PowerTalk Team
Jeff Wall – VP Sales & Marketing
Jeff has served in senior positions in human resource development, finance, insurance and sales. As an experienced facilitator he brings a wealth of common sense and business savvy to all his communications and personal development workshops.
Jeff Wall started his career in the Marine Ship Building Industry and served as the representative on numerous boards committees.
At London Life Insurance Company he served as a financial planner before being promoted to the management level where he was responsible for the recruiting and training of new representatives, he also taught numerous life underwriter courses for the association within the industry.
With his passion being in the area of communications he worked with his business partner Joan McKeough to develop and implement their program which is known today as PowerTalk Communications.
Jeff keeps very active within his community by serving as the Vice Chairman of the Halifax Dartmouth Canada Day Committee; Communications Liaison for the Dartmouth East Federal Liberal Association and gives his time to other charitable organization as well.
With experience in both the blue and white collar industries and a passion for teaching and helping people in the art of communication Jeff Wall continues to work with his students to help them to, “Discover the power of communications through their own voice.”
Joan McKeough – VP Business Operations
Joan is an experienced communicator who has held various management positions within the telecommunications industry. Joan’s experience as part of a national team compiled to merge the various billing systems of both Bell Canada and MCI into one system has shown her effective communications is a necessity if one is to excel in their chosen career path.
Joan’s gift for communicating effectively made her a natural choice for instructing personnel from across Canada and the United States as to the newly implemented system. Senior management aware of Joan’s ability to communicate asked her to play a lead role in merging the four Atlantic telecommunications companies into what is now Bell Aliant. Although Joan’s knowledge and expertise is evident to those she instructs Joan’s true gift is her ability to in still energy and enthusiasm in her students. This ability allows her students to willingly participate in the courses she delivers thereby gaining a deeper appreciation of the course material.
Today Joan continues to teach all her workshops with the same passion and energy that she displayed in her first workshop. When asked if she ever gets tired of her work she’ll answer: “I am truly one of the very lucky people who can get up everyday doing something I have such a belief and passion for; I couldn’t imagine doing anything else I’m right where I was meant to be.” Joan is a firm believer in the words of Daniel Webster, who said:
“If all my talents and powers were to be taken from me by some inscrutable Providence, and I had my choice of keeping but one, I would unhesitatingly ask to be allowed to keep the Power of Speaking, for through it I would quickly recover the rest.”
Derrick Whalen – VP Client Services
Derrick has over 15 years of experience in corporate management roles – most recently in the position of Vice President, Information Technology and Operational Risk with ING Real Estate Canada.
Derrick comes with a strong background in leadership, communications, staff development, training and operational management. Derrick holds degrees in psychology and education and held a wide range of corporate development, information technology and operational roles throughout his corporate management career.
As a certified Instructor/facilitator, Derrick has spent many hours over the past 15 years mentoring and coaching staff, leading process improvement workshops, facilitating training programs and delivering presentations to diverse business groups and executive management teams across many industries; including financial services, information technology, training and education, aviation, construction and telecommunications sectors.
PowerTalk programs are focused on helping professionals at all levels improve leadership and communication skills. Our goal is to empower individuals with the confidence to achieve lifelong growth through learning. Armed with the skills and a stronger sense of enthusiasm, our clients can meet the challenges of ever changing industry, business and community.
Derrick believes the best leaders are great listeners who communicate a clear direction and consistently demonstrate a strong understanding of human relations.