Four days of magic • Aug 9-12, 2020 • Seattle WA Email Us Register Now
Email Us    Register Now

Welcome to the Summit,
Garr Reynolds!

The acclaimed author of Presentation Zen
to make his debut in 2020

The Summit. In the Summer. In Seattle.

August 9-12, 2020

Our Unique Value

No other conference on the planet shines a spotlight this bright and this strong on the presentation experience.

Breadth

Creating successful presentations is about more than just software. It is about crafting sharp messages, creating intelligent presentation design, employing smart PowerPoint techniques, and developing comfort before an audience. The Presentation Summit offers all of this at levels you won’t find anywhere else.

Depth

We deliver insight, inspiration, and community to create a conference experience that you will remember forever. Our breadth of coverage, depth of expertise, willingness to help, and passion for creating engagement all add up to a business conference that is completely unlike any other you will attend.

Scope

Spend three days with us and never look at a presentation project the same way again. Three days and immediately distinguish yourself from 99% of the people creating or delivering presentations today.

How we design our seminars

At the Presentation Summit, you will get to choose among three concurrent seminars or workshops taking place at any given time.

Register now design_track

Design

Looks at questions of design and aesthetics, story and message, and audience connection. This track explores the qualities that make up excellent presentation content and is where we showcase the work of prominent presentation designers and communication specialists.

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Build

Dedicated to the nuts-and-bolts techniques and strategies that comprise effective use of PowerPoint and related software. It caters to those in the trenches—the ones who pump out slides by the truckload and need to learn how to be as efficient and as productive as possible. It is a haven for all of the nitty-gritty tips and tricks on myriad topics.

delivery_track

Deliver

Explores all the various ways, conventional and unconventional, in which presentations can be delivered to audiences. There are more than ever these days, with so many cloud-based technologies, but we will never lose sight of the personal dynamic of presenter meeting audience.

Presenters and Experts

Here is our lineup of presenters and experts. Keep watching for more keynote speakers being added. Click or touch any photo to see that person’s bio.

Keynote Speakers


Cliff Atkinson


Christopher Fairbank


Christine Figgener

Presenters


Rick Altman


Lia Barnakova


Ilene Bergelson


Ric Bretschneider


Troy Chollar


Lori Chollar


David Fitzgerald


Jamie Garroch


Richard Goring


Nolan Haims


Stephy Hogan


Tom Howell


Brent Jensen


Harry Jimenez


Miriam Juckett


Marshall Makstein


Mike Parkinson


Matt Pierce


John Rahmlow


Vickie Sokol Evans


Gary Sweeney


Echo Swinford


Julie Terberg


Shawn Villaron

Technical Experts


Sandra Johnson


Steve Rindsberg


Glenna Shaw


John Wilson

Schedule of Seminars and Events

We will announce our full schedule in early 2020. For reference, here is how we covered the presentation industry and community in 2019.
Entire schedule Register here Sat Sat 9:00am – 4:00pm  |  Special Event
Certification Prep Workshop
To help you pass with flying colors!
An all-day workshop to help you prepare to take the Presentation Guild’s Certification Presentation Specialist Test
[Bios filename=”eswinford” name=”Echo Swinford”] 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Saturday Night Happy Hour
At Charlie’s Longbar Sun 10:00am – 12:00pm  |  Crash Course
Present with Presence
How do elite speakers succeed? Learn the secrets
Presenting is a blend of the artistic and the technical. This two-hour interactive workshop explores how elite speakers deliver messages with power and impact.
[Bios filename=”ibergelson” name=”Ilene Bergelson”] 12:30pm – 2:30pm  |  Crash Course
Farewell to Death by PowerPoint
Everything you need to know to start creating wonderful presentations
This two-hour crash course is the perfect jumpstart to the conference, guaranteed to get you off on the right foot by helping you craft, design, and strategize through the process of creating first-rate presentations.
[Bios filename=”raltman” name=”Rick Altman”] 3:00pm – 5:00pm  |  Crash Course
From Story to Slides
A killer start-to-finish approach to making amazing presentations
Create clear, compelling, and powerful presentations in less time and with higher success.
[Bios filename=”mparkinson” name=”Mike Parkinson”] 5:00pm – 6:30pm
Welcome Reception, Hosted by Microsoft 6:30pm – 7:45pm  |  Evening Session
Presentation Guild Annual Meeting
For devotees and tire kickers
The fourth annual meeting of the Presentation Guild 9:00pm – 11:00pm  |  Late Night at the Summit
Entrepreneurs’ Round Table
Ready to hang out a shingle or connect with like-minded entrepreneurs?
Being an entrepreneur is exciting and it can be a challenge when you don’t have an opportunity to gather with others and share best practices. Here is your opportunity.
[Bios filename=”nhaims” name=”Nolan Haims”] Mon 8:30am – 9:30am  |  Keynote Address
The Real Value of Visual Storytelling
Tapping into this undervalued skill
Often undervalued, visual storytelling’s true value is how it can help your career
[Bios filename=”catkinson” name=”Cliff Atkinson”] 9:45am – 10:45am  |  Design
Collaborating in Design
You need more than talent
If you want to collaborate successfully, you must work with and win over your fellow collaborators.
[Bios filename=”lchollar” name=”Lori Chollar”] 9:45am – 10:45am  |  Build
Template Talk, Part 1
Common template traps and how to avoid them
A comprehensive template can be a huge timesaver for those who must create presentations to reflect a brand.
[Bios filename=”eswinford” name=”Echo Swinford”]
[Bios filename=”jterberg” name=”Julie Terberg”] 9:45am – 10:45am  |  Deliver
Dollars and Slides
The business of PowerPoint
Producing and designing PowerPoint slides is big business.
[Bios filename=”mmakstein” name=”Marshall Makstein”] 11:00am – 12:00pm  |  Design
The Makeover Mentor
Before-and-after examples of real work
Makeovers inspire us by giving us a glimpse of the possibilities.
[Bios filename=”jterberg” name=”Julie Terberg”] 11:00am – 12:00pm  |  Build
No Text Allowed!
Can you move an audience with just visuals?
A step-by-step guide to eliminating text and bullet points.
[Bios filename=”rgoring” name=”Richard Goring”] 11:00am – 12:00pm  |  Deliver
If I Only Knew
Questions for designers and presenters who team up
How can designers and presenters facilitate a productive creation process that leads to a successful presentation?
[Bios filename=”ibergelson” name=”Ilene Bergelson”]
[Bios filename=”nhaims” name=”Nolan Haims”] 1:30pm – 2:30pm  |  General Session
San Antonio Success
Stories from the TEDx trenches
Three TEDx alumni share their experiences.
[Bios filename=”hjimenez” name=”Harry Jimenez”]
[Bios filename=”mjuckett” name=”Miriam Juckett”] 2:45pm – 3:30pm  |  Design
Super-Simple Slide Design
For the minimalist in all of us
These techniques will take you from busy and complex to clean and clear in no time.
[Bios filename=”mparkinson” name=”Mike Parkinson”] 2:45pm – 3:30pm  |  Build
All About Video
Rules of the road for better creation
You don’t have to be a master cinematographer to make a video that sets you apart.
[Bios filename=”mpierce” name=”Matt Pierce”] 2:45pm – 3:30pm  |  Deliver
Agents of Change
How can you be a force for good within PowerPoint culture?
Many organizations still demand that slides be brochures filled with text and data.
[Bios filename=”catkinson” name=”Cliff Atkinson”] 3:45pm – 4:15pm  |  Design
I Don’t Like It!
Giving good feedback on horrible slides
How to identify and fix design mistakes and not shatter someone’s confidence.
[Bios filename=”shogan” name=”Stephy Hogan”] 3:45pm – 4:15pm  |  Build
Plug In and Rock Out
Behind the scenes with a PowerPoint add-in
Add-ins can transform PowerPoint with extra capabilities.
[Bios filename=”jgarroch” name=”Jamie Garroch”] 3:45pm – 4:15pm  |  Deliver
Becoming a Virtual Virtuoso
Engaging in absentia
Virtual presentations require different skills than do in-person presentations.
[Bios filename=”jrahmlow” name=”John Rahmlow”] 4:30pm – 5:00pm  |  Design
Moodboards
And other esoteric things
Learn all about this often-overlooked tool, essential for clarity of design and unity of collaboration.
[Bios filename=”thowell” name=”Tom Howell”] 4:30pm – 5:00pm  |  Build
Report Collaboration
Online tools help with group efforts
How to use SharePoint or OneDrive to efficiently maintain documents and presentations that require teamwork.
[Bios filename=”gshaw” name=”Glenna Shaw”] 4:30pm – 5:00pm  |  Deliver
Buzzword Bingo
Best practices for surviving today’s lingo
Let’s have some fun while we make fun of our culture and its lexicon.
[Bios filename=”jrahmlow” name=”John Rahmlow”] 5:00pm – 6:00pm  |  Special Event
The PowerPoint Trivia Contest
The intersection of creativity, ingenuity, and foolishness
You haven’t lived until you have watched, or played in, our PowerPoint Trivia Contest, conducted exclusively within PowerPoint, explicitly about presentations, and entirely with an open bar. 9:00pm – 10:30pm  |  Late Night at the Summit
The Summit Goose Chase
A modern-day scavenger hunt
Come be part of an hour of madness, as you and your team strive to complete several, um, missions. A winner will be crowned. We think. Maybe not. We’ll get back to you on that…
[Bios filename=”raltman” name=”Rick Altman”] 9:00pm – 9:45pm  |  Late Night at the Summit
The Future of Presentations
Stay on the cutting edge
How do you stay relevant in changing times?
[Bios filename=”lbarnakova” name=”Lia Barnakova”] 9:45pm – 12:00am  |  Late Night at the Summit
The Guru Session
Drop in and chat with your tribe
Late Night Group Session, part customer service, part therapy, part drum circle.
[Bios filename=”rbretschneider” name=”Ric Bretschneider”] Tue

8:30am – 9:30am  |  Keynote Address
From Ballet to Bullets
Reaching new heights of success as individuals and teams
This unique presentation highlights the skills needed for individuals to become successful leaders with integrity and to be the change that we all want to see in the world.
[Bios filename=”cfairbank” name=”Christopher Fairbank”]

9:45am – 10:45am  |  Design
Inclusiveness by Design
Keeping up with ever-changing times
Audiences are changing and to keep up, we need to communicate across lines of age, gender, ethnicity, and much more.
[Bios filename=”nhaims” name=”Nolan Haims”]

9:45am – 10:45am  |  Build
Template Talk, Part 2
Advanced techniques to ensure success
Once you understand the basics of template construction, you realize that there’s so much more to learn!
[Bios filename=”eswinford” name=”Echo Swinford”]
[Bios filename=”jterberg” name=”Julie Terberg”]

9:45am – 10:45am  |  Deliver
U.N.I.Q.U.E
Finding your true self
Uncover the six essential steps to increase self-esteem and achieve success in every aspect of life.
[Bios filename=”cfairbank” name=”Christopher Fairbank”]

11:00am – 12:00pm  |  Design
Real-World Makeovers
For the busy pro for whom everything is due yesterday
The makeovers during this hour, taken from patron submissions, carry with them the hope that you will look at them and say, “Hey, I can do that.”
[Bios filename=”raltman” name=”Rick Altman”]

11:00am – 12:00pm  |  Build
Presenting in Enhanced Reality
Emerging tech reshaping presentation
[Bios filename=”lbarnakova” name=”Lia Barnakova”]

11:00am – 12:00pm  |  Deliver
PowerPoint Karaoke: No Joking Matter
Expect the unexpected
You can literally expect the unexpected, you just have to practice
[Bios filename=”rbretschneider” name=”Ric Bretschneider”]

1:30pm – 2:30pm  |  General Session
Ask Microsoft
A chat with the folks who develop PowerPoint
Sit down with the leaders of the software development team. You get to ask them anything.
[Bios filename=”svillaron” name=”Shawn Villaron”]

2:45pm – 3:30pm  |  Design
Taking Stock of Stock Photos
The ultimate resource guide
A roundup of visual sources, prices, plugins, and legal considerations for using better imagery
[Bios filename=”nhaims” name=”Nolan Haims”]

2:45pm – 3:30pm  |  Build
All About Animation
Because you can never get enough…
The latest ideas about the power of motion
[Bios filename=”thowell” name=”Tom Howell”]

2:45pm – 3:30pm  |  Deliver
Teamwork, Act 1, Scene 1
A short drama
Watch two collaborators collaborate on the subject of collaboration
[Bios filename=”raltman” name=”Rick Altman”]
[Bios filename=”mparkinson” name=”Mike Parkinson”]

3:45pm – 4:15pm  |  Design
Designing with Morph
Creating beautiful visuals to impress
Morph is a powerful tool for geeks. It’s also a wonderful design tool.
[Bios filename=”rgoring” name=”Richard Goring”]

3:45pm – 4:15pm  |  Build
The Magic of Tunes
Our intriguing relationship with music
You can learn a lot from music’s ability to elicit an emotional response.
[Bios filename=”bjensen” name=”Brent Jensen”]

3:45pm – 4:15pm  |  Deliver
“Don’t Be Nervous”
Worst possible advice?
[Bios filename=”raltman” name=”Rick Altman”]

4:30pm – 5:00pm  |  Design
Hacking Morph
Advanced uses for advanced storytellers
Think Morph is just a fancy transition? This session will make you think again.
[Bios filename=”rgoring” name=”Richard Goring”]

4:30pm – 5:00pm  |  Build
Theming Around
When all of Office needs to play nice
Why stop at good branding within PowerPoint? Do it right and you can brand across all of Office
[Bios filename=”vsokol evans” name=”Vickie Sokol Evans”]

4:30pm – 5:00pm  |  Deliver
Presenter View on Steroids
Learn how the pros use it
How to leverage PowerPoint’s or Keynote’s Presenter View to help you present flawlessly
[Bios filename=”tchollar” name=”Troy Chollar”]

6:30pm – 10:00pm  |  Special Event
Tuesday Night Celebration
At Henry’s Hollow

Wed 8:30am – 9:30am  |  Keynote Address
The Accidental Storyteller
How one person touched 35 million others
Imagine how it was for this “socially awkward” scientist when her YouTube video got 35 million views.
[Bios filename=”cfiggener” name=”Christine Figgener”] 9:45am – 10:45am  |  Design
Creative Imagery
Tools and techniques for designing with image effects
How to make your effects look professional, even if you’re not
[Bios filename=”jterberg” name=”Julie Terberg”] 9:45am – 10:45am  |  Build
Beyond Hyperlinks
Go wild with interactivity
Can you be so interactive that audience members feel as if they are co-presenting with you?
[Bios filename=”rgoring” name=”Richard Goring”] 9:45am – 10:45am  |  Deliver
From Huddle to Boardroom
Exploring intuitive meeting collaboration
[Bios filename=”dfitzgerald” name=”David Fitzgerald”] 11:00am – 12:00pm  |  Design
Bringing Emotion to Data
Without sacrificing truthiness
Designing memorable data can be tricky; here’s how you do it
[Bios filename=”shogan” name=”Stephy Hogan”] 11:00am – 12:00pm  |  Build
Really Big!
Designing slides for gigantic screens
Spend an hour getting tips, tricks, and step-by-step instructions on creating slides to fit any custom display configuration.
[Bios filename=”tchollar” name=”Troy Chollar”] 11:00am – 12:00pm  |  Deliver
Catching up with Pecha Kucha
Embracing constraint creates amazing presentations
Twenty slides, 20 seconds each. The Pecha Kucha presentation style entertains, informs, and is the antithesis of Death by PowerPoint.
[Bios filename=”rbretschneider” name=”Ric Bretschneider”] 1:30pm – 2:30pm  |  Special Event
Encore Performances
Reruns…by request
Sadists at heart, we love torturing you with too many choices. Here is an opportunity to attend one of the sessions you missed the first time around. 2:45pm – 3:45pm  |  Special Event
Five Minutes or Fewer
Tips to match your attention span
By Wednesday afternoon, we’re all fried. So here is a friendly procession of short tips, pieces of advice, and anecdotes, as told by the conference team and patrons alike. 5:00pm – 6:30pm  |  Special Event
One Final Happy Hour
At Windmill Plaza 6:30pm – 10:00pm  |  Special Event
Road Trip to the Riverwalk
A night to unwind and stroll Thu 10:00am – 10:00pm | Something Fun
For those who just can’t get enough of us
Several dozen choose to stay on an extra day and usually we plan a great group outing. We’ll all figure it out together and then have a killer dinner somewhere. Stay tuned…

New for 2019:
Certification Prep!

As our industry evolves and matures, so does the need to demonstrate proficiency and value to organizations that seek to employ or hire you. The Presentation Guild is taking a leadership position in this growing opportunity and is introducing Professional Certifications, a set of tests to enable you to demonstrate your knowledge and acumen and earn a credential for them.

The Presentation Summit is partnering with the Guild to offer this unique opportunity to prepare for and help you pass the Certified Presentation Specialist Test. Our Certification Prep Workshop will take place the day before the conference begins, Sat, Oct 5, at our conference venue. Those who want to earn their stripes in the presentation profession need only come in one day early and sign up. For complete details on the workshop, visit our Cert Prep page.

The Summit FAQ

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Sights and Sounds from the Summit

Photo Gallery

Video footage from our seminars

Snippets from our patrons

From the host

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Our 2019 partners

Join us in 2020. Click here for information on partnering with us.

Platinum


fasetto
fasetto
madeinoffice
powtoon

Gold


inscaleinteractive
microsoft
presentationguild
presentationpoint
shufflrr

Silver


brandwares
indezine

Affordable, Accessible, Invaluable

Continuing a tradition of being one of the best values in end-user education, the Presentation Summit has maintained small business-friendly pricing since its inception in 2003. While comparably-sized conferences have fees that run in the several thousands, we maintain a perfectly-tuned infrastructure specifically designed for events of 200-225 patrons. We promise to keep our prices below the $2,000 mark for several years to come as long as you promise not to equate low prices with low quality.

Main Conference:
Mon-Wed

$1,595 Get Started

Sunday:
Optional Courses

$169 per course More Information

Host Hotel:
Hyatt Regency Lake Washington

$209 per night Book Your Room and Airport Transfer

All conference registrants receive access to our robust conference app and companion printed guidebook, providing comprehensive information on all of the presentations offered, as well as valuable supplemental notes, useful applications, and other resources and literature.

You can hold your seat with a signed company purchase order or a credit card used as a guarantee. In either case, you would then get net+30 to pay for your registration.

This negotiated Conference rate is guaranteed for those who book by September 6. After then, the room rate is likely to rise to its typical October rate of over $275/night. We have negotiated the normal $35 daily resort fee down to $10/night, which will be added to your reservation.

Included in the resort fee: Use of tennis courts • Health club access • Bicycle rental • Outdoor games • Access to Windflower spa facilities • Access to golf practice facility, chipping green • Complimentary golf club storage • Preferred golf tee times • Self-parking.


CANCELLATIONS: 80% refund given if cancellation is received in writing more than 21 days before event; 40% refund if between 14 and 21 days before event; no refund within 14 days of event.