Meet Pam - "I Did It - So Can You"

 In the spring of 1997, I received a call from an Air Force colleague, Monica Earley, sharing her experience after attending The Protocol School of Washington’s (PSOW) Train to be a Corporate Etiquette and International Protocol Consultant training program. I was the Deputy Director for the headquarters protocol office at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio.

I recall asking her “What is the Protocol School of Washington?” She exclaimed, “It is a train-the-trainer program teaching international etiquette and protocol”. I’m sure I was thinking this was the Betty Ford’s clinic for really rude people… She went on to tell me all of the things she learned and details about her wonderful learning experience. I told her I would ask my Commander, 4-star General Henry Viccellio, if I could attend based on her learning experience.

Monica faxed me the information (back then PSOW was conducting paper-based registrations and didn’t even have a website). The information was very professional and detailed. I couldn’t wait to attend based on Monica’s description of the program.

You’ve heard the expression “I didn’t know what I didn’t know?”. After I completed the course, I realized how much I didn’t know about protocol and etiquette although I had worked in protocol offices for more than 10 years.

Upon completion, I was ready to train others and started with my team. Then I began teaching Squadron Commanders, General Officer spouses, high-level civilian employees and organizations in my community. I loved the feeling of being “on-stage” and sharing my knowledge. What I really liked was the participant’s feedback and participation in my seminar. The more training I conducted the more I wanted to do more. It was very addictive!

Almost 20 years have passed since I graduated. I never knew my success teaching PSOW seminars would bring me to the opportunity to acquire the School. In October 2005, I courageously resigned from the Air Force and purchased the School from our Founder and my mentor, Dorothea Johnson.

You never know where business etiquette and protocol will take you but do what you love to do and success will come!

Pamela Eyring is the President of The Protocol School of Washington. To learn more about her, click here

Stay tuned all week for more inspiring stories from our successful Corporate Etiquette and International Protocol consultants!