Comments From Some of Michael's Clients
The following are just a few brief examples of comments from clients.
Youth Health Care
“Wonderful—one of the highlights of the national conference.”
National Association for Music Therapy
“Your inspiring keynote was without a doubt the highlight of our annual state conference! All of us could have listened to you many more hours. We felt motivated and excited to carry on our work with children in medical settings. You touched our hearts!”
Florida Association of Child Life Professionals
“Mr. Brandwein was the best keynoter of the all the keynoters—and all were good. Clear, focused, excellent points, and boundless energy.
“How refreshing to have a speaker who has original thoughts, ideas, insights, and doesn’t rely on tired old clichés of others. — A huge success.”
SASH, Statewide Advocacy for School Health
Schools
“Comments included: ‘I’ve been to entire conferences and not received as much useable information in three days as I did in these three hours.’ • “Energizing! Informative! Pragmatic! The ideas presented and modeled were superb! This workshop will make a critical, significant difference in my practice. Michael is one of the most effective presenters (models) I have heard (experienced!) in a decade!’"
National Staff Development Council
[Please click here for more NSDC comments.]
“Participants said: ‘5 Stars: Best presentation I've ever seen --- can't wait to get into my classroom to use these techniques!’ • ‘The most practical workshop I've attended in my 25 years of going to conferences.’ • ‘Gave me more practical things and ideas to use in one hour than I've sometimes received in a SEMESTER class. A breath of
fresh air!’”
ASCD, Association for Supervision & Curriculum Development
[Please click here for more ASCD comments.]
“(As Superintendent), I would like to thank you for your inspiring, informative and life influencing presentation to our staff. The feedback I have received regarding your engaging presentation has been incredibly positive. Already in our schools, I have seen and heard staff of all levels using your strategies that reflect thinking, that acknowledge mistakes in ways that neither diminish nor demean, and that express positive thinking. You have an extraordinary ability to influence individuals in ways that make schools and the world a much better place.”
Channahon School District 17 (IL)
“BRAVO!! on your two outstanding presentations at North High School. It was so interesting to see what you said about motivation to staff in the morning session and then watch you ‘walk the talk’ in the afternoon with our student leaders. You are an exemplary presenter, and our three schools have certainly gained from your presentations. Thank you!”
Evansville North High School (IN)
“Thank you for all you gave to our faculty and staff Monday. I am still receiving positive comments from both elementary and secondary people regarding both your keynote and workshops. You were a breath of fresh air, Michael and I am happy to tell you that people have come to me and other administrators to let us know that they have been using your suggestions not only in the class room but at home as well and were experiences success. I even had a veteran administrator try one of your suggestions and positive and supportive on his 26 year old son and he had very positive results. You definitely left a lasting impression.”
Spackenkill School District (NY)
“Excellent presentation: it was apparent to the entire administrative staff of the Green Bay Area Public School District that your expertise in human resource needs was tailored to address the unique needs of our district. The overwhelmingly appreciative response from the administrators serves you well and is certain to result in future engagements with you.”
Green Bay Area Public Schools (WI)
“Thank you! The faculty workshop was a tremendous success. We all appreciated your astuteness, your talents, and your enthusiasm. You managed to pack a great deal of material into the day without losing us for a minute. What energy you put into everything you do! Thank you indeed for getting us off to a rip-roaring start to the school year.”
Tabor Academy (MA)
“Thank you for your tremendous contribution to this event. Your keynote address and workshop were mentioned as convention highlights by many participants on their evaluations. L.A.S.E.R.B.EA.M. in particular was a good session for teachers who must negotiate with behavior problems daily. I agree with you that stressing the positive side of managing children’s behaviors was more appealing and refreshing to the teachers. Your system was both practical and positive.”
Ohio Federation, The Council for Exceptional Children
“One student said, ‘His workshop contained so much information that I went home and wrote for an hour. I did not want to forget any of the techniques that he explained.’ When I asked students what they thought of the presentation, they used adjectives such as: incredible, worthwhile, hilarious, informative, practical, and enjoyable. The dean of the School of Education told me he has heard many positive comments from students and faculty. Future teachers need specific techniques. Because you present methods of teaching in an enjoyable manner, people not only listen to them, but also remember them. I think that your philosophy will become part of many future teachers’ styles. I look forward to your return.”
Pi Lambda Theta National Honor & Professional Association in Education, University of Kansas
Parks & Recreation
At the NRPA national conference, out of over 150 different sessions over a 4 day period, two of the top three most highly rated sessions were the two presented by Michael Brandwein.
National Recreation and Park Association
“The response to your LASERBEAM and Communications sessions has been just short of ecstatic. In each, participants thought you covered some new and interesting information and that your style of presentation was particularly effective.”
British Columbia Recreation & Parks Association (Canada)
“Stupendous! Your ability to both motivate and communicate with all types of people is a rare talent and to be much admired.”
Wheaton Park District (IL)
“The information you presented received excellent reviews from our membership, with many indicating a desire to have you return. Your entertaining, yet informative presentation, combined with your enthusiasm, personableness and sincerity attributed greatly to the success of our workshop.”
Wisconsin Park & Recreation Association
“You were wonderful…”
Minnesota Recreation & Park Association
“Your sessions were outstanding. You have a real talent for making timely, relevant material both interesting and exciting. Your ability to reach out and capture the attention and imagination of both the recreation technicians and administrators is impressive. Not only were each and every one of your Annual Conference sessions entertaining, but they were packed with good information which you presented in an interesting, dynamic, and memorable fashion. It makes you an ideal choice for a general speaker at an annual conference. I am extremely grateful.
Arizona Park & Recreation Association
“Participants raved about your speaking style and flexibility. A wonderful presentation.”
Illinois Park & Recreation Association
“Thank you for the exceptionally fine presentation to our students. Your ability to stimulate groups is remarkable and your practical examples and techniques gave us all many things to think about and to try.
University of Illinois, College of Applied Life Studies
“I am delighted to tell you how pleased all of us were with your presentation to the staff. Our staff have responded and associated with many of your examples of dealing with children. I really feel you put their jobs into a perspective they will not quickly forget.”
West Suburban Special Recreation Association
Early Childhood
“Your closing session was engaging and entertaining and a great ending to our conference. You left conference participants energized and inspired.”
U.S. General Services Administration, Annual Child Care Conference
“Comments included: ‘Excellent plus. One of the best presentations I’ve ever been to. And I have been to a lot!’ • ‘Awesome!’ • ‘Outstanding!’ • ‘Wonderful presenter. Information that can be taken home and used in everyday situations.’”
National Smart Start Conference
[Please click here for more National Smart Start comments.]
“The ideas and information you shared in your entertaining presentations were often mentioned as a “favorite part” of our conference. So many evaluations included comments about how much they enjoyed your presentation. The words ‘wonderful,’ ‘excellent,’ and ‘great’ were used again and again.”
La Leche League of Illinois
“Participants said, ‘The best workshop I have ever been to! It was so much fun to laugh and learn at the same time.’ • ‘I learned so much, words cannot express it. My whole trip to the conference was worth my time because of this workshop.’ • ‘Wonderful.’ • ‘Absolutely
Head Start Midwest Region Annual Conference
[Please click here for more Head Start Conference comments.]
Youth, Families, & Community Service Organizations
“Great job—you scored 4.9 out of 5.”
Child Welfare League of America, Inc.
“A great seminar—nothing but excellent comments and definitely a desire to do this again.”
The Salvation Army
“Only raving reviews…”
Michigan Annual State Youth Conference
“Your keynote and your workshops were excellent and conference participants raved about your presentations on their evaluations.”
Governor’s Youth Conference, Iowa Commission on Children, Youth, and Families
"You exceeded our greatest expectations. You are already at the top of our list for trainers to be considered for future events."Our overall conference evaluation has cited you as the highlight for the vast majority of attendees. In addition to the huge vote of confidence received for your keynote address, many individuals also commented on the workshop you conducted. Not only did they receive valuable and usable information, but they also gained insight into their own behavior, and felt energized and motivated to influence their members in a manner consistent with your approach.”
National Boys & Girls Clubs of Canada
“Another stunning performance! Thank you for conducting two outstanding workshops. You are a hit!”
Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., Chicago
“Thank you very much for your extremely though-provoking and exciting workshop at the Boy’s Clubs of America Midwest Camp Institute. Your dynamic personality, far ranging knowledge on group work and group dynamics made your session by far the most valuable input of the weekend.”
Boys’ Clubs of America Midwest Region
“You held our attention and kept us interested the entire presentation. You modeled exactly how we could be conducting our classes. I know that you already had a positive impact because two people at our Executive committee meeting the next evening each used a different one of your techniques to introduce their presentation. And it worked!”
Coalition for Jewish Learning
“Dynamic and educational: your material was immediately applicable and practical and presented in such an entertaining fashion that our volunteers easily claimed this was the best in-service CASA has ever sponsored. Michael, your enthusiasm and obvious delight and respect you have for all children was infectious. Our volunteers continue to call us relating how they have tried your techniques in their work with the abused and neglected children they represent as well as in their personal lives.”
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), Lake County
“Your honest enthusiasm affected our young leaders more than you might realize. I feel that more often than not, it is not so much what information is imparted, but the degree of sincerity accompanying it that determines the degree of impact that any presentation has. This is especially true with young people—they have an uncanny knack of spotting a phony a mile away!”
Milwaukee Boys’ & Girls’ Clubs
“I am truly pleased to let you know how much I enjoyed your presentation. I knew that our staff were equally impressed when, after an outing with young people the week after the workshop, they sat and evaluated each other’s work based on what you had said. Keep up the excellent work—many young people will benefit from it.”
Oak Park Illinois Township Youth Committee
“You are a super-trainer. You held your audience in the palm of your hand. This comment from a trainer says it all: ‘I get goose bumps ever time I realize that Michael Brandwein made me realize that Girl Scouts have the golden opportunity to reinforce values of human development, and I am an important part of that group.’ Thank you, Michael!”
Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., Milwaukee
Camp
“Over one hundred members of the Canadian Camping Association participated in this unique celebration of International Youth Year and you are one of the reasons for its success. The overwhelming response of the delegates was that you gave three wonderful presentations. I knew that you would provide the sparkle that we needed.”
Canadian Camping Association
“What an impact you made on our staff! They’re still talking about the day—emailing, calling, and already practicing all of the valuable skills you taught.”
Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times, Los Angeles, CA
“We are fortunate to have the benefit of your superb skills and sparkling creativity. You did another fantastic job. You are a master at facilitating a group and helping people give their best.”
American Camp Association, Illinois Section
“I would like to commend you on presenting two very innovative and stimulating workshops to our staff. The techniques and suggestions you taught were fantastic. Our staff has been talking about and implementing them all summer long.”
Lake Forest Illinois Department of Recreation
“Michael Brandwein’s unique approach to staff training was refreshingly different from the usual lecture format. The staff gained valuable techniques for communicating with and leading children of all ages. His workshop was so well organized and full of surprises that the time flew by without a dull moment. I recommend his programs to anyone looking for a creative alternative to staff training.”
Morton Grove Illinois Park District
Meeting Planners & Conference Consultants
“Without a shadow of a doubt, he is THE most dynamic speaker I’ve ever heard/used.—and more, he appeals to an incredibly wide variety of audiences.
“Too many speakers are ‘Stepford Speakers’ – they say the same things time after time without adapting the message to the audience. Michael is different; he motivates people to do better work, provide better service, and communicate effectively.”
Joan Eisenstodt, inductee in Convention Industry Hall of Leaders, the meeting industry’s highest honor, named One of the 25 Most Influential People in the Meetings Industry (Meeting News magazine), and MPI’s International Planner of the Year