Michael Chad Hoeppner

Michael Chad Hoeppner is the CEO and founder of GK Training, a firm dedicated to giving individuals, companies, and organizations the communications skills necessary to reach their highest goals in work and life. Michael assists his clients in every aspect of their spoken communication — from public speaking and business development to executive presence and interpersonal agility.

His corporate clients include Swiss Re, Xerox, Computer Associates, Pfizer, NYU Stern School of Business, as well as three of the top eight global financial firms, 45 of the Am Law 100, and two of the four major US professional sports leagues. His personal clients include Fortune 100 C-suite executives, managing partners at international legal and financial firms, and founders of global companies. Michael has consulted for two presidential candidates, most recently as Senior Communications Strategist for Andrew Yang's 2020 campaign. He teaches his unique approach to communications at Columbia University Business School in the PhD and MBA programs, and coaches the faculty. Michael also volunteers his time and skills, mentoring elementary school students in New York City at the 52nd Street Project, and doing pro bono communications consulting for nonprofits.

Michael has a diverse background in communications, training, and teaching, studying linguistics, theatre, speech, rhetoric, philosophy, and communications at the graduate and undergraduate level. He received his Master of Fine Arts degree from the prestigious NYU Tisch School, and worked as an actor in film and television, on Broadway, and in international theatre for a decade. Michael attended Dartmouth College and Colorado College, graduating cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa with a B.A. in History and Philosophy.