About Our Training Team
Stephen Allen has provided communications training services for more than 15-years, specializing in message development, media training, public speaking coaching and confrontational debate preparation. Steve has trained spokespersons representing more than 50 ballot campaigns in 12 states on gaming, taxation, environmental, tort reform, telecommunications, mining, health care, stem cell research, governmental reform and deregulation issues. Steve has counseled U. S. presidential and gubernatorial candidates, college presidents, professional athletes, Fortune 500 Company executives, citizen’s groups, and non-profit organizations. Steve brings first hand experience, having appeared in interviews and debates on NBC Nightly News, ABC World News Tonight, Nightline, CBS Evening News, and CNN and MSNBC as well as major TV and radio outlets.
Karen Friedman has spent 20 years in front of the camera. As a television reporter and anchor, Karen interviewed Presidents, covered thousands of breaking stories from Hurricane Andrew to the Space Shuttle Discovery, reported live from two World Series and has aired reports on all the major networks. She has over ten years of media training experience working with a wide range of corporate and nonprofit clients. Karen also hosts a live television telethon and anchors local election night coverage.
Jim Hall has been conducting presentation skills coaching and training, media training, crisis communications, and message development for a wide spectrum of clients since 1992. He often does training for IPO road shows, private placement funding pitches, and is used as a vital resource for clients for on-site observations of presentations and feedback. Jim is the former Associate Director of the St. John’s University (New York) Speech and Debate Team. During his seventeen years, his team was ranked nationally and won the New York State Championship more than any other school in the state. Jim’s expertise is in the limited prep categories of Impromptu and Extemporaneous Speaking.
Edward Segal is the author of “Getting Your 15 Minutes of Fame - And More!” and a leading authority on how individuals and organizations can achieve and manage fame and public recognition of their achievements. Ed presents seminars and workshops on how to use media relations and public relations techniques to promote products, services, or expertise. Ed also writes the “Marketing Strategies” column for The Wall Street Journal's Web site for entrepreneurs.
Positive Communications works with these and other talented trainers around the country.