April Monthly Program

The Art of Public Speaking by the World Champions of Public Speaking

ASHRM is pleased to invite you to "The Art of Public Speaking by the World Champions of Public Speaking" event, in cooperation with the International Public Relations Association- Gulf Chapter (IPRA-GC) and Dhahran Toastmasters Club. This event is scheduled for Sunday April 12th from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.

This event represents a wonderful opportunity for all ASHRM Members and HR Practitioners generally, to benefit from a lecture on the Art of Public Speaking by two International World Champions of Public Speaking, Ed Tate  and Darren LaCroix who are attending the Toastmasters Annual Conference in Al Khobar.

As a compliment to its member, ASHRM has secured a block of fourty (40) seat. Please note that these fourty (40) seats will be allocated on a "first-come-first-served" basis to currently active ASHRM Members. If you would like to attend this event make sure your membership is renewed for 2009. You may indicate your interest in attending this event by emailing or calling the ASHRM office.

Ed Tate

Using the principles he teaches today, Ed Tate became the 2000 World Champion of Public Speaking. Out of 175,000 members of Toastmasters International, Ed won the coveted title, and Toastmasters’ highest award.

This internationally known keynote speaker has earned a reputation as the “speaker who energizes, educates, and entertains.” He has spoken professionally in 46 states and 12 countries, and on 5 continents.

Ed is also a successful trainer and author. As a trainer, Ed worked with Career Track (the largest public seminar company at the time) where he was frequently booked for 100 presentations a year. Following Career Track, he became the Training Executive for the Denver Rocky Mountain News where he established the company’s training department. There, he created 27 programs and trained over 1100 employees annually. In 2001, he led the transition team that merged the 145-year-old “Rocky” with its 125-year-old rival, The Denver Post, in a merger that involved more than 5,000 people.

As an author, Ed co-wrote the book Motivational Selling – Advice on Selling Effectively, Staying Motivated and Being a Peak Sales Producer. He’s also contributed to Stories Trainers Tell and The Seven Strategies of Master Presenters. Additionally, Ed co-produced the 6-CD audio albums Speaking Secrets of the Champions and Connect with Any Audience.

As a former executive, Ed’s success in business spans over two decades. For fourteen years, as a National Account Executive, Ed sold over $500 million in products and services. He co-created two business units that produced over $1.25 billion in revenues.

For nine years, his company, Ed Tate & Associates, LLC – a professional development firm, provides Keynote, Endnote presentations & workshops worldwide on:

• Leadership
• Executive Communication Skills
• Coping with Change
• Teambuilding
• Sales Presentation Skills

DARREN LaCROIX

In 2001, Darren LaCroix outspoke 25,000 contestants from 14 countries to become the World Champion of Public Speaking. Since that victory, Darren has traveled the world demystifying the process of creating a powerful speech.

He has roused audiences in faraway places like Oman, Malaysia, and Taiwan with his inspirational journey from first-rate chump to first-class champ, proving anything is possible if you are willing to work for it.

Darren may have been "born without a funny bone in his body," but he possessed the desire to learn and the willingness to fail necessary to achieve his dream. The self-proclaimed "student of comedy" is living proof that humor is a skill that can be learned. Darren interviewed CEO's and business owners who made humor part of their business plan, culling from their successful practices innovative principles that could be applied to any company. He developed an innovative technique of "customizing" humor that reveals the common frustrations and pet peeves about an organization, giving him ammunition that has audiences laughing down to their toes.