References

Christal Holliman-Ingram, Manager
Continuing Professional Education, Arkansas Society of CPAs
(501) 664-8739, holliman@arcpa.org
"The Arkansas Society of Certified Public Accountants (ASCPA) would like to acknowledge Dr. Brian J. Polansky from Polansky and Associates.  Dr. Polansky has presented seminars to our group for the past 10 years. His programs give insight on the topics of leadership and communication skills. His evaluation scores from seminar participants have consistently been exceptional.  His presentation style is interactive, engaging, and thorough. He is friendly, focused, exceptionally knowledgeable, and energetic.
Some comments that ASCPA members shared from last year’s seminar include:
           "Fabulous speaker", and
           "This discussion leader was the best that I have ever encountered through the state society’s program offerings. "
Dr. Polansky has twice been named ASCPA’s Discussion Leader of the Year. This prestigious award is presented each year to an ASCPA discussion leader who has received the highest ratings from seminar participants.  We recommend Dr. Polansky to any professional group seeking to educate and motivate its members."

Commander Samuel A Farina, Jr.
President, New York Association of Hostage Negotiators
(585) 753-4755 sfarina@monroecounty.gov   
”Brian, I wanted to reach out and advise you of the vast number of accolades provided in the critiques of your presentation.  I continue to receive compliments from those in attendance and you now have the reputation of being our “outstanding closer.”  Just wanted to thank you for the information and assure you that you had a profound affect on those in attendance.  Your book is also very good, and I am recommending that our Peer Support Counselors in our agency buy it.  Continue what you are doing.  You are making a difference.”   

Karlyn Campbell, Oregon Chiefs of Police Association  The Victory Group
(503) 314-1411, karlyn@victorygrp.com
"Many of our attendees have mentioned how much they enjoyed your presentation.  It was amazing how many times your message was "parroted" that evening and throughout the next day.  That means they paid attention and actually put into practice some of your tips!"  

Jude Del Preore, Trial Court Administrator
(609) 278-7986, jude.delpreore@judiciary.state.nj.us
“Thank you for an excellent job at the MAACM Conference.  I really would like to use you again in the future.”

Pat Walsh, CFE, CPP, Vice President & Chief Security Officer, Stephens Group, Inc
pwalsh@stephens.com
"Our recruits consistently rate Communications Excellence for the Security Professional as one of the most effective, enjoyable and useful blocks of instruction.  Even more impressive is the fact that our more experienced members that participate in the course during annual in-service training recognize how important their communication style is in successfully resolving situations.  The information presented during Communications Excellence has helped to minimize complaints, improve problem resolution and reduced the number of “confrontations” that our Officers have to deal with.  Now that all of our security personnel have completed Parts I and II, we’re hoping that you’re in the process of developing Part III!"   

Kay Palmer, Judicial Education Coordinator, Little Rock, Arkansas
(501) 682-9400

Allen O'Keefe, Tampa Florida
Vice President, Florida Association of Hostage Negotiators
(813) 247-8115, tokeefe@hcso.tampa.florida.us
"Dr. Polansky, I would like to again thank you for an outstanding presentation you provided to the attendees of the 2009 Florida Association of Hostage Negotiators Conference.  The FAHN Executive Board has only heard positive feedback, which is refreshing when attempting to please150 individuals.  Thank you again and much success in your endeavors."

Michael Waters, Administrator, Arkansas Public Administration Consortium
(501) 569-3044, mawaters@ualr.edu 

Chief Sterling Owen, Knoxville Tennessee Police Department
(865) 215-7229, sowen@cityofknoxville.org
"Brian Polansky provided an informative and entertaining interactive presentation to the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police annual meeting on the topic of Leadership and Communicative Skills.  The quality of the presentation was evident when the room remained full near the end of the day.  Additionally, his book was available to reinforce and enhance the topic."   

Chief Kenneth M. Truver, Castle Shannon Borough
(412) 885-9252, ktruver@borough.castle-shannon.pa.us
"Dr. Polansky came highly recommended to our group. His presentation lived up to every expectation, and then some.  His unique perspective and presentation style make for an exciting training session filled with information and enlightening theories of communication.  Everyone walked away with useful information to put into practice immediately.  This is a must see, must attend session for anyone who desires to improve their communication skills." 

Cary Jones, Chapter Chair, ASIS International Chapter 129
Regional Loss Prevention Investigator, Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores
(501) 882-6950 #63226
"About five years ago, I had the privilege of attending a law enforcement communication course presented by Dr. Polansky.  I found it enjoyable and informative.  Recently, we brought Dr. Polansky in to speak at our ASIS, International meeting.  I was excited to see how he would apply his presentation to the security and loss prevention sectors.  Dr. Polansky did not disappoint, as he captivated the crowd with his speaking skills and timely topics.  I highly recommend his course.  Whether you are applying the information to your set of established interviewing skills, you want to improve your department's public perception, or you simply want to better communicate within your own organization, Brian Polansky is a must."

Detective Dana Farbacher, Columbus Ohio
Hostage Negotiation Team Leader, Midwest Crisis Negotiators
(614) 645-4036, dfarbacher@columbuspolice.org
“Two of our hostage negotiators saw Dr. Polansky speak at a conference in Kansas and immediately recommended him to speak at the Midwest Crisis Negotiators Conference.  Our department has co-hosted this conference for the past fourteen years and we have had numerous speakers talk about their theories on communication techniques.  Dr. Polansky’s presentation was excellent!  His use of humor kept the audience, three hundred law enforcement and corrections officers, interested and entertained.  The information that he taught can be applied daily to any situation on the job or at home.  The critiques that the attendees filled out after his presentation were overwhelmingly positive, and I personally spoke to several officers who were very impressed with his teaching techniques and the information that was relayed to us.”

Bruce Isaacson, President
Rocky Mountain Hostage Negotiators Association
(720) 874-4033, gisaacson@arapahoe.co.us
"Dr. Polansky was recommended to our organization as an excellent speaker.  We booked him on these recommendations but only scheduled him for a half-day because none of our board members had seen his presentation.  To our delight Dr. Polansky's presentation was informative, interactive, relevant and most importantly kept the attention of our entire audience.  Our only regret is that we didn't schedule his presentation for an entire day.  We will be inviting Dr. Polansky to speak at our conference in the near future and he will be our keynote speaker." 

Chief Charles Wiley, Galveston Texas Police Department
(409) 765-3790, cwiley@cityofgalveston.org
"The Brian Polansky seminars are both useful and cost effective.  The training offered fit in nicely with our reorganization and renewed emphasis on empowering our supervisors and managers.  This training combined with other efforts has made our department stronger and more responsive to community needs.  Mr. Polansky will be invited back to Galveston in the near future."

Chief Mark R. Beckner, Boulder Colorado Police Department
(303) 441-3310, becknerm@bouldercolorado.gov
"Brian Polansky does a great job of explaining the importance in how we communicate with others.  He provides a variety of interactive skills that can be used by both officers working the street and by administrators in dealing with conflict and personnel issues.  I believe everyone attending his training will walk away with at least one skill he/she can use in improving their communications on the job and in their personal life.  Not only are his training classes informative, but they are entertaining as well."

Roger A. Richards, Director, Southwestern Illinois Law Enforcement Commission
"Our Mobile Training Unit has been using Dr. Polansky as an instructor since 2007, after we booked him for a Sheriff's Management Retreat. His seminar was excellent!  He made such an impression with those who attended his seminar, that we now have Dr.Polansky come into our Region every six to nine months.  We always find him to be an excellent instructor, using humor and practical examples to reinforce his learning objectives.  While there are many instructors who teach the topic of communications, there are few as effective as Dr. Polansky. He truly is ‘Law Enforcement’s Communication Professor’ ."