Shelley Taps the Education Market

New opportunities abound, but they require some fancy footwork.

Yet she faithfully carves out one afternoon per week to passionately pursue to her community service activity - working with children to enrich their lives through the performing arts.

Shelley once landed a role in Dames at Sea, a musical that would feature her in several tap dancing numbers. Problem was, she didn't know how to tap dance.

Fortunately, Shelley was enrolled in the musical theater program at the College-Conservatory of Music (University of Cincinnati). So her classmates gave her a crash course in tap.

Just like Dames At Sea, this story had a happily-ever-after ending for Shelley. She was a big hit, and reviewers dubbed her a triple-threat (actor/singer/dancer)!

Shelley uses this story to explain why she has remained involved in education throughout her business career. She spends almost every Tuesday afternoon volunteering with middle school students from at-risk environments -- teaching them skills in the performing arts.

Now, Shelley has begun to tap the education market for business opportunities - a way to expand her offerings as a presentation coach.

In late September, Shelley traveled to Canton, Ohio to teach master classes in presentation skills to 8th graders at Faircrest Middle School.

More than 250 students packed the classroom - in groups of 30 - to learn Shelley's Top Ten Keys to Effective Presentation. Throughout the day, she demonstrated techniques, led discussions, and critiqued volunteer presenters. Based on the response of both students and teachers, Shelley has already been invited back for another round of master classes.

In early November, Shelley was back in the classroom - this time at Xavier University in Cincinnati.

The students were MBA candidates who will soon vie for corporate or government positions in the tightest job market anyone can remember. This group of students was focused on how to ace an interview and stand out against a slew of applicants. For this audience, Shelley focused on how to make a great first impression - appearance, confidence, attitude, and presenting your credentials in the most convincing way.

Another part of the education market is CE or Continuing Education. In December, through the Cincinnati Bar Association, Shelley will teach a course in presentation skills to attorneys for the third consecutive year.

Is it difficult to relate to audiences that can vary from 50-year old attorneys to 13-year old adolescents?

"Actually, the skills we teach apply universally," Shelley explains. "But the techniques we use and the examples we choose are vastly different."

"What most audiences have in common is their fear of public speaking. What differs is their application of the skills in their own personal world. An eighth grader may be looking for ways to improve her grades; an attorney may be trying to keep his client from going to prison.

"The challenge is make the course relevant. Which means following one of my own top ten rules: Know Your Audience."

Dealing with such diverse challenges keeps Shelley on her toes. Did we mention that along with tap, she also took ballet classes in college?