Presentation Advisors is a presentation design and training firm founded by Jon Thomas and driven by his team of talented designers. Presentation Advisors, located in southern Connecticut, was founded to help companies of all shapes and sizes realize the true power of an effectively designed presentation.
Presentation Advisors is an agile consultancy, working with clients worldwide to better convey their brand story. You can learn more about our presentation design, training, and consulting services here.
Professional
I am the Founder and Chief Simplicity Officer of Presentation Advisors, but more importantly I am a storyteller and have been developing engaging brand stories for nearly nine years. I have extensively researched the topics of presenting, design, marketing and storytelling and fear that the world has unknowingly been exposed to a poisonous presentation landscape since the inception of PowerPoint. I am here to make a change.
Presentation Advisors was founded on the principles of simplicity, clarity, beauty, and most importantly, narrative. I design presentations with the audience in mind, including vibrant images, few words, and an engaging story. I don’t play nice with bullet points, and work best with clients who are willing to throw out what they know about presentations and realize that a story is more powerful than their sales pitch.
Whether your presentation is polished and you’re just looking for visuals, or you know you have a story and don’t know where to begin, don’t worry. I have designed award-winning presentations from just a two-page word document, and I’m excited to work with you to help you present your emotion, your passion, and your story.
I am also the Director of Communications for Story Worldwide, the world’s first post-advertising agency. We help brands tell their stories and reach audiences by creating engaging content and delivering that content across a variety of media platforms.
I direct the corporate communications strategy in the areas of social media engagement, audience generation, and web content. Basically, I’m making Story famous. You can find part of the fruits of my labor at PostAdvertising.com, our blog chronicling storytelling, marketing and advertising in this post-advertising age.
Before marketing I was a true visual storyteller – working in television and video production. I worked in a media production house at a University as a videographer and editor, as well as an assistant professor in studio television. I even started my own wedding videography company. I still remember the looks on the bride and groom’s faces when they’d see their video for the first time…
As a marketer, presentation designer, and all around storyteller, there’s no surprise that I love to speak. I’ve given presentations on topics like effective presentation design, personal branding in social media, and brand storytelling at conferences including the School of WOM and the Presentation Summit. Learn more about my presentations at my speaking page.
Why I Do What I Do
When I look back at what I thought I’d be when I grew up and what I actually am, I’m both surprised and yet not surprised at all. In college I majored in information systems (computers for business). I always loved computers and I knew they had amazing potential to connect us as people. Once the Internet hit and we set up our first Prodigy (ha!) account, I knew my life’s work would revolve around computers and the web.
I’ve experienced three distinct professions – video/film, marketing, and presentation design – however what I’ve come to realize is that they all intersect at one point: the story.
Storytelling opens hearts and minds, and creates a connection between the storyteller and their audience. Whether it was from behind the camera, within PowerPoint, or on a blog, I’ve always been using content and creativity to create stories.
Personal
Born and raised on the south shore of Massachusetts, I’m the son of a banker and teacher. Not surprisingly, I’m a die-hard Boston sports fan (complete with a Red Sox tattoo). I’m the husband of a loving wife of 3 years, and the father to one very moody yet lovable cat.
Throughout grade school you could find me on any number of sports fields, but in high school I found my passion in volleyball. I followed my passion to Connecticut where I played at Fairfield University. While there I earned my B.S. in Information Systems and my M.B.A. in Marketing.
Through the volleyball circle in Connecticut is where I met my loving wife, a standout Division 1 star at Loyola University in Maryland. We still play every now-and-again, and watching her blast a volleyball never gets old.
However, my latest passion, besides social media, is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Currently I’m a purple belt and compete in numerous tournaments. The supportive BJJ community helped fuel my desire to start a nonprofit, which I did in early 2011. Named Tap Cancer Out, we are uniting the BJJ community to raise awareness and funds for organizations that are fighting cancer every day.
Connect
Now that you know all about me, I’m sure you’ll want to talk endless with me and probably take me out to lunch. If so, you can connect with me or find me posting content at all of these places:
Google+:
- Jon Thomas on G+
Twitter:
- www.twitter.com/Story_Jon
- www.twitter.com/PostAdvertising
- www.twitter.com/StoryWorldwide
- www.twitter.com/TapOutCancer
Facebook (sorry, I don’t give out my personal account):
Blogs:
If you’d like to work with me or just drop me a line, fill out the contact form and I’ll get back to you ASAP.
