Who We Are

Steve Clements

Claudia Coplon

For 40 years, Steve Clements has taught, written, conceptualized, directed, produced and even testified on all aspects of media ranging from network broadcast to video to "live" production in a glass-bowl Disney studio. In these capacities, he has managed staffs ranging from 4 to 150, handled budgets ranging from $11,000 to $1,000,000 a week, and prepared students, professionals and celebrities to talk to their various publics.

After years of devoting himself exclusively to producing, directing and writing for national broadcast, cable and video, Steve relocated to Atlanta to train and teach. As a trainer of executives in many Fortune 500 companies, Steve distills the ability to practice persuasion in oral business communications into a basic philosophy: Find the best you and practice it until it is second nature. Then utilize it for guaranteed success in every communications challenge.

Steve began honing this philosophy while teaching Speech and Television on the college and secondary levels in New York. This experience was the segue to his becoming a situation comedy writer in Los Angeles for WELCOME BACK, KOTTER and THREE'S COMPANY, and a writer for the classic talk/variety series DINAH!, starring Dinah Shore.

He soon became co-creator of the pioneer women's magazine show, HOUR MAGAZINE, and spent a year training Gary Collins as the talk show's host while honing the program on local Westinghouse Broadcasting stations in Boston, Philadelphia and San Francisco. During its eight years in national syndication, with Steve as Supervising Producer, HOUR MAGAZINE became a responsible force, particularly in gaining public awareness of new medical findings. 

Steve takes pride in the fact that HOUR MAGAZINE took the first journalistic step to bring AIDS to the attention of the public as well as pioneered women's issues, such as the reality of PMS, lumpectomy as an alternative to mastectomy and the massive abuse of hysterectomies by gynecologists. HOUR MAGAZINE was recognized by the American Medical Association as well as the American Bar Association, and received six Emmy nominations and two Gold Awards from the International Film and TV Festival of New York.

Later, Steve produced the exercise/entertainment magazine show, BODY BY JAKE, for the Samuel Goldwyn Company, training fitness expert Jake Steinfeld as a television host. He also created and was Executive Producer of the pilot for THE BERTICE BERRY SHOW, the fastest selling show in the history of television syndication in association with FOX.

Throughout this period and in the years to follow, Steve trained dozen of experts to greet national audiences including world-renowned cardiologist and, subsequently, Parade Magazine medical editor Dr. Isadore Rosenfeld, chef and entrepreneur Wolfgang Puck, "hair stylist to the stars" Jose Eber, fitness guru Richard Simmons, and culinary expert Laurie Burrows Grad. (He would later train Bob Goen {ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT} and Pat Sajak {WHEEL OF FORTUNE} as talk show hosts.)

He was also responsible for reviving MICKEY MOUSE CLUB for The Disney Channel, bringing a new design to a format previously rooted in the 1950s program to fit the musical sounds, pacing and comedy of a new generation. His programming attained a hit status that helped make the Disney Channel the only pay cable network to double in growth during that time and earned him three CableAce nominations.

Steve recounts these and other experiences from his 3,000 national television broadcasts in a text/trade book, published by Silman-James Press, entitled Show Runner, Producing Variety and Talk Shows for Television.

Today, in addition to training executives, Steve sits as Distinguished Professor of Communications at Augusta State University (University System of Georgia). In this role, he heads the Television/Cinema department, trains MBA candidates to meet communications challenges in their managerial positions, and spearheads the film program he developed to serve the city of Augusta.

At home in Atlanta, he participates as a member of the board of directors for IMAGE (Independent Media Artists of Georgia, Etc.), the Southeast’s promoter of individual expression through film and sponsor of the Atlanta Film Festival. Steve is also a member of TASA (Technical Advisory for Attorneys), and Expert Resources, Inc., serving as an accredited trial witness in the field of Video/Communications. 

Throughout his career and even since returning to training, Steve continues to work as an independent producer of educational and promotional videos, and documentaries. He wrote, produced and directed the NFLPA-MARCH TO VICTORY, tracing the history of the National Football League Players Association, which is given to every player as he enters the NFL. As co-owner of DIAMOND EDUCATIONAL PRODUCTIONS, Steve has also established a new benchmark for the quality production of videos for the educational market. Thus far, 30 Diamond titles are being purchased nationally and internationally by colleges and universities.

The result is a unique background that enables Steve to serve as a performance trainer for media and public speaking; speak as an accredited expert trial witness, multi-degreed theatre, film and television historian and director; and talk as an honored professor and keynote speaker as well as write, produce, direct and post-produce for television and video. With this breadth of background, Steve is capable of tackling any communications challenge and bringing his philosophy of success to his clients.