Distinguished Toastmaster Tom Dowd will lead a two-part professional development program, Public Speaking & Online Presentations, on Wednesday, Sept. 9 and 16, from 6 – 9 p.m., through the University of Maine Hutchinson Center. The fee for this online program is $125 and need-based scholarships are available.

Nonprofit leaders, business leaders, educators, municipal officials, members of the clergy and others interested in becoming a more effective speaker are invited to register. Program participants will learn how to relieve the stress associated with speaking publicly; become skilled in speaking with or without notes; and support their message most efficiently.

“They’ll learn to think quickly, speak logically and engage an audience; use the power of personalized storytelling to increase audience attention; and understand that we are surrounded by public speaking opportunities,” said the Center, in a news release.

This program, held via live Zoom session, will help participants gain the confidence and skills to adapt to the ever-evolving need to conduct business online. A new addition to this program is the emphasis on speaking and presenting on online platforms such as Zoom. There will be ample opportunity for interaction and feedback from the instructor and participants.

Instructor “Transformation” Tom Dowd received a communications degree from the University of Delaware. He is a speaker and an author, trainer and coach. As a member of Toastmasters International, Dowd exhibits consistent success in speech competitions and achieved the Distinguished Toastmaster status in 2015, according to the Center.

Dowd utilized his 25+ years of experience in the financial and customer service industry to start Thomas Dowd Professional Development and Coaching, LLC, where he helps people to creatively find their own paths to success. 

For more information, to register or request a reasonable accommodation or need-based scholarship application, contact Michelle Patten, 207.338.8002; um.fhc.pd@maine.edu, or go online.

About the Hutchinson Center:

The Hutchinson Center is an outreach center for the University of Maine in Orono, that serves as an educational and cultural center for the midcoast area. It is named for University of Maine President Emeritus Frederick E. Hutchinson. The mission of the Hutchinson Center is to broaden access to University of Maine academic and non-degree programs and services, lifelong learning opportunities, and professional and career development experiences using innovative approaches that increase synergy among University of Maine System entities, University of Maine departments and divisions, and that engage a wider Maine community.

About the University of Maine:

The University of Maine, founded in Orono in 1865, is the state's land grant, sea grant and space grant university. It is located on Marsh Island in the homeland of the Penobscot Nation.  As Maine's flagship public university, UMaine has a statewide mission of teaching, research and economic development, and community service. UMaine is the state's only public research university and among the most comprehensive higher education institutions in the Northeast. It attracts students from all 50 states and more than 70 countries. UMaine currently enrolls 11,561 undergraduate and graduate students who have opportunities to participate in groundbreaking research with world-class scholars. UMaine offers more than 100 degree programs through which students can earn master's, doctoral or professional science master's degrees, as well as graduate certificates. The university promotes environmental stewardship, with substantial efforts campuswide to conserve energy, recycle and adhere to green building standards in new construction. For more information about UMaine, visit umaine.edu.