PFIZER (New York): 

      “I have heard nothing but rave reviews about the meeting. Your style and facilitation skills were just excellent, and your use of humor was quite appropriate. You helped us address a very serious subject in a fun and enjoyable manner and you related well to the audience. What more can I say? I hope we have the opportunity to work with you again.”

                                    —Robin Sitver, Pfizer Meeting Coordinator

 

FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF HOMES FOR THE AGING 

“Thank you for making this closing event very special. I have to tell you that we laughed all the way home -- and it was a 7-hour trip!!! Your evaluations were rated OUTSTANDING by the attendees, and the message so POWERFUL that many participants commented on what a difference you have made in their lives.

A few additional comments from participants included:

• A great way to end convention--thank you! I almost fell out of my chair!
• This was an outstanding session -- please bring him back!!!
• Outstanding ending!  Wonderful, thank you!
• Fastest two hours EVER!!!
• You saved the Best for the Last!! Thank you! Well done!
• Truly inspiring and motivational!!! Thank you so much!

Thank you again for your valuable contribution to the success of our 42^nd Annual Convention and Exposition.”

                  —Gail Matillo, Director of Housing and Program Development

                                           

ARIZONA DENTAL ASSOCIATION: 

 “Mack presented a wonderful, thought-out and prepared message. What impressed me most was his research into the type of audience he would be speaking to. Some of his funniest and best received comments were from the information we provided him. Perhaps the biggest compliment came from an Arizona State Legislator, who said it was the most refreshing and fulfilling luncheon he had ever attended—which is saying a lot for someone who’s seen his share of rubber chicken lunches! I would be more than happy to recommend Mack to anyone.”

                        —Rick Murray, Executive Director (Phoenix)

 

NSABP (Breast Cancer Research, Pittsburgh) 

            “A simple “Thank you” for your incredibly upbeat and entertaining presentation doesn’t seem quite enough, so for all of us at the NSABP let me say “Wow!” You were right on target with both the tone and the message, and our group left energized, inspired and thoroughly entertained—exactly what we were looking for.  The personalized humor really sets you apart from 99% of the speakers out there, and the fact that I still hear people quoting you is proof that your efforts were really appreciated. You lightened our load and then lightened our hearts!”

                        —Lori Garvey, Director, Public Relations

                                   

 HERITAGE HEALTH CARE (High Desert Medical Group, Lancaster, CA) 

            “Thank you for sharing you wit, your talent and your great motivating speech. You were outrageously funny! There was not a single moment that we weren’t thoroughly entertained and totally engaged. It was certainly a pleasure to see the members of HDMG get a real chance to laugh and relax. I can assure you that when an opportunity like this arises again, you are on top of our list.”

                        —Tess Enriquez, Director of Marketing

 

HOSPITAL SISTERS HEALTH SYSTEM (Springfield, IL): 

            “As grim news afflicts our country, we are all grateful for opportunities to laugh and feel carefree amid our tinges of guilt for having a good time. Mack Dryden provided such an opportunity to the employees of St. John’s Hospital in Springfield. Mack has a unique way of injecting humor into everyday situations, and we were immediately immersed in laughter—not just smiles, but good old fashioned laughing. And yet, intricately entwined with the humor were stories and anecdotes that were both poignant and insightful, and he left us with a pertinent message.”

                                    —Joseph W. Bretz, Director of Human Resources

 

FINANCIAL GROUPS

 Partial client list: 

 

 

FEDERATION

LIC

"Mack did an outstanding job. He was funny, motivating, charming, NOT a prima donna and even socialized with us at the dinner the night before—a delightful surprise. He’s the genuine article, and there aren’t many of those around any more."

                                    —Michael Sims, Excecutive Director, LIC

          

FEDERATION OF EXCHANGE ACCOMMODATORS:

“Luncheon speaker was just great! Mack Dryden was excellent! Mack was fabulous! The kudos and positive feedback goes on and on and on!  Your opening monologue and comments about the industry and conference sessions were priceless, as were your real life experiences and inspirational message. You were definitely a hit with all of our conferees, which from my experience is a first four our group. We would be honored to be included as a referral. Thank you!”

                                    —Tim Egan, Executive Director

                                                 (Sacramento)

  

ESCROW INSTITUTE OF CALIFORNIA: 

            “You did your homework and tied together our members with your unique style of comedy which left us rolling in the aisles. What impressed us most was the comfort we felt from the moment you came on stage, and you left us with a very meaningful message. It was a pleasure!”

                                    —Carol C. Hile, President

                                                  (Los Angeles area)

 

INSTITUTE OF BUSINESS FORECASTING: 

 “Amazingly in this day and age, you got huge laughs, kept it clean, and were truly inspiring.”

            —Anish Jain, President

  

TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUPS

 Partial client list:

 SBC GLOBAL: 

            “I wanted to thank you for the wonderful job you did for us at the SBC Global Markets President’s Masters Pinnacle Club Awards in Hawaii. You were extremely professional, flexible, and you were only concerned in doing what was right for our program, not simply seeking laughs. I want you to know that if we need an Emcee in the future, we will definitely keep you in mind. Thanks for a great job!”

                        M.E. Chabalowski, Human Resources (Chicago)

                                

 EMG (Conference Coordinators for SBC Global event above) 

            “You were not only an outstanding performer and host, you did it under very difficult circumstances. We had 150 award winners to recognize on stage in one hour, and you kept it fun and upbeat without ever letting it resemble a rodeo. And you made my life easy. You continually asked what else you could do and how you could help, and you did it all with a smile. I felt like I had a real partner working in mine and my company’s best interest, and for that your name has moved to the top of my list.”

                        —Dan Nace, VP Creative Development, EMG (St. Louis)

 

AMERICAN PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS COUNCIL, INC.: 

            “I would like to pass on our appreciation for the wonderful job Mr. Mack Dryden did as the opening guest speaker for APCC’s Conference and Expo in Las Vegas. Mack’s talk during our Welcome Breakfast was spot-on. His humor and pathos blended perfectly with our audience demographic and set the stage for an energetic, positive, and focused tradeshow.”

                                    —Carol MacDougall, Education Manager (Alexandria)

                                                   

ILLINOIS TELECOMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION: 

            “The special Honoree’s Brunch was a tremendous success, and Mack was the reason. He was professional, funny, and crowd pleasing and did it within the planned time, not an easy thing to do. His mix of humor and sincerity was perfect. The following day Mack was our luncheon entertainment and once again a huge hit. His presentation was a wonderful mix of inspiration, motivation, personal insight, and humor. The ITA’s 100^th Annual Convention was indeed special due in large part to the talents of Mack Dryden.”

                                    —Douglas Dougherty, President

                                                 

 MANUFACTURING & SERVICE INDUSTRIES

 Partial client list:

 

INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY:

 

            “Your messages were on target during

Tennessee Tennessee Association of Realtors

         "I appreciated Mack's efforts to customize his session to our audience and his sensitivity to issues that I preferred he avoid. From start to finish, the audience loved him...I heard nothing but compliments, PLUS he was very easy and pleasant to work with--and it's not that common to find someone who is both entertaining on the podium and such a nice guy off stage as well."
                             —Pug Scoville

     

INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY:  

            “Your messages were on target during your motivational conversation with the group. At the same time, your willingness to participate in team-building events and share other conference experiences were another source of the spirit we created that continues to reverberate. Having you emcee our “awards” segment was pure fun! There wasn’t a single person in the room that didn’t laugh long and loud. Mack, you taught us, entertained us, and became part of us—I appreciate the energy you brought to the group.”

                                    —James E. Foster, Forest Resources (Savannah)

                                                                         

PETERBILT/CATERPILLAR: 

            “Well, Mack, you did it again! Your performance at the Peterbilt/Caterpillar rollout was a complete smash! You’re a big reason this yearly program has been wildly successful, and we want to thank you for your humor and your attention to all the little details that are so important to our clients. Thanks again for the superlative job in Tucson.”

                                    —Mike Main, Murphy-Main & Associates (Dallas)

                                           

 AMEREN IP (Electricity Generating, Illinois) 

            “The event went extremely well and in spite of a few unplanned circumstances, Mack was able to deliver like the professional that he is. No one had an inkling that he had asked in advance for ideas to build from, and the innuendos from that inside information were what got the biggest laughs. He had quite a hair-raising experience getting to us, with flight cancellations forcing him to rent a car in Chicago and drive through a blizzard to make our keynote address. Then our management team only gave him seven minutes to change and hit the stage running, but he came through with flying colors and we appreciated his efforts to reach us in time and provide a stellar performance.”

                        —Sheri DeBose, Safety Consultant

 

 BUNN CAPITOL CO (Food Wholesaler): 

            “Mack was an excellent fit for our audience. He was high energy, humorous and held the audience’s attention throughout the presentation. He took the time to ask questions about our attendees and personalized his presentation to the group. I would recommend Mack for any group who is looking for a speaker to create a memorable experience.”

                                    —Desiree Logsdon, Marketing Director (Springfield, IL)

                                    

GTS SERVICES (Auto glass): 

            “Mack Dryden was all we hoped he would be, and was perfect for our Client Conference. His wit, humor and message were all well received and he certainly was a high point for our group. He tailored his humor to our industry and was rewarded with well deserved laughs—from a very tough audience. Thank you for your great service and support.”

                                    —Jim Daniels, Dir. of Sales and Marketing (Portland)

                                                 

BOMANITE CORPORATION (Flooring): 

            “Thanks to Mack, Bomanite’s event was a huge success! He was a perfect fit and an outstanding performer. His professionalism and custom created material for Bomanite won licensees over and the roaring of laughter could be heard throughout the room. Thank you for suggesting Mack for our International Conference!”

                        —Danice Pierini, Corporate Communications Manager (Madera, CA)

                                                 

BODYCOTE TECHNI-BRAZE Thermal Processing:

             “Thanks for a great night! The motivational concepts were very informative and inspiring, and your jokes had some of us laughing until it hurt!  We were especially appreciative of the way you tailored your talk to our annual ladies night, and entertained us with a great, “clean” show. I would recommend you without reservation to anyone looking for a professional, informative, and entertaining speaker.”

                                    —Samuel R. Boyer, President

                                                 (Los Angeles area)

 

ASSOCIATIONS 

Illinois associations are particularly well represented because I performed at a well-attended showcase for meeting planners in Springfield and booked a number of events as a result.

Partial client list: (comments below from clients in bold)