Registration for the December 2025 workshop is open!

Workshop Overview

The Professional Speaking: Delivering Powerful Presentations workshop is designed to provide expert tips and takeaways for public speaking and presentations. Participants will have an opportunity to apply learned skills and practice them in an energetic, experiential learning environment. Through this highly interactive session, attendees will learn how to craft compelling messages for a variety of audiences, cultivate dynamic delivery, and calm public speaking anxiety.  This session is designed for any professional who regularly networks or has the opportunity to present informative or persuasive presentations to both internal audiences and outside organizations.  During the workshop, participants will develop and deliver a concise presentation and learn how to spontaneously verbalize ideas as they appear confident in front of a crowd.

Available Dates:

  • December 4, 2025 – In-Person
  • Location: University of Alabama campus at University Hall, 275 Kilgore Lane, Tuscaloosa, AL  35401

Pricing:

  • Early Bird Fee: $298 (available until November 3, 2025)
  • Standard Workshop Fee: $350
  • UA Employee: $298 (call Registration Services at 205-348-3000)
  • Register 3 or more: $250 each  (call Registration Services at 205-348-3000)
  • Custom pricing available for private groups

Who Should Attend:

Are you a professional who regularly networks or presents informative, persuasive or sales presentations to a variety of clients?  If so, the Professional Speaking Workshop was designed with you in mind! During this one-day interactive workshop, you will develop and deliver a concise presentation and learn how to spontaneously verbalize ideas while appearing confident in front of a crowd.  You will learn to speak more fluidly, maintain eye contact, and control body language as you improve your communication skills and present your ideas in a coherent and organized manner.

You Will Learn To:

  • Add Energy and Enthusiasm
  • Appear Confident in Front of the Crowd/Non-verbal communication
  • Body Language
  • Deliver Confidently without Notes or Visual Aids
  • Design a World-Class Presentation in Minutes
  • Design Concise Presentations (Powerful three-point talk)
  • Develop Effective Examples and Stories for Key Points
  • Engage the Audience
  • Get Results and Achieve Goals
  • Give and Receive Feedback
  • Handle Questions and Discussions
  • Overcome Nervousness and Anxiety
  • Physical Relaxation Techniques
  • Prepare Mentally
  • Pro Tips to Wow Your Audience
  • Think on Your Feet (Spontaneously Verbalize Ideas)
  • Verbal Fillers

Workshop Outline

Session Outline Title Overview
Strategic Preparation
  1. Clarifying with Examples and Storytelling
  2. Design your Message Using a Three-Point Approach
Cultivate Delivery
  1. Delivering Confidently Without Notes or Visual Aids
  2. Energy and Enthusiasm
  3. Gestures and Body Language
Calming Anxiety
  1. Handling Questions and Discussions, including Negative Discussions
  2. Physical Relaxation Techniques
  3. Preparing Mentally
Powerful “Pitches” & WOW-ing your Audience
  1. Engaging your Audience
  2. Getting Results and Achieving Goals
  3. Pro Tips to WOW your Audience

Unique workshop offerings

  • Action-learning activities for individuals via group work and practice of delivery and closing

Workshop Lead

Shanna Ullmann, Ph.D.
Shanna Ullmann, Ph.D.

Dr. Ullmann has over 25 years of hands-on human relations, executive education, and corporate training experience advising global corporations, universities, the US military, and US Federal government organizations on Leadership Development, Strategic Planning, Constituent Engagement, Cross-Cultural Communications, Diversity, and Employee Relations, Professional Etiquette and Protocol, Business Communications, and Mediation and Workplace Conflict Resolution. She currently holds a Dun & Bradstreet Open Ratings Past Performance Review of 100% satisfaction from clients.  She has extensive experience as an adjunct instructor with the University of Alabama, Auburn University, Rollins College in Orlando, FL, USAF Air University, Fordham University, University of Colorado, and the University of Central Florida.  Dr. Ullmann is a graduate of the Protocol School of Washington in Washington, DC, and is certified as a Master Trainer in Business Communications, Professional Business Etiquette and Protocol, and International Protocol. She is a certified Master Trainer by the American Society of Training and Development. In addition, Dr. Ullmann holds certification as a Diversity and Cross-Cultural specialist through the Interchange Institute in Cambridge, MA.  She is also a certified Workplace Conflict Resolution trainer through Mediation Training Institute International, as well as holding triple certification as a Professional Mediator in Workplace Conflict through Mediation Training Institute International, the Pulse Institute of Canada, and the Justice Center of Atlanta. She holds a B.S in Human Resources Management from the University of Alabama and a Ph.D. in Mediation and Conflict Resolution from Euclid University.

Program Manager

Mary Patterson, CPA
Mary Patterson, CPA, SHRM-CP
Phone Number: 205-348-7049

Mary Patterson works in the Office of Teaching Innovation and Digital Education, Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning at The University of Alabama as Program Manager, where she assists the OTIDE team in designing and implementing professional development and training programs, industrial training programs, and executive education programs. She is a Certified Public Accountant as well as a certified professional in the Society for Human Resource Management. She works closely with HR departments to design custom training to enhance work objectives, increase productivity and build a positive culture.