• A distinguished military graduate at Bowdoin, served as a U.S. Army Intelligence officer in Washington, D.C. and Southeast Asia, MBA from Harvard.
• Formerly an executive with J.M. Huber Corporation, Stanadyne Inc., FMC Corporation, and McKinsey and Company.
• Attended the Buckley School, Executive Seminar in Communication Skills, Class of May 1993 and has returned for private coaching.
• Named president of Allete (formerly Minnesota Power) in 1995. Became CEO in 1996 and was elected board chairman later that year.

"It is a rare combination of professionalism, warm hospitality and caring that really distinguishes the school and the coaches in particular. Let me take a moment to mention how helpful your coaches were as I prepared for our Annual Shareholders' Meeting. It was attended by well over 2000 people and held in a very large auditorium. Clutching the lectern definitely wouldn't do…..I made a major step forward this year and next year will be a new person with their continuing aid."

• Graduate of Wellesley College, with an M.B.A. from New York University.
• Former brand manager for Proctor & Gamble, responsible for bar soap brands including Ivory. Joined Philip Morris as a brand manager in 1992.
• Attended the Buckley School, Excalibur Seminar in Communication Skills, Class of November 1996.
• In 1997, became director for Marlboro Promotions and developed the Marlboro Ranch, a dude ranch in Montana, for Philip Morris.
• In 1998, named Vice President, Marketing for Philip Morris, managing their second largest brand in the U.S.

"As my career advanced, I found myself making more and more presentations. I dreaded them. My stomach would turn, my knees would knock, and my hands and voice would shake. I was the kind of presenter for whom people would feel sorry. Attending the Buckley School changed my life. I now like presenting, knowing with my 'Buckley' skills that I'm going to 'rock the house.' I've sent at least a dozen of my subordinates to the Buckley School for skill building. They all rave about their experiences."

Gaston J. Acosta-Rua, M.D., F.A.C.S.

• Born in Cuba and graduated from the Medical School of Madrid, Spain. Trained in neurosurgery at the University of Iowa.
• Neurosurgeon in private practice since 1971.
• The Buckley School, Executive Seminar in Communication Skills, Class of May 1988.
• City Commissioner and Special Adviser to the Mayor on Hispanic projects in Jacksonville, Florida.
• Past chairman and director of the Florida Physician Insurance Company of the Florida Neurosurgical Society.
• Named chairman of the Florida Board of Medicine in 2000.

"The Buckley School of Public Speaking helped me organize my thoughts and articulate them in a compelling and fluent way. Apart from learning techniques that made me a better speaker, I also came away a more diligent listener. I would highly recommend this course, not only to anyone whose professional or personal life involves public speaking, but also who enjoys a challenge and meeting interesting and motivated people."

Suzanne Williamson

• Attended the Buckley School, Executive Seminar in Communication Skills, November 1994 and is a member of the Presentations and Debate Society.
• Leads seminars on business entertaining for companies and national conventions.
• Wrote Entertaining for Dummies.
• National spokesperson for the home department of Federated Department Stores, including Rich's, Lazarus, and Goldsmith's.
• Co-authoring a cookbook with Pat Conroy.

"You and your wonderful teachers totally changed my life. I am convinced that going to the Buckley School was the turning point for me. At your school, I realized I had other attributes besides being a wife and mother, and I could use these newfound traits to create a career for myself."