Oldest Speech Coaching Company in the U.S. Reaches 50 Years in Business
Brookline, MA – April 8, 2014 – The Speech Improvement Company (TSIC), the oldest speech coaching organization in the country, today announced it is celebrating 50 years in business. This family owned second-generation speech coaching company has trained over one million people globally, including some of the biggest names in business, politics and entertainment. Current clients include Allstate, Bain Capital, Bank of America, Boston Scientific, Burlington Coat Factory, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Fidelity, IBM, IDC, Jon Platt of Warner/Chappell Music, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Oxfam America, Staples, and TJX Companies.
Dr. Dennis Becker and Dr. Paula Borkum Becker founded The Speech Improvement Company in 1964, right after graduation from Emerson College, both having studied communication- related subjects. Like many couples, they wanted to work together, and they also saw an opportunity to help people become more impactful speakers. Today, they have become one of the most trusted names in speech coaching, having worked at the national level with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Communication Organization (NCA) to develop models for teaching and studying social phobias and communication coaching.
“Paula and I wanted to use the tools we learned at Emerson to help others focus on the power of communication. Our ability to speak to others effectively, clearly and calmly embodies everything we all do everyday, regardless of the industry in which we work,” said Dr. Dennis Becker, chief executive officer and founder of TSIC. “We both felt very strongly that if we could help others communicate better, people would be kinder to each other, and use their words, and not physical violence, to quell any issues between them. It is this philosophy that has been the driving force behind what we have done for the past 50 years.”
In large part, it’s TSIC’s coaches who set the organization apart from other coaching companies, bringing more than 200 years of collective experience to their clientele. All are educated at the Graduate or PHD level in communications or related discipline, they have authored a total of nine best selling books, and several have taught courses at the collegiate level at Harvard University, MIT and Northeastern University. They have also appeared on nationally televised broadcasts on ABC, CNBC, FOX, NBC, and PBS.
Jon Platt is legendary in the music industry. During his 17-year tenure at EMI Music, Platt signed co-publishing deals with some of the biggest names in rap, including Jay-Z, Kanye West, Usher, Drake, Snoop Dogg, and Ludacris among many others. Noted for his leadership and A&R capabilities, Platt currently serves as President of North America at Warner/Chappell Music (WCM). Under Platt’s remarkable leadership, WCM has signed many new and established artists such as JAY Z and Beyoncé, who followed Platt to WCM, Mike WiLL Made It, Dave Mustaine, Roc Nation’s publishing roster, and Aloe Blacc. WCM has also continued working with hit songwriters like Katy Perry, Nate Ruess, Kendrick Lamar, Michael Bublé, Led Zeppelin, Barry Gibb and George Michael.
“I owe a great deal of my success to The Speech Improvement Company. Working with them changed my life and I wouldn’t be where I am today if I hadn’t met them,” said Jon Platt, president, North America, Warner/Chappell Music.
“They are called the Speech Improvement Company, but they help with so much more, like teaching people how to be a leader. Once I understood what true leadership really meant, and how I wanted to be perceived, my professional path changed. When people ask me what I am most proud of in my career, I tell them two things: the first is signing Jay-Z, and the second, which is right up there with the first, is being looked at as a great leader.”
Bain Capital is one of the world’s leading private, alternative investment firms, with more than $75 billion in assets under management and more than 900 employees worldwide. The Boston Celtics are one of the most storied teams in the NBA. With seventeen championships, eight of which were consecutive, they have the most titles in the NBA history, and the longest winning streak of any team in North American sports.
“Bain Capital and the Boston Celtics have partnered with The Speech Improvement Company for years to help our organization’s leaders prepare for major presentations and media interviews,”said Steve Pagliuca, a managing director of Bain Capital and managing general partner of the Boston Celtics.
“Our senior leaders saw the immense value the extraordinarily talented team at The Speech Improvement Company brought to the table. We wanted to work with the coaches to become more effective and dynamic communicators. As a result, we are now more clear and concise in our presentations and speeches, and keenly aware of how we present ourselves both internally and externally. They have become a very trusted and valued partner at Bain Capital and the Boston Celtics.”
IDC is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. For 50 years, IDC has provided strategic insights to help clients achieve key business objectives, by aiding IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community make fact-based decisions on technology purchases and business strategy. With more than 1,000 analysts worldwide, the company provides global, regional, and local expertise on technology, as well as industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries.
“IDC has worked with The Speech Improvement Company for more than a decade. In my opinion, their approach to speech and communication coaching is very unique,”said Crawford Del Prete, executive vice president, WW Business Units and chief research officer at IDC.
“The Speech Improvement Company’s process is based on the individual. Their
coaches have taught us not only how to best present our research, but also, how to tell the story behind the research. As a result, our analysts now connect with the audience better and demonstrate their capabilities in the best way possible, whether they are presenting at our annual conferences, to clients, or the media.”
The Speech Improvement Company will be celebrating its 50th Anniversary with an event honoring its coaches and clients, as well as the memory of co-founder Dr. Paula Borkum Becker (1942-2012). Details will be announced soon. For more information on our coaching services, please visit www.speechimprovement.com.
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The Speech Improvement Company (TSIC), a second generation, 50-year-old company, is the oldest Speech Communication Coaching Firm in the U.S. Its staff of formally educated, award winning and nationally and internationally recognized speech coaches have more than 200 collective years of experience. The team has trained almost 1M Senior Executives, Managers, Politicians, Celebrities, and Individuals worldwide, authored nine books on speaking and communication, and produces the regularly web-cast programs “Talking About Talking”.
About The Speech Improvement Company
TSIC Coaches appear regularly at global conferences and events, and are interviewed on TV and radio broadcasts throughout the U.S. For more information please visit www.speechimprovement.com.
About Bain Capital
Founded in 1984, Bain Capital, LLC (www.baincapital.com) is one of the world’s foremost privately-held alternative investment firms, with more than $75 billion of assets under management in several pools of capital including private equity, venture capital, public equity, credit products and absolute return. The firm has deep experience investing in and building portfolio companies across a variety of industries including consumer/retail, financial services and institutions, healthcare, industrials, and technology, media and telecommunications. Through the Bain Capital Community Partnership and Bain Capital Children’s Charity (www.baincapital.com/community), the firm and its employees serve as trusted partners with over 500 civic organizations around the world to help build great communities. Bain Capital has offices in Boston, New York, Chicago, Palo Alto, London, Munich, Tokyo, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Mumbai and Sydney.
About IDC
International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. IDC helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community to make fact- based decisions on technology purchases and business strategy. More than 1,000 IDC analysts provide global, regional, and local expertise on technology and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries. In 2014, IDC celebrates its 50th anniversary of providing strategic insights to help clients achieve their key business objectives. IDC is a subsidiary of IDG, the world’s leading technology media, research, and events company. You can learn more about IDC by visiting www.idc.com.
About Warner/Chappell
Warner/Chappell Music, the global music publishing company of Warner Music Group, is home to a wide array of legendary songwriters and a rich catalog of contemporary hits and influential standards. With offices in more than 40 countries, Warner/Chappell provides deep expertise across a range of creative services and the most innovative opportunities for songwriters and copyright holders. With a history dating back more than 200 years, Warner/Chappell currently publishes and administers music from Barry Gibb, Beyoncé, Bruno Mars, Eric Clapton, fun., Gamble & Huff, Green Day, Jay-Z, Katy Perry, Led Zeppelin, Madonna, Miramax Films, Muse, Radiohead, Red Hot Chili Peppers, R.E.M, Roc Nation, Stephen Sondheim, T.I., Timbaland and Wayne Hector, among many others.
Contacts:
For The Speech Improvement Company Ethan Becker
+1-617-739-3330 [email protected]
For Bain Capital
Ernesto Anguilla
+1 617-516-2660 [email protected]
For IDC
Michael Shirer +1 508-988-7892 [email protected]
For Warner/Chappell Music James Steven
+1 212-275-2213 [email protected]
