A renowned motivational speaker, luminous performer, award-winning communications strategist, seasoned journalist, talented writer, playwright, poet, mother, community volunteer and gregarious humorist, Ms. Berry is renowned for her wit, verve and fierce intellect. Ivy-league educated and globally connected, she’s been covered by numerous media outlets, including appearances on "Good Morning America," (http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=6095530&page=1) and with several NPR affiliates. Career highlights include:  opening in poetry and song for His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Dr. Maya Angelou and Howard Zinn.  

As President & CEO of the award-winning firm Courtney Consulting (www.consultcourtney.com), Ms. Berry is proud to provide strategic marketing solutions, insightful coaching and powerful inspiration to individuals, businesses, colleges and universities, non-profit agencies and Fortune 500 industries around the globe. She holds a Master's degree in Communication from Cornell University and dual bachelor of arts degree in English and Political Science from Binghamton University.

Since 1992, she has delivered more than 2,000 transformative and inspirational speeches and addresses. In addition to overseeing Courtney Consulting, Ms. Berry also owns Reiki Goddess (www.reikigoddess.org) and is an internationally certified Usui Reiki Master Teacher and certified crisis communications and stress management counselor. She is a former Alternate Acting Mayor and Alderperson for the City of Ithaca, elected delegate in New York's 22nd Congressional District for Mr. Barack Obama's successful Presidential bid and the second Poet Laureate of Tompkins County (http://www.pw.org/content/michelle_berry). She resides in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State with her family.
 
Career distinctions include:  citation in Capitol News as "A Politician to Watch," designation by Cayuga Radio Group as one of Central New York's "20 Outstanding Women You Should Know,” named “Best Local Legislator,” by  readers of the Ithaca Times, hailed a "Renaissance Woman," by The Ithaca Journal and deemed a "Woman of Excellence" by the National Association of University Women. Ms. Berry is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., The National Association of Female Executives (NAFE) and Women TIES.  She's also held summer scholarship posts at The Fund for American Studies Institute on Political Journalism at Georgetown University and at Vassar College.

As a TV reporter, one of Ms. Berry's first assignments was covering The White House and Capitol Hill. Since that time she's held progressive positions in media and community relations as a Spokesperson for the City of Binghamton and Cornell University's Business School.

Ms. Berry has held faculty posts at her two alma maters: Binghamton University and Cornell University and most recently as an Assistant Professor of Public Relations at the Roy H. Park School of Communications at Ithaca College. She sits on the Boards of numerous non-profit, business and social change agencies.