President and co-founder of Ovation Communication, Kerri Garbis has trained hundreds of executives internationally on presentation skills, storytelling for business, etiquette, and emotional intelligence. She is a Business Etiquette Expert, certified by The Emily Post Institute, and an Emotional Intelligence Expert, certified by The Hay Group. A professional actress since childhood, she has starred in productions of Evita, Singin’ In The Rain, and The Lady With All the Answers (a one-woman play about Ann Landers), to name a few. You may also have seen her catching a pass from a New England Patriot, singing a Christmas carol, or complaining of bloating in a television commercial. She is a member of Actors’ Equity Association.
Name: Kerri Garbis
Discipline: Theatre
Class Year:1989
Current Gig: President & Co-founder of Ovation Communication. And proudly still a working actor!
Best Lesson Learned at BSA: Art is the great equalizer. I learned not everyone thinks like me or comes from a similar background, yet each of us has a story to share.
Most Awkward BSA Moment: Through BSA I got some very cool opportunities to perform at events outside the school. One time, I was asked to sing somewhere. I was a cocky and inexperienced performer and just arrived at the event without my sheet music for the accompanist. I went home and rummaged through my bedroom to find the music. I returned to the gig in shame. Trust me, I have never done that again.
Funniest BSA Memory: Another time I was singing with the chorus at a large dinner event that was hosted outside of school. Unfortunately a young tenor, named Kerry, got sick during the performance and threw-up right in the middle of a song on the stage. We all held it together and finish strong that night. The next day at school the word had gotten out that “Kerry threw-up on stage.” I was asked about it all day long. I was so relieved it wasn’t me, and more than happy to explain it was boy Kerry.
