Deon Vance
Technology Team Leader | Technical Professional and Executive Presenter
Relationship to Tony: Long-term one-on-one coaching client who first met Tony Torres through an employer-sponsored team-building session and has continued working with him for four years.
Worked Together On: Public speaking, executive communication, presentation skills, leadership presence, storytelling, body language, projection, difficult workplace conversations, and preparation for high-stakes presentations.
Professional Background: Deon Vance is a technology professional and team leader whose work requires him to combine technical expertise with leadership communication. Since beginning one-on-one coaching with Tony Torres, he has progressed from avoiding public speaking to leading larger meetings, presenting quarterly to executives, mentoring team members, and speaking at company events and conferences. His experience gives him a long-term perspective on Tony’s approach to communication coaching and the professional impact of developing a stronger speaking presence.
Deon Vance on Working With Tony Torres
I first met Tony Torres during a team-building session my employer hosted. I walked away impressed enough that I signed up for one-on-one coaching, and four years later I’m still working with him. Looking back, it’s one of the best investments I’ve ever made in my career.
When we started, public speaking was something I avoided whenever possible. I’d quietly find a seat in the back of the conference room and hope I wouldn’t be asked to speak. I knew my technical knowledge was solid, but I didn’t have the confidence or communication skills to match it.
Tony recognized that immediately.
He didn’t sugarcoat it either. One of the first things he told me was that I was a “low energy, low volume mumbler.” Then he smiled and said, “Someone as smart and knowledgeable as you should have more confidence than Shaq at a preschool dunk contest.”
That pretty much set the tone for our coaching: honest, direct, funny, and incredibly effective.
Tony recorded my presentations and reviewed them with me in detail. We worked on pacing, body language, executive presence, storytelling, projection, and role-playing difficult conversations I knew I’d have at work.
What surprised me most was my first assignment. It had nothing to do with technology or business. Tony asked me to give a presentation about something from my childhood that I genuinely loved. No computers. No work stories. I chose Rey Mysterio.
Only later did I realize what he was doing. He wanted to see what I looked like when I wasn’t trying to impress anyone. He built my communication style around authenticity instead of performance.
After our first coaching sessions, I gave a presentation at work and noticed an immediate difference. By slowing down, pacing myself, and projecting without shouting, people understood me the first time. I wasn’t repeating myself anymore, and I felt far more in control of the room.
One lesson from Tony has stayed with me more than any other. He used the famous line from This Is Spinal Tap where the guitarist proudly explains that his amplifier “goes to 11.”
Tony told me, “Most people think they’re at a 10. Go to 11.”
At first, that sounded like he was telling me to be louder or more animated. What he was really teaching me was to commit. When it’s time to speak, stop apologizing for taking up space. Trust your preparation, own your expertise, and bring your full presence into the room.
Ironically, one of the biggest ways he got me to “go to 11” was by teaching me to slow down. If those two ideas sound contradictory, you probably need a session with Tony.
The biggest milestone in my career came when I was promoted to Team Leader. My manager specifically complimented my newfound speaking presence and told me that my presentation skills, combined with my technical knowledge, were what put me ahead of the other candidates.
Today I lead larger meetings, present quarterly to executives, mentor my team, and speak at company events and conferences. Before important presentations, I still call Tony because every coaching session is tailored to exactly what I need.
The impact hasn’t stopped at work. My wife and extended family have all commented that I seem more confident, more comfortable, and more present than I used to be.
Before Tony, I avoided speaking whenever I could. Today, I lead meetings, present to executives, mentor others, and genuinely enjoy opportunities to speak.
If you’re looking for someone who will simply teach you how to give a speech, there are plenty of coaches out there. If you’re looking for someone who will change the way you communicate, lead, and carry yourself, I can’t recommend Tony Torres highly enough.