Tailored training in technical writing, presentations, and team building for laboratories and technical organizations

About us

The Professional Training Company delivers superior communication training and consulting to professionals—especially engineers and scientists—and to executives of professional organizations.

All principals and associates possess advanced degrees in their fields and decades of training and consulting experience.

Our distinguished clientele includes national laboratories, electronics manufacturers, government agencies, medical equipment manufacturers, biotechnology laboratories, and universities.

On-site corporate training

We deliver most of our programs as tailored, on-site seminars, enrolling 8-15 participants. We also make instructional presentations to large groups. All seminars and projects are led by principals or associates who are experienced, educated, and entertaining.

Distance learning

The Writing by Design™ series is available as distance learning courses.

Consulting and special projects

We consult in many areas, including management team-building and strategic communication. Our strategic communication plans help organizations align their documents and interpersonal practices with their missions and goals. We groom executives and key professionals for media interviews and other stressful public presentations. We develop performance support products, including usable policy and procedures manuals and corporate style guides.

Principals

Helen Moody, Principal

Training and Consulting Specialties: Scientific and Technical Writing; Team-Building for Scientists and Engineers; Leadership Training for Scientists and Engineers; Presentations Training.
Other Services: Instructional Design; Web Site Design; Online Documentation Design; Speech Writing.

Helen Moody, PhD, applies the lively learning of the humanities to problems faced by science and engineering. Since 1980, her company has served a distinguished clientele that includes national and federal laboratories, research and development organizations, utilities, and manufacturers. She has created over 150 publications, Web sites, and training programs — including Communication and Community™, TeamWork in Action™, Writing by Design™, Good Grammar, Good Style™, and How to Write Scientific and Technical Reports.

Before founding her company, Dr. Moody taught at San Jose State University and at the University of California, Berkeley, where she earned her doctorate. Past President of the New Mexico Chapter of the International Society for Performance Improvement, she is a member of the Medieval Academy of America and a senior member of the Society for Technical Communication.

Richard Borthwick, Principal

Training and Consulting Specialties: Executive Presentation and Media Coaching; Presentations Training.
Other Services: Keynote Speaker; Special Event Speaker.

A professional actor, director, and drama coach, Richard Borthwick helps executives craft their public presence in business and politics. He shares the expertise acquired through 20 years in the British theatre, film, and television industries with leaders who represent their organizations—whether in the media, at corporate events, or before legislative committees.

In addition, Mr. Borthwick is an entertaining public speaker, whose humorous and thought-provoking topics include Applying the Actor's 5 Questions to Business Decisions and Murder, Mayhem, and Other Management Techniques from Shakespeare.

Before treading the boards, Mr. Borthwick enjoyed a youthful stint as an engineer, during which he had the privilege of working on the new library for Trinity College, Dublin—the home of the Book of Kells. He is a graduate of London's venerable Webber-Douglas Academy of Dramatic Arts (now part of the University of London), where he studied with Stephen Berkhoff and other noted actors. He has appeared with some of England's most distinguished performers, including Sir Laurence Olivier and Sir Michael Caine. He has a Bacon number of 2.