meet our Team

LaQuita Ann Cleare, CEO of Clear Communication Academy, has the incredible ability to transform a simple speech into an outstanding performance. She prepares CEOs, Actors, Executives, Marketing Professionals, and other public figures with skills to enhance their presence on stage, on camera, and in media outlets. She has also worked with politicians to overcome their fear of public speaking and become more dynamic speakers. Most importantly, her work focuses on authenticity. In addition, she is also a company favorite to work with sales teams and employees on both internal/external communication.

Her masters studies in social psychology enabled her work to be science/research based, while her degree in Theater helps her take client’s vocal and physical delivery skills to the next level.

LaQuita’s successes in her career have allowed her to make appearances on NBC, ABC, FX Network, Lifetime, LA Talk Radio, and various web-based shows. She has spoken and performed on stages across the country, making her a trusted resource for stage presence skills. For more than a decade, she has worked with Fortune 500 companies across several industries to create a stronger brand image and messaging.  She has represented top brands like Samsung, Chase Bank, Cover Girl, Jameson, Hallmark and others at events across the US as a speaker and by developing key narratives for her clients and audiences.

Eugene L. Williams: Project Management Powerhouse
With over 20 years of diverse business experience and an impressive array of certifications, including PMP, CSM, Salesforce Admin, Platform App Builder, and Service Cloud Consultant, Gene brings a wealth of expertise to our team. A proud US Air Force veteran, he has honed his skills in Fortune 100/500 corporations, Salesforce-driven environments, the military, and small business settings, establishing a proven track record of success.

Gene’s multifaceted background encompasses a wide range of proficiencies, including agile and scrum methodologies, change management, continuous improvement, project planning and scheduling, process improvement, training/coaching, data analysis, quality management, stakeholder and resource management. His ability to seamlessly navigate complex projects and drive operational excellence is unparalleled.

A Catalyst for Transformative Change:
Throughout his career, Gene has consistently demonstrated his prowess in spearheading transformative initiatives, fostering strategic partnerships, and enhancing stakeholder relationships. His adeptness in orchestrating business initiatives, coupled with his talent for introducing effective solutions and managing associated risks, sets him apart. Gene’s commitment to delivering timely recommendations, ensuring tasks are completed on time and within budget constraints, and leveraging internal and external networks to optimize business goals, makes him an invaluable asset to our organization.

Karrie brings experience from diverse backgrounds, making her a valuable asset to the team. Her background in purchasing and scheduling in the world of manufacturing, has equipped her to take complex systems and build frameworks for efficiency, putting systems in place allowing for seamless deliveries of service and project management. Karrie brought those skills to healthcare where she managed a hospital volunteer department from 2008 to 2012, growing the department from 125 to a force of over 600 people with no increase in staff hours. Implementation, training, systems development and streamlining operating procedures were the essential component in taking a department from status quo to off-the-charts-exceptional!

Karrie is a skilled communicator that understands the complexities of managing a volunteer community and was instrumental in growing and developing over 30 service areas within the hospital, making it a department that was a standout. Karrie also implemented a program for high school teens allowing them an educational experience in medicine that proved to be a financial benefit for the department, as well as drawing press and attention to the hospital organization.

Her communication and project management skills blend flawlessly for a great addition to the team.

Karrie holds degrees in Industrial and Organizational Psychology (BA) and in Supervision (BS) from Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN.

Barbara Calep is a dynamic business development and sales professional who has made it her mission to connect people, find innovative solutions, and build strong partnerships that drive success. With over two decades of experience working with Fortune 500 companies and in global markets, Barbara is an expert at identifying key opportunities and driving revenue growth. From her early days in the industry, Barbara has been known for her unparalleled ability to bring people together, forging strong relationships that enable companies to reach their goals. Whether she’s working with clients, partners, or colleagues, Barbara’s infectious enthusiasm and natural charm have won her a legion of fans.

Barbara’s ability to think outside the box and come up with innovative strategies has been instrumental in helping companies achieve success in highly competitive markets.

With her passion for helping people and her unwavering commitment to excellence, she continues to inspire and motivate those around her to achieve great things

Jackie Elliott is an expert in business operations and strategy as well as a beacon for transformative thinking. Passionately guiding both companies and individuals to magnify their voices and change lives, Jackie melds her academic acumen with real-world experience to create meaningful impact.

The heartbeat of a loving mother to four, Jackie understands the weight of legacy. This insight drives her commitment to aligning with like minded visionaries, ones who hunger for growth in every facet of life. With a profound skill set in operations, strategy, and process formulation, she’s sculpted success stories for spirited startups and seasoned enterprises alike.

Embracing the role of an “Optimistic Realist,” Jackie sails through life’s unpredictable waves with grace and resilience. Her mantra, radiant and resounding, serves as a guiding light: “Attract what you expect, reflect what you desire, become what you respect, and mirror what you admire.” Jackie strives to serve her teams where strategy meets heart and ambition meets purpose.

If you are one of our loyal clients, you’d know it’s Shamira who’s reaching out just by reading the first few sentences of the email because of her upbeat and cheerful tone. She takes exceptional care of clients throughout their entire journey ensuring that every experience is a success.

Shamira has a BS Degree in Nursing and is a licensed nurse. Her career background is a mixture of healthcare, customer service, training & recruitment, and administrative support. She has worked for top companies including a Fortune 500 company as a customer service specialist for many years and was promoted to coach newly on boarded employees.

With her background focusing on caring and providing support, she is quick to find a solution to help ensure that your training experience is top notch.

Aside from handling client tasks, she also assists the team in many ways. Whether it’s a simple or a complex task, she’s always ready to bring it on! She likes to learn new things and she aims to be the go-to person on the team when someone needs help.

Jessica holds a degree in fashion design and merchandising, but her true calling lies in the world of digital marketing and small business consulting.

Jessica rocks in the world of digital marketing where her strategic acumen, creative content development, and knack for forging impactful partnerships converge. This trifecta enables her to deliver dynamic and creative marketing solutions, perfectly tailored to enhance brand presence and engagement in the ever-evolving digital landscape.

As a loving mother of two, she is deeply committed to both her family and her passion for self-growth and networking, constantly seeking opportunities to level up in life.

What truly sets Jessica apart is her infectious personality. Her presence can light up any room, infusing it with an abundance of positive energy. Entrepreneurs seeking guidance often turn to her as a beacon of empowerment, knowing that she has the unique ability to inspire and motivate others to be the best versions of themselves.

Beyond her professional and family commitments, Jessica has a strong love for health and fitness. When she’s not immersed in the world of entrepreneurship and coaching, you can often find her dedicated to her own physical well-being, demonstrating her commitment to a well-rounded and fulfilling lifestyle.

Tiziana is a seasoned Admin & Client Relations executive with over 8 years in supporting mid and senior-level managers by providing them with world class administrative support. She has experience with administrative tasks and customer service. Having held positions in business fields, Tiziana is able to tailor her skills to meet the needs to various clients. She is able to interact directly with potential and existing clients, and her top goal is to increase customer satisfaction ratings.

In addition to her duties, Tiziana is a highly approachable individual who has a pleasant attitude and a willingness to make a positive mark.

Her educational background in Business Administration qualifies her to follow and maintain processes following the company’s established procedures and protocols.

Professor Derek Tang teaches Public Speaking at California State University of Northridge. His primary focus is channeling enthusiasm and dynamic projection with a strong emphasis on rhetorical strategies. He is an exceptional trainer with a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership. He has helped hundreds of students overcome their speech anxiety with various techniques to embrace their inner confidence.

He also provides training and development workshops for University Faculty members and Graduate students. His most recent seminar focused on presentation skills and audience adaptation for prospective Phd students.

He is an energetic teacher and a master at unlocking each student’s true potential. His creative lectures and activities help students become more accepting of spontaneity and improvisation which are key ingredients to becoming an excellent speaker.

Public Speaking Trainer, Kacie Bauzon, is a powerful and authentic communicator. She is passionate about helping others find their inner voice and transform into their best version of themselves when public speaking. With detailed preparation and some laugh-out-loud fun, Kacie helps elevate individuals into a commanding presence when in front of an audience.

She has more than 15 years of corporate marketing and non-profit experience and has mastered the art of listening, connecting, and engaging with people of varied backgrounds.

Kacie has led marketing and communication teams at Fortune 100 companies including 3M, The Home Depot, and Siemens, and understands target markets, strategies to reach them, and key messages that invoke action. Kacie also started a consulting company that provides marketing expertise to small business owners.

She has served in leadership roles and on the boards of educational and youth sports organizations. Kacie holds a Master of Science Degree in Marketing and Communications from Northwestern University. After working with Kacie, clients gain practical and effective public speaking skills they can use both professionally and personally.

Instructor David McKinney has been teaching Public Speaking college courses for over 15 years.  He is passionate about helping his students find their unique voice in presenting in front of an audience and learning strategies they need to face their public speaking anxieties.  David is skilled at creating a safe communication climate for learners to learn and grow as public speakers.  David has a master’s degree in communication and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership. David’s down-to-earth humor captivates the audience and makes learning fun and engaging.  His strong background in educational learning and public speaking development makes him the go to guy for preparing learners for their next speaking engagement.

David is passionate about helping learners grow in confidence and skill in public speaking. As an instructor, he strives to create a safe environment where learners feel comfortable taking risks and learning from mistakes. David understands learners’ fears and anxieties around speaking in public and works to dispel myths and replace them with constructive strategies.

David approaches workshops with good humor and an easygoing nature. He aims to make workshops engaging and fun while still challenging participants to push beyond their comfort zones. David encourages learners to find their authentic voice and speak from the heart.

When not speaking or training, David can be found cooking delicious southern meals with his family and playing with his pet Yorkie named Axel.

Monica’s experience as a public speaking coach, actress, and mentor gives her an exceptional ability to empower professionals in discovering their distinctive voices and enhancing their confidence while addressing audiences. Despite her inherent introversion, Monica’s journey to finding her voice began on the stage, where she honed her skills in self-expression and self-assurance through theatrical performances. Drawing from her theatrical background, Monica now imparts invaluable lessons through master classes and seminars tailored for universities, high schools, and private students, emphasizing the interconnectedness between acting techniques and effective public speaking strategies.

Beyond her coaching endeavors, Monica’s illustrious acting career showcases a diverse range of roles across television, film, musicals, commercials, and plays. Her experience in portraying various characters and conveying emotions authentically lends depth to her coaching methods, enriching her ability to guide individuals in harnessing the power of storytelling and nonverbal communication to captivate audiences and deliver impactful speeches.

Sam Bianco is a seasoned voice specialist with over 15 years of experience, dedicated to helping clients of all ages unlock their full potential. Having established a successful career as a professional singer and voice teacher, Sam has garnered numerous awards and shared stages with renowned artists like Josh Groban. This rich musical background serves as a strong foundation for Sam’s passion for enhancing communication skills and aiding individuals in achieving their objectives.

Armed with a Masters in Voice Education from Boston University and a Bachelors in Vocal Performance from Ithaca College, Sam’s expertise encompasses a diverse range of skills crucial for effective public speaking. Through mastering voice control techniques, refining vocal delivery, understanding body language cues, and incorporating vocal variety, Sam empowers clients to become compelling communicators. Furthermore, Sam’s holistic approach, grounded in a growth mindset and fostering genuine connections, ensures that each client not only achieves their public speaking goals but also experiences personal and professional growth.

Shannon is a seasoned trainer with over 20 years of experience in education and training. Holding a BA in Behavioral Neuroscience and Religious Studies from Lehigh University, she blends her deep understanding of human behavior with cutting-edge communication strategies, helping individuals and teams elevate their public speaking and storytelling abilities to drive meaningful results.

As a Certified Public Speaking Coach, Shannon excels at helping clients craft compelling narratives that not only captivate audiences but also fuel business growth. She teaches leaders, marketers, and companies how to utilize strategic storytelling and communication to differentiate their brand in competitive markets. Whether it’s creating stories that resonate with customers to increase sales or fostering internal communication that unites teams, her approach is tailored to align with company objectives.

With experience across a range of industries, including marketing, IT, healthcare, and professional services, Shannon has trained over 20,000 healthcare professionals to communicate more effectively, enhancing outcomes both for patients and companies. 

Shannon’s workshops and coaching sessions focus on refining presentation skills, building confidence, and mastering storytelling—a critical asset for marketers looking to inspire action. Her experience as a Web-Class Facilitator and Producer allows her to deliver high-energy, interactive training sessions that resonate with both in-person and virtual audiences, making her a go-to expert for marketing teams looking to enhance their communication strategies.

Shannon was recently accepted into the graduate program at The California Institute of Integral Studies, Blue Sky Leaders Program, where she is excited to study the effects of conscious communication in the workplace.  Shannon believes that to change the world, we must first transform ourselves. When each individual finds their own personal freedom, then humanity can achieve positive change on a larger scale.  With this strong foundation, Shannon is excited to help nurture a new generation of leaders, unlocking their ability to communicate their message in a meaningful and productive way.

Don is a voice specialist and has worked with clients worldwide in training their speaking voice both in workshops and one on one settings.  He teaches one of our popular courses, “Preparing to Perform,” tips and tricks for making the most out of your public speaking engagements. He has communications training from Wayne State University and for years he was a public speaker for thousands of people at various Microsoft events across the US.

His vocal expertise has made him a go-to resource for Broadcast journalists, popular authors in the audio book arena, and business executives with upcoming radio and speaking engagements. His voice can be heard in books and company training materials, while his strong voiceover background helps him prepare clients for radio interviews.

Don also worked at a real recording studio run by an ex-Motown engineer. A major education into hearing the details of audio and vocal projection, and that foundation has been enhanced over the last 3 decades of teaching. His technical background gives him an edge to help clients work on the mechanics of public speaking.

His goal is to give clients valuable tools that they can adapt to any speaking situation

As a Professional Storyteller, Ratana helps her clients identify their personal brand and connect with their audience, in a process called Find Your Story to Build Your Business. Those stories connect her clients to their customers to get results. She has an MBA from UCLA with an emphasis on marketing, which she uses to help clients find a unique angle in the marketplace. She’s taught workshops on the Art of Storytelling, Brand Building for Individuals and Businesses, and the Art of Connection (or How to Make Networking Suck Less). She’s worked with artists, non-profits, entrepreneurs, and Fortune 500 teams.

Rita is a highly skilled communication expert and master trainer with a proven track record of success in working with sales, marketing, and customer service professionals. With years of experience as the head of training for major corporations like MCI Telecommunications, Myspace, and others. Rita has developed a reputation for delivering outstanding training programs that help teams take their skills to the next level. Rita’s expertise lies in the art of communication, and she has developed a comprehensive approach to training that covers everything from effective storytelling to dynamic presentations. Her training programs are designed to help individuals and teams unlock their full potential and achieve their goals through improved communication and collaboration. Through her extensive training and development programs, Rita has helped numerous teams achieve unprecedented success in sales, marketing, and customer service. Her approach is grounded in a deep understanding of the power of effective communication and the ability to help each person bring out the best version of themselves. Rita creates a supportive learning environment that leaves trainees feeling motivated and energized.

DB Bedford is an Emotional Intelligence expert who seamlessly blends the power of communication and emotional intelligence, unlocking transformative connections and fostering growth for individuals and organizations.

With extensive experience and a passion for guiding others, DB specializes in training staff and leadership to harness emotional intelligence for success.

With over 20 years of professional experience, certifications in consulting, training, and a background in criminal justice and crisis intervention, DB Bedford has made an indelible impact on prestigious institutions and corporations such as Kaiser Permanente, Sutter Health, Arizona State University, and Cal State East Bay.

Drawing from a profound understanding of emotional intelligence forged through a remarkable journey from the rough streets of Oakland, California, DB learned how to use Emotional Intelligence to survive and navigate complex social situations.

Beyond his professional endeavors, DB enjoys playing poker, day trading stocks and traveling in his spare time while enjoying the company of his wife and children.

Dan is an accomplished clinical psychologist specializing in organizational behavior, executive coaching, and sport psychology. With over 30 years of experience in human resources and management training, he has dedicated his career to understanding and enhancing the human side of organizations.

With a focus on internal company communication and team building, Dan is an expert in creating a harmonious and productive work environment. He helps organizations strengthen their communication channels and build cohesive teams that thrive on collaboration.

Dan collaborates with national and multinational private companies, state bodies, hospitals, and Italian and European government organizations.

Being a sought-after international trainer, Dan travels worldwide to conduct management workshops for top-level executives. He excels at inspiring and motivating employees, developing visionary strategies for boards of directors, and facilitating organizational growth.

Since 2008, Dan has collaborated regularly with YPO (Young Presidents’ Organization) as a trainer and facilitator. In 2015, he obtained the certification of forum facilitator, further enhancing his ability to guide and inspire business leaders.

With his guidance, your company can unlock its full potential and create an effective communication culture.