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Testimonials from JPB grantees

“Marc’s positivity was energizing. I was impressed that Marc made sure to get his helpful pointers across while also making time for questions and providing thoughtful answers. I look forward to incorporating the lessons and takeaways into my efforts and to reaping the benefits of time well spent.”

Jolie Krasinski • Regional Director of Fundraising, Midwest • The Conservation Fund

“This Elevator Pitch training was personalized, and Marc was so helpful so I could move away from good ideas in theory to a great pitch in practice. I appreciate the bit of prep-work beforehand to make it directly relevant to my work, appreciated Marc’s questions and feedback, and the doc where notes were taken and shared for future reference. Definitely working on this and using these tactics already!”

Stephanie Whyte • Resilience Program Manager • National Recreation and Park Association

“I appreciated how Marc pushed me to get even more specific, yet more succinct and helped emphasis the power of detailed, but clear language. I’m confident it will translate to more inspired donors!”

David Moren • Senior Major Gifts Officer • Center for Reproductive Rights

“Marc helped me quickly and easily see how I can better communicate!”

Sarah Allsbrooks • Director of Development • re:power Fund

“I appreciate how Marc listened to me, gave feedback regarding my rapport and character, and was able to constructively criticize in a soft and beneficial way, regarding how I can improve my confidence.”

Celisia Rouson-Smith • Director • Green & Healthy Homes Initiative

“Marc really understood some of the struggles I was having with my approach and knew exactly how to help me communicate more effectively with concrete examples. It’s going to be a great shift in my approach and I could already feel that it’ll be a positive outcome.”

Christian Alvarado • Manager of Peer Learning • Children & Nature Network

“In today’s fast-paced world, effective communication is key to helping any organization stand out and attract potential partners. Marc guided me in cutting through the jargon and honing in on how to make a lasting impression.”

Charissa Hipp • Marketing and Engagement Manager • National Recreation and Park Association

“It was overall great, Marc did an exceptional job and did research in advance, I was very impressed. It really informed the training and optimized our time.”

Yunie Mojica • Programming and Partnerships Manager, SummerStage & Charlie Parker Jazz Festival • City Parks Foundation

“Marc is a joy to work with! He has a masterful command of communications and messaging, but he displays it with ease and humility. His guidance is already making me more confident and effective in my oral communication.”

Jacob Kaufman-Waldron • Deputy Director of Media Relations • Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

“The training helped me get to what was most essential in communicating my work. Marc did a great job at listening and talk me through and to “ah-hah” moments. I appreciate our time together and learned a lot.”

Sukhdip Purewal Boparai • Research Program Director • Human Impact Partners

“As someone with a great amount of experience in organizing, I found the tools and the tips that Marc provides very helpful in communicating more effectively between staff, members, partners, and funders. His suggestions were spot-on, and will improve my communication skills. If you can, check out the “message house” resource, especially if you work with elected officials, it’s brilliant!”

Chad Radock • Associate Organizing Director • Local Progress

“Marc came prepared for the session, knowing about my work and the work of our organization, to tailor our work session. Communicating effectively and memorably is a critical part of government relations, and Marc provided tools and ideas to improve my approach to messaging and interpersonal relations.”

David Beard • Director of Policy & Government Affairs • Children & Nature Network

“Marc is really good at taking abstract concepts and making them feel concrete and simple.”

Evan Bryant • Senior Accountant • Green & Healthy Homes Initiative

“Marc’s a true pro – he’s able to give feedback in a way that makes you feel like a partner in this journey and has both a warm and directed approach – a tough combination to achieve, especially in a remote setting! I highly recommend signing up for this session and I am so grateful to JPB Foundation for making this possible for staff at Immigrant Justice Corps!”

Mirjam Grunenfelder-Reig • Development Director • Immigrant Justice Corps

“Marc provided direct, easy to implement feedback and coaching that I will be able to build off of moving forward in my career.”

Billy Koontz • Chief Financial Officer • Alliance for Youth Organizing

“We all struggle to articulate the problem we are solving and how our organizations are helping make the world a better place. Marc Fest helped me hone my skills to tell my organization’s story in a simple but effective way and provided a toolkit for telling future stories in different settings. Marc is engaging and provides space for feedback.”

Jojo Annobil • Chief Executive Officer • Immigrant Justice Corps

“If you’re aiming to transform the way you present, whether it’s delivering data at work or pitching your project to a potential funder, Marc is the expert who can get you in the right mindset for success. His guidance is particularly invaluable in today’s world, where clear, confident communication is more critical than ever!”

Julian Liser • Institutional Partnerships Officer • GRID Alternatives

“Most of the time I get one chance to make my case to people, and thanks to Marc I feel confident that I’m upping my odds of being successful.”

Abby Cocke • Community Engagement Organizer • Green & Healthy Homes Initiative

“Marc immediately made me comfortable and made the rest of the training easy. Definitely a worthwhile training!

Communicating effectively matters more than ever because we live in a fast paced world. We run a direct service program and get a bulk of our referrals through outreach events. This typically means we have about 10-30 seconds at most with each person on a busy day. We need to be short and sweet with our pitches, but also need our pitches to get the point across without coming off as a salesperson (we offer a free program).

Thank you!”

Bryan Evans • Program Manager • Green & Healthy Homes Initiative

“In the digital age, and especially as a remote worker, it can be easy to lose yourself in a blur of Zoom calls, emails, and screen time. Marc’s training provides an engaging, easy-to-understand method for breaking through that fog to meaningfully connect with others about the work that matters most to you. Thanks Marc!”

Carrick Moon • Partnerships Associate • Protect Democracy

“Marc was very patient as I had computer issues! It was a great training.”

Sharon Hyde • TN Program Manager • Green & Healthy Homes Initiative

“Marc’s training was the most useful hour I’ve spent in a professional setting, and his approach to communication has already informed the way I talk about and raise funds for a program where it is increasingly necessary to stand out among many other worthy causes.”

Billy Fidler • Campaign Director, NYC Green Fund • City Parks Foundation

“Marc was very helpful in thinking out loud and in helping to brainstorm better daily habits to grow revenue and maximize productivity. It was reaffirming the fact that communicating effectively matters and can drive results.”

Danielle Oviedo • Major Gift Officer • Center for Reproductive Rights

“Persuasive pitches are the most important part of fundraising. Marc not only gave me direct guidance on how to make the most effective argument for my cause, but also walked me through the process of developing my own unique methods for more impactful communication that I can use moving forward.”

Ora Rosenbaum • Director of Institutional Giving • Indivisible

“Training with Marc was an encouraging and supportive experience that left me energized with new ideas about how to communicate important ideas to people in my life – inside and outside of a work environment. In our modern world, which runs on big ideas communicated quickly, this is an invaluable learning opportunity for anyone looking to make a mark in their field.”

Zachary Hendrickson • Grants & Resources Manager • City Parks Foundation (Partnerships for Parks)

“Marc was able to penetrate to the core of my work and help me tap into its meaning so we can garner more support for our mission.”

Alys Cohen • Senior Attorney (I direct our federal housing policy advocacy) • National Consumer Law Center

“Marc does a good job of listening and helping you reframe what you want to say in a compelling way.”

Kristin Powell • Principal • Black Futures Lab

“Marc was very friendly and engaged. He’s quick on his feet to take your experiences and what you want out of the training and nimbly blend them into his training. As the amount of noise and information bombarding us everyday continues to increase, the attention we can provide someone or something is rapidly shrinking. That’s why it’s so important to be able to sharpen our ability to communicate our message quickly and clearly, and stand out from the rest.”

Evan Feeney • Deputy Senior Campaign Director • Color Of Change

“Marc was great and engaged the entire call. I truly believe having a great elevator speech will help me as I progress in my work. I can remember being nervous when speaking about my work because I did not have a good flow in explaining what I was doing, having gone through the hour with Marc has provided me a way to grow my confidence when speaking about my work.”

Phillip Howard • Program Manager • The Conservation Fund

“Marc shared tips that help connect to the audience and to the importance of my message.”

Windy Beck • Researcher – Water Justice and Energy Justice Projects • Deep South Center for Environmental Justice

“As a leader in a racial justice organization it is critical to be able to share our work succinctly. In only an hour Marc provided actionable advice to increase my effectiveness whether I am pitching work for funding or partnerships.”

Portia Allen-Kyle • Chief of Staff • Color Of Change

“Marc was kind and willing to help me develop a technique that made me feel confident about disclosing some pretty personal experiences to help improve my advocacy efforts. I appreciate his candor and ability to handle these topics in a sensitive and fun way. Thanks so much for this opportunity!”

Anna Anderson • Staff Attorney • NCLC

“In today’s fast-paced world, it’s crucial to be able to effectively cut through the noise and deliver your message straight to the point. Marc is an exceptional trainer. You can tell he takes care to understand each individual’s unique challenges and strengths. He was able to quickly pinpoint the areas I was struggling with and provided me with personalized tips and strategies to improve my delivery. I left feeling more confident in my ability to deliver my message. I am truly grateful and recommend Marc to anyone who wants to improve their communication skills.”

Basilisa Alonso

“Marc makes it very easy to build the right words around the message and feeling you want to communicate. He focuses on communicating what matters so you and your listener both leave the interaction feeling enriched by the conversation.”

Joie Moré • CFO • U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities

“Marc’s elevator speech training was a really insightful experience. He taught me many of the core aspects of what it means to have a successful and pristine elevator pitch, the importance of tone and inflection, and most importantly, having the key nuggets of information on hand to capture any audience. This was a very useful training that I will use throughout my career.”

Erica Mohan • Manager of Sponsored Projects • The Miami Foundation

“Marc taught me, in two hours, a whole new way of communicating from which I and my listeners will forever benefit.”

Rose Harvey • Executive Director & Founder • New City Parks

“In a world where distractions and multiple media messages abound, Marc’s training showed me how to make what I say personally valuable to my audience.”

laura garner • Development Director • US Endowment for Forestry and Communities

“I like how personalized the training was. Marc and I talked about our love of dogs in the beginning, so I knew the training was going to be great, and I was not disappointed. I was impressed with the amount of prep work he did. That enabled us to go through several real-life scenarios in a short time.”

Carolyn Bobb • Vice President of Communications • Alliance for Justice

“Marc is amazing at picking small details from what I shared and cultivating concrete learning examples. He is very good at what he does, making learning simple and clear.”

Amy Ciciora • Director of Individual Giving • Alliance for Justice

“I appreciated his insight and logic on thinking of each aspect of our conversation. Communication is key to all relationships to assist in understanding different points of view.”

Shelby Zahn • Office Manager • SAGE Development Authority

“Marc was super nice and really helped me see a better way to communicate.”

Earth Hadjo • Marketing Manager • SAGE Development

“An empathetic, sharp listener with practical ideas and feedback to offer within the first 10 minutes of our session! He helped me figure out how to deliver more substance without having to say more words.”

Jackson Darling-Palacios • Senior Partner, Head of Progressive Sector and Partnerships • The Management Center

“Marc packs a lot in his session — from technical tweaks to ensure that the focus is on your message to helping you make your work come alive in the mind of your audience. Marc’s focus on the cognitive underpinnings of credibility and connection is especially valuable at a time when trust is fragile and attention is short.”

LoriJeane Moody • Managing Director • New City Parks

“Marc had done his homework before we talked and was able to jump right in with insights that made our time together really valuable. His approach of highlighting successes by using detailed, vivid examples is a terrific way to engage people. .”

Tom Salyers • Director of Communications • Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP)

“Marc helped me think through how I can better communicate and show up from an authentic place. I appreciated his empathetic style of coaching.
He also advised me on my strengths (encouraging me to use my softness as a strength) and didn’t force suggestions that would feel out of character/outside my personality!”

Jessica Nguyen • Senior Program Associate • Racial Equity in Journalism Fund, Borealis Philanthropy

“Marc’s has a great way of guiding you through the training. I like that he gives you time to think about what you want to say, but also provides helpful nudges along the way to help you formulate a great elevator speech. As someone who fundraises for a living, the way I talk to potential funders MATTERS!”

Jose Socarras Ramos • Development Associate • Mountain Association

“Marc is effective and here’s why; he practices what he preaches. He was able to create a rapport and a vulnerability with me during my session. He gave me practical, insightful feedback and tips on how to build trust, be vulnerable in a conversation, and prepare for meetings. I had several “AHA” moments during our session. Marc also gave me great tips on connecting and maintaining engagement with my audience during conferences and speaking engagements. When it all comes down to it, practical interpersonal and communication skills are needed more than ever to help build face-to-face connections.”

Ashley McBride • Director of Policy • Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA)

“This training was both highly efficient and highly impactful. I came away with great ideas for how to make my pitches more succinct and persuasive.”

Stephanie Toti • Senior Counsel & Project Director • Lawyering Project

“Marc was amazing at helping me be very direct with my communication.”

John Hollow Horn • Project Coordinator • SAGE Development Authority

“Communicating effectively matters more than ever because that’s how people are connected to the resources and services we provide. This is particularly more impactful to clients who may not have taken the next step without interpersonal connection through warm and effective verbal communication. In just one short hour, Marc gave me very deep and insightful takeaways that I could apply both in my personal and professional life.”

Hope Broecker • Energy Associate • Mountain Association

“Marc was great to work with as someone who had already had a good amount of speech training; training with him put the proverbial cherry on top.”

Megan Rivera • Senior Policy Analyst • Georgetown Center on Poverty and Inequality

“I’ve worked in nonprofit fundraising for most of my career. It was refreshing to see opportunities for improvement in my communication skills. I feel like I leveled up my communication skills after one meeting with Marc.”

Jonathan Peebles • Development Manager • Local Progress

“I really enjoy and appreciate working with Marc. In the one hour, I learned so much and have a lot more to work with as I continued to craft my elevator pitch for various events. Communicating effectively is crucial in allowing people to support the work we do. Many thanks, Marc!!!”

Billy Taing • Co- Director • Asian Pacific Islander Reentry and Inclusion through Support and Empowerment (API RISE)

“I appreciate that Marc took time to get to know about me and helped me start on a better ground, before jumping into more technical part of the training.”

Mel Lee • Executive Director • Woori Center

“The ability to communicate succinctly with memorable language is more effective. Marc helped me to focus the message.”

Debbie Chen • Civic Engagement Programs Director • OCA-Greater Houston

“Working in a complex energy justice role, I always find it challenging to communicate about my work and why it’s important. Marc provided concrete strategies to overcome this obstacle. Useful for talking about your work casually, in professional settings, and for future interviews.”

Grace Parker • Research Associate • Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance

“Marc and his elevator speech training are more than a training on how to give an elevator speech. Marc asks pointed questions that helped me discover areas where I excel, that I had not fully considered in the past.”

Kayla Morin • Program Manager • Yale School of the Environment

“Marc has been very attentive to my specific needs for the elevator speech training. He had lots of useful advice, tips, and resources that make me feel more calm and confident about my future job interviews.”

Meg Daupan • Program Manager • Yale University

“Elevator pitches are an underestimated skill that will take anywhere. Marc’s process was great and relevant. I encourage people to take advantage when possible.”

Justin Brightharp • Senior Program Manager • Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance

“I’m really impressed that in such a short amount of time I was able to learn strategies I can immediately put into action to approve my approach. I also really appreciated how easy it was to talk to Marc and his clear passion for wanting to support people to do their best. In my area of work on immigration policy, being a clear and compelling communicator is critical to getting policy wins.”

Wendy Cervantes • Director, Immigration • Center for Law and Social Policy

“Marc helps me understand my “why” and the work that I do better which will help me with creating a minute speech pitch.”

Sutisha Simluang • Development Manager • National Domestic Workers Alliance

“Marc maintained an engaging and entertaining energy through out the training and was a pleasure to work with, after only a hour of training I feel far more comfortable with my ability to discuss my organization’s work in an effective manner.”

Cameron Mott • Commercial Energy Associate • Mountain Association

“Marc helped me think differently about some of our toughest communications challenges.”

Anna Wadia • Executive Director • Care for All with Respect and Equity (CARE) Fund

“His training serves as a much-needed reminder that you have meaningful contributions to offer to peers in your field of work, and shows you how to convey that value. Marc himself was great– kind and optimistic, and great at leveraging the trainee’s strengths.”

Nicole Pouy • Policy Associate • Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI)

“Marc is an attentive listener and quick to understand how to best cater the training to your specific scenarios. Very useful training!”

Isabela Antonio • Policy and External Affairs Associate • Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future

“Marc’s training was very valuable to me as a policy professional. It’s easy for me to get bogged down in the details of my policy work, but Marc helped me learn how to communicate about the work in a way that will help others visualize what I’m trying to do and will encourage them to implement our recommendations.”

Jenna Hampton • Policy and Program Manager • Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future (SAHF)

“Marc is very generous with his time and invested in helping you tell the best story possible. I encourage everyone to take the elevator speech training!”

Michelle Munjanattu • Development Manager • New American Leaders

“Having hosted and participated in countless communications trainings over the last 15 years, I can confidently say that Marc is one of the most skilled communicators I have had the privilege of working with. He is able to quickly find each person’s strengths and areas for growth, creating easily understood and applied lessons that ensure your message breaks through the ever-evolving media and communications environments.”

Megan Cagle • Senior Director of Communications and Research • New American Leaders

“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 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

“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

“Marc Fest’s Elevator Speech Training is one of the most important training your employees can take advantage of. After attending, my outreach to getting individuals involved in our pro bono opportunities has been 5X better. With more students and lawyer leaders involved, we can reach a wider group of our local communities.”

Robert Williams • Associate Director of Chapters • American Constitution Society

“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

“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

“A powerful session that will amplify your communication overall.”

Tennille Dowers • Manager of Youth Development & Education • Friends of the High Line

“Marc and I worked closely together over multiple sessions to zero in on how to tell the story of our new organization succinctly. He took time to think alongside me and put a lot of effort into understanding my organization’s vision. A bonus– I had an unexpected podcast recording and he helped me think through how to use my newfound tools in the interview.”

Johanna Bozuwa • Executive Director • Climate and Community Project, a project of the Tides Center

“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

“One hour of communications training with Marc Fest at Elevator Speech Training is more useful than hundreds of hours with other trainers. I was able to immediately put to work the strategies and tips he taught me.”

Heidi Binko • Co-Founder & Executive Director • Just Transition Fund

“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 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 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 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

“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

“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.

“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

“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

“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

“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

“This felt like magic and boosted my confidence”

LaTysa Flowers-Jackson • Community Support Services JEDI Director • YMCA of San Diego County

“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

“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

“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

“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

“I found the training to be helpful to learning about selling both myself and the work that I do, and what I would say if I had 30 seconds to make an impression.”

Faith Pensinger • Assistant Director of Chapters • American Constitution Society

“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

“Marc helped me refine my presentation and communication skills when presenting myself, my role, and my organization with a focus on clarity, conciseness, and relevance.”

Andriana Adamou • Donor Organizing Officer • Youth Engagement Fund

“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

“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

“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

“One of the most valuable ways to invest in and build the capacity of busy and overwhelmed nonprofit leaders is by making training with Marc available. In just two hours, he provided tools and insights that helped me become even more focused and effective. “

Jane Norman • Chief of Staff • Ballot Initiative Strategy Center

“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

“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

“Marc walked with me through real-world scenarios from my work life, offering constructive feedback to help me be more personable and relatable. I still think about our role play scenarios whenever I write a critical email.”

Jimmy Owsley • Business Support Specialist • Mountain Association

“The best 60 minutes I have ever spent on professional-skills development.”

Karen Florini • VP – Programs • Climate Central

“Marc provided me with concrete next steps and what I needed to focus on in an elevator speech. Working with him helps improve the way I formulate and communicate ideas with funders!”

Stephanie Kalele • Development Manager for Movement Building • NDWA

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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 helped me get to the point in my communication. He’s quick on his feet and kicked up my pace as well, modeling key principles, time-saving use of AI for editing, and strategic anticipation of what an audience cares about. An hour of Elevator Speech Training is illuminating and worthwhile.”

Priya Cook • Director, Green Schoolyards for Healthy Communities • Children & Nature Network

“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

“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

“I highly recommend Marc’s Elevator Speech Training! Working with Marc increased my confidence and ability to communicate my work and values effectively.”

Rachel Hyatt • Fund Operations Manager • JustFund

“Mark is a master at getting you to craft a compelling and powerful elevator speech!”

Dina Burstein • Project Director • Tufts Medical Center

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“Best two hours of training I could ask for.”

Peter Stangel • COO • US Endowment

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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 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 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

“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

“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 Fest provided a great, efficient training with personality, genuine interest and background preparation.”

Ian Leahy • Vice President of Urban Forestry • American Forests

“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

“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 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 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 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 is a Swiss army knife for improving presentation of one’s mission / position”

Katie Fallon • Senior Policy Program Manager, Housing Matters Initiative • Urban Institute

“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

“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

“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 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

“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

“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 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

“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

“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 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 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.

“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 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

“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

“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

“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

“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)

“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

“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

“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 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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“It was quite amazing that we achieved what we did in an hour.”

Kiryn Hoffman • Chief Advancement Officer • New York Hall of Science

“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

“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 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

“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

“The man has no fear, and it was inspiring.”

Rod Judd • Director of Membership + Industry Engagement • PeopleForBikes

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“Please do yourself a favor and learn about Marc’s “secret sauce.” It will change your life.”

Alberto Rodríguez • Board Member • OneAmerica

“If you want to help non-profit organizations build capacity, tell compelling stories, and stay competitive, this is the training they need.”

Natasha Campbell • National Director HBCU Clean Energy

“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

“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 benefits of the training to me… better explain in less time by hitting key points.”

Rhonda Thompson • Executive Assistant • Partnership for Southern Equity

“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

“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

“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)

“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

“The personalized training allowed for a direct approach to focus on key areas for maximum effectiveness.”

Kamilah Wallen • Grants Administration Manager • Miami Foundation

“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 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

“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)

“Marc’s training was like hitting a re-start button on our usual framing.”

Gladys Limon • Executive Director • California Environmental Justice Alliance (CEJA)

“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 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)

“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

“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 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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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)

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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 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

“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

“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

“Elevator Speech Training has been one of our most popular capacity offerings to date.”

Dana Bourland • SVP Environment and Strategic Initiatives • The JPB Foundation

“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

“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

“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 –

“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

“I was super impressed by how much training/learning could be done in one hour!”

Anne Griffith • Senior Director, National Initiatives • Enterprise Community Partners

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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 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

“Marc’s training was super helpful; His framework will now be a go-to resource!”

April Hewko • Program Manager • Equal Justice Works

“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

“I felt more confident in myself and my pitch after just one hour!”

Linda Anderson Stanley • Senior Manager • Equal Justice Works

“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 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.
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Gabriel Jones • Senior Associates • Arabella Advisors

“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

“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

“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

“I thought I was a good quick pitch but Marc made me better.”

Robert Hammond • Executive Director • The High Line

“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 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

“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

“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

“Marc’s Elevator Speech Training was, quite simply, transformational. “

Heidi Binko • Executive Director & Co-founder • Just Transition Fund

“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

“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

“Elevator Speech Training is truly exceptional.”

Anne Evens • CEO • Elevate Energy

“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

“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

“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

“I highly recommend this training.”

Jojo Annobil • Executive Director • Immigrant Justice Corps

“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

“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 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

“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

“If only all my one-hour meetings were so productive!”

Priya Jayachandran • CEO • National Housing Trust

“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

“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

“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 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)

“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

“Grantees consistently give this training high marks and wish they had access to it sooner.”

Dana Bourland • Vice President, Environment • JPB Foundation

“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

“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

“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