About New York Speech Coaching & Staff

New York Speech Coaching was established in 2005 by leading vocal technician Justin Stoney and co-founded by renowned executive speech coach John West. They sought to pair clients seeking authenticity, effectiveness, and confidence with experienced and compassionate speech instructors who could guide them. 

We serve individuals of all ages from all walks of life at our studio in Midtown Manhattan and via online sessions. We also offer training for the corporate community in offices across the globe.

We want all clients to feel welcome and comfortable working with us. For more information on our diversity and inclusion initiatives, click here.

"While each instructor at New York Speech Coaching has a different approach, they are unified in their commitment to provide an extraordinary experience for clients. Our team aims to endow each session with a unique recipe of expertise, curiosity, and laughter.”
John West
Co-founder, New York Speech Coaching

Instructor Team


Brendan Houdek

bɹɛndɪn hoʊdɛkhe/him

MA CCC-SLP • Senior Instructor • Head of Corporate Training

Brendan Houdek
Growing up, my incessant chatter caused many to joke that I should get a job where I 'talk for a living.' So I did.
If interested in working with Brendan, our Head of Corporate Training, please contact assistant@newyorkspeechcoaching.com.

Private coaching packages with Brendan begin at $8,500.

Brendan’s coaching combines an intricate knowledge of anatomy and physiology with a background in philosophy. He is passionate about teaching effective business communication, executive presence, and vocal production, equipping clients with control and flexibility to present themselves professionally and authentically. His training covers not only the technical aspects of speech production, but also presentational performance and perspective work.

In addition to his work as a speech coach, Brendan is a NYS-licensed and ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist, specializing in voice and fluency disorders. He holds a Masters of Arts from Hofstra University and Bachelor’s in Philosophy / Religious studies from St. Joseph’s.

Brendan specializes in corporate training with an emphasis on fundraising, pitch decks, sales calls, presentation delivery, and negotiation & persuasion tactics. His clients come from Google, Disney, Forbes, Nasdaq, Deloitte, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Capital One, MetLife, and Amazon, among others.

Using his voice across multiple mediums, Brendan is also a singer, multi-instrumentalist, and voice impressionist, hosting the show Voice Breakdown on YouTube. While entertaining, his impersonation skills also provide valuable insight into speech and vocal production, fostering both precise and intuitive instruction.

Caleb Shomaker

keɪləb ʃoʊmeɪkɚhe/him

MA in Interdisciplinary Studies • Lead Instructor • Senior Management Team

Caleb Shomaker
I firmly believe that everyone has something interesting to say and share—and I've yet to be proven wrong!
Schedule with Caleb

With a unique background in both science education and theatre training, Caleb brings an inductive and analytic perspective to helping students improve their speech and effectively calibrate their mindset. His coaching is characterized by patience and enthusiasm, as he distills complex ideas in straightforward ways for clients of all backgrounds. His teaching methods incorporate business communication strategies, anatomical understanding, and humanistic psychology, which he pairs with practical exercises that allow his clients to understand their relevance and application.

Caleb holds a BFA in Theatre and Mathematics and an MA in Interdisciplinary Studies from New York University. His master’s thesis, for which he received the Graduate Interdisciplinary Academic Excellence award, argued for the significance of human voice as both a reflection of gendered power relations and an instrument for personal and social change. Prior to his work with New York Speech Coaching, Caleb served as the Resident Vocal Director for Shakespeare in the Square for several years, providing vocal and dialect coaching for dozens of performances.

Caleb specializes in confidence in presentations, vocal depth and strength, leadership in speech, and accent acquisition. He has coached professionals from Google, Goldman Sachs, Amazon, Uber, Square, Unilever, Douglas Elliman, the Department of Education, and many others. His clients attest to his infectious energy and passion for speech, offering a balance of playfulness and rigor during sessions.

With intelligent humor and clear directions, Caleb empowers his clients to achieve their goals with enjoyment and conviction.

Brontë England-Nelson

bɹɑnteɪ inglən nɛlsənshe/her

MFA in Acting • Associate Instructor

Brontë England-Nelson
Everything we need is within us. Sometimes we just need help finding it.
Schedule with Brontë

Brontë used to dread speaking in public. Through much trial and error, training, and practice, she developed a tool kit that has not only enabled her to love public speaking in all its forms (presentations, meetings, conversations), but has also inspired her to share those tools with others.

Brontë has worked with professionals from BlackRock, Amazon, Goldman Sachs, the United Nations, Point 72, Kaiser Permanente, Citadel, Wilkie Farr and Gallagher, Standard Chartered Bank, Campari Group, and Yale University. Topics of particular interest include public speaking anxiety, impromptu speaking, executive presence, speech structuring, interview prep, American accent acquisition, and persuasive engagement.

Brontë holds an MFA from Yale University and a BA from the University of California, Santa Cruz, where she studied speech, communication, and acting. She has been a public speaking and communication coach for over a decade and an instructor at the Summer Conservatory for Actors at Yale since 2018. She has also performed on Broadway and at theaters throughout the country. Her on-screen credits include Blindspot and Law and Order: SVU, along with numerous independent films.

As Head of Education here at New York Speech Coaching, Brontë is constantly finding new ways of approaching this work, as this is not a one-size-fits-all game. With a holistic perspective, rigorous attention to detail, and a buoyant sense of humor, Brontë helps guide her clients toward their communication ideals.

Tricia Veldman

tɹɪʃə vɛɫdmɪnshe/her

MS CCC-SLP • Associate Instructor

Tricia Veldman
I’m all for deep reflection and introspection, but at the end of the day, our best selves shine when we give ourselves permission to have a little fun.
Schedule with Tricia

Having been described by others in a former life as “timid” and “soft-spoken,” Tricia is no stranger to the fear of public speaking. After embarking on her personal speech quest, Tricia learned to trust and celebrate her own voice. Amazed by its impact on her daily life, she now combines experiential and scholastic knowledge to empower others to do the same.

Tricia loves using voice, speech, and physical presentation as a means to identify the blindspots that prevent speakers from stepping into their personal power. Having lived abroad and speaking a non-native language (Italian), Tricia understands the frustrations that come with being poorly understood. She believes few things make life more satisfying than witnessing someone embody their fullest expression of self - the ultimate goal for her clients.

Currently residing in Savannah, GA, Tricia is an associate speech coach, able to reach clients virtually all over the world, and Head of Georgia Speech Coaching. She is a certified bilingual speech-language pathologist with a Master of Science degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders (Bilingual Extension in Italian) from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Health Science from the University of Florida.

Tricia’s specialties include public speaking, fluency, presentation preparation, bilingual populations, voiceover training, accent modification, and adult and adolescent social skills training. She works with clients from companies including Conde Nast, Reddit, Equinox, the United Nations, Ernst & Young, Equiteq, LinkedIn, Gulfstream, Uber, Disney, and more.

Emphasizing empathy and pulling from first-hand experience, Tricia provides an encouraging environment for clients to develop the bravest versions of themselves while providing practical and individualized strategies.

Watch Tricia's TEDx Talk: Tenets of Time - The Short, the long, the messy.

Daniel Reece

dænjl̩ ɹishe/him

MFA in Acting • Associate Instructor

Daniel Reece
You have something that you need to say; my job is to help you find the joy in saying it.
Schedule with Daniel

With a background in performance, Daniel has come to rely on his voice as a means of transformation and the most powerful tool to convey the human condition. In his search for a voice that can speak to the truth of any character, he has discovered the value of exploring his everyday speech with equal curiosity. Daniel’s challenge to his clients is to bring this level of inquisitive play to their own journey toward effective communication.

Daniel fosters authenticity in his approach to voice and speech through explorations of physical awareness and reflections on intention and objective. He works with clients to identify not only their needs, but the needs of those with whom they are speaking.

Viewing the body as an instrument, he guides those he works with toward a visceral, kinesthetic consciousness of their voice’s range, malleability, and command. With the aim of allowing his clients to develop a more familiar relationship with their voice and their voice’s potential, Daniel gives his clients agency to trust in their ability to channel their vocal energy and speak with clarity, confidence, and ease.

In addition to his work with New York Speech Coaching, Daniel is a drama-based learning facilitator, helping businesses around the globe develop behavioral skills and communication techniques for the workplace. He has worked with clients from organizations including Johnson & Johnson, Visa, Goldman Sachs, New York-Presbyterian, Corning, and the NBA, among others.

As an actor, Daniel has worked on-stage at theaters spanning across the country. His screen appearances include Modern Love, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Blue Bloods, and Elementary, among others.

Daniel believes that there is a performer in everyone and derives the most satisfaction as a speech coach in allowing others to welcome the spotlight.

Courtney Armstrong

koɹtni ɑrmstroŋshe/her

MS CCC-SLP • Associate Instructor

Courtney Armstrong
I believe speaking should be fun! I thoroughly enjoy embarking with others on their journeys to discover their most authentic and confident voices.
Schedule with Courtney

Growing up in a vibrant multilingual family, Courtney developed a deep appreciation for the power of language and the nuances of cross-cultural communication. Always up for an adventure, Courtney’s passions awarded her unique opportunities to speak nationally in exhilarating settings, from pageant stages to national conferences.

Courtney combines her love of teaching and specialized speech-language pathology degree to provide a holistic coaching journey. Her years of coaching others ages 3 to 93 have honed her ability to offer a unique blend of individualized learning that seamlessly combines personal passions with technical mastery. She draws from her own extraordinary experiences speaking to audiences of hundreds as an internationally renowned researcher and esteemed titleholder of both the Miss America Organization and the Miss USA Pageant systems.

Currently located in the Washington D.C. area, Courtney earned a Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology and a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Sciences with minors in Cross-Cultural Communications and Spanish from Duquesne University. She is an ASHA-certified and Virginia-licensed speech-language pathologist. Her revolutionary, first-of-its-kind work in accent acquisition with native Mandarin speakers awarded her both national and international recognition. She has provided specialized accent training and cross-cultural communication coaching for native speakers of over 20 different languages from every corner of the globe. She has also studied seven different languages which has afforded her unique knowledge and perspective when communicating cross-culturally. Her technical studies and passion for understanding diverse cultures equip her with a unique vantage point when coaching clients.

Courtney specializes in accent training, cross-cultural communication coaching, pageant coaching, public speaking, and speaking voice enhancement for clients of all ages. Discover the joy that Courtney radiates as she empowers you to communicate with your most authentic voice! With enthusiasm, she'll guide you toward your communication goals, ensuring every step of the journey is enjoyable.

Lorene Chesley

lɔ˞in t͡ʃɛslishe/her

Associate Instructor • MFA in Acting

Lorene Chesley
Schedule with Lorene

Lorene’s passion for teaching is in her DNA. After developing a love for education observing her grandmother, a stellar educator in the Charles County, Maryland public schools, Lorene combined teaching with her love of theater and discovered that coaching was a natural fit.

As a coach, Lorene has worked with companies such as Match.com, FEAST, Buzz and Kill, and more. She holds an MFA from the University of California San Diego, where she coached some of the most reluctant speakers—college students. She loved getting to help students from all walks of life find their voices and fearlessly communicate their truths.

In sessions, Lorene enjoys the challenge of helping her clients overcome their most intractable obstacles. A cornerstone of Lorene’s coaching is breath work: strengthening the mind-body-spirit connection is an essential aspect of her teaching, and she leverages breathing techniques to ease the nervous system so one can speak from a grounded, honest place.

Emotional Freedom Technique, voice work, and music are all tools in Lorene’s toolbox for building a holistic and joyful space in which her clients can find the liberated, confident speaker within. Additionally, Lorene is an experienced dance instructor. After moving to Los Angeles, where she’s lived for over a decade, Lorene became a certified teacher of Yoga Booty Ballet. Through practices like setting intentions and dancing to release fear, she motivates her clients to tell their stories with their full bodies and voices.

Lorene embraces practical eclecticism, taking a multi-disciplinary approach to helping others rediscover the joy of public speaking.

Wolfe Lanier

wʊlf lənɪɚhe/they

Associate Instructor • BFA in Musical Theatre

Wolfe Lanier
I used to find myself saying “for lack of a better word”; through technique and practice, I strive to never lack the better word.
Schedule with Wolfe

Wolfe’s journey into public speaking and effective communication began at the age of seven, within the bustling environment of their parents’ local hair salon in North Carolina. This foundational experience, witnessing the salon’s growth through skillful interaction with clients and employees, instilled in Wolfe a profound understanding of the power of clear, impactful communication. Their career path has been diverse, encompassing roles such as teaching dialects at NYU Tisch School of Drama, engaging in corporate role-play acting, and nurturing students at the Asheville Performing Arts Academy. Wolfe’s academic pursuits at the Hartt School of Theatre honed their skills in musical theatre, direction, and acting, further enriching their ability to guide others in finding their voice.

In addition to their extensive teaching and acting experience, Wolfe has also integrated yoga into their coaching, achieving certification as a yoga teacher to enhance the physical and vocal presence of their clients. This holistic approach underlines Wolfe’s belief that authentic self-expression is a gift, and communication should neither be daunting in small settings nor overwhelming in larger ones. Passionate about unlocking the vocal prowess within each individual, Wolfe is dedicated to helping clients navigate the nuances of voice, ensuring that their communication is not just heard, but felt and remembered.

Joti Patel

dʒoʊɾi pətɛlshe/her

MS in Health Promotion • Associate Instructor

Joti Patel
The essence of what motivates me as a speech coach is to empower others to feel ‘seen and heard’ through the art of effective communication.
Schedule with Joti

Joti is a British Psychology graduate and executive coach with a multi-faceted career in business and media. Joti moved to New York City from London as an actress, host, and voice artist.

Through personalized coaching, content, and care, Joti’s clients enjoy sessions aligned to a high-performance culture. Joti’s mission is to accelerate growth, build careers, and transform lives by helping clients develop empathy, confidence, clarity, and rapport.

Joti is passionate about connecting diverse audiences on leadership themes such as diversity & inclusion, presentation skills, presence & impact, difficult conversations, interviewing, performance management, client rapport, on camera techniques for virtual set ups, speech preparation, and team building. As an ethnic woman in business/media and with a diverse life experience, Joti connects with a range of clients who value the unique pearls of wisdom she shares in her sessions.

Joti has worked in developing high value communication with clients across many sectors, including Bloomberg, Goldman Sachs, Microsoft, PwC, Allen & Overy, Linklaters, HSBC and more.

Joti’s clients benefit from her on-camera roles, including hosting live TV (QVC), events (award shows, Q&A panels, conferences) and acting skills across screen and stage. Joti also plays Cupid as a professional Matchmaker, coaching clients on social skills and the art of conversation.

Embracing the joys of everyday life, Joti describes her life as one big Netflix comedy! Her unique life path has made lemonade from lemons - learning, growing, and inspiring others along the way.

Pilot Instructors

Price: $150/hr.

As we are committed to accessible training, New York Speech Coaching offers a discounted rate of $150 with a pilot instructor. Please note the following stipulations apply:

The instructor with whom you are working may change at any time. While our desire is to offer consistency, and we will do so when possible, several instructors may be going through the process.

The cancellation fee still applies to both client and instructor.

Clients working with pilot instructors also agree that their lessons may be observed (but not recorded) at any point by our staff or interns. While not all sessions will be observed, we ask that you only pursue the pilot instructor tier if you are comfortable with observed sessions. If not, we recommend scheduling with an associate instructor.

As these sessions provide an opportunity for the pilot instructor to sharpen their skills as a teacher, clients working with a pilot instructor complete brief, periodic surveys regarding their satisfaction. This information is for internal use only and will not be shared with the instructor.

Stephanie Machado

stɛfəni maʃadu

Pilot Instructor • MFA in Acting

Stephanie Machado
Finding freedom in your voice comes from empowering the need to be heard.
Schedule with Stephanie

Stephanie grew up speaking three languages: Brazilian Portuguese at home, Spanish with friends, and English at school. Born and raised in Miami, she had the privilege of being immersed in a city with a variety of cultures, where her love for the way people connected across cultures began to flourish. Since then, she has been drawn to helping others share themselves and their thoughts through the power of speech.

An educator, actor, and coach, Stephanie currently resides in NYC, where she teaches speech at New York University and voice at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. Stephanie holds an MFA from Yale University, where she studied acting, speech, and voice, and has served as a voice instructor at the Yale Summer Conservatory for Actors since 2016. She has performed at several theaters in NYC and across the country and has worked extensively in TV and commercials.

Stephanie’s talent is helping others speak with confidence and clarity, passion and ease, and joy and enthusiasm while introducing techniques to find breath support, open vocal resonators, maintain vocal health, strengthen articulators, and incorporate elements of dynamic speech. She also specializes in accent acquisition, given her trilingual background and love of languages. Above all, Stephanie prides herself on empowering clients to step into their fullest selves and to trust they have something valuable to share with the world (they always do!). Knowing that speech coaching can sometimes feel a little serious, Stephanie enjoys embracing an energy of play to keep sessions exploratory and fun.

Stephanie is a believer that an unfettered voice, powered by a need to be heard, allows us to embrace our most authentic selves and make genuine connections with those around us.

Jordan Smith

Speech Writing Associate

Jordan Smith is a former speechwriter for New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and Comptroller Scott Stringer. He was also a speechwriter for the American Public Transportation Association, a Washington, D.C.-based trade group. He has penned keynote addresses, short talking points and everything in between for elected officials, CEOs, and nonprofit leaders. He is the author of the best-selling Kindle Single, Humanity. His writing has appeared in more than 50 national publications, including the New York Times, The Atlantic, Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal.

Justin Stoney

Justin Stoney

Founder and President of New York Vocal Coaching and Affiliates

Justin Stoney founded New York Vocal Coaching and affiliates including New York Speech Coaching, and is currently available as NYVC's head instructor for those interested in singing sessions. He is an internationally recognized Voice Teacher and Vocal/Speech Coach. As one of the leading Voice Teachers in today’s music industry, he has appeared on the NBC Today Show, CBS, Fox News, Fox 5 New York, The Insider, and is a frequent guest on Huffington Post Live’s interviews of celebrity singers. His teaching has been featured in publications such as Esquire Magazine, Newsweek/The Daily Beast, NME, Fox News Magazine, Discovery News, Medical Daily, NY Daily News, New York Magazine, UK’s Daily Mail, Vice Magazine, Marie Claire, and Backstage Magazine. Backstage readers also voted Mr. Stoney as one of New York City’s best Voice Teachers and Vocal Coaches. For more on Justin and New York Vocal Coaching, please click here.

Diversity Statement

Our client base consists of individuals from various walks of life who seek to love their voice and speech style. Differences in age, race, gender identity, nationality, sexual orientation, physical ability, thinking style, and background provide the rich gift of diversity. We welcome and encourage clients from all backgrounds to participate in our training.

As we continue to evaluate our language in definition and in practice, we recognize instances on our website that include generalities. In the context of sessions, we aim to adapt our curriculum and language to each client's individual circumstances and preferences, and we strive to create an inclusive environment for often sensitive concerns surrounding manifestations of personality and identity.

Further, we unhesitatingly acknowledge that our staff and organization are not yet where we want to be with respect to reflecting the diversity of the world and the clients who may be pursuing our services. As a result, we understand there are steps that we need to take in order to improve as an organization. Such steps that we have begun include: utilizing services to help us engage with and hire instructors of color, developing a volunteer program to provide training to a wider array of students, and beginning collaborations with organizations focused on helping companies like ours address these issues in both our coaching and our culture.

We celebrate our organization as a place of expression, and we are cognizant of the degree to which self-expression takes place in various forms. By continuously implementing initiatives that work towards diversity and inclusion into our platform, we hope to create an environment which embraces all people, and it is enormously important to us that you feel welcome in the process.

Working in financial services, the ability to present and articulate ideas carries a high degree of importance. Being able to be understood clearly helps with confidence in speaking abilities. Courtney Armstrong at New York Speech Coaching was able to effectively streamline the process by quickly identifying the issue and recommend a tailored-made solution. Courtney was also really understanding, patient and really lovely to work with. After taking the recommended action, within weeks I was able to notice a significant difference in my pronunciation and therefore confidence in the workplace. In short, New York Speech Coaching provides a comprehensive solution, ranging from accent reduction to speaking techniques, as well as other initiatives. I would highly recommend the service and working with Courtney, to anyone who would like to enhance the articulation of their speech.

Claire
Claire

Financial Services

My experience with Daniel as a speech coach has been nothing short of transformative. From day one, he attentively listened to my concerns and tailored our sessions to address my unique challenges. Daniel's holistic approach helped me improve my speech and taught me to be a better communicator by tapping into my authentic self and engaging more genuinely with my audience. His guidance on the importance of inside-out communication, attention to thought groups, pacing, and emphasis has proved invaluable to my overall ability to deliver powerful messages. Furthermore, Daniel's warm, encouraging demeanor and non-judgmental coaching style instilled in me the confidence to take risks with my voice and empowered me to grow professionally and personally. I highly recommend Daniel as a speech coach for anyone seeking to elevate their communication skills and make a lasting impact on their audience.

Sammy Anand
Sammy Anand

Software Engineering Consultant, Moment

For years I have been trying to break through my barriers to speaking, always with meager results. When the idea of online speech coaching was presented to me, I was a little apprehensive because I wasn't sure how it would work. I was lost until meeting with Courtney from NYSC during our first session.Courtney is a very patient and professional coach. I have been making incredible improvement and development of speaking skills through sessions with her and I have noticed constant progress.

I want to thank Courtney for her dedication and support during our sessions.

Kunyang (Dan) Li
Kunyang (Dan) Li

JLJ Capital

I came to Brontë with an abstract goal: "upgrade" my voice. It used to be that when I spoke, people would say "what" or "one more time." It was even worse in loud rooms: it seemed like my words would disappear into the din.

Brontë helped change all that.

We covered useful general communication concepts like "speaking at the rate of no clutter" and enunciating key words in a sentence, while borrowing breathing and vocal engagement techniques from the acting world to give my voice the power it needed. I feel much clearer and more confident speaking now... to the point where a jazz singer randomly commented on my good speaking voice.

We speak over 5,000 words a day, but working with Brontë has made me realize that the delivery is just as important as the content... perhaps moreso. Getting these speech skills in order is a game changer.

Jack L.
Jack L.

Two Sigma

I struggled with selective mutism as a child, and while I’ve been able to overcome it, verbal communication remained stressful for me into adulthood. Working with Courtney at NYSC has not only built my confidence and comfort with speech, but her friendliness and positive attitude make her lessons a lot of fun too! The results have been terrific — across social and work settings, I’ve become less passive and more assertive / “punchy” when I speak. I highly recommend working with Courtney and NYSC if you’re looking to take your communication skills to the next level.

Pat
Pat

L.E.K. Consulting

Working with Joti at NYSC was transformative for my career. I give technical lectures and seminars regularly as part of my job but had always struggled with anxiety and projecting my voice in large rooms. Joti listened to me and developed tailor-made exercises to help my delivery. We worked on breathing, posture, eye contact, and building connections with the audience. Now when I present, I feel more confident and can deliver my technical presentations much more clearly. There is a marked difference in the comments and positive feedback I get after my presentations now that I have gone through speech coaching with Joti.

Adam W. Smith
Adam W. Smith

Professor, Texas Tech University

I was signed up for private sessions to help me with a speaking commitment that I agreed to do in September. This brought me to work with Daniel Reece at New York Speech Coaching.

Daniel took the time to get to know me and my inhibitions and fears for standing in front of a large audience. He empowered me with tools to not just deliver a speech but more importantly connect with my audience and involve them in what I had to say.

I learned techniques and how to be consciously present in that moment and not just try to get it over and done with.

I have done speaking engagements before, but none like this one.. and you could tell I connected with my audience from the standing ovation I got at the end of it all.

Thank you Daniel … I will always remember this moment as one of the most gratifying and surreal experiences in my life.

Barkha Cardoz
Barkha Cardoz

Cardoz Legacy

Joel has been a real game-changer for me, teaching me tips and tricks to improve my voice resonance, speed and public speaking skills.

Spectacular results were immediate. I got incredible learnings from our first session that I was able to apply in the real world right away.

What is so valuable is that Joel really tailors the lessons around what needs I have depending on the week, which can range from short keynotes and panels, to pitching investors or even having difficult conversations with team members.

The process is so much fun and even though I had such impressive results immediately after our first session, I still considerably get better week after week!

Joel has made it so that I’m really having fun with speaking outside of our sessions! Getting that much better at something that quickly is addictive when you want to become the best version of yourself.

CANNOT RECOMMEND HIGHLY ENOUGH. Want to improve your speaking skills, become a better communicator, a better leader? Look no further.

John Aghayan
John Aghayan

EMCEE - Founder & CEO

Joel is one of the very best coaches--of any subject--that I've ever worked with. I came to Joel to work on improving my vocal projection and resonance to reach my full potential as a speaker in both personal and professional settings. From session one, he gave me concrete strategies that I could use right away. He tailored his instruction to what I needed on a lesson-by-lesson basis. The results have been spectacular. On top of everything, he made the process so fun. Can't recommend him highly enough!

Ozan Varol
Ozan Varol

Bestselling Author of Think Like a Rocket Scientist

Finding Joel remains one of the big highlights of my professional and personal life. I came to NY Speech Coaching seeking a lofty and rather conceptual goal. I wanted to max out my full potential to be a great storyteller and a charming, persuasive communicator not just with my clients and colleagues but also with my husband, family and friends. Joel is an EXPERT. He knows the meticulous science of voice projection, tone, resonance and more and he teaches you ways to maximize your full body as a vocal instrument. Additionally, Joel is holistic in his teachings. He does a fantastic job of marrying your body and mind through breath work, visualizations and warm up exercises. Lastly, what I love about Joel's coaching style is that he preserves your individual personality and character instead of teaching cookie cutter methods.

Hana Hurst
Hana Hurst

Associate Director of Acquisition Marketing Thinx Inc.

I’ve been working towards a director role in the next step in my career. I lacked confidence in communication and giving presentations in front of groups of people. I was referred to New York Speech Coaching by my manager as he has taken courses here and thought I would benefit and help with my nervousness in front of people. Courtney has been super helpful in providing me with ways to get me out of my shell while allowing me to stay true to my personality. Working with Courtney has been a great experience as she provided me with the breathing techniques to help slow down my pace and work on speaking patterns that allowed me to build my confidence in the ability to convey my thoughts in spoken word. I highly recommend New York Speech Coaching and working with Courtney as she has been a great instructor.

Jade
Jade

Designer

My sessions with Joti have been instrumental in helping me to overcome speaking anxiety in both my professional and personal lives. Joti has helped me to feel more confident managing difficult phone conversations, present clients at panels, speak in court, and engage in job interviews. I have benefited greatly from her use of role-play, examples, guidance on breathing and posture, and many more tips. Joti's support in helping me to write and deliver my wedding vows was so special, and really allowed me to feel calm on my wedding day. Joti's careful explanations and examples help me to focus my delivery, and her guidance on self-regulation strategies support me to stay grounded and present. I look forward to working with Joti as my career progresses and I face new opportunities in the future.

Jacqueline Seymour,
Jacqueline Seymour,

Case Coordinator, not-for-profit organization

As a physician-leader, communicating is an essential part of my job. In addition, I'm also the host of a podcast. I had tried a few other speech coaches, but I'm eternally grateful to have found Brontë through New York Speech Coaching. While other coaches did help me grow, at New York Speech Coaching, I've noticed how my growth has been exponential. I love how we can systematically address each part of communication (ie voice, breathing etc) and come up with a game plan and session notes after every session. I've even noticed myself signing up for more opportunities to speak (ie a storytelling event) with my newfound confidence. I have no doubt this coaching experience is helping me excel in my current roles and will continue to help me thrive in my career. Highly recommend.

Raj Sundar
Raj Sundar

Physician

As a tech sales professional, I rely on my voice to influence and motivate people to take action based on my suggestions. Oftentimes, I found myself over communicating my points and losing my audience. Courtney Armstrong pointed out my areas of opportunity, and strengthened my weak points with tangible and actionable exercises that gave me confidence in my communication. I highly recommend NYSC!

Arty S.
Arty S.

Account Executive, Oracle NetSuite

There are not enough words to thank Joel for what he has given me. I simply cannot overpraise his thoughtfulness, attention to detail, and practical wisdom. My students and coworkers have all benefited from his fine observation, care -- and, in the words of Bellow, first-class noticing. I came to N.Y.S.C. with essentially no speaking experience whatsoever -- with, in short, only a deep love of my subject -- and, with his help, I have been able to share that reverence and endearment with others. Thank you, Joel.

Matthew Morrison
Matthew Morrison

Physician, Lecturer

I am incredibly fortunate to have worked with Joti for the past quarter. She has been instrumental in developing communication strategies and providing applicable tools to increase my desired outcomes. I have become more mindful of how I present myself and my style of speech. Joti has helped me build my confidence as a woman in a male-dominated industry. I feel better equipped as a professional. Joti is kind, personable, honest, and sharp. She cultivates a safe space for her clients to practice, fail, and learn. My coaching sessions with Joti has been a great investment, I highly recommend!

Rahwa
Rahwa

Information Science, Permachive

I work at a hedge fund and came to New York Speech Coaching to improve my presentation style and overall professional presence. My work with Brontë has been a game-changer! She is highly knowledgeable and had specific exercises for each aspect of my speech that I wanted to improve. I saw immediate results and have continued working with Brontë on more advanced speech and presentation techniques. Our sessions are efficient, productive, and fun! I couldn’t recommend New York Speech Coaching or Brontë more highly.

Stephen G.
Stephen G.

Financial Services

Investing in NY Speech Coaching with Joel Rainwater is one of the greatest gifts I’ve given to myself. My progress was palpable almost instantly, and within just a few sessions, I was owning my executive presence, learning how to manage the power of breath, and elevating my confidence in all communications. Joel’s commitment to his students’ improved performance is second to none. Perhaps the greatest gift is that not only will my advancements reverberate in my own career and personal life as I continue my lessons with him, but they’ll also impact countless more that read this testimonial and to whom I refer NY Speech Coaching with Joel. I feel incredibly grateful to have him in my arsenal of continuous personal and professional improvement and I guarantee that you will too.

Julia Klein Freeman
Julia Klein Freeman

HR Tech Sales

From our first session, Joti understood my goals and what I was trying to achieve. She gave me the confidence and the techniques I needed to speak in a wide range of forums, from a fundraising event to job interviews. Even though our sessions have ended, I implement her strategies, tips, and techniques in all my public speaking engagements. She showed me how to find my voice and share it with the world. I will be forever grateful.

Johanna
Johanna

Market Researcher

Working in venture capital, we are constantly pitching ourselves either to investors, entrepreneurs, or potential partners. This requires the skill to be able to present yourself professionally and efficiently while keeping your listeners engaged. I was looking to hone in my public speaking skills and was recommended to reach out to NYSC via a colleague. Throughout the whole program, I was incredibly impressed. I took a 4-week private session with Bronte and came out of the experience with a whole new way of thinking about presenting. The exercises were both encouraging and challenging and helped me to gain confidence in speaking about almost any topic. Coming away from this, I will definitely be recommending this to my whole team and others looking for a similar experience. Thank you NYSC!

Alexis N.
Alexis N.

Venture Capital

I would highly recommend Joel Rainwater as an executive presence coach.I connected with Joel soon after landing a new job that required me to take on a leadership role with clients, internal stakeholders, and junior talent. From our first phone conversation, I was impressed by how well he understood my specific goals and challenges. Joel demonstrated a professional and creative approach to our sessions. He had an agenda for every session, although he was also flexible to change our focus depending on my work needs. Joel engaged a wide variety of tools to help me craft my executive presence including visualization, breathing exercises, physical movements and real life situation simulations. Joel was plugged into every minute of our session, he was always spot on his observations, his tactical advice and thoughts. Joel made a significant difference to my professional life. I have been able to leverage our sessions into being a more impactful leader at work with clients, internal stakeholders, and junior talent. While I still have a long journey ahead of me, I am genuinely excited and happy to continue working on my executive presence with Joel Rainwater.

A.K.
A.K.

Financial Service

I speak a lot throughout my week in many different contexts, from team meetings, client meetings, giving presentations, and hosting a podcast. I sought out a speaking coach specifically to help me be a better podcast host...but I found so so much more!

In a very short period of time, Brontë England-Nelson helped me target some key areas where I struggle. How we speak is so complex from tone, thought organization, pace, structure, etc. It has been fascinating to discover just where a conversation about speaking will take us. In our first lesson, I laughed because the most important insight was to remind me to go back to 4th grade outlining to prepare for a podcast...but that was really important for me to discover. We also dove into how I speak, literally focusing on the tone. She helped me realize that I speak in run-on sentences. She helped empower me to take control as a leader of team meetings. She helped me slow down in my thinking/speaking connection. I am so glad that I started this work with Brontë! She is very skilled, I am getting more out of our work than I imagined, and would highly recommend this coaching to any human who communicates with other humans.

Liz Smith
Liz Smith

Lawyer

My whole job revolves around talking to clients all day long and I struggled with it big time at first. I found New York Speech Coaching via google, it had good reviews, so I decided to give it a shot, and I was not disappointed. Joti Patel is amazing at what she does! She really took the time to learn about my goals and career and made it fun in the process. I truly looked forward to my calls with her and loved noticing improvements on client calls as the weeks went on. I would absolutely recommend New York Speech Coaching to anyone wanting to refine their public speaking skills or increase their confidence when speaking. Thank you Joti for you help and guidance!

Dina Ramirez
Dina Ramirez

Implementation Manager

As an early-career physician in her comfort zone with one-on-one encounters with her patients and colleagues, I realized that advancing toward leadership positions and other public-facing roles would require higher level communications skills — and comfort with being seen — for which my medical training alone is not sufficient. I turned to New York Speech Coaching with the intent of improving my delivery of critical, potentially-life altering health information in a clear, meaningful and accessible way to effect change. What I gained from my instructor, Daniel Reece, was less technique, but an ongoing journey of self-exploration through which I am using my breath and presence as tools to uproot and effectively use my voice as flavored with my personality, in a white coat. I am immensely grateful to Daniel and his expertise, and highly recommend New York Speech Coaching to other medical professionals who are hoping to take their careers to the next level while staying genuine to the essence of who they are.

ChiChi O.
ChiChi O.

Physician

When I started this journey, I was highly anxious about public speaking and speaking on camera. Daniel has offered me tools that have eased my anxiety significantly. I'm excited to see what else we can achieve on this journey.

Maria Kay
Maria Kay

Content Creator in Nutrition & Self-Development

Working with Caleb Shomaker from New York Speech Coaching is been a pleasure and highly productive in equal measures. With a superb focus on my specific needs, a gentle and unwavering dedication Caleb has made tackling with deep-rooted bad speech habits enjoyable and fun while keeping me on track with my goals. I cannot recommend him enough, for both: professional and personal goals. I expect to keep coming back as I venture in more ambitious endeavors and more demanding environments.

Humberto R. Baptista
Humberto R. Baptista

CEO Vectis Solutions

As a start-up and technology leader, the ability to clearly articulate vision and ideas carries a high degree of importance. Caleb Shomaker at New York Speech Coaching was able to quickly identify areas of improvement and tailor a personalized approach. Over the course of several sessions we removed poor speaking habits while effectively rebuilding a strong communicative foundation. I noticed a significant difference in my speech control, intentionality, and vocal clarity. In summary, New York Speech Coaching provides a comprehensive solution, ranging from breathing to speaking techniques, that helps individuals bring an awareness to their own tendencies while emphasizing and coaching more constructive habits. I would highly recommend the service to anyone who would like to enhance the effectiveness of their speech and presentation skills.

Greg Hockenbrocht
Greg Hockenbrocht

Start-up & Technology Executive

With all of the changes professionals have gone through in 2020, I felt that communicating and engaging effectively over Zoom became a necessity to succeed in my Sales career. I hired Tricia in early 2021 as my private speech coach to improve my Executive Presence. I am so impressed with all of the progress I've made. Tricia is an excellent coach, she customizes the lessons and works with individuals to reach their full potential. I highly recommend Tricia!

Danielle Newman
Danielle Newman

Relationship Manager LinkedIn

Daniel is an enthusiastic coach that brings a lot of attention, experience and knowledge into each of our private sessions. Going into our lessons my goal was to gain confidence and tools I need to bring out my natural voice and ability to communicate and found lessons with Daniel incredibly helpful! I especially appreciate Daniel's philosophy to bring out and celebrate our individuality instead of fitting us into preconceived and conventional molds. I highly recommend Daniel to all who wish to hone their public speaking / communications skills.

Sandy
Sandy

Attorney

Public speaking has always been one of my GREATEST fears – this is not a hyperbole in the slightest. Growing up, I was the student who would fake sick, or actually make myself sick, to avoid speaking in front of the class; and on those rare occasions I couldn’t talk my way out of it, I would end up delivering a presentation completely red in the face, shaking like a leaf, and speaking in a voice that made me sound strangled. It should come as no surprise that I carried this fear with me from the classroom to the office, which resulted in me never having the courage to speak in meetings (even small ones!) and getting passed over for promotions. I started my sessions at New York Speech Coaching hopeful, but skeptical that such a long-standing and deep rooted issue could be overcome, but working with Brendan Houdek has been an absolute game changer for me! I went from being the person who ran away from every opportunity to speak, preferring to fake illness rather than stand in front of a room, to a person who confidently contributes in every meeting and practically leaps at any opportunity to speak in front of a group. The amount of co-workers and my leaders who’ve mentioned that they’ve noticed a change in me is both surprising and gratifying. I now speak with confidence and control – and it’s having a huge impact on my life, both professionally and personally.

Katie C.
Katie C.

The Walt Disney Company

Brendan's dynamic personality and NYSC's innovative and effective communication techniques have proven to be a winning formula for me. Over the past year, I have increased depth and tone, reduced filler words, learned how to breathe properly, gained confidence in my communication style and even improved body language. Highly recommend Brendan---not only will you make great progress in a short amount of time, but you'll also have fun along the way!

Ezra Levine
Ezra Levine

CEO Collectable Technologies, Inc.

Brendan Houdek has been a great public speaking coach for me and my team. He has helped us tremendously in getting better at not only public speaking but in communication in general. Brendan has a unique ability to make the room comfortable, engaged, and looking forward to the next session. I’m glad I was introduced to Brendan and NYSC when I did. - Vadim Supitskiy, CTO, Forbes

Vadim Supitskiy
Vadim Supitskiy

CTO, Forbes

I consider myself an average public speaker and didn’t think I needed an introductory public speaking class but I learned so much from Tricia. I recommend working with Tricia whatever your public speaking skill and comfort level. I took away some important strategies that I had never considered. I am definitely speaking with more confidence after taking her class.

Elizabeth Carbone
Elizabeth Carbone

Gulfstream Aerospace

My time working with Brendan has been immensely beneficial to my work. As a spinal surgeon, I am frequently called upon to present complex ideas, both to patients and other professionals. It is crucial that I present these ideas in ways that are clear and engaging to the audience. Through speech coaching, I’ve been able to gain both greater awareness and control over my speech, enabling me to achieve a level of communication that is simultaneously clear and professional, yet authentic. I highly recommend Brendan for anyone looking to take their communication to the next level.

Roger Härtl
Roger Härtl

Neurosurgeon

I have been doing public speaking for 20 years. My coaching sessions with Brendan have helped me become a much better podcast host and communicator in general. He very quickly helped me work out a handful of poor communication habits, some of which I wasn’t even aware, which had been plaguing me for years. For anyone interested in taking their communication game to the next level, I enthusiastically recommend New York Speech Coaching.

Rick Walker
Rick Walker

Conversations at the Mansion

I’m not an English native speaker and was looking to work on my speaking self-confidence issues that were impeding me to achieve my professional goals. I wanted something more than just a second language class and public speaking courses sounded interesting, that’s when I met Caleb! I worked with Caleb over the course of a few months and can honestly say that our time together has improved my speech tremendously. Not only do I feel like I have control over my voice, but I also have a better understanding of how my body and breath work together to produce sound. Every lesson was perfectly tailored to what I wanted to work on and what he thought would help. If you’re hoping to learn in a warm environment and see real results, this is the place for you. He provided a safe space to practice and work on my anxiety triggers, identified some bad habits I have when speaking and gives me -very easy to follow- directions and exercises to do along the week. After 5 sessions I’m very happy with my progress. I feel way more confident and even received positive feedback at work! I’m very excited about the things I will accomplish after a few more sessions and the impact not only on my work but also on my social life.

Ana M.
Ana M.

Senior Product Manager

Tricia Veldman is an amazing speech coach, motivator and mentor! She is always very nice, polite and has this great energy that inspires me every session. Tricia is a true expert in the area! She made me not only a better public speaker, but she took me out of the shell and gave me back my confidence! I highly recommend Tricia! She is the best!

IM
IM

Bloomberg

Working with Tricia Veldman was one of most satisfying and life learning experiences in my professional and personal career. Tricia was very professional, patient, and knew how to communicate her teaching material in a way that made it easy and fun to learn. In my personal career I felt more confident embracing in social situations, and as a therapist working with a lot of private it helped my professional development. I would recommend anyone who is looking to work on their speech to reach out to Tricia. You won’t be disappointed!

Jersey Lovera
Jersey Lovera

Clinical therapist

I’ve been a student of Tricia’s for almost 2 years now and am very pleased with my progress of significantly increasing the clarity of my pronunciation. More importantly, I have gained tremendous confidence in my ability to capture the attention of clients and peers (which have not gone unnoticed!). Given that it is key to success in my career and everyday life, I highly recommend New York Speech Coaching to anyone that wants to improve or sharpen their communication skills.

Cynthia Z
Cynthia Z

Wells Fargo

I was nervous about requesting gender-affirming voice and communication changes after embarking on a new transitional journey. But, when I reached out to NYSC they were extremely inclusive and sensitive to my needs and requests. In just a short amount of time, I have made such incredible strides in my journey to feminization of my voice. Caleb has truly provided me the tools required to see amazing results and has continued to foster growth and development in my vocal abilities. From vocal exercises to his extensive scientific knowledge, Caleb has this and so much more information to continue assisting with your speech challenges. I feel as though I am only on the beginning of my vocal journey with Caleb, but I know I will continue with him because he has the resources, experience, knowledge, professionalism, and overall positivity to allow us to see the results I desire. Working as a biopharmaceutics consultant adds a layer of complexity to my schedule and Caleb is always more than willing to accommodate me with flexibility. I would not be where I am today in my journey without the lessons from Caleb and NYSC.

Kareema Khan, PharmD
Kareema Khan, PharmD

Associate Medical Director at Biopharmaceutical Consulting Firm

Having presented at many business reviews over my 15 year career, I knew there was substantial room for improvement in my communication and executive presence. I contacted Caleb, expressed my areas of concern and we went to work over the several weeks. I realized an immediate result after only the first few sessions. I am learning techniques that I would never have known without our engagement. His coaching style is tailored to my specific needs and can be put into practice each day I am at work. Our review sessions are so valuable that I will continue working with Caleb for the foreseeable future. I highly recommend Caleb, if you want to improve executive presence while having a clear consistent and confident communication style.

Kevin
Kevin

Marketing, Fujifilm

I've found Brendan Houdek to be an excellent speaking coach and sessions with him were a significant amount of value. After only a few sessions, I was able to successfully incorporate the learnings into an important speaking engagement. His instruction was key, and I was very happy with the results. Brendan's technique is very polished. He effectively analyzes and then provides very practical steps to improve speaking in a variety of ways.

Alex Papasavas
Alex Papasavas

Managing Partner, Ardent Blue Technologies