Kate S. Holgate

Alliance for Success Speaker Management

My team and I manage established professional speakers and we help new speakers get started. The speakers who fit best with AFS are those who are looking for the broad scope of services we offer. We help speakers with everything from their website to their book; we consult with speakers to help them create more content and, now that the world has gone pearshaped, we can help them deliver that content to their virtual audience. These speakers are not looking for a commission-only relationship like they would have with a bureau but understand that we have a retainer/commission business model which allows us to offer the broadest scope of services possible. 

SUPERPOWERS: Creating long-lasting relationships with meeting planners, and because of those relationships, many planners return to us year after year to help them select their speakers.

Kate has submitted more Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) applications to the National Speakers Association (NSA) than anyone on the planet (no, really!).

PASSIONATE ABOUT: Working with speakers whose messages help us make the world a better place. Connecting meeting planners with speakers who help the planners/bureaus deliver the best experience to their audiences - whether the engagement is a keynote or training; whether it is virtual, in-person (remember those?) or a hybrid.

KUDOS: "Kate Holgate has the best ear for speaking of anyone whom I've met. She understands what a speaker has to do for their message to resonate long after their presentation is finished." ~Barry Banther, CSP; Chair, National Speakers Association





941-554-8363


"Time and time again this woman saves me. She is ALWAYS looking out for me and making certain I have what I need when I need it. The AMAZING Kate Holgate, my Vice-President in Charge of Making Things Happen. I love and appreciate you SO much!! You are EXCEPTIONAL at what you do and who you are!!"

Linda Larsen, CSP, CPAE Speakers Hall of Fame

Speaker

"Kate has forgotten more about guiding, supporting, and promoting professional speakers than most people will ever learn in a lifetime. Her superpowers are real, and her passion is genuine. If you are a speaker seeking someone to guide you with kid glove support or kick you in the pants to get you going, then pray that Kate has an opening for you."

Marti Sullivan

President, SDS, Inc.

"Don't even bother to do this [Apply for your Certified Speaking Professional designation} without Kate Holgate. She's the bombdiggity. Kate is a CSP savant and has special Jedi powers that will change the game for you. The force is with her."

Jerome Wade, CSP

President, The Epic Advantage

"Kate's passion and creativity extend to many facets of our industry. Whether you are a speaker seeking your Certified Speaking Professional certification, or representation with a full line of services, those who choose to work with Kate get much more than they could ever pay for. They receive a lifelong journey with a lady whose life is dedicated to making this world a better place."

Sue Falcone

President, Remarkable Speakers Bureau

Are you a speaker's bureau?

We are not. While we have great relationships with many bureau partners, our business model is, in general, completely different.  Bureaus, by and large, keep to the herculean task of identifying and securing engagements for the speakers on their roster. Most do not provide the marketing, consulting, and coaching services that management firms typically offer. 

We do not.  On average, only one out of ten speakers who contact us is a good fit. Those who are not either are too much like one of our current speakers, or they are looking for a commission-only sales team, or we just don't "click" during our initial call.  

Correct, we do not work on commission only. Much of our involvement with our speakers does not directly result in a fee-paid agreement. We spend a lot of time working with speakers on their platform skills, their marketing materials, and creating a strategy to develop a successful business development process. While success in those categories does, hopefully, lead to fee-paid agreements from which we earn a commission all of this is time-consuming which is why we have a combined retainer/commission business model. 

If you are currently booking an average of three-four incoming fee-paid events each month and you just need us to close and handle the agreements from start to finish (billing, tracking, travel, etc.) then, yes, we would consider working on commission only. The other exception is if you are a military veteran or retired first-responder and are booking an average of one incoming fee-paid event each month then, to honor your service, we would consider working on commission only.

That's why we created our consulting service. You will receive an initial consultation of up to 30 minutes without charge. After that time, we all should know if we're a good fit. Our consulting service is not intended to take the place of our management service, speaker development program, or our project service. What it is intended to do is to give you a place to become more focused, to discuss ideas, and to go forward with action items we suggest.  

Kate S. Holgate

Alliance for Success Speaker Management

About Me

My team and I manage established professional speakers and we help new speakers get started. The speakers who fit best with AFS are those who are looking for the broad scope of services we offer. We help speakers with everything from their website to their book; we consult with speakers to help them create more content and, now that the world has gone pearshaped, we can help them deliver that content to their virtual audience. These speakers are not looking for a commission-only relationship like they would have with a bureau but understand that we have a retainer/commission business model which allows us to offer the broadest scope of services possible. 

SUPERPOWERS: Creating long-lasting relationships with meeting planners, and because of those relationships, many planners return to us year after year to help them select their speakers.

Kate has submitted more Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) applications to the National Speakers Association (NSA) than anyone on the planet (no, really!).

PASSIONATE ABOUT: Working with speakers whose messages help us make the world a better place. Connecting meeting planners with speakers who help the planners/bureaus deliver the best experience to their audiences - whether the engagement is a keynote or training; whether it is virtual, in-person (remember those?) or a hybrid.

KUDOS: "Kate Holgate has the best ear for speaking of anyone whom I've met. She understands what a speaker has to do for their message to resonate long after their presentation is finished." ~Barry Banther, CSP; Chair, National Speakers Association





941-554-8363


Book Me

Testimonials

"Time and time again this woman saves me. She is ALWAYS looking out for me and making certain I have what I need when I need it. The AMAZING Kate Holgate, my Vice-President in Charge of Making Things Happen. I love and appreciate you SO much!! You are EXCEPTIONAL at what you do and who you are!!"

Linda Larsen, CSP, CPAE Speakers Hall of Fame

Speaker

"Kate has forgotten more about guiding, supporting, and promoting professional speakers than most people will ever learn in a lifetime. Her superpowers are real, and her passion is genuine. If you are a speaker seeking someone to guide you with kid glove support or kick you in the pants to get you going, then pray that Kate has an opening for you."

Marti Sullivan

President, SDS, Inc.

"Don't even bother to do this [Apply for your Certified Speaking Professional designation} without Kate Holgate. She's the bombdiggity. Kate is a CSP savant and has special Jedi powers that will change the game for you. The force is with her."

Jerome Wade, CSP

President, The Epic Advantage

"Kate's passion and creativity extend to many facets of our industry. Whether you are a speaker seeking your Certified Speaking Professional certification, or representation with a full line of services, those who choose to work with Kate get much more than they could ever pay for. They receive a lifelong journey with a lady whose life is dedicated to making this world a better place."

Sue Falcone

President, Remarkable Speakers Bureau

FAQ

Are you a speaker's bureau?

We are not. While we have great relationships with many bureau partners, our business model is, in general, completely different.  Bureaus, by and large, keep to the herculean task of identifying and securing engagements for the speakers on their roster. Most do not provide the marketing, consulting, and coaching services that management firms typically offer. 

We do not.  On average, only one out of ten speakers who contact us is a good fit. Those who are not either are too much like one of our current speakers, or they are looking for a commission-only sales team, or we just don't "click" during our initial call.  

Correct, we do not work on commission only. Much of our involvement with our speakers does not directly result in a fee-paid agreement. We spend a lot of time working with speakers on their platform skills, their marketing materials, and creating a strategy to develop a successful business development process. While success in those categories does, hopefully, lead to fee-paid agreements from which we earn a commission all of this is time-consuming which is why we have a combined retainer/commission business model. 

If you are currently booking an average of three-four incoming fee-paid events each month and you just need us to close and handle the agreements from start to finish (billing, tracking, travel, etc.) then, yes, we would consider working on commission only. The other exception is if you are a military veteran or retired first-responder and are booking an average of one incoming fee-paid event each month then, to honor your service, we would consider working on commission only.

That's why we created our consulting service. You will receive an initial consultation of up to 30 minutes without charge. After that time, we all should know if we're a good fit. Our consulting service is not intended to take the place of our management service, speaker development program, or our project service. What it is intended to do is to give you a place to become more focused, to discuss ideas, and to go forward with action items we suggest.