BREN McELROY

 

Extensive background in business and the arts informs passion for the advancement of professional, non-profit theater and theater education. A target-driven team player, combining diligence, energy, creative problem solving, and relentless dedication to the arts with a proven success record in institutional development. 

EDUCATION 

American Conservatory Theater, San Francisco, California, 1998 

  -Master of Fine Arts, Acting: With distinction: Professional Theatre Internship and AEA membership 

Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio, 1992

  -Bachelor of Arts, Theater: Excellence awarded with the Joanne Woodward Acting Trophy: Best Female Performance 

National College of Ireland, Dublin, 2012 

  -Diploma, Human Resource Development; CIPD Membership 

National University of Ireland, Maynooth, 2007 

  -Training and Continuing Education Certificate: 1st Class Honors 

 

TEACHING and PERFORMING ARTS & COMMUNICATION DEVELOPMENT

Owner, Consultant, Coach, Communication Matters Studio, 2015 - Present

In-house Studio Offerings: 

• Public Speaking, Voice Over, Accent Reduction and Acting classes

 

Outside Consultant:

Speech Coach, Milton Academy, Milton, MA

Speech & Communication Coach, Tremont, Lexington, MA

 

Elocution/Pronunciation Coach, Google European Headquarters, Dublin

• Pioneered and facilitated accent reduction program for international employees, using the Standard Phonetic System, which defines and overcomes business English pronunciation difficulties for non-native English speaking business professionals 

Theater Producer, The New Theatre, Dublin 

• Produced European premiere of new American plays, including William McCauley’s Line of Descent 

• Liaison between New York producers, Dublin Arts Council and Artistic Director to bring Line of Descent to Dublin 

• Produced readings and showcases for industry professionals for new works by American writers 

• Held auditions & cast professional industry readings in association with The Gaiety School of Acting 

• Secured theatre rehearsal and performance space; managed lighting, sound and front- of-house staff; supervised box office and reservations 

• Marketed and organized invitations to audience members and industry; worked closely with graphic designers and copy writers for all aspects of print and online marketing materials

Drama Teacher, RADE, Recovery through Art & Drama Education, Dublin 

• Taught scene study classes to adults, which included text analyses of American and Irish playwrights; voice, mask, movement, secondary & fourth wall activity workshops, culminating in showcases open to public 

• Co-taught creative & poetry writing with guest Irish writers 

Internship Coordinator, Abbey School of Music and Drama, Dublin 

• Served as liaison for placing young actors in internships for their Transition Year work experience; supervised ongoing internship progress 

• Coached young actors (14-17) in audition techniques, professional presentation, dress and comportment for professional interviews and auditions 

Learning and Communications Associate, Insights Ireland, Dublin 

• As a licensed Practitioner, marketed, sold and delivered Insights Discovery program nationwide

• Evaluated psychometric testing; provided 1:1 Behavioral Coaching to corporations across the EU 

• Personal Effectiveness Teacher, Mount Carmel Secondary School, Dublin 

• Through various acting workshops, taught motivation and confidence techniques for public speaking – Transition year students (15–16 years old) 

Communications Coach, Quinn, Emmanuel, Urquhart, Oliver & Hedges, LA

• Coached trial lawyers (firm president, partners and associates) on enhancing public speaking and communication skills in court-room performances (text work, body language, vocal techniques) 

• Speech Teacher, Language Institute & Language Systems International, LA

• Developed and taught Business English courses to foreigners 

• Taught English as a Second Language intermediate & beginning classes which included advanced & basic levels of Listening, speaking, writing and reading

Master Acting Teacher and Speech Coach (summer), Nova University, San Diego 

• Acting course for high school students: Developed and managed the acting curriculum and schedule 

• Taught twenty students basic acting skills, including Theatre History, Movement, Dance, Vocal Techniques, Theatre Games and Scene Study 

Dramatic and Humorous Acting Coach (summer), Forensics Debate and IE Forum, San Diego 

• Directed and taught students for intensive competition driven speech team lab for the Dramatic & Humorous Interpretation competitions of the National Forensic League 

Dramatic and Humorous Acting Coach, Stuyvesant High School, New York
▪ Directed and taught students for intensive competition driven speech team for the Dramatic & Humorous Interpretation competitions of the National Forensic League 

​

CORPORATE TRAINING 

Learning & Development Manager (Maternity cover), KPMG, Dublin, Nov 2014 – May 2015 

• Coaching: accent reduction classes for foreign national directors in firm; instructed in body language, self-awareness, public speaking, text work 

• Virtual Classroom: script writing, audio editing, and platform checking for audio tax classes 

• Vendor Management for Leadership and Business courses: delivered course feedback to vendors, created course surveys, met with new vendors 

• Director of Development Centre: direct point of contact for new directors in the firm; oversaw and managed the quarterly two-day course; facilitated behavioral and leadership aspects using role playing 

• 360 reporting: ran compliance reports, which are an integral part of the Director Development Centre 

• Global People Survey: analyzed and reported on the behavioral finding within each business unit and function 

• Global Learning Management System: supported the installment of a new       learning management system from the communications, leadership and business departments 

• Irish Institute of Training and Development - wrote award-winning submissions     for Best Learning and Development Company and Best Learning and Development Initiative

Principal Learning Consultant, Symantec, Dublin Nov 2013 – July 2014 

• Role created to support new EMEA business channel, the Customer ManagementCentre (CMC), to drive sales performance and align all colleagues with the company change and new business strategy 

• Designed and delivered soft skill/sales training and assessed individual sales performance to identify areas for improvement; Conducted full TNA analyses of current L&D needs to develop organizational L&D solutions

• Provided in-depth performance coaching to the sales teams (1:1 sessions, desk/on the job, listening to calls, making calls to demonstrate technique); implemented newly- formed business unit Internal Partner Account Managers (IPAM); used Grow, Performance Coaching and Co-Active methodologies

• Delivered on-boarding experience for new hires; involved heads of functions to support company strategy, ensuring new hires were confident and knowledgeable about systems and culture to be effective in sales as quickly as possible

Training & Operations Manager, Comfort Keepers Training, Dublin 2011 – Aug 2013 

• Adult level education: Responsible for Managing growth and change in healthcare training school from three to seven in-house staff with one to twenty panel consultants nationwide 

• Managed all operational aspects of the training company from in-house administrative staff and trainers to off-site nationwide trainers; ensured educational and company values and adherence to comprehensive healthcare and government regulations

• Successfully researched and wrote Company tenders to win new business; project managed, coordinated and implemented Healthcare Traineeship courses (36 weeks) across Ireland 

• Resourced and interviewed for all Training Company staff and learners; served as mentor through weekly 1:1s and team meetings across the nation via Skype and in person

Learning & Development Manager, Rabobank, Dublin 2008– 2009 

• Engaged with key external and internal stakeholders to support alignment of company branding in bank merger; created Learning & Development strategy to align with the business strategy 

• Managed and developed the cultural change movement to support the company’s re- branding campaign. Ensured the internal rebrand event was in line with the bank’s behavioral values. Formulated and facilitated behavioral change programs for employees using new company behaviors as a base

• Built and drove a high level ‘Leading for Change’ program for CEO, Directors, Head of Functions and Managers to incorporate new company values and implemented success metrics

• Coached and wrote rebranding event speeches for CEO and Directors

Learning & Development Specialist, Conduit (InfoNXX/KGB), Dublin 2006 – 2008 

• Responsible for developing, managing and delivering the strategic organizational communication structure in Leadership Management and Customer Service Skills to all levels of employees Ireland and the United Kingdom 

• Project managed, drove, built and executed all soft skills training and development; oversaw training reports, schedules and administration resulting in a 40% sales increase

ACHIEVEMENTS 

• Professionally acted /performed in American & Irish Film, TV and radio: CV available upon request 

• National Champion (USA) in Dramatic Interpretation sponsored by the National Forensic League 

• Arts Award received in the theatre category for best performance. Awarded by the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts

SKILLS 

• In-depth knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite: Excel, Power Point, Word; various Learning Management Systems; Survey Monkey, WebEx, Virtual Classrooms and Skype conferences 

• Dual citizenship in the U.S. & EU