Training Experience

Business Writing Training: January - June 2010

Cypress Media Group delivered a business writing and grammar training seminar to employees of the following organization:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Proposal Writing Training: January - June 2010

Cypress Media Group delivered a proposal writing seminar to employees of the following organization in Weatherford, TX:

Imperial Construction

Media Relations Training: January - June 2010

Cypress Media Group delivered media relations training seminar to employees of the following organizations:

Matthew Richardson, Candidate for South Carolina Attorney General
Grace Institute for Atlanta, GA

Public Relations Writing Training: January - June 2010

Cypress Media Group delivered public relations writing training seminars to employees of the following organization in Chicago, IL, and New York, NY:

FTI Consulting

Presentation Skills Training: January - June 2010

Cypress Media Group delivered customized presentation skills training seminars to employees of the following organization in Atlanta, GA:

Georgia Tech

Presentation Skills Training: December 2009

Cypress Media Group delivered customized presentation skills training seminars to employees of the following organizations:

Technical Writing Training: December 2009

Cypress Media Group delivered customized technical writing training seminars to employees of the following organizations:

National Nuclear Security Administration (U. S. Department of Energy) in Las Vegas, Nevada
Archer Daniels Midland
Modern Technology Solutions, Inc.
Jordan, Jones & Goulding
U. S. Army Corps of Engineers

Business Writing Training: September 2009

Cypress Media Group delivered a business writing and grammar training seminar to employees of the following organization:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Technical Writing Training: April 2009

Cypress Media Group delivered customized technical writing training seminars to employees of the following organizations:

Business Writing Training: April 2009

Cypress Media Group delivered customized proofreading training to Source Marketing in Norwalk, CT.

We delivered a customized two-day seminar called Writing Effective Policies and Procedures to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, GA.

Cypress Media Group also delivered a seminar entitled Power Writing Training to The Lewin Group in Falls Church, VA.

Technical Writing Training: March 2009

Cypress Media Group delivered customized technical writing training seminars to employees of the following organizations:

Proposal Writing Training: June 2008

Cypress Media Group delivered a two-day proposal writing seminar to employees and managers of XTec, Incorporated in Reston, VA.

For more than a decade XTec has been a world leader in security and authentication systems and in the development of the standards used by the Federal Government to establish error-free and secure authentication. XTec has led the way, through its innovative and patented technologies and research, with easy to use and highly secure solutions for government and businesses.

The Writing Proposals that Win Contracts course included one day of instructor-led training on how to write winning proposals and a one-day hands-on workshop that reviewed past proposals and determine how to implement the concepts learned on the first training day.

Presentation Coaching: June 2008

Cypress Media Group provided three days of presentation coaching services to worldwide employees and managers of Goodrich Aerostructures who were gathered for meetings at the company's Foley, AL location.

The training included guiding Goodrich Aerostructures personnel through the process of preparing an effective sales presentation for their sales force to deliver to clients and prospects around the globe.

Public Relations Writing Training: March 2008

Cypress Media Group provided public relations writing training for Activision of Santa Monica, CA.

Activision, Inc. NASDAQ: ATVI is an American video game developer and publisher. It was the first independent developer and distributor of video games for gaming consoles, founded on October 1, 1979. Its first products were cartridges for the Atari 2600 video console system, and it is now one of the largest third party video game publishers in the world.

Speech Writing Training: March 2008

Cypress Media Group provided speech writing training at Sony Electronics in San Diego, CA.

Sony is a leading manufacturer of audio, video, communications, and information technology products for the consumer and professional markets. Its music, motion picture, television, computer entertainment, and online businesses make Sony one of the most comprehensive entertainment companies in the world. Sony's principal U.S. businesses include Sony Electronics Inc., Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc., Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc., and a 50% interest in Sony BMG Music Entertainment, one of the largest recorded music companies in the world.

Internet Marketing Training: March 2008

Cypress Media Group provided Internet marketing training at the National Propane Gas Association's Southeastern Convention & International Propane Expo in Atlanta, GA.

The National Propane Gas Association is the national trade association representing the U.S. propane industry. With a membership of more than 3,000 companies in all 50 states, 38 affiliated state or regional associations, and members in 28 foreign countries, NPGA represents every segment of the propane industry.

The seminar we presented is called How to Make your Web Site Make Money . Seminar participants learned how to define their target market and develop Web site content that meets customer needs. They also discovered how to drive traffic to their Web site using free marketing tools, including search engines and directories.

This highly interactive seminar prepared participants to make the changes that they need to make to their Web site to produce immediate money-making results.

Proposal Writing Boot Camp: January 2008

Cypress Media Group delivered a five-day proposal writing boot camp to employees and managers of Goodrich Aerostructures in Foley, AL.

The training included Power Writing, Report Writing , Writing Technical Documents, and Writing Proposals that Win Contracts.

Technical Writing Training: October 2007

Cypress Media Group delivered a customized technical writing training seminar to employees of MAPEI in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

The name MAPEI stands for "Materiali Ausiliari Per l'Edilizia e l'Industria," which is Italian for "Auxiliary Materials for Construction and Industry." The company MAPEI stands for reliable, easy-to-use, technologically advanced systems for tile and stone installation, floor-covering installation, and concrete restoration.

Media Relations Training: September 2007

Cypress Media Group delivered a customized media relations course to employees of the US Small Business Administration in Atlanta, GA.

Throughout the day, examples, exercises, and discussion were specifically targeted to this organization's media relations issues. The participants were also able to share personal media relations experiences, establish media relations policy, and highlight specific topics on which they need to prepare material to communicate their messages to the media and their stakeholders.

Technical Writing Training: September 2007

Cypress Media Group delivered a customized technical writing training seminar to employees of Northrop Grumman IT in Atlantic City, NJ.

Northrop Grumman Corporation is a $30 billion global defense and technology company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in information and services, electronics, aerospace and shipbuilding to government and commercial customers worldwide.

Technical Writing Training: July 2007

Cypress Media Group delivered a customized technical writing training seminar to employees of Cytec Industries in Atlanta, GA.

Cytec Industries Inc. is a global specialty chemicals and materials company focused on developing, manufacturing and selling value-added products. Their products serve a diverse range of end markets including aerospace, adhesive, automotive and industrial coatings, chemical intermediates, inks, mining and plastics.

Technical Writing Training: June 2007

Cypress Media Group delivered a customized technical writing training seminar to employees of Cordis Neurovascular in Miami, FL.

Cordis is a Johnson & Johnson company that has pioneered less invasive treatments for vascular disease. Technological innovation and a deep understanding of the medical marketplace and the needs of patients have made Cordis the world's leading developer and manufacturer of breakthrough products for interventional medicine, minimally invasive computer-based imaging, and electrophysiology.

Technical Writing Training: April 2007

Cypress Media Group delivered a customized technical writing training seminar to employees of RTKL in Baltimore, MD.

RTKL is an international architecture, engineering and planning firm. The company also has offices in Washington, D.C., Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, Madrid, London, Tokyo and Shanghai.

Effective Presentations Training: March 2007

Cypress Media Group provided effective presentations training to personnel at Fort Shafter in Honolulu, HI.

Media Relations Training: February 2007

Cypress Media Group delivered a customized media relations course to employees and managers of Credit Union Service Corporation in Duluth, GA.

Proposal Writing Training: January 2007

Cypress Media Group delivered a proposal writing training seminar to employees and managers of the General Services Administration in Washington, DC.

Technical Writing Training: November 2006

Cypress Media Group delivered a customized technical writing training seminar to employees and managers of TIC Gums in Belcamp, MD.

Technical Writing Training: September 2006

Cypress Media Group delivered a customized technical writing training seminar to members of the U. S. Air Force Air Mobility Battlelab at Fort Dix in Fort Dix, NJ.

Business Writing Training: August 2006

Cypress Media Group delivered customized business writing training to employees of The Lewin Group in Falls Church, VA.

The Lewin Group is a premier national health care and human services consulting firm with more than 35 years of experience finding answers and solving problems for leading organizations in the public, non-profit, and private sectors. Lewin's strategic and analytical services aim to help clients:

Improve policy and expand knowledge of health care and human services systems
Enact, run, and evaluate programs to enhance delivery and financing of health care and family services
Deal with shifts in health care practice, technology, and regulation
Optimize performance, quality, coverage, and health outcomes
Create strategies for institutions, communities, governments, and people to make health care and human services systems more effective

Proofreading Training: August 2006

Cypress Media Group delivered customized proofreading training to employees of Federal Public Defender Office in Grand Rapids, MI.

Technical Writing Training: July 2006

Cypress Media Group delivered a customized technical writing training seminar to employees of Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX.

Proofreading Training: July 2006

Cypress Media Group delivered customized proofreading training to employees of Pinellas County, Florida in Clearwater, FL.

Proofreading Training: May 2006

Cypress Media Group delivered customized proofreading training to employees of Sheffield Plastics Inc. in Sheffield, MA.

Sheffield Plastics Inc. is a recognized market leader in the production of high performance thermoplastic sheet for over fifty years.

Business Speaking Skills Training: May 2006

Cypress Media Group delivered a business speaking skills training seminar to attendees of Ross World, a Ross Systems users conference in Atlanta, GA.

This speaking training included teaching participants how to organize presentations for the greatest impact and not depend on PowerPoint during their presentations. They also learned how to use a conversational tone to deliver their messages and customize their messages based on the age and sex of the audience.

Ross Systems is a global provider of enterprise software solutions and a division of CDC Software, a subsidiary of CDC Corporation (NASDAQ: CHINA).

Ross World is its annual user conference that is designed to strengthen and grow Ross Systems global user community. The four-day event brought customers around the world together to explore opportunities and discuss solutions to challenges facing their industries.

Writing Technical Documents Training: May 2006

Cypress Media Group delivered a customized technical writing training seminar to employees of Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. in Marquette, MI.

Cleveland-Cliffs is the largest producer of iron ore pellets in North America. Cliffs sells the majority of its pellets to integrated steel companies in the United States and Canada. The company operates six iron ore mines located in Michigan, Minnesota, and Eastern Canada that currently have the capacity to produce 37.7 million tons of iron ore pellets annually.

This two-day class covered the basic principles of technical writing along with a customized module that reviewed writing technical procedures and processes.

Technical Writing Training: April 2006

Cypress Media Group delivered a customized technical writing training seminar to employees of D.A. Stuart in Warrenville, IL.

This one-day class covered the basic principles of technical writing along with a customized module that reviewed writing technical procedures and processes.

D. A. Stuart Company is a leading manufacturer and marketer of specialty process chemicals (including cutting fluids, metalforming lubricants, cleaners, die casting products and rust inhibitors) and related services. Stuart serves a diverse range of industries, including automotive, aerospace, general fabricated metals, steel and aluminum rolling, and D & I can making. The company maintains manufacturing, R&D, and technical support facilities around the world with sister companies in Canada, Germany, Brazil, Argentina, China, and the United Kingdom.

Technical Presentation Skills Training: April 2006

Cypress Media Group delivered a presentation skills training seminar to employees and managers of NextGen Healthcare Information Systems, Inc. in Atlanta, GA.

This presentation training included teaching participants how to organize presentations for the greatest impact and not depend on PowerPoint templates to develop their presentations. They also learned how to use a conversational tone to deliver their messages and customize their messages based on the age of the audience. Participants also went "on-camera" to receive a constructive critique from the instructor and their peers.

NextGen provides computer-based practice management and electronic medical records systems to more than 700 physician practices across the US. Ideal for any size practice, from the multi-provider enterprise to a solo practitioner, NextGen’s proven suite of applications streamline front and back office administration and manage all clinical data relating to patient care outcomes. NextGen is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Quality Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: QSII).

Technical Writing Training: April 2006

Cypress Media Group delivered a customized technical writing training seminar to employees of EarthLink, Inc. in Atlanta, GA.

This one-day class covered the basic principles of technical writing along with a customized module that reviewed writing technical procedures and processes.

EarthLink, Inc. provides Internet access and related services to individual and business customers in the United States. Its primary service offerings include narrowband Internet access, including dial-up access over traditional telephone lines; broadband access via DSL, cable, satellite, and dedicated circuits; advertising and other services; and Web hosting.

Writing Technical Documents Training: March 2006

Cypress Media Group delivered a customized technical writing training seminar to employees of Citrix Systems, Inc. in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

This one-day class covered the basic principles of technical writing along with a customized module that reviewed writing technical procedures and processes.

Citrix Systems, Inc. engages in the design, development, and marketing of technology solutions that enable on-demand access to information and applications in the United States. It offers infrastructure software and services for applications and online services. The company’s products include solutions for application virtualization, Web applications, sockets layers/virtual private network, gateways, on-demand assistance, online collaboration and Internet protocol, and telephony.

Presentation Skills Training: February 2006

Cypress Media Group delivered a presentation skill training seminar to employees and managers of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's National Vehicle Fuels Emission Lab in Ann Arbor, MI.

Presentation Skills Training: January 2006

Cypress Media Group delivered a presentation skill training seminar to employees and managers of INO Therapeutics of Clinton, NJ.

Proposal Writing Training: January 2006

Cypress Media Group delivered a proposal writing training seminar to employees and managers of the American Institute of Physics in Melville, NY.

The American Institute of Physics (AIP) is a 501(c)(3) membership corporation chartered in New York State in 1931 for the purpose of promoting the advancement and diffusion of the knowledge of physics and its application to human welfare.

It is the mission of the Institute to serve physics, astronomy, and related fields of science and technology by serving its Member Societies and their associates, individual scientists, educators, R&D leaders, and the general public with programs, services and publications - Information that matters®

Proofreading Training: December 2005

Cypress Media Group delivered customized proofreading training to employees of Wyeth Pharmaceuticals in Collegeville, PA.

Wyeth is a research-based, global pharmaceutical company responsible for the discovery and development of some of today's most innovative medicines. Wyeth products are sold in more than 140 countries.

Writing Technical Documents Training: December 2005

Cypress Media Group delivered a customized technical writing training seminar to employees of Banner Pharmacaps in High Point , NC.

This one-day class covered the basic principles of technical writing along with a customized module that reviewed writing technical procedures and processes.

Proofreading Training: September 2005

Cypress Media Group delivered customized proofreading training to employees of the U.S. Probation Office in Washington, DC.

Presentation Skill Training: September 2005

Cypress Media Group delivered presentation skill training seminars to US Navy trainers who work aboard the USS Enterprise in Norfolk, VA.

Proofreading Training: August 2005

Cypress Media Group provided proofreading training to personnel at EG & G Defense Materials in Tooele, UT.

Technical Documents Writing Training: June 2005

Cypress Media Group provided report writing training to personnel at Fort Shafter in Honolulu, HI.

Media Training: May 2005

Cypress Media Group delivered a customized media training seminar to employees and managers of Army Fleet Support in Fort Rucker, AL.

Army Fleet Support, LLC (AFS), is a joint venture between L-3 Communications Integrated Systems and L-3 Vertex Aerospace and minority partners Paragon Systems and U.S. Helicopter.

AFS provides personnel, management, material parts, supplies, transportation and equipment to perform aviation unit maintenance, aviation unit intermediate maintenance and approved depot maintenance in support of flight training of all assigned rotary-wing aircraft at Fort Rucker, AL. The fleet, which comprises more than 650 aircraft stationed primarily at Fort Rucker's six airfields, is flown by the U.S. Army Aviation Center. Other customers include the Army Technical Test Center (ATTC), U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory and the U.S. Air Force Air Education and Training Command.

The seminar included "on-camera" media training for seminar attendees. Participants practiced handling questions from their peers and the instructor who "played" reporters. This exercise included composing and answering questions that represented common reporter questioning styles.

Media Relations Training: May 2005

Cypress Media Group delivered a customized media relations course to the Georgia Electric Membership Corporation, the statewide trade association serving Georgia's 42 electric membership cooperatives.

Through Georgia EMC, all of Georgia's electric cooperatives pool their resources to gain strength and efficiency on issues common to the EMCs. Services offered by Georgia EMC include legislative representation at the state and national levels, safety and training programs, economic development, benefit administration, youth and community programs, media relations, and a monthly magazine for Georgia's EMC consumers.

Media Relations and Presentation Skills Training: March 2005

Cypress Media Group delivered a customized media relations and presentation skills training seminar to employees and managers of Acadian Ambulance Service in Lafayette, LA.

With more than 30 years of experience, Acadian is the largest private rural ambulance service in the nation with more than 1,900 employee owners, serving an area that encompasses 23,000 square miles with a population of over two million. The service area includes more than 50 percent of Louisiana. Acadian Industrial Medical Services (AIMS) provides medics for offshore oil and gas installations in the Gulf of Mexico and internationally.

The workshop included "on-camera" media training for seminar attendees. Participants practiced handling questions from their peers and the instructor who "played" reporters. This exercise included composing and answering questions that represented common reporter questioning styles.

Media Rep Sales Training: March 2005

Randall P. Whatley presented his Inside the Mind of a Media Buyer seminar to the Louisiana Association of Broadcasters in Lafayette, LA and the Maine Association of Broadcasters in Augusta, ME. This seminar shows advertising sales reps how media buyers think.

Inside the Mind of a Media Buyer explores the problems and challenges that buyers and reps face in communicating with each other and working together. Whatley answers questions reps often have about buyers. How do they make decisions? Why do they do some of the things that they do? How can reps improve their relationships with buyers? What goes on behind the scenes that reps don't know about? Whatley's candid and often brutally honest viewpoints are both educational and entertaining.

Presentation Skill Training: November 2004

Cypress Media Group delivered presentation skill training seminars to Los Alamos National Laboratory employees in Santa Fe, NM.

This presentation training included teaching participants how to organize presentations for the greatest impact and not depend on PowerPoint templates to develop their presentations. They also learned how to dress to make a positive impact on an audience and how to use a conversational tone to deliver their messages. Participants also went "on-camera" to receive a constructive critique from the instructor and their peers.

Proposal Writing Training: November 2004

Cypress Media Group delivered a proposal writing training seminar to attendees of the Institute of Real Estate Management education conference annual in Nashville, TN.

The Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM®) has been the source for education, resources, information and membership for real estate management professionals for more than 70 years. An affiliate of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, IREM is the only professional real estate management association serving both the multi-family and commercial real estate sectors. With 82 U.S. chapters, seven international chapters, and several other partnerships around the globe, IREM is an international organization that serves as an advocate on issues affecting the real estate management industry.

Does your organization respond to requests for proposals, requests for information, or requests for quotes? Are you interested in proposal training to enhance the writing skills of your employees who prepare RFP, RFI, or RFQ responses?

Presentation Skill Training: October 2004

Cypress Media Group delivered presentation skill training seminars to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development employees in Atlanta, GA and Science Oriented Solutions employees in Kennesaw, GA.

This presentation training included teaching participants how to organize presentations for the greatest impact and not depend on PowerPoint templates to develop their presentations. They also learned how to dress to make a positive impact on an audience and how to use a conversational tone to deliver their messages. Participants also went "on-camera" to receive a constructive critique from the instructor and their peers.

Proofreading and Editing Training: October 2004

Cypress Media Group delivered customized proofreading and editing training to employees of the Health Resources and Services Administration in Rockville, MD. This training was part of a contract to provide numerous proofreading and editing training sessions to employees of this agency.

Media Training: October 2004

Cypress Media Group delivered a customized media training workshop at a National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA) conference in Chicago, IL.

The nation’s state Housing Finance Agencies (HFAs) created NCSHA as a nonprofit organization nearly 30 years ago to coordinate and leverage its federal advocacy efforts for affordable housing. NCSHAs members are the HFAs of every state and over 350 affiliate member companies that work in the affordable housing field.

NCSHA represents its members in Washington before Congress, the Administration, and several federal agencies concerned with housing, such as HUD and the Treasury Department, and with other advocates for affordable housing.

The workshop included "on-camera" media training for workshop attendees. Participants practiced handling questions from their peers and the instructor who "played" reporters. This exercise included composing and answering questions that represented common reporter questioning styles.

The training also included a round-table discussion of the necessary components of a media plan and what participants need to know to stay on top of the changing world of media relations. In addition, participants examined the critical considerations that affordable housing advocates must make to communicate their message to the media and their stakeholders.

Speech Writing Training: August 2004

Cypress Media Group provided speech writing training to personnel at Hurlburt Field near Fort Walton Beach, FL.

"Any Time...Any Place" is the motto of the 16th Special Operations Wing, the host unit at Hurlburt Field. The 16th Special Operations Wing's "Air Commando Spirit" dates back to the jungles of the China-Burma-India theater of operations during World War II. As key players in such military contingencies as the capture of Manuel Noriega in Panama, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Provide Hope in Somalia, Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti and operations Deny Flight and Joint Endeavor in the former Yugoslavia, the airmen of the 16th SOW have proven their motto to be true.

Media Sales Rep Training: July 2004

Randall P. Whatley presented his Inside the Mind of a Media Buyer seminar to the Mississippi Association of Broadcasters in Jackson, MS. This seminar shows advertising sales reps how media buyers think.

Inside the Mind of a Media Buyer explores the problems and challenges that buyers and reps face in communicating with each other and working together. Whatley answers questions reps often have about buyers. How do they make decisions? Why do they do some of the things that they do? How can reps improve their relationships with buyers? What goes on behind the scenes that reps don't know about? Whatley's candid and often brutally honest viewpoints are both educational and entertaining.

Presentation Training: July 2004

Cypress Media Group delivered a half-day presentation training seminar to the Southwest Georgia Regional Educational Service Agency employees in Pelham, GA.

This agency is a public entity created to provide educational support programs and services to local schools and school districts within a given geographic area.

This presentation training included teaching participants advanced techniques to improve their presentations to educators and school administrators. In this seminar, participants learned how to use PowerPoint as an audio-visual support to their verbal presentations and not depend on it as a presentation crutch. They also learned the importance of structuring their presentations for clarity and memorability and how to dress for the greatest positive impact with an audience.

Proposal Training: July 2004

Cypress Media Group delivered a two-day customized proposal writing training workshop to employees of NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX.

JSC serves as the lead NASA center for the International Space Station -- a U.S.-led collaborative effort of 16 nations, and the largest, most powerful, complex human facility to ever operate in space. Orbiting 240 miles above the Earth, this working laboratory will serve as a stepping-stone to other planets -- teaching us the essentials of long-term living in space.

Technical Documents Writing Training: June 2004

Cypress Media Group delivered a customized technical writing training seminar to employees of The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, NH.

The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard was founded in 1800. During WWII, the shipyard employed 24,000 workers, who produced record numbers of submarines. Today, the shipyard's focus is the overhaul of nuclear submarines. Sitting on an island on the Maine side of the Piscataqua River that separates Maine and New Hampshire, the shipyard once housed a naval prison, which closed in 1974.

The shipyard is a Department of Navy facility that repairs, overhauls and maintains Navy ships, including nuclear-powered ships. Dry-docks, cranes, waste-handling facilities and offices are located at the shipyard. Activities supporting nuclear propulsion systems are performed in accordance with the requirements and authority of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, a joint Department of Energy and Department of Navy program responsible for all activities relating to naval nuclear propulsion.

This two-day class covered the basic principles of technical writing along with a customized module that reviewed writing technical procedures and processes.

Proofreading Training: May 2004

Cypress Media Group delivered proofreading training seminars to employees of US Pharmacopeia in Rockville, MD, Prudential Financial in Iselin, NJ, and the U. S. Army Garrison - Miami.

Active Listening Training: May 2004

Cypress Media Group delivered an active listening seminar to employees of the Defense Contract Management Agency in Manassas, VA.

DCMA is an independent combat support agency within the Department of Defense. They are the Department's contract manager, responsible for ensuring Federal acquisition programs, supplies, and services are delivered on time, within cost, and meet performance requirements.

Business Writing Training: March 2004

Cypress Media Group delivered a four-day customized writing training program to employees of the New York State Insurance Department in New York City. This training was part of a three-year contract to provide writing training to this agency.

Writing Technical Documents Training: March 2004

Cypress Media Group delivered a customized technical writing training seminar to employees of Lowe's in Mooresville, NC.

Lowe's operates more than 950 state-of-the-art stores in 45 states. Lowe's customer-centric store design features bright signs, wide aisles and customer service counters in many of its departments.

Customers and investors have rewarded Lowe's innovation. In 2003, Lowe's had sales exceeding $30.8 billion. The company's success resulted in Lowe’s being named FORTUNE’s Most Admired Specialty Retailer for a second consecutive year, the company’s top retail category position in Business Week’s S&P 500 ranking, and its seventh place ranking on the Business Week 50. Lowe’s is number 60 on the FORTUNE 100 list.

Proposal Training: March 2004

Cypress Media Group delivered a customized proposal writing training workshop to employees of TLA Associates in Alexandria, VA.

TLA Associates helps its clients realize the full potential of their IT infrastructure through their various service offerings and solution areas. Whether it's cabling a new or existing building in order to enhance network performance or designing a custom web application in order to improve efficiencies, TLA can help.

TLA knows how to build networks - large and small. TLA holds the distinction of being one of the few companies that has successfully implemented an independent COIN (Community of Interest Network) within the Department of Defense.

The topics covered during the one-day seminar included:

Laying the foundation for RFPs, including pricing
Examining the myths and realities of responding to RFPs
Evaluating the bid/no-bid decision
Learning the three elements of a good proposal
Writing technically sound proposals
Asking the right questions at pre-bid conferences
Using the Freedom of Information Act and debriefing conference to your advantage

Speech Writing Training: February 2004

Cypress Media Group provided speech writing training to the Connecticut Police Officer Standards and Training Council in Meriden, CT.

The Police Officer Standards and Training Council, Field Services Training Division provides in-service training to Connecticut certified police officers from approximately 220 police agencies statewide.

Participants covered the following topics in this one-day training course:

Organizing the many critical components necessary to write a speech
Developing a thesis for each speech
Using supporting statements, supporting claims, and transition statements
Employing numerous speech preparation checklists
Obtaining tips on the best ways to practice a speech
Reviewing the requirements of various forms of speeches including informative, stimulating, persuasive, entertaining, and impromptu speeches
Learning techniques that improve clarity, add sparkle, and make speeches more memorable
Learning how to use humor in speeches

Business Presentation Skills Training: December 2003

Cypress Media Group delivered a one-day Business Presentation Skills seminar to The Sports Section (TSS) employees in Duluth, GA.

Founded in 1983, The Sports Section has been the pioneer in youth and sports photography. TSS started with a one hour lab and ten employees. Today their organization consists of over 160 franchises in 43 States and Canada and a custom photo lab that only works for the TSS Network.

The Business Presentation Skills training included providing participants with one-on-one and group coaching to improve their existing techniques and styles. In this seminar participants delivered presentations and reviewed their peers’ presentations. At the end of this course, participants learned how to greatly improve their performance abilities with customers, prospects, and their colleagues.

Briefing Notes Writing Training: November 2003

Cypress Media Group provided briefing notes writing training to the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command and Fort Monmouth in Fort Monmouth, NJ.

Marketing Training: November 2003

Cypress Media Group presented a training seminar entitled How to Develop a Successful Marketing Plan to the Elberton Granite Association www.egaonline.com in Elberton, GA.

Speech Writing Training: October 2003

Cypress Media Group provided speech writing training to personnel at Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii and the Federal Aviation Administration in Chicago, IL.

Participants covered the following topics in this one-day training course:

Organizing the many critical components necessary to write a speech
Developing a thesis for each speech
Using supporting statements, supporting claims, and transition statements
Employing numerous speech preparation checklists
Obtaining tips on the best ways to practice a speech
Reviewing the requirements of various forms of speeches including informative, stimulating, persuasive, entertaining, and impromptu speeches
Learning techniques that improve clarity, add sparkle, and make speeches more memorable
Learning how to use humor in speeches

Technical Writing Training: October 2003

Cypress Media Group provided technical writing training to ViaSat, Inc. in Atlanta, GA.

ViaSat is a rapidly growing high-technology company that produces innovative satellite and other wireless communication products that enable fast, easy, and efficient communications to any location.

ViaSat is nationally known for its record of rapid growth. Prior to going public, ViaSat was listed on the INC. 500 list of fastest growing private companies three times. The company has also been featured on the Forbes list of "200 Best Small Companies", the BusinessWeek list of "100 Best Small Corporations," and was recently ranked number 8 on the Business 2.0 "100 Fastest Growing Tech Companies" list.

The company employs over 850 professional and support personnel. More than 55% are engineers, and most of those hold graduate degrees in electrical engineering or computer science.

Cypress Media Group designed and delivered a customized technical writing training program to ViaSat, Inc., employees.

Technical Writing Training: September 2003

Cypress Media Group provided technical writing training to Isis Pharmaceuticals Isis Pharmaceuticals in Carlsbad, CA.

Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a genomics-based drug discovery and development company, focused exclusively on the untapped therapeutic target, RNA. Founded in 1989, the mission of Isis is to develop RNA-based technologies, such as antisense.

Very little was known about antisense when the company was first established, but the founders envisioned an opportunity to revolutionize the pharmaceutical industry with a more efficient and targeted means of drug discovery. Since then, Isis scientists have made tremendous progress advancing the science of antisense, unveiling capabilities that have far exceeded their expectations.

Cypress Media Group designed and delivered a customized technical writing training program to Isis Pharmaceuticals employees.

Technical Writing Training: July 2003

Cypress Media Group provided technical writing training to Millennium Engineering and Integration in Arlington, VA.

Incorporated in 1995, MEI is a small business with extensive experience in the commercial and defense aerospace communities. MEI specializes in delivering highly respected engineering products and services throughout the world, with expertise centered in the following areas:

System Engineering and Analyses
Integration and Testing
Test and Evaluation
Engineering Management
Software Engineering and Simulation

Cypress Media Group designed and delivered a customized technical writing training program to Millennium Engineering and Integration employees.

Presentation Skills Training: June 2003

Cypress Media Group delivered a one-day Presentation Skills seminar to Cookson Electronics employees in Alpharetta, GA.

Cookson Electronics is an electronics manufacturer involved with PCB Fabrication, PCB Assembly, and Semiconductor Packaging processes. Cookson Electronics is a division of Cookson Group plc and employs over 6,000 people. Headquartered in Foxborough, MA, USA, Cookson Electronics, had 1998 sales in excess of $1.2 billion USD.

Listed on the London Stock Exchange, Cookson Group plc is a $3.2 billion multinational company that employs more than 18,000 people in over 35 countries, selling its products and services in over 100 countries. Through three strategic business divisions - Electronics, Ceramics, and Precious Metals - Cookson companies provide specialized industrial materials and equipment for the electronics, precious metals and ceramics industries.

The Presentation Skills training included providing participants with one-on-one and group coaching to improve their existing techniques and styles. In this seminar participants spent most of their time delivering presentations and reviewing their peers’ presentations. At the end of this course, participants learned how to greatly improve their performance abilities with customers, prospects, and their colleagues.

Business Writing Training: June 2003

Cypress Media Group provided business writing training to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Stennis in South Mississippi.

NASA Stennis Space Center is responsible for NASA's rocket propulsion testing and for partnering with industry to develop and implement remote sensing technology.

Cypress Media Group designed and delivered a customized writing training program to NASA Stennis Space Center employees.

Customer Service Training: May 2003

Cypress Media Group provided customer service training to the City of Roswell, Georgia. Roswell is a city of 80,000 located 20 miles from downtown Atlanta. Roswell is operated on a General Fund Budget of over $40,000,000 and has 585 full-time employees.

This half-day seminar was designed to improve the customer service skills of City personnel, who communicate with constituents by telephone and e-mail.

Proposal Writing Training: May 2003

Cypress Media Group delivered a customized proposal writing workshop to employees of Risk Management Alternatives in Atlanta, GA.

Risk Management Alternatives, Inc. (RMA) is a leading provider of debt collection, accounts receivable management, and call-center services. Their services improve clients' operating performance through improvements in cash flow, operating expenses, customer service, and retention.

Headquartered in Atlanta, RMA employs more than 4,000 professionals and operates strategically located facilities throughout the United States and international markets. The company was formed in 1996 and is backed by Chicago-based investment firm GTCR Golder Rauner, LLC.

RMA's market expertise includes the financial, retail, telecommunications, energy, healthcare, government services, and travel industries.

The topics covered during the one-day seminar included:

Laying the foundation for RFPs, including pricing
Examining the myths and realities of responding to RFPs
Evaluating the bid/no-bid decision
Learning the three elements of a good proposal
Writing technically sound proposals
Asking the right questions at pre-bid conferences
Using the Freedom of Information Act and debriefing
conference to your advantage

Media Buying Training: March 2003

Randall P. Whatley presented his Inside the Mind of a Media Buyer seminar to the Louisiana Association of Broadcasters annual convention in Baton Rouge, LA. This seminar shows advertising sales reps how media buyers think.

Law Enforcement Media Relations Training: December 2002

Cypress Media Group delivered a customized law enforcement media relations course for The Institute for Law Enforcement Training at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, TX.

The Institute for Law Enforcement Training provides training to the law enforcement community in Texas, across the United States, and internationally.

During this one-day course, examples, exercises, and discussion were specifically targeted to the chiefs of police, sheriffs, chief deputies, supervisors, managerial, and executive personnel in attendance.

The law enforcement personnel present were also able to share personal media relations experiences, review media relations policy, and highlight specific topics on which they need to prepare material to communicate their messages to the media and their community. In addition, they participated in a mock press conference role-playing exercise.

Business Writing Training: December 2002

Cypress Media Group provided business writing training to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, OH.

NASA Glenn Research Center is responsible for developing and transferring critical technologies that address national priorities in aeropropulsion and space applications. The Center's work is focused on research for new aeropropulsion technologies, aerospace power, microgravity science, electric propulsion, and communications technologies for aeronautics, space, and aerospace applications.

Cypress Media Group designed and delivered a customized writing training program to NASA Glenn Research Center employees.

Business Writing Training: November 2002

Cypress Media Group provided business writing training to the City of Roswell, Georgia. Roswell is a city of 80,000 located 20 miles from downtown Atlanta. Roswell is operated on a General Fund Budget of over $40,000,000 and has 585 full-time employees.

Cypress Media Group designed and delivered a customized writing training program to City of Roswell employees.

Business Writing Training: November 2002

Cypress Media Group designed and delivered a customized business writing training program to Scientific-Atlanta employees. Scientific-Atlanta is a leading international technology company that was founded in 1951. The company now has over 6,000 employees and offices and representatives in 70 countries worldwide.

Police Media Relations Training: October 2002

Cypress Media Group delivered a customized police media relations course for the Connecticut Police Officer Standards and Training Council in Meriden, CT.

During this two-day police course, examples, exercises, and discussion were specifically targeted to the patrol officers, police investigators, supervisors, managerial, and executive personnel in attendance.

Business Writing Training: September 2002

Cypress Media Group was awarded another three-year contract to provide Business Writing training to the New York State Insurance Department.

Under this contract, Cypress Media Group will design and deliver a four-day customized writing training program to employees of the Insurance Department in New York City and Albany, NY.

Advanced Presentation Skills Training: August 2002

Cypress Media Group delivered a one-day Advanced Presentation Skills seminar to Georgia Institute of Technology employees and faculty through the Georgia Tech Office of Organizational Development.

Media Buying Training: August 2002

Randall P. Whatley presented his Inside the Mind of a Media Buyer seminar to the Arkansas Broadcasters Association annual convention in Little Rock, AK. This seminar shows advertising sales reps how media buyers think.

Team Building Training: June 2002

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration awarded Cypress Media Group a contract to provide team building training to their employees, including support staff, specialists, managers, and executives.

Our instructors for this training are Dr. Bruce Martin and Dr. Kathy Martin of Adventure North in Pillager, MN. They have been providing team building training to organizations for over a decade. Their training specialty is designing programs that increase productivity, identify individual and team goals, and manage change. Bruce and Kathy Martin use an interactive presentation style. Their training participants learn through lecture and self-exploration and then experience what they have learned through challenges and interaction.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration s primary mission is to prevent commercial motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries. The agency currently employs about 770 employees. Approximately 224 work in the Washington, DC metropolitan area and the remainder work at small field locations in each state throughout the United States.

Business Writing Training: June 2002

Media Relations Training: June 2002

Cypress Media Group delivered a customized media relations course to employees of Corus Tuscaloosa of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, a business unit of Corus Group, plc. Corus Tuscaloosa is a steel mill that produces a wide range of carbon, HSLA, and pressure vessel steels in coil plate, discrete plate, and cut-to-length plate utilizing state-of-the-art Steckel mill technology.

Throughout the day, examples, exercises, and discussion were specifically targeted to this company's media relations issues. The Corus Tuscaloosa employees were also able to share personal media relations experiences, establish media relations policy, and highlight specific topics on which they need to prepare material to communicate their messages to the media and their stakeholders.

Are you interested in media relations training or public relations consulting services for your organization?

Business Writing Training: June 2002

Cypress Media Group provided business writing training to BBDO Atlanta. BBDO Atlanta is part of the world's third largest advertising agency network: BBDO Worldwide.

Under this contract, Cypress Media Group will design and deliver a customized writing training program to employees of this ad agency.

TelePrompTer Training and Coaching: June 2002

Cypress Media Group provided confidential TelePrompTer training and coaching to an executive of a prominent multi-national corporation. This training included components on teleprompter training, advanced presentation skills, and speech writing.

Following is an outline of the services that we provide in our one-day TelePrompTer coaching session:

Review all the equipment in advance of the training to assure that it is in proper working order
Assess trainee's previous experience with the TelePrompTer
Deliver instruction on the operation of the equipment
Review the trainee's prepared speech material and discuss ways to adapt it to a TelePrompTer
Review the trainee's current speech practicing methodology and provide instructions on how to change this to meet the specific needs of speaking with a TelePrompTer
Delivery of speeches by the trainee using the TelePrompTer while being videotaped by the instructor
Review of each video tape with the trainee and suggestions for needed improvements
Practice individual improvement needs with the trainee until both the trainer and trainee are satisfied
Consult with the trainee after the coaching session for up to two hours via telephone or e-mail for follow up instruction

Grant Writing Training: May 2002

Cypress Media Group was awarded a contract by the State of Kansas to provide grant writing training to the staff of state agencies, nonprofit agencies, and other entities that the state chooses.

Under this contract, Cypress Media Group, in partnership with nationally recognized grant writing trainer, Jack Smith, will design and deliver multiple two-day grant writing courses. These classes are designed to give participants the practical skills needed to locate potential funding sources and develop successful grant proposals.

Business Writing Training: May 2002

Cypress Media Group completed work on a one-year contract to provide business writing courses to the Office of Personnel Management Retirement Operations Center in Boyers, PA .

Under this contract, Cypress Media Group designed and implemented a training program to improve the writing skills of approximately 320 employees who are responsible for processing the retirement and death claims of retired federal employees and their survivors. The writing instruction addressed three skill levels and included pre- and post- writing assessments that measured the effectiveness of the training program.

Project and Time Management Training: April 2002

Cypress Media Group and Kirk Miller and Associates of Decatur, GA, provided project and time management training for ACOM Solutions of Long Beach, CA.

We designed and delivered a two-day workshop where participants explored ways to maximize individual and departmental project management strengths and opportunities while minimizing (guarding against, compensating for) weaknesses. Participants identified specific behaviors (new norms) to implement and crafted action plans to improve their work performance during this training.

ACOM Solutions develops software components that extend B2B electronic and paper-based commerce capability with EDI/XML, e-payments and e-forms solutions. ACOM's solutions run in all computing environments (host-resident on Windows NT and iSeries 400 computers), and are compatible with all financial management and ERP software.

Media Relations Training: April 2002

Cypress Media Group provided media relations training to U.S. General Services Administration construction project managers.

Examples, exercises, and discussion in the seminar was specifically targeted to this agency's media relations issues. The GSA personnel shared personal media relations experiences, obtained specific policy briefings from agency management who attended, and pinpointed specific areas of their media relations plan to target for improvement.

Participants also engaged in an interactive role-playing exercise to learn more about reporters questioning styles and went "on-camera" to learn television presentation techniques.

Training and Facilitation Services: February 2002

Cypress Media Group and Ohren Associates of Thousand Oaks, CA provided training and facilitation services for an ABB Catalyst Power company meeting. ABB Catalyst Power is headquartered in Carlsbad, CA and offers customers distributed power solutions that include on-site power generation, peak shaving, and conditioned power. We designed activities, developed materials, and conducted two days of teambuilding, interpersonal communications, and goal setting training and activities for ABB Catalyst Power employees.

Instructional Design and Development Services: January 2002

Cypress Media Group and Hohne Consulting, LLC, served as a consultant to Iroquois Gas Transmission System, L.P of Shelton, CT on the rollout strategy for Iroquois' new performance management system. We assisted in the overall design of the implementation strategy as well as the associated training and facilitation events. In addition, we designed a formal evaluation plan for all elements of the rollout.

Sales Training and Instructional Design Services: July 2001

Cypress Media Group and TBKconsulting, a Boston, MA performance improvement consulting firm, provided sales training and instructional design services to PrivilegeONE Networks, LLC, a company that develops co-branded loyalty credit card programs with Internet applications. PrivilegeONE Networks is a wholly owned subsidiary of Calton, Inc..

Poka Yoke Training: June 2001

Cypress Media Group and Adventure North of Pillager, MN, provided Poka-Yoke training services to over 300 employees at Manufacturers' Services Ltd. in Mt. Prospect, IL. Poka Yoke is a quality assurance technique used in Japan and its goal is to prevent manufacturing defects before they occur.

Following is the testimonial that our trainers received from Manufacturers' Services Ltd.:

"The training was absolutely fabulous! Kathy and Bruce did a fantastic job of engaging our team of 300 right from the start. They got the energy high, kept it there, and still taught the group quite a lot about how to look at their processes and question things instead of "accepting the rules" and believing that because things are the way they've always been, that's how they have to be."

"Kathy and Bruce were very flexible and able to accommodate with seeming ease all of the challenges that we threw their way. Our team was sorry to see them go, and I was very satisfied that they met all of my personal objectives for training."

Media Buying Training: May 2001

Randall P. Whatley presented his Inside the Mind of a Media Buyer seminar to the Hawaii Broadcasters Association annual convention in Honolulu, HI. This seminar shows advertising sales reps how media buyers think.

Media Relations Training: August 2000

The Sembler Company a shopping center development and management company based in St. Petersburg, FL, sent five of their executives to Atlanta for an intensive, one-day training session on Media Relations. Cypress Media Group customized our Media Relations course to meet Sembler’s precise training needs. Throughout the day examples, exercises, and discussion was targeted to company and industry specific areas. Sembler personnel were also able to share personal media relations experiences, resolve policy conflicts, and pinpoint specific areas of their media relations plan to target for improvement.

Are you interested in media relations training or public relations consulting services for your organization?