WAYNE GIGNAC

Wayne Gignac (JEE-nak), a popularizer on a number of subjects, mixes his passion for research and inquiry with his entertainment background to create an experience that people won’t soon forget.  In case you were wondering how he came to this point in his career, please read on.

In my own words

My career path began at a very early age, spending every Saturday at the Otis Library I could be found sitting on the floor in section 793.8- the Dewey decimal classification for magic books.  It wasn’t long before I had developed an act and was performing for classmates.  At the age of 9 I had my first paid show performing at a neighborhood halloween party for 250 children and their parents.
An avid reader and information junkie by the age of 12, I had completely read the WorldBook Encyclopedia and every cereal box and condiment container put in front of me, (not all that impressive, considering there was a lot less information back then).  Around the age of thirteen, my mom caught me with a Playboy magazine. . .reading the articles!
I went on to earn a degree in communications and a teaching certificate.  Eventually, after working in the corporate world and a stint as a high school teacher, I set off for the footlights to begin a rather successful career as an edutainer (the art of presenting educational content in an entertaining way), creating and performing motivational programs in schools throughout New England, communicating messages on subjects as varied as honesty, responsibility, self-esteem, goal-setting, doing good, and the importance of reading,  to over 250,000 students and their families. 
In 1989, prior to my first exit from the corporate world, a visit to a doctor would change the trajectory of my passion, focus, and ultimately my career. Apparently, severe chest pains of the “heart-attack” that I thought I was experiencing was just one of the many symptoms of stress.  This led me to reading dozens of books on stress and the positive effects and health benefits, that humor and laughter have on reducing stress.
In 1992 I began consulting and was enlisted as the first outside consultant to assist the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe in writing and presenting the first customer service training program for Foxwoods Casino.  Personally training over 16,000 employees in my Taking Care of You™️ approach, I was soon “discovered” by other industries, leading to a number of cross country training tours for the banking, and healthcare fields.
2001 was a year filled with ups and downs.  Awkward Moments in Everyday Life, a book I coauthored with Laura my wife (the true brains of the operation) and our friends the Segels, was published just a few months before the tragic day in September when our country was attacked by terrorists.
  The subsequent downturn in the economy and the insistent habit that my family had grown accustomed to- eating- led to a decision to once again join the security of a steady paycheck in corporate America.  This turned out to be a 14 year “field study” in Dilbert’s world as I rose through the corporate ranks from a series of cubicles “clawing” my way to the middle, eventually occupying a corner office where I could put the techniques, that I had previously taught to other corporate brethren, to the test.  This led to some wonderful insights, encouraging me to take more courses and read dozen's of books on a variety of subjects (thanks to Audible and a long commute). This new found knowledge, ultimately lead to the development of new techniques and programs, to aid in developing a better more productive and joyful work/life experience.
In 2016 the decision was made to rework and rebrand the old consulting business, developing updated, fresher and more fun talks and workshops.
If you previously experienced one of my workshops then you know how impactful it was.  Somewhere in the bottom of your drawer you may find one of the over thirteen thousand red clown noses I have given away.  Dust it off, put it on and give me a call, even if it’s just to reminisce.

Wayne lives in Connecticut with his wife Laura, where they are happily experiencing an empty nest after raising their five children.  Family, having always been a source of joy has just been exponentially increased by the addition of their first grandchild.