Sylvia Holben Allen
Sylvia Allen Consulting Services
Seattle, WA, UNITED STATES
Sylvia Allen is a positive, high energy, entertaining, and affordable motivational speaker, conference trainer, and consultant
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Biography
Transform your organization from good to truly outstanding!
Let Sylvia Allen help you take your team to the next level of success
Sylvia Allen has built a reputation for inspiring and coaching organizations to reach levels of success beyond their wildest dreams. Her positive leadership, can-do attitude, and ability to motivate people to reach new heights has been recognized with numerous local, state, and national awards for both her and her organizations.
Sylvia is a positive, high-energy motivational speaker, trainer, and consultant with a special interest in quality customer service, inter-generational issues, multi-cultural awareness, and world travel. She is passionate about making a difference, and selects topics that are interesting, educational, and useful. These include the essentials of outstanding customer service, providing customer service to a multi-cultural community, generational issues in the workplace, dealing with angry customers, humor and fun in the workplace, future trends, and the changing face of volunteerism. All presentations are extensively researched, data-driven, and customized for each audience.
Sylvia has over 30 years experience successfully managing a wide variety of recreation, business, and customer service agencies. She has worked as a civilian employee of the U.S. Air Force, in municipal government, as a university professor, and executive director of a non-profit agency. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Recreation Administration and a Master’s degree in Human Relations.
A lifetime of travel has led to her intense interest in the similarities and differences in the world's cultures. The wife of a career military officer, Sylvia has lived and worked in numerous U.S. and overseas locations. She and her husband are avid tourists who took complete advantage of the years that they lived overseas to “see the world”. Not content to just experience foreign cultures as a casual tourist, Sylvia has done extensive research into the wide diversity of customs, thought, dress, body language, religious traditions, etc., which she enjoys sharing through her "Cultural Awareness Tool Kit - Providing Outstanding Customer Service to a Multi-cultural Community" and "International Blunders – Cultural Do's and Don'ts for the World Traveler."
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For more information or to book Sylvia Call: 253-302-5158 or Email: sylviahallen@gmail.com
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Industry Expertise (3)
Professional Training and Coaching
Leisure / Recreation
Corporate Training
Areas of Expertise (5)
Outstanding Customer Service
Multi-Cultural Awareness
Generational Issues in the Workplace
Dealing With Angry and Difficult Customers
Changing Face of Volunteerism in the 21st Century
Accomplishments (2)
Distinguished Fellow Award (professional)
1998-10-12
Selected to receive highest honor of the Armed Forces Recreation Society, the Distinguished Fellow Award.
Air Force Meritorious Award (professional)
1991-01-01
Twice awarded the Air Force Meritorious Award which honors the best in the entire Air Force in any given job category. Sylvia remains the only individual to receive this honor twice, for two different positions.
Education (2)
University of Oklahoma: M.A., Human Relations 1980
Central Washington University: B.S., Recreation 1973
Degree awarded "With Distinction"
Affiliations (2)
- National Recreation and Park Association
- Washington Recreation and Park Association
Links (1)
Testimonials (2)
Bruce Fletcher, Parks and Recreation Director | City of Mercer Island, WA
“I recently attended a conference session with Sylvia Allen presenting. I found myself on the edge of my seat for the entire session. Sylvia’s fast paced and high energy style along with her thought provoking material gave me great tips for the trade. I would certainly attend another one of Sylvia’s sessions and would highly recommend her.”
Mary Dodsworth, Parks and Recreation Director | City of Lakewood, Washington
“After living and traveling throughout the world Sylvia brings a wealth of knowledge and fun anecdotes to her training sessions. Regardless of the topic, the information she shares is well researched and timely. Her enthusiasm and quick wit make for a positive learning environment.”
Event Appearances (8)
Culturally Competent Customer Service, Taming The Angry Customer
National Recreation and Parks Association Annual Congress and Trade Show Atlanta, GA
2011-09-15
Taming The Angry Customer
National Recreation and Park Association Annual Congress and Trade Show Atlanta, GA
2011-09-15
Customer Service Excellence
Pierce County Support Staff TRAIN conference Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, WA
2013-06-26
Multi-Cultural Awareness Tool Kit
Student multi-cultural awareness training Seattle University, Seattle, WA
2013-02-07
Culturally Competent Customer Service - Providing Outstanding Customer Service to a Multi-Cultural Society
National Recreation and Parks Association Annual Congress and Trade Show Pasadena, CA
2012-10-17
Future Trends That Will Change the Way We Live and Play
Washington Recreation and Parks Association Annual Conference Washington State Convention Center, Seattle, WA
2011-10-19
Bridging the Generation Gap
Washington Parks and Recreation Association Annual Conference Wenatchee Convention Center, Wenatchee, WA
2011-04-29
International Blunders - Do's and Don'ts for the World Traveler
AWAG (American Women's Association in Germany) Annual Conference Garmish, Germany
2009-05-05
Sample Talks (1)
Providing Outstanding Customer Service in a Multi-Cultural Society
In a society where 1 in every 8 people was born outside the U. S., a “one size fits all” service delivery model may not be working any more. Presentation addresses the cultural missteps that may be sabotaging your best customer service efforts. Session discusses ethnic, regional, generational, and cultural differences, sensibilities and expectations; different communication styles; cultural taboos; and how to train your staff to deliver quality customer service in a multicultural environment.
Style
Availability
- Keynote
- Workshop Leader
- Corporate Training
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