At the center of his communication arsenal are Shepard’s powerful original songs, which use cutting edge linguistic techniques to set up and "lock in" positive learning and motivational states. For the meat of his programs Shepard utilizes an interactive style of storytelling that works on many levels at once. Not only has storytelling been the preferred method of teaching for thousands of years, recent studies prove conclusively that illustrative stories are often the only portion of a talk the audience remembers. Shepard also assists participants to maintain a high level of curiosity and alertness by integrating breathing and movement throughout the presentation.

Formal & Informal Education/Training:
In addition to a BA in comparative Religion (cum laude) from Manhattanville College, and a year of graduate work at Princeton Theological Seminary, Shepard has received extensive training from the Westchester Arts Council, The New York State Council on the Arts and the CT Commission on the Arts in multiple intelligences and arts based techniques to support training & development, creativity and innovation. In 2001 Mark was awarded the designation of "Master Teaching Artist" by the CT Commission on the Arts.

He has also studied African Polyrhythmic Drumming with Kazi Oliver and Yoga with numerous teachers. As a self motivated learner, he has read thousands of books on a huge array of pertinent subjects, which filter into and through his performances and presentations. He also carves huge and unusual drums and paints large abstract acrylic canvases.

Mark Shepard is available as a performer, speaker, and workshop leader on a number of innovative motivational, organizational, and educational themes. He particularly enjoys adapting one or more of his many areas of expertise to your theme or needs. 

In addition to his creative arts work, for 25 years Shepard has been on a quest for understanding leading him to study alternative healing, Hypnosis, Neuro-Linguistic Programming and other modalities of personal empowerment.   In 2002 he became certified as a Hypnotherapist through the New England Institute of Hypnotherapy. In 2003 He became a certified master practitioner of NLP , Clinical Hypnosis and TimeLine Therapy.. He maintains a private practice as a hypnotherapist and NLP practitioner in Guilford, CT. For more about that aspect of Mark's work please visit www.markshepard.com