CL Academy: Communicating Technical Information to Non-Technical Audiences

JANUARY 28-29, 2026
1:00 - 4:30 PM Eastern  • 6 PDH Credits

Collaborative Learning, Inc. is offering an e‐learning program that you will not want to miss! This program will be presented in two (2) “live” half‐day sessions. All sessions incorporate high‐quality presentations by qualified instructors with Q&A and other opportunities for group interaction.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

CL’s course presenters/facilitators bring to this course their broad knowledge and experience working with utility organizations, municipal governments, cooperatives, consulting firms, and construction contracting companies.

Those who work with highly technical organizations often need to relay complex information to people unfamiliar with the subject matter and terminology. Your audience can be board members and executive managers, customers, community leaders, governmental officials and regulators. Whether the communication is one-on-one or in a group setting, and whether it occurs in a boardroom, in an office, out in the community, or in a written report, the challenge is to present the technical information so that a non-technical person can understand it. Regardless of whether the subject matter is engineering, finance/accounting, cyber-security, public safety or government regulations, this course provides practical techniques and tools for communicating effectively with those who have limited technical knowledge or experience.

Participants will learn to recognize their natural “tech-speak” tendencies and then learn approaches for relaying complex technical concepts clearly—without patronizing or alienating their audience. This course provides a practical process as well as tools for planning and delivering technical information to a non-technical audience.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Purpose:  Gain understanding and skill to communicate effectively about technical subjects to a wide rnge of non-technical audiences.

After completing this course, participants will be able to:

Day 1:

• Communicate as subject matter experts in a manner that educates others without condescension.
• Identify the technologies and language specific to their technical role in the organization.
• Understand the needs, role and interests of a non-technical audience
• Learn a process for planning and developing an effective presentation.
• Effectively use PowerPoint presentations, graphics, stories, video clips and other visual tools to make complex information clearer

Day 2:

• Adapt their communication approach to keep the information clear and concise and address the styles of the audience.
• Monitor their body language and other non-verbal communication to ensure they are conveying empathy rather than frustration and impatience.
• Recognize when they lapse into “tech-speak” and develop skills for avoiding it.
• Recognize the signs of when the audience is lost or frustrated and create a safe learning experience that ensures people really understand.
• Use facilitation techniques for ensuring audience understanding.
  
  

KEY TOPICS AND PRACTICES

DAY 1:

PROGRAM INSTRUCTORS

This course will be presented and
facilitated by two of our faculty members:

R. John Miner is an accomplished executive manager, engineer, educator and consultant with over 45 years of experience in the utility industry. He is President and owner of Collaboration Unlimited and Collaborative Learning, Inc. since 1995 and has worked as a management consultant since 1987, providing services to clients in the electric, water, wastewater and communications utility industries.  He lives and works out of Austin, Texas and Cedar, Michigan.

Dr. Betsy Aylin is an experienced executive and organization consultant with deep expertise in organization effectiveness and leadership development through experience in a broad array of industries. Betsy has over 25 years domestic and international experience working with organizations on strategic and business planning, organization change, leadership and management development, and building human resource capabilities.  She specializes in helping leaders set direction, build strong work teams, and drive results.

Tom DeBell is an independent consultant who works with Collaborative Learning-Collaboration Unlimited as a management / leadership consultant, instructor / facilitator and coach. He recently completed a successful 34-year tenure in the public utility sector, primarily at Riviera Utilities in Foley, Alabama. Transitioning from this career in November 2023, Tom embarked on a new journey as the founder of an executive and leadership coaching enterprise.  

Alicia Hooks is an independent consultant who works as a management / leadership consultant, instructor / facilitator and coach. She is an experienced executive with more than 30 years of experience in public service—including roles in public education, communications for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and 22 years in the electric utility industry. Alicia brings both passion and deep experience to her mission of serving people. Before joining CL-CU, she served as General Manager for the Greenville Electric Utility System (“GEUS”), Texas’ oldest municipally owned utility, in Greenville, Texas.  Alicia led a wide range of transformative initiatives across the organization.

LEARNING METHODS

This program is applications‐oriented, including high‐quality presentations Q&A, group interaction, and opportunities to check what you have learned.

WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE?

• Executive Management
• Technical Professionals
• Middle Management
• Frontline Supervisors

REGISTRATION FEE:

$595 for Academy Members and CL contacts.

A discount of $50 per person for any organization that registers three (3) or more people. Each participant from a participating organization is required to be a paid registrant. No group viewing is permitted unless all participants are registered.  For larger group pricing, please contact us. 

Please register by January 21, 2026
Cancellations are accepted if request is made at least 10 days prior to start of the course. Within 1-10 days or "no show", the full registration fee will be charged. When possible, please send a substitute instead of cancelling. We do not charge a fee for registrant substitutions. 

For assistance contact Jillian.Wolfe@cl-cu.com.