Meet Michael
Experienced
Michael is an internationally acclaimed and award-winning expert on youth development, education, recreation, and leadership. He’s presented on six of the seven continents and in all 50 states of the U.S.
He wrote and presented three EMMY® award-winning television programs on developing great children that have been broadcast on PBS stations throughout the U.S. Michael has written six best-selling books on leading and training adults to work with young people.
He is a frequent national and state keynoter and professional development speaker for hundreds of youth organizations, schools, early childhood, recreation programs, out-of-school, and other groups serving young people.
Michael served on the national board of directors of the American Camp Association and has received two national awards for his work training the leadership and staff of programs throughout the world.
“It’s not enough that people hear a presentation and think it was ‘great.’ I believe the only real test is whether tomorrow they actually use what they’ve learned to reach great success.”
— Michael Brandwein
Original & Practical
You don’t want people saying, “I’ve heard this before.” Michael is best known for presenting his own material. All of the tools and techniques Michael teaches were developed from his decades of frontline work with young people and the adults who work with them, in and out of schools, in summer programs, and in almost every other setting. “I’m like musicians who perform music they wrote themselves—only I don’t sing or play, which makes everyone grateful.”
“Like you, I’ve sat listening to presentations. Some speakers tell us what we should do. That’s not my focus. I want to know how to get it done.”
— Michael Brandwein
Expert
For his work as a communication expert and presenter, Michael received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Illinois Department of Communication.
His B.A. in Communication is from the University of Illinois where he graduated summa cum laude as a Bronze Table Scholar, the highest academic distinction awarded by the University.
Michael’s Juris Doctor degree is from the University of Chicago.
Michael and his wife Donna have been married for over 35 years. Donna works as a nationally certified ASL sign language interpreter. They have two adult sons. Dave is a touring drummer and studio musician. Benjamin is a teacher for special needs students in a Chicago public school.
“When someone says, ‘You know, if I get one good idea from the session, I feel it’s worthwhile.’ —I think: One? Talk about a low bar.”
— Michael Brandwein
Creative
You want really smart material, but you also want presentations to be fun and exciting, right? Michael’s entertaining, innovative approaches to speaking are supported by his experience as a graduate of the famed Second City Improv Theater School in Chicago.
Michael’s been a professional magician for decades.
He wrote and hosted a live production for HBO with the Muppets in cooperation with the American Library Association to encourage young people to read.
He wrote and performed for two years on a weekly, Emmy® award-winning educational TV show for CBS-TV in Chicago.