About

His clients have included Vice President Joe Biden, Governor Tim Walz, nearly a dozen U.S. Senators, candidates and campaigns across the country, CEOs of major corporations, executives at advocacy and trade organizations, nationally-recognized thought leaders, best-selling authors, and private citizens.

Speechwriting

A great speech isn’t just well-written. It reflects a deep understanding of your strategic goals. It breaks down complicated subjects to make them not just comprehensible but engaging to a broad audience. It makes a real argument that persuades, inspires, and motivates people to action.  Most of all, it sounds like nobody but you.

I’ve worked with dozens of public servants and private citizens to craft compelling speeches for a wide variety of audiences. When we work together, I won’t just hand you a script and wish you luck. I’ll be your partner every step of the way, from message development to editing and rehearsal—and I don’t charge by the hour. My work isn’t done until you’re ready to take the stage with a great speech in hand and confidence you never thought possible.

Content Development

Op-eds and open letters. Emails and social media posts. Newsletters and blog posts. Fundraising materials and internal communications. For every great idea, every compelling message, there are myriad ways to communicate it to a wide variety of audiences. But few organizations have the bandwidth to take advantage of all these opportunities. 

Worse, many fail to align this work with their broader strategic plan. It’s not enough to give your principal the right talking points—whenever your organization speaks, in whatever form it speaks, it must be on-message. Whether it’s preparing a brand audit of your external communications or developing a comprehensive portfolio of content for your next big launch, I can help.

Workshops & trainings

You and your team can become better, more persuasive, more confident writers—and speakers—over the course of a single afternoon. Whether it’s delivery training for principals or writing workshops for staff, I can help your organization develop more effective communicators.   

I’ve offered practical, easy-to-use tips in widely-attended workshops at South by Southwest, and I’ve delved deep into the theory and practice of speechwriting as an Adjunct Member of the faculty at George Washington University’s School of Media and Public Affairs. When it comes to this work, one size definitely does not fit all, so contact me to discuss building a workshop or training session specifically for your organization.

GHOSTWRITING

Somewhere on your hard drive or in your desk drawer is an idea for your first (or next) book. But if you want to bring that idea to the page, to a publisher, and eventually to the public, you must travel a long and difficult road. Why not hire a guide who’s been there before? 

I can help you organize your ideas into a workable structure, craft a proposal that will catch the eye of agents and publishers, plan and conduct interviews and research, and ultimately develop a polished full-length manuscript you’ll be proud to put your name on. Ghostwriting is all about partnership—get in touch, and let’s see if we make for a great team.

crisis communications

When you find yourself in the midst of a public relations crisis, the future of your business, your campaign, or just your reputation can hinge on a few well-chosen words. This is when the unprepared make mistakes. They respond impulsively, not strategically. They offer apologies that satisfy no one and only make a bad situation worse. They try to set the record straight but only end up raising more questions than they answer.

In today’s media environment, the spotlight burns hotter and brighter than ever before. And those who find themselves in its glare only get one chance to say the right thing so they can get past the crisis and back to business. That’s where I come in: When something goes wrong, I can help you find the words to set it right.

HUMOR

Sitting on a shelf in my office are a dusty set of books full of “Jokes for Public Speakers.” They’re fun collectors’ items—but they won’t help you deliver a toast, perform at a roast, or prove that you have any sense of humor whatsoever. Have you heard the one about priest and the rabbi? So has your audience, way too many times.

The truth is, being funny isn’t about coming up with (or plagiarizing) a list of jokes. It’s about the words you choose, the way you structure your sentences, and always remembering the Comedy Rule of Three. It’s about……timing.  Most of all, it’s about letting your guard down just enough to surprise your audience by proving yourself to be human. Sure, I can write you some (non-plagiarized) jokes—but that’s just the start of helping you deliver remarks that get laughs.