Team

Jean T. Brown, Principal

Jean provides dynamic leadership and communication coaching to a diverse group of professionals in such industries as investment banking, financial services, health care, real estate, management consulting and law. Clients include Archon Group LP, Booz Allen Hamilton, The Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation, and Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management. She coaches senior executives privately to help them enhance their leadership presence and impact. more

Jean brings an extensive background in marketing, advertising and the performing arts to her communications coaching. Jean spent ten years in the advertising industry at D’arcy Masius Benton & Bowles and J. Walter Thompson. As Senior Vice President, she directed client-service teams in the development of communication strategy and breakthrough advertising for Procter & Gamble, M&M Mars, Unilever and Warner Lambert.

Jean combines business experience with eight years as a professional actress, singer, and director/choreographer in New York and regional theaters. She served as spokeswoman for leading companies and appeared in national print ads and television commercials. Her extensive training in voice and movement brings this expertise into her work with coaching clients.

Jean Brown received an M.B.A. from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and her B.A. from Dartmouth College.

James D. MacKenzie, Principal

Jamie counts BNP Paribas, Deutsche Bank, The Columbia Business School, Sony, Stryker Spine, Welch’s and Yahoo! among his clients. He also provides communication expertise to such law firms as Kilpatrick Stockton; K&L Gates; and Sidley Austin LLP. He offers private coaching to senior bankers, attorneys and executives on topics including presentation skills, client development and conflict resolution. more

Earlier in life, Jamie pursued a successful career in theater as a performer and producer. His acting career spanned sixty theatrical productions, as well as television and commercial work. He appeared on Broadway in My Fair Lady with Richard Chamberlain. The New York Times profiled Jamie’s acting career in a Sunday Arts & Leisure article entitled “Striving for the One Singular Sensation.” Jamie incorporates his acting and coaching techniques from the theater into his work designing and delivering highly customized client work.

Jamie MacKenzie has a B.A. in government from Dartmouth College and graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy. He studied voice at Shakespeare & Company with Kristin Linklater, author of Freeing the Natural Voice.

Barbara Brocklebank

Barbara has been providing coaching and training in spoken communication skills to executives and professionals in the United States, Canada and Europe for the last twelve years. She has worked with clients in a variety of industries including accounting and professional services, medical, legal, pharmaceutical, technology and manufacturing. more

Private sessions vary from improving one-to-one communications to preparing and rehearsing a major presentation or speech.

A graduate of Guelph University, Barbara was a Vice President of Marketing for the largest drug store chain in Canada prior to moving to the United States.

An avid traveler and adventurer, Barbara resides in New York with her husband, a Broadway musical theater performer.

Edwardyne Cowan

Edwardyne brings 15 years experience in business, training, and theatre to her coaching work. Her diverse skills help her clients to improve their professional presence and enhance their communications skills. She works with executives, attorneys, scientists, accountants, and financial services professionals in over twenty industries. more

Edwardyne brings a unique background to the MacKenzie Brown team. As an actress and singer, Edwardyne starred as Eliza opposite Richard Chamberlain in the Broadway and European productions of My Fair Lady. She played Christine in the German production of Phantom. She has performed at Carnegie Hall, Off-Broadway and in theatres across the United States. She was a principal actress in the film Fermat’s Last Tango, and may be heard on that show’s original cast recording. At the New York Aquarium, Edwardyne worked with the beluga whales, where she learned the art of operant conditioning and the importance of positive reinforcement in all training situations. She also honed her public speaking skills by narrating the dolphin and sea lion demonstrations.

Edwardyne Cowan graduated magna cum laude with a double major in mathematics and political science from the College of New Rochelle. She lives in NYC with her husband and twin daughters.

Jeanne Jones

Jeanne brings over 20 years experience in business, education and theatre to her coaching for MacKenzie Brown. Her unique background gives her a dynamic blend of humor, sensitivity and energy to motivate others to realize their full potential. She has worked with business professionals in a variety of industries including finance, law, pharmaceuticals, technology and professional services. Her specialization is professional image development, relationship building and presentation skills. more

Early on, Jeanne had a successful career as an actress. Her performing spanned the Broadway stage, regional theatres across the country and venues abroad. She also appeared in numerous commercials and soap operas. She has worked extensively in industrial training films and as a corporate spokesperson. Ms. Jones has also taught at several colleges and has lectured throughout the United States as a clinician in the education field.

Jeanne graduated magna cum laude from the University of Illinois where she was selected for membership in the “100 Club Honorary” for her leadership in campus activities. She holds a Masters in Education from the University of Northern Iowa.

Gail Parker

Gail has over 15 years experience facilitating group workshops and working one-on-one with professionals to provide more impactful communications. Success through skill building includes seminars in: presentations skills, meetings, problem solving, panel discussions, motivating, media events, negotiations and sales. She has worked with scores of managers, executives and partners at Fortune 500 and AmLaw 100 firms. more

Gail spent 12 years as Director of Training and Professional Development at a NY-based consulting firm. Before that Gail worked with The Brighton Group, a strategic-management company emphasizing time management, sales and communications. She also worked in sales for Guerlain and taught theatre at New York University. Often a guest lecturer on communications issues, Ms. Parker has been featured in articles in The New York Times, Glamour magazine and the Wall Street Journal. Gail is a Certified Provider of the Highlands Ability Battery.

Gail graduated with honors from Ithaca College, where she earned a B.F.A. in communications. After college, she toured the country as an actress.

Wayne Meledandri

Wayne has spent the last several years providing professional coaching to individuals and groups specializing in dynamic presence and impactful presentations. He has worked for clients across a wide range of industries, including law firms, financial services, health care and consumer products. more

Wayne attended Coach University, the nation’s premier coach training institute. He is a member of the International Coach Federation. Prior to coaching, Wayne enjoyed 25 years in the performing arts. He performed a leading role in the Broadway production of A Chorus Line and has acted in theaters across the US and Canada. Wayne has enjoyed guest starring roles on television and appeared in several regional commercials.

His directing and choreography has been seen in theaters around the country and internationally at London’s Covent Garden Music Theatre Festival.

Wayne is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University.

Michael Scott

Michael brings 30 years of experience as a trainer, acting coach and Broadway actor to MacKenzie Brown. He uses his background in theater and television to coach executives and managers on presence, presentation skills and client development. He has worked with a wide variety of clients in banking and financial services, law firms and manufacturing. more

Michael has appeared in 6 Broadway shows, most recently “110 in the Shade” with Audra McDonald. Film and Television appearances include “Proud”, “Law and Order” and “One Life to Live”.

Michael graduated from California State University Long Beach with a degree in Speech and Communications.