this refreshing, because in my line of work, communicating effectively could turn disinterested people into becoming your ally, whatever cause are you fighting.”
Diah Dwiandani, Special Assistant to RD / Communications Specialist
Ford Foundation

“Marc is a wonderful person, able to build the trust and connections immediately and that makes a difference, when you feel that judgements is the last thing you have to worry about! Thank you Marc for you dedication!! More than grateful for this opportunity.”
Mirna Gonzalez, Lead Organizer
CASA

“Marc is a phenomenal trainer! In just an hour we received guidance, feedback, tips & strategies that will be very beneficial to our organization. I highly recommend his services.”
Delishia Porterfield, Director of Leadership & Advocacy
Standup Nashville

“Marc covered so much ground in the one hour we spent together — from talking about visioning and meditative exercises to prime for interactions, to helping think about how to be the most approachable and down to earth as possible. Really appreciated all of wisdom that Marc shared!”
Amanda Dameron, Community Organizer
Virginia Organizing

“This was one of the most valuable hours I have spent in a long time. Marc really helped me drill down to what makes my work and my practice unique and valuable for clients. He changed how I think about what I bring to the table for folks.”
Bill Woodwell, Writer/Consultant
William H. Woodwell, Jr.

“In one hour, I gave my three-minute elevator speech and received real-time feedback on how to improve it. We watched my speech and reviewed the sections that could be improved and Marc shared tips and insights on how I could improve them. I will use the follow-up email with the oral feedback to create a solid elevator speech.”
Rosamaria Carrillo, PolicyLink
PolicyLink

“I feel more confident sharing my elevator speech. It doesn’t feel like something I have to do anymore. Marc really explained the process of sharing a story that makes people lean in. I really didn’t know what to expect when I joined but I learned alot.”
micah wilson, Program Coordinator
GenesisHOPE

“Pushing me and making me feel comfortable truly helped me.”
Robin Coleman, Programs and Resource Specialist
GenesisHOPE

“Very educational and informative. It really opens the door to learning how to effectively communicate your goal in a short period of time.”
Eric Diesing, Watershed Ecologist
Clinton River Watershed Council

“Marc was amazing. He provided a lot of great tips on how to improve my presentations and how to do a better job when introducing myself at the beginning of a presentation.”
Miguel Yanez-Barnuevo, Senior Project Associate
EESI

“This training was a gamechanger! I typically freeze when I am asked to present ideas to a group — even on topics I know and love. The feedback and tips from this training session made me aware of what I can do to make my passion for the work I do clear, while sharing it with others.”
Alicia Hill, Associate Editor
Groundswell

“I spent 60 minutes with Marc over Zoom. In that short time, Marc helped me improve my day to day Zoom meeting practice and also dug into deeper topics such as how I can share a little more of myself with my audience briefly, to invite them to “experience” the point I am trying to convey at an emotional, personal level.”
Shannon Ziegelaar, Innovation Ventures & Fund Strategist
WWF Australia

“This training was very efficient and felt valuable to me both professionally and personally. thank you!”
Vanessa Barrios, Senior Associate, State Programs & Advocacy
Regional Plan Association

“Marc is an excellent communicator, he did a great job sharing his expertise in a very clear and concise way.”
Kristal Knowles, Director, Operations and Customer Support
Groundswell Inc

“In just an hour, Marc helped me to identify the key elements of my proposed pitch that had the most power, see where I could amplify resonant messages, and distill points so I had fewer “items” to remember in the pitch; which made it feel more natural as I practiced afterward.”
Tiffanie Luckett, Sr. Officer, Individual Giving
National Immigration Law Center

“A powerful session that will amplify your communication overall.”
Tennille Dowers, Manager of Youth Development & Education
Friends of the High Line

“I really appreciate how much the session challenged me in just one hour to improve my speaking skills. I also liked that the session is tailored to your needs and Marc really cares about making sure he covers what is most useful to you personally.”
Beenish Riaz, Legal Fellow
Ford Foundation

“Marc is very personal made me feel very comfortable. During my session, we achieved a lot. I left with plenty tools that I can use not only at work but in everyday social interction.”
Jannet Esparza, Innovations & Learning Manager
Immigration Legal Resource Center

“This training was incredible– in just an hour, the buffer words that I have relied on for what feels like my whole life were highlighted with humor and Marc helped me become more comfortable stepping into the power of pausing.”
Raquel Mason, Policy Manager
California Environmental Justice Alliance

“Re-framing how I see things so that I don’t come into these conversations thinking that I come from a position of powerlessness in need of help and not able to offer something in return, but that the simple quest to explore is enough of an offer to others. Helped balance and give me the composure that I needed. The Worksheet is also very helpful and will be used as the basis of my default when entering certain “ask” conversations.”
Mona Wang, Program Officer
Low Income Investment Fund

“Marc is a charismatic person who can cultivate meaningful growth in his students (folks that take his course).”
Taelani Camacho, Coordinator
Empowering Pacific Islander Communities

“Marc quickly understood what kind of support I needed and gave me a very great new perspective on my own positioning.”
Vincent Irmler, Sales Trainee
Axel Springer

“Appreciate Marc’s suggestions for how to make my speech more powerful and actionable.”
Julie Archer, Coordinator
WV Citizens for Clean Elections

“The benefits of the training to me… better explain in less time by hitting key points.”
Rhonda Thompson, Executive Assistant
Partnership for Southern Equity

“In just one hour, I was able to refine my ability to distill what I do, why I do it, and why my work is filling an urgent gap into a 2-minute narrative. I hope to use this as the organization seeks to expand.”
Erin Connolly, Associate Program Director
Girl Security

“In 60 minutes, you can greatly change the way you communicate, which elevates the way you are perceived. An easy, fast and fun way to improve yourself.”
Judith Felix, Senior Administrative Assistant, Poverty Program
The JPB Foundation

“Marc’s training reminded me that effective communication comes from the heart, and not just the head.”
Andrew Sherry, Principal
Communications Partners, LLC

“Marc does not waste a minute and gets to helping you improve right away. I walked away better prepared and more confident. Marc is great coach!”
Jose Santos, Program Officer
Grove Foundation

“From the start of the training, with Marc coming on Zoom with music playing, I knew it was going to be a lively training. The worry on Zoom is always about the experience being so static but this was not the case. There was a dynamism to the training. We packed a whole lot into the one hour — and I felt that it was such a useful one hour. I’ve been two multi-hour trainings and haven’t walked away feeling I learned something. While I know there are some commonalities of public speaking, Marc really made these relevant for my own work experience so it felt like he knew the world I operated it. Highly recommend this training.”
Tamara Lindsay, Chief of Strategy
Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund (CFE)

“This one hour training gave me greater perspective on how to approach audiences–both familiar and unfamiliar–and how to frame my issue in a way that makes it personal to the listener and transformative for the wider world. Thank you, Marc!”
Kentiya Orange, Policy & Legal Advocacy Manager
Ballot Initiative Strategy Center

“Within an hour Marc was able to dissect what I needed to focus on improving and provide real tools to build the confidence I was looking for! After the 60 minutes I was fully confident and very excited to get to work on building a script that works for me.”
Trisha Singh, Individual Giving Specialist
The WNET Group

“I appreciate Marc’s enthusiasm and positive, yet constructive tone. And mail is a really nice touch. In just an hour, I honed my key talking points to simultaneously provide maximum impact and broad appeal. Super helpful training.”
Sarah Anderson, Director of Career Pathways
American Forests

“I’ve had various communication feedback sessions in the past but this training with Marc felt fresh, actionable, and relevant in every way. It’s hard to believe how much we accomplished in one hour.”
Antonia Ornelas, Chief Program Officer
Elevate

“Marc really has perfected how to guide others in speech-making in a succinct one hour session. The tools he provides and direct feedback truly can help sharpen one’s ability to communicate the important work one does. Much appreciation!”
Sondra Youdelman, Campaigns Director
People’s Action

“I almost canceled on this appointment last minute because of a unexpected work issue I wanted to deal with that seemed more pressing, but also was really curious about what training had to offer, and I am really glad I changed my mind and logged in. I came in with no expectations, and Marc was very helpful at providing insights and making suggestions to the way I spoke with possible donors to give better stickiness to the points I’m trying to get across. It was a really useful hour and am really thankful that JPB Foundation made it possible for me and other members of our team!”
Rebecca Lakhani, Director of Philanthropy
New York Hall Of Science

“Marc was able to understand our issues so quickly and expertly and guided us to an effective presentation so efficiently. I really enjoyed his workshop and would recommend to anyone!”
Christa Stewart, Deputy Director
Immigrant Justice Corps

“Marc has an amazing ability to quickly identify areas for improvement in your communication skills, and then just as quickly offer examples and suggestions on concrete steps you can take to reach that next level. Can’t recommend his training session enough.”
Michael Regan, Donor Research and Prospect Management Analyst
National Immigration Law Center

“I really needed this and didn’t even realize it. Marc’s approach was perfect for someone who does a fair amount of pitches/speaking. He provided tips and tactics to use immediately while also giving some good homework.”
David Rothstein, Senior Principal
CFE Fund

“Marc was very good. He took the time to get to know me and really hear my story and offered really great talking points.”
Carmera Thomas, Director of Urban Conservation Initiatives
The Conservation Fund

“I learned such amazing practical tactics that enhanced the projection of my leadership potential. Marc is a very effective coach!”
Medha Chandra, Associate Director
New Americans Campaign

“Marc sets a great tone and his approach to training helps to highlight key aspects of what can use improvement. These classes are a great help to boost confidence.”
Kamilah Wallen, Director of Grants Administration
The MIami Foundation

“Marc’s Elevator Speech Training is a must for anyone who desires to effectively communicate about his or her work. Constructing the speech, according to the framework, is something that demands intellectual rigor, but the effort pays-off in spades. I highly recommend this training.”
Mike Shesterkin, Executive Director
SMSBF

“The benefits of the elevator speech came to light sooner than I expected. I had multiple speaking engagement between the two elevator speech training sessions. I attribute the training to preparing me to better critique myself and give a more compelling speech.”
Terry Smith,
M-PowerHouse of Greater Pittsburgh

“I learned a lot about how to build a stronger narrative based on a few key points, and to elevate that narrative in a way that will better capture people’s attention and strengthen my overall presence.”
Gabriel Jones, Senior Associates
Arabella Advisors

“The time allocation was spot on, with the perfect balance of theory and practice.”
Reece Proudfoot,
World Wildlife Fund, Australia

“Marc’s willingness to adapt to what I wanted to focus on and his broad expertise was great. The role playing, getting to see and analyze myself—the whole hour was very useful.”
Elsbeth Pancrazi, Director of Institutional Advancement
New York Hall of Science

“Marc goes beyond helpful frameworks and rules of thumb, and quickly drills down into concrete, personalized feedback to help make your communication more punchy – the hour goes a long way!”
NIKHIL VIJAYKAR, Staff Attorney
Environmental Law & Policy Center

“Marc really helped me to think outside the box and update the way I present my work to people. I think these changes will greatly improve my presentations.”
Dina Burstein, Project Director
Tufts Medical Center

“In one hour, I learned how to boil my research down to a brief pitch that leaves the listener wanting to learn more”
Robert Sege, Professor of Medicine
Tufts University School of Medicine

“Thanks to Marc’s preparation, he was able to reflect back what parts of my message about my project were most powerful and help me see the unique story and arc that could bring the listener to understanding and action.”
Sienna Baskin, Director
Neo Philanthropy

“I walked away from the training with concrete feedback that made my elevator speech significantly more powerful and effective. It was incredible what skills I was able to improve in just one hour!”
Amanda Bridenhagen, Partnerships Director
Just Transition Fund

“This short session will have lasting impacts on the way I introduce my work and pitch ideas. The process by which we identified areas for improvement was instrumental in helping me to find better ways to articulate my meaning.”
Emmeline Luck, Policy Associate
Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance

“Marc is awesome! I was surprised by how quickly he provided tailored feedback to my prepared elevator pitch to make it even stronger. With his help, I was able to incorporate stories in my elevator pitch that bring our mission and vision to life.”
Kelsi Eccles, Project Manager
The Conservation Fund

“A simple yet effective and engaging format”
Sydney Céspedes, Green for All, Campaign Manager
Dream Corps

“I couldn’t believe how much I was able to learn about public speaking and delivering a pitch in just one hour. Marc really analyzed me quickly as a person and honed in on specific things about my personality that I can highlight in any interview. Will definitely be recommending to my friends!”
Rebecca Charles, Racial Justice Research Coordinator
Columbia University Center on Poverty and Social Policy

“I loved this training session. It was inspiring and energizing beyond my expectations. Marc is great at this and creates a safe and comfortable space for the participants to open up. Great listener.”
Bari Samad, Communications Director
Environmental Health Coalition

“Marc was very well prepared, a friendly instructor, and covered a lot of ground in the one-hour session. Already, I feel better able to prepare a range of formal and informal scenarios. Thank you!”
Megan Curran, Postdoctoral Research Scientist
Columbia University Center on Poverty and Social Policy

“I felt more confident in myself and my pitch after just one hour!”
Linda Anderson Stanley, Senior Manager
Equal Justice Works

“In one hour, I learned more about how to effectively speak in public than in the last 5 years of my life. Marc provides a supportive space which allows you to feel comfortable and his training is practical, useful, and suited to the individuals needs.”
Kelly McHood, Fund Development Director
The Well Community Development Corporation

“This opportunity came at an important time and I appreciate the flexibility that Marc demonstrated in identifying a topic that resonated for me and supporting me in preparing for the conversation.”
Dana Johnson, Communications Manager
WE ACT for Environmental Justice

“I feel I achieved a lot. We finessed a 30 second version and a 2 min version of my speech. I also got a round of ideas of how to apply the same method to other research findings. I wish the session was two hours or that I could have a follow up session. However, even this one hour I feel like I pinned down what was most critical for my career now.”
Mahsa Rouhi, Research Fellow
IISS

“I found the training immediately useful for my work. Marc is engaging and provides incredibly useful feedback. thanks!”
Roshelle Payes, Project Director, Early Childhood & Health
Nemours Childrens Health System

“The training exceeded my expectations. In one hour I learned how to talk about my organization is three different scenarios and feel comfortable doing so. This training left me wanting to meet again and learn more techniques on elevator speechs.”
Patti Policicchio, Content & Event Coordinator
Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition

“Marc was incredibly kind and allowed me to understand how to make my pitch more poignant and relevant to this moment in history. He had done some research on me and my nonprofit’s work, and that was beneficial to using our hour well. I really enjoyed our session and having a third party analysis of my pitch. I highly recommend for other folks in the non-profit world.”
Ariel Fugate, Communications Coordinator
MACED

“I feel I’m better prepared for that time when I run into a lawmaker in an elevator!”
Sulma Guzman, Policy Director
Centro de los Derechos del Migrante

“Learning how to deliver a good speech is very related to my work. As a community organizer I have to talk to many people in order to motivate them to join our movement. Marc first allowed me to give a speech that came natural and then he gave me valuable tips to make it much better. I feel more comfortable now to speak in public with Marc’s advise.”
Miriam Garcia, Community Organizer
Chispa AZ

“A very focused training that will benefit anyone who is trying to sell an idea to others, and isn’t that everyone.”
David Yates, Senior Consultant
UNC – Chapel Hill

“Marc was extremely engaging and helpful in tangible ways. He led me to my own narrative, which is the purpose here. Thank you!”
Kate Seifert, Development Director
The Redford Center

“This training was fun, informative, and very helpful to clarify how we get our message across in a clear and compelling way.”
Julia Appel, Researcher
Tufts University

“This training helps one really think about their work, research or even his/her life’s objective and be able to clearly communicate it. It is a great exercise for someone who may need to transition careers or who may want to rethink their purpose in life.”
Jennifer Roberts, Assistant Professor
JPB/Harvard Fellowship

“It felt inconceivable to prioritize a one-hour elevator pitch training in the midst of a global pandemic, racial justice uprisings, and a collapse of democratic spaces – but it was 100% worth it, and I’ll bring these skills and feedback forward into all the work I do.”
Amanda Kistler, Vice President
Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL)

“Marc gave suggestions that dramatically increased the effectiveness of my pitch – in just one hour. I am so excited to test and hone these strategies in our evergrowing virtual world. And, it was very conversational and fun!”
Kyra Shields, Bright Cities Program Director
Healthy Babies Bright Futures

“In working with Mark, I found a new perspective on my work, and the way I present myself, while finding pride in the areas I excel. Together with Mark we were able to find feeling in our messaging and pull out the importance of the mission of the organization.”
Amber Genet, Vice President and COO
Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition

“Because we’ve been significantly affected by the pandemic, we’re less physically connected than ever before. It’s even more important to find ways not just to communicate, but to make a human connection. I’m really excited to use the skills I’ve learned from Elevator Speech Training to bring a greater effectiveness to what I communicate (especially in zoom meetings), as well as a greater openness and sense of engagement.”
Dominic Caruso, Communications Director
Downtown Akron Partnership

“Given these uncertain times, organizational pivots and shifts are often necessary to stay relevant, open, and news worthy. Marc’s framework is a great guide to help leaders communicate effectively so their message is clear, effective, and evokes the right action. Well done Marc.”
Roshell Rinkins, Director/Grants Administration
John S. and James L. Knight Foundation

“Marc helped me present about my self and my organization in a more confident and organized way.”
Bruna Bouhid, Communications Director
United We Dream

“Marc Fest’s Elevator Speech training is what we all need – especially during this time of transition – to hone a pitch.”
Zerline Hughes Spruill, Managing Director of Communications
Advancement Project National Office

“This training was so helpful! Marc was great at giving very specific and actionable feedback. His advice on how to use emotions and examples to effectively connect with our audience is exceptionally valuable — especially now.”
Evy Pena, Communications and Development Director
Centro de los Derechos del Migrante (CDM)

“The training is a great exercise in distilling the core messages of your organization and identifying how to make those resonate with a variety of audiences, so that you can better represent your organization.”
Sarah Bessell, Deputy Director
Human Trafficking Legal Center

“I’m so glad I did this! Marc helped remind me of the importance of the work I do in the midst of this all-consuming pandemic, and reconnect to my passion and purpose. It was definitely an hour well spent.”
Lara Cushing, Assistant Professor
San Francisco State University

“What makes it valuable is that I am in fundraising and everyday since COVID, we have received a lot of inquiries around the work we do.”
Jordan Brown, Donor Relations Manager
National Domestic Workers Alliance

“Marc Fest really helped me find my voice, it was already there, but it was lacking structure, emotion, and impact. Marc showed me how to craft my elevator speech to be more impactful with a logical flow, personalizing it more, using examples and facts, and by framing the urgency of the work that my non profit does in the context of the current pandemic.”
Rasha Mahmoud, donor relations specialist
MIRA Coalition

“I’ve been feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the changes due to Coronavirus. But I’m so glad that I didn’t reschedule. The training ended up being one of the high points of my day!”
Valerie Newsome Garcia, Assistant Professor
Morehouse School of Medicine

“I have always had a knack for public speaking, but this training got me out of my comfort zone and reinvigorated my creativity for storytelling in a new way that will now be woven into the thread of every communication opportunity I have going forward.”
Melissa Hernandez, Community Liaison
Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness

“Communicating is so crucial in these times and you can’t physically interact with your audience. You have to get your message out right and on point. Marc’s training was key to achieving this goal.”
Leonie Reinicke, Regional Sales Director
SalesForce Germany

“This really helped me clarify what things to include in my elevator speech and how to best hit the highlights.”
Tara Drozdenko, Managing Director
Outrider Foundation

“I participated in the training in the midst of a plethora of daunting challenges caused by the coronavirus pandemic, and am pleased to report that the training was well worth the time.”
Chandra Jackson, Investigator/Epidemiologist
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (JPB EH program)

“Even given all of the anxiety and uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, the training helped me focus on how important my work is.”
Natalia Slavney, Research Assistant
Stimson Center

“Marc provides a very easygoing space to tackle a rather nerve-wracking aspect of public speaking, which allows the experience to breathe and feel positive. I came out with far more confidence going in — a feat!”
Sabira De Piero, Executive Producer
Media Impact Funders

“I found it very helpful to practice my elevator pitch with Marc while working from home during COVID-19 social distancing.”
Elizabeth Threlkeld, South Asia Program Deputy Director and Fellow
Stimson Center

“In the midst of this pandemic chaos, working with Marc was a breath of fresh air.”
Katherine Dickinson, Assistant Professor
Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health

“I am always seeking to sharpen my skill set to be the most effective when advocating, presenting or paneling as possible. This training has given me great tools to use to maximize my spiel.”
Tamika Spellman, Policy and Advocacy Associate
HIPS

“It was important to me to keep my elevator speech training session with Marc during this pandemic, as now more than ever it’s critical to be able to express mine and my organization’s value.”
Sabira De Piero, Executive Producer
Media Impact Funders

“With the coaching, we pivoted to develop a stronger story for our new, virtual house parties that allow us to continue our fund raising.”
Sara Sinaiko, Director of Development
Fair Food Program

“Marc’s Elevator Speech training masterfully assists you with developing succinct and effective delivery of why the work you care about so deeply should be of great importance to others.”
Tony Reames, Assistant Professor
University of Michigan

“The training helped me take the very wonky, technical work that we do and package it in a way that was urgent and motivating. He helped me feel in charge of my talking points which only improves the delivery. Thank you very much for the incredible help.”
Shayna Horwitz, Development & Communications Director
The Human Trafficking Legal Center

“This framework clearly and effectively helps you identify why the work you do matters—and why other people should care.”
Nina Sachdev, Communications Director
Media Impact Funders

“Despite facing the everyday stress of the Coronavirus pandemic, I found Marc’s elevator pitch training to be incredibly useful.”
Jamie Withorne, Research Assistant
James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies

“As I was struggling with stress and lack of concentration amidst the rapidly changing public health situation, the training brought my mental focus back on the purpose of my work. “
Sayuri Romei, Public Policy Fellow
Wilson Center

“Marc provided a supportive space in which I could express my insecurities and offered concrete guidance on how to address them. He gave me clear, concise feedback on my pitch that made me feel MUCH more confident about my ability to be a spokesperson. Thank you!”
Kathleen Richards, Communications Director
Women Cross DMZ

“I know it feels like it’s impossible to prioritize this training in our new reality. But in my humble opinion, it is important now more than ever.”
Roshni Melia, Program Consultant
Media Impact Funders

“Marc helped me to more clearly and concisely convey the most vital aspects of my current professional goal, and how to most effectively solicit support. In an hour, I went from having a rambling discussion of my goals to a compelling 3 minute pitch.”
Annelle Sheline, Research Fellow
Quincy Institute

“I came out of the session incredibly motivated and inspired and even more connected to my story.”
Katja Esson, Filmmaker
RLS Films, LLC

“Even though this is a stressful time, I found the training really energizing, and it helped me think through how to package and communicate my work now and in the future.”
Lilly Adams, Independent Consultant
Nuclear Voices

“Marc expertly identified my strengths and weaknesses in communications and provided concrete ways to improve my pitch. I was amazed at how quickly and visibly I had improved by the second recording. Marc had clearly done his homework and knew the nature of my work even before we began the training, which allowed him to give professionally-relevant advice. I especially appreciated his positive attitude that made the experience enjoyable rather than stressful. Thank you!”
Jessica Lee, Senior Research Fellow, East Asia
Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft

“This was a really good way to massage all the raw material I had (concepts about my project) into a digestible pitch for potential patrons to consider. Marc worked deftly on and off script to help me shape my message.”
Barron Sherer, Principal Artist
Moving Image Alliance

“Elevator Speech training is a powerful tool. It gives you a strong framework to organize and present your key points in a compelling and highly relatable way. The video recordings and real-time coaching provide terrific insights that you can incorporate immediately and with great effect.”
Meredith Hector, HR Director
Knight Foundation

“This session was so valuable. Marc’s feedback was specific, actionable, and easy to apply to future pitches. I really appreciated the opportunity to refine the pitch together, and do take after take until I walked away with an elevator speech I can implement today. Thanks for a great session!”
Dorry Levine, Director of Communications
ReThink Media

“We worked on the storytelling and the power of the message. Marc helped me to identify great examples of success to share with large audiences or in a one on one conversations. I walked away with ideas and a confidence I can use right away.”
Karen Rundlet, Journalism Director
Knight Foundation

“Watching a critiqued playback of my own message and style is an extraordinarily effective way for me to rapidly process feedback and act on it.”
Christopher Thompson, Director
Knight Foundation

“The one to one training session was great to start building up my confidence. Thanks for making me feel comfortable throughout the session.”
Regina Moore, Director of Planning and Development
Miami Light Project, Inc.

“I feel empowered and confident to share my project with a greater focus.”
Portia Dunkley, Founder
Teeny Violini

“The training helped us identify our weaknesses and gave us clear and specific tools to overcome them.”
Roxana Barba, Artist
Barba-Marcotulli

“As an artist, Elevator Speech Training was a great way to practice communication strategies for my work and to prepare me for fundraising my project.”
Lauren Shapiro, Artist
Bakehouse Art Complex

“Marc’s ability to personalize the training and to provide feedback was quite helpful.”
Vaughnetta Barton, Program Officer – External Affairs
Rasmuson Foundation

“It really helped me elevate my pitch to a more personal and strategic level.”
Eneide Geiyer, International Director for Human Resources
Ford Foundation

“Great way for a non-profit board member to structure and refine their convictions and thoughts about their cause to help others quickly understand why a cause is worth supporting. Direct and to the point and worth the time and effort.”
Roger Wu, Board Member
Immigrant Legal Resource Center

“Marc Fest is an excellent coach. His elevator pitch training provides a very efficient and effective way to get leaders to practice their key messages and turn them into compelling pitches for joining their cause.”
Carol Goglia, Senior Director of Marketing & Communications
Communities Foundation of Texas

“The training also felt relaxed –I didn’t feel pressure to get it right — it allowed me to get right to it and not spend much time ‘getting comfortable.’ I felt I had some say over how we used the time so I could get what I needed out of the experience, and perhaps, most importantly, it felt like a judgement free zone.”
Kamilah Duggins, Senior Manager, Talent & Human Resources
Ford Foundation

“The session with Marc was transformational. It can be hard to talk about the work we do all day, every day, because we are so close to it. Marc showed me how to home in on what matters and share it in a way that resonates. He had concrete and spot-on ideas about how to describe what is most important. I appreciated the generosity and warm humor he brought to the coaching, as well as his earnest commitment to helping me improve. It was incredibly helpful!”
Melissa Rodgers, Director of Programs
Immigrant Legal Resource Center

“A unique moment to focus on critical skills to further my work.”
Valerie Zukin, Lead Attorney Coordinator
Justice & Diversity Center of The Bar Association of San Francisco

“Marc was able to identify specific areas where I could improve and shared concrete examples/tactics for addressing the points I was stumbling on.”
Alycia Cheng, Program Manager
AAPI Civic Engagement Fund

“My session with Marc helped me to better understand my current process of conveying information to a live audience. I left feeling inspired to improve my speech writing and other professional communications skills.”
Joseph Jung, Program Assistant
Carnegie Corporation of New York

“The ability to articulate your work and its value has to be worked on. You can’t be sure on your own that you are actually using the strongest arguments or raising the best examples. This type of interactive training one on one rapidly orients you to what is an ongoing process of honing your messages.”
Whit Faulconer, Program Officer, Environment
JPB Foundation

“Marc’s approach to communications training is as sophisticated as it is supportive. He helped me to understand the audience’s mind, and he worked closely with me to reframe key messages for maximum impact.”
Wally Patawaran, Program Officer, Poverty Program
The JPB Foundation

“Telling the personal story—the “why I care about this” story—is so valuable and I appreciate Marc’s assistance with this.”
Vaughnetta J. Barton, Program Officer – External Affairs
Rasmuson Foundation

“I felt comfortable, and supported. Marc’s suggestions were spot on, fun, and I could tell he really cared to make my experience personal to me, not canned or scripted.”
Carly Maready, Special Assistant to the President
The JPB Foundation

“The Elevator Speech training helped me to meld elements of multiple conversations I have about myself into a brief, coherent introductory narrative.”
Mark Harris, Program Officer, Poverty
The JPB Foundation

“Marc listened carefully and provided specific feedback, which I found to be extremely helpful.”
Diane Samuels, Vice President of Talent and Human Resources
Ford Foundation

“I actually had a meeting with a potential partner the same day of the training and it helped me to prepare. The meeting with the corporation went really well!”
Lindolfo Carballo, Director of Workforce Development
CASA de Maryland

“The training provided by Marc was exceptional in the way that it not only focuses on the technical aspects of speech but also the human element of how to impact and make the audience feel.”
Luis Aguilar, Virginia State Director
CASA

“At first I cringed at the idea of watching a recording of myself giving my elevator speech! But it turned out so helpful to watch and discuss with my trainer who gave me individualized, valuable feedback and tools for improvement.”
Moira Duvernay, Deputy Director
Center for Gender & Refugee Studies

“I would recommend Marc’s training to anyone who deals with the public. He has an ability to put you at ease and open up about the subject at hand. More importantly, he is able to guide you to sift through the information you are trying to convey and synthesize it in a meaningful and impactful way.”
Steve Love, Director of Development
Center for Gender & Refugee Studies

“Marc is a great coach! I learned a lot and definitely walked away with a more impactful elevator speech.”
Nadia Tonova, Director
Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services

“This was a quick, simple training. If you are a community organizer, this is a great exercise to learn to advocate for our projects!”
Xiomara Corpeno, Transborder Migrant Justice Fellow
Groundswell Fund

“Marc was extremely easy to communicate with: warm, encouraging, and specific in his advice and feedback. I found the training to build my confidence and give me a lot of useful ideas moving forward. I recommend his services to people in any field.”
Elsie Kagan, Artist

“This is a valuable opportunity to test messages and to get some supportive and objective real-time coaching on impactful communications.”
Todd Shenk, Senior Program Officer
Rasmuson Foundation

“This training has made me much more confident about talking to people about my work in a way that is compelling, natural, and people-centered. It gave me skills that I will be able to apply to any situation, as well as tools to improve how I practice future pitches on my own.”
Noelle Pourrat, Program Analyst
Carnegie Corporation of New York

“Whether a frequent public speaker or occasional one, elevator speech training is an effective tool for anyone who wants to hone their skill-set for reaching their audience.”
Lora Saalman, Associate Senior Fellow
Stockholm International Peace Research Institute

“It’s a brief but extremely useful session that will help you craft or improve your message. Very professional and friendly.”
Pavel Podvig, Senior Researcher, Weapons of Mass Destruction and Other Strategic Weapons
United Nations

“I appreciated Marc’s research before the session that made the training very personalized, and his ability to be flexible. I walked away with a strong sense of where I can improve and how to do so.”
Michelle Dover, Director of Programs
Ploughshares

“The framework that Marc provided was very helpful.Marc did a phenomenal job in helping me refine my pitch, and gave me multiple opportunities to test it out. Recording the sessions, watching it back together, and listening to the feedback from each section was also invaluable.”
Sara Kutchesfahani, Senior Policy Analyst
NSquare

“I wish I could have had the training earlier.”
Kyle Kutuchief, Program Director, Akron
Knight Foundation

“The experience has been life changing, to be honest.”
Michelle Andonian, Artist, Detroit
Knight Arts winner

“I have been struggling on trying to come up with succinct way to deliver a message about my books to the public and without this session I would never have succeeded.”
Patricia Mull, Author
Miami