John Engeman Shares Benefits of Toastmasters Training after New York Cash Exchange Presentation

June 25, 2012 - PRLog -- John Engeman, you are the Vice President, Assistant Treasurer of Fifth & Pacific Companies, Inc. (formerly Liz Claiborne) and the Treasurer of the Fifth & Pacific Foundation.

1.   What have been your most significant achievements in your positions with Fifth & Pacific Companies, Inc. (http://fifthandpacific.com)?

I have been able to raise needed financing for the company several times during challenging financial years. In addition I have restructured the debt profile of the company making it much stronger, improving the Balance Sheet and increasing the stock price.

2.  John, you recently gave a presentation for the New York Cash Exchange entitled “Key Pillars of Debt Planning and Restructuring”.  What was the presentation about?  What was its significance or importance for your audience?

The presentation explained the strategies to effectively restructure and refinance corporate debt and the appropriate planning to ensure the ability to refinance. This presentation was directed to the executive level of the conference attendees (Treasurers and CFOs) as they are responsible for the financial viability of the company.

Key points included:
•   Be proactive and think ahead,
•   Have excellent visibility into the future needs of the company,
•   Have alternatives and backup plans,
•   Know the risks and plan for contingencies well in advance.

3.  In reading your bio, John, I see that you are involved with several professional organizations:  Institute of Management Accountants and Toastmasters International.  What other professional associations are you an active member?  Please share the extent of your involvement?

I have been a member of the Association for Financial Professionals and the Institute of Management Accountants for many years. I have professional certifications from each organization (CTP, CMA, CFM) and have actively participated in conferences by giving presentations or being part of discussion panels.  I have been an active member of Toastmasters at the local club level for several years and the Area 54 Governor with District 83 for the past year.

4.  Why did you choose to get involved with Toastmasters (How has your involvement helped you)?

I joined Toastmasters International in 2005 when I joined Fifth & Pacific. I had a very good track record in my career but there was something missing.   I wanted to be able to communicate my ideas and knowledge publicly to others without fearing public speaking. I found out that the world is looking for good speakers so there are opportunities.

To date my most satisfying experience was to speak at an international finance conference in Geneva, Switzerland with an audience comprised of corporate financial practitioners from many countries. In addition to being part of a panel I gave a presentation to my international treasury peers.

5. How can Toastmasters help other professionals in job situations?

Toastmasters prepares people to speak confidently in many different environments, whether in an informal group meeting, a formal presentation and even in a one on one interview. We learn how to gather our thoughts and deliver our message effectively when asked a question at a meeting or job interview.

6.  What about social situations?  Does Toastmasters Training also carry over into social situations?

Absolutely. When you enter a social gathering and want to network with others you feel more confident in introducing yourself and engaging others, even if that means breaking into a formed group to introduce yourself. As more and more people communicate via text and through social media, the art of conversation, combined with body language and human visible expression, is lost. As a Toastmaster, you constantly practice communication and listening, powerful tools in today’s world.

7.  Is Toastmasters concerned with only public speaking, or does it provide training in other communication skills as well?

Toastmasters prepares its members for speaking, listening and leadership skills. The speaking and listening skills go hand in hand. As a member it is very important to listen in order to learn from others. Each speaker is verbally evaluated to provide feedback, both to the speaker and to all of the members.

There are many roles within Toastmasters that help us become better leaders so just by participating in meetings you receive valuable leadership experience even if you do not deliver a speech at the meeting. Of course the more involved you are and the more preparation, the more knowledge and experience you receive.

8. John, tell us a memorable experience with Toastmasters and International Speaking?

Not long ago, I spent a week in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.  I wanted to spend personal time with my Dutch business team that reported to me. I invited my direct report, who was not a Toastmaster, to a Toastmasters meeting in Amsterdam.

He was Dutch and while he spoke both English and Dutch, the meeting was conducted in Dutch. While I was aware that it was a Dutch speaking club I asked the club if I could deliver a speech in English to the mainly Dutch speaking club. The membership agreed and I delivered a humorous speech, something this newer club was not familiar with.

Fortunately I was skilled in delivering humor with effective body language and the speech was enjoyed by all. It was one of my most memorable Toastmasters experiences. Toastmasters gave me the courage to deliver a humorous speech in English to a Dutch speaking audience in a foreign country.

Upon my return to my local club, Ridgewood Toastmasters, I delivered two speeches about my experiences in Amsterdam and speaking at a Dutch Toastmasters club. I was even added to the speaking roster on their Dutch website. It was truly an unforgettable experience that I can thank Toastmasters for. I hope to attend another meeting with another club outside the U.S. in the future…but maybe this time with an English speaking club.

9. John, what is your next industry focused speaking assignment?

I was encouraged by the feedback I received from the presentation on Debt Planning and Restructuring at the New York Cash Exchange. The conference coordinator informed me that several people came up to him and mentioned the quality of my presentation. I would like to deliver an updated speech to a national audience in order to educate more people on the strategies and techniques we employed to manage debt. I plan to submit a request to EuroFinance's North American conference and to the Association for Financial Professionals for their annual conference. In the meantime I continue to participate and gain experience with my local club and as a District leader.

About John Engeman:

John Engeman, ACB, ALB is the 2011-2012 Area 54 Governor in District 83 and a member of Ridgewood Toastmasters (http://www.ridgewoodtoastmasters.org) .  John joined Toastmasters International in 2005 to communicate his ideas and knowledge publicly to others without fearing public speaking. Ridgewood Toastmasters meets on the second and fourth Tuesday in the month at 7:30 pm at the Unitarian Society Fellowship room in Ridgewood, New Jersey.

About Toastmasters International

Toastmasters International is a nonprofit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of clubs. Founded in October 1924, the organization currently has more than 270,000 members in 13,000 clubs in 116 countries. Each week, Toastmasters helps more than a quarter million people of every ethnicity, education and profession build their competence in communication so they can gain the confidence to lead others. For information about local Toastmasters clubs, please visit http://www.toastmasters.org.