Patricia Cook, the President of Patricia Cook & Associates, has been fostering success and confidence in others for over 30 years. As a graduate of the University of Michigan’s business school, and with 15 years of Commercial Lending experience at a large financial institution, Patricia is uniquely positioned to understand the intricacies of social interactions and relationship-building in the business world. Having worked as both a Vice President and Relationship Manager, and as Head of Recruitment and Manager of the Commercial Credit Training Program, Patricia gained first-hand experience in Financial Analysis, Relationship Building, and recruiting, managing and training a high functioning team. She also learned that success was about more than accumulating analytical skills and technical knowledge.
From her place in the financial industry, Patricia began to notice the changing world of business relationships—from increasing international and cross-cultural interactions, to the increased prevalence of texting, tweeting, and other technology-based forms of communication. She realized that forming trusting, positive, face-to-face, relationships was more important than ever, but that it was getting even more difficult to figure out how to do so effectively.
Since forming Patricia Cook and Associates, Patricia has worked with large banks, consulting firms, accounting firms, law firms, corporations and universities around the country. Her guidance has helped the individuals in these organizations strengthen relationships, communicate respectfully and inclusively, feel more comfortable and effective in any professional situation, as well as retain and attract clients in these highly competitive times.
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Her methods are so effective because they combine her professional background with her unique approach, which engages the participants and incorporates humor into the class. By providing the information in an entertaining and dynamic manner, participants are engaged and attentive and more effectively absorb, retain and recall the messages that will better guide them through their professional interactions. Get in touch with Patricia.
OUR TEAM
Buddy Bush is not a nickname. How does this happen? It all starts with hippie parents living in a teepee in Steamboat Springs, CO. Buddy did not follow her parents’ love of patchouli and tofu. Her path was always going to be for business.
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Buddy is a consultant and keynote speaker who is dedicated to making professionals less boring. With a diverse management background spanning corporate real-estate to work/life benefits, Buddy brings energy, enthusiasm and a real-world approach to each engagement. Buddy has collected stories from a wide range of clients including Harvard, PepsiCo, Publicis Media, GCM Grosvenor and PVH Corp. She applies her passion for business through a blend of tactical insights and memorable levity—because if people are laughing, they are listening.
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Buddy holds a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from the University of Colorado at Boulder, where she did not go vegan or wear tie-dye. When she is not presenting, she is holding a high plank on her yoga mat or sprinting around her neighborhood chasing her kids and puppy.
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Marjie Killeen is a Training Consultant for Patricia Cook & Associates. She holds a degree from the University of Michigan School of Business in Marketing, and a Masters of Written Communication from National Louis University, and has 13 years working in Consumer Product Sales and Marketing for companies including P&G and Brach’s Candy. As Director of Client Service at Information Resources (IRI), she managed multi-million dollar clients and a team of account managers and research analysts.
Marjie also has a wide range of performing arts experience—including voice, acting for the camera, and improvisation. Bringing together her charismatic stage presence and her extensive professional background, Marjie’s workshops and training sessions are always educational, dynamic, entertaining, and engaging.
Carol Moss (LCSW) is a Training Consultant for Patricia Cook & Associates. Carol brings a dynamic combination of experience in public relations, performing arts, and psychotherapy. She began her career in corporate public relations, developing communications programs for companies. She has also worked as a professional actress, appearing in commercials, television, live theater and film in Chicago and Boston.
She received her Masters of Social Service at Bryn Mawr College and has a busy practice as a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist. Her experience in public relations, her insights as a therapist, and her talents as a performer make her an approachable, empathetic, and entertaining presenter.