OSKAR - Corporate

With an emphasis on interactive performance and working closely with organizers and presenters, Tom Greder designs, directs and contributes to presentations, orientation programs, team building and corporate events.

By exploring creativity & theatrical elements of communication, people not only discover their own vision, identity & skills, but also their relationship to those around them. The result is a more effective process which is not exclusive but inclusive.

Tom Greders approach bases itself on the exploration of 'play' as the being the fundamental expression of human creativity and the basis of meaningful communication & group dynamics.

Participants will discover & learn how to utilise the spectrum of creative processes and skills available to them, develop a hightened interpersonal sensitivity and become versed in the language of effective communication.

Baxter, Switzerland. 2008
A series of 8 'Synectics', creativity, probem solving and team building sessions and performances for this international blood medication company. Working together with project management company, Triaspect and creativity consultant and performer Toni Caradonna.

Newcastle University , Faculty of Education, Australia: Pedagogy in Practice Conference 2006:
Performance at a conference of 350 delegates aiming to explore the implications of Quality Teaching for professional learning, school leadership and student equity.

Swiss Expo.02, Switzerland: 12 day orientation program animation for 3000 employees in cooperation with Adecco / Manpower. For full testimonial click here.

Triaspect, Switzerland: Ongoing corporate animation and team building for this human resource and project solutions, organization and development company.

Adecco Human Resources, Switzerland: Animation for orientation day for new employees.

Cambridge Technologies, Holland: Team building and creativity workshop for new employees of this multi-national graphics and web design company.

Fun Academy: Founding member and current principle creativity and communication teacher for this project management skills company.

WEGA Tagungszentrum des Wirtschaftsforum, Switzerland: Animator for "Thurgauer Lehrlingstag" 2004, 2003.

From: Expo.02 Job Center
Rue des Terreaux 7
Case Postale 1526
2001 Neuchatel
www.expojobcenter.ch

Thomas Greder, alias Oskar, was engaged as the master of ceremonies for the “Orientation & Formation Day” for the Swiss Expo.02 personnel.

The “Expo.02 Job Centre” was the official information and recruitment provider for the 2002 National Swiss Exposition. It was specifically established for this occasion as a consortium between Adecco and Manpower human resource organizations. Its mission was to ensure personnel requirements and related areas such as employment contracts, payment, social security etc. Between October 2001 and October 2002, the Job Centre gathered close to 30,000 employment candidates, carried out approximately 8000 telephone interviews and 4000 personal interviews, and, granted 3000 employment contracts.

The Job Centre was also responsible for the design, organization and implementation of the “Orientation & Formation Day” catering for 3500 collaborators and employees. Between April 9th and May 7th 2002, 12 sessions took place, each catering for 200 to 300 participants.

The objectives of the formation day were both to provide collaborators with the necessary information for contributing effectively within the framework of “Expo.02”, as well as providing collaborators and employees with the motivation required for effective participation throughout the 6 month event.

From the start our motto for the orientation day was “Rigorous quality & lightness of form”. Our teaching concept attempted to eliminate the outmoded and unconstructive diagrammatic and rote learning approach. Instead, we adopted an interactive philosophy for our instruction. To assist us we engaged a comic professional Tom Greder. The favourable reactions of both organizers and participants showed this to be an excellent choice of approach. Tom Greder's’ contribution can be outlined in two stages.

A: Period of preparation:

During this phase of preparation, Tom Greder was given general instructions and objectives on which to base his interactive work. Together with the other members of the organisation he also actively participated in developing the global goals of the project. During this preliminary phase, he demonstrated:

Introduced the orientation and formation day with interventions and performances which captivated the participants attention and generated an excellent, productive atmosphere. He ensured that each participant remained an active part of the event;
Assisted collaborators and presenters to participate in an interactive manner, and through his interventions generated a feeling of fraternity and motivation to the direction of the project;
Coordinated with both presenters and the organizations responsible for the welcoming of participants.

Tom Greder very quickly became an integral member of our team. His sense of solidarity, communication abilities and flexibility contributed invaluably during the long days of preparatory work.

His work as “situational comedian” is of an exceptional standard and quality.

He showed profound creativity. He transformed dry material and dull moments into relaxed, productive and humorous situations. Every day he expanded or renewed his repertoire to suite the specific situation and environment, or to create a positive atmosphere between presenters and participants;
He demonstrated a coherence between his thoughts and actions;
He possesses a large mastery of technique: For the same program he every time utilised different techniques to suit the changing needs of presenters and participants;
He literally bewitched and transformed tired or preoccupied faces into smiling, relaxed and attentive ones;
He possesses a great ability to improvise. His highly interactive style is not stereotypical nor pre-fabricated. To the contrary, it is the result of a direct, sensitive and personal contact he establishes with those around him. We appreciate the great subtlety of his improvisations. He reacted quickly to the diverse participants as well as the stiff moments between presenter and participants and initiated transformations, often small and subtle, to maximize the effectiveness of material and presenters;
He compliments his technical mastery with a great understanding and use of psychology. It remains to be mentioned that we received a great amount of feedback expressing the highest satisfaction with the “Orientation & Formation Day” and the manner of its presentation.

We encourage Tom Greder to continue to develop this form of performance and intervention within the framework of “orientation, team-building & formation” because his finesse and humour are precious in a society which often doesn't encourage adults to dream or live the moment. A heart-felt thank you to Tom.

Neuchatel, Switzerland, 22 May 2002.

Isabel Heiniger, responsible for Orientation & Formation day
Christoph Breitenmoser, responsible for Recruiting & Marketing

2: MESSEN WEINFELDEN

Gregor Wegmüller - Leiter Geschäftsstelle
Rathausplatz - CH-8570 Weinfelden Switzerland
+41 (0)71 626 45 00 Fax: +41 (0)71 622 45 09
wegmueller@wega.ch
www.messen-weinfelden.ch

Weinfelden 3rd November 2004

To whom it may consern,

For the past two years, Tom Greder, alias Oskar, has been the “master of ceremonies” at the “Thurgauer Students and Apprentices Day”. This event is an afternoon event with different presenters who are responsible for the development and encouragement of students, apprentices and their respective teachers and instructors from the region.

In relation to a different annual theme, presenters are responsible for sharing with the students and apprentices their successful life and work experiences in the areas of sport, politics, science and culture. The “Thurgauer Students and Apprentices Day” is under the direction of the department of Education and Culture as well as the canton Thurgau business association.

As Oskar, Tom Greder was responsible for the welcoming of the participants, introducing the theme and accompanying them throughout the afternoon. With his humorous offerings he won the hearts of the participants and created a bridge between them and the presenter. Questionaires showed that for many participants, Oskars’ speeches and theatrical routines offered a very welcomed comic relief. At the same time, Oskar also contributed to the overall themes, packing metaphors into his routines and sketches. Many participants retain these images and scenes far better than the spoken content of the day. Oskars’ positive influence on the students and apprentices is of particular note. The feedback questionnaire showed that over 80% of participants found Oskars work to be of the highest order.

We thank Tom Greder for his huge impact and influence and would be delighted to again utilise his services for our next event.

With fond regards,

Gregor Wegmüller
Project Director

“I have rarely been to a corporate event and laughed so much”
Der Bund, Switzerland

"Oskar is indeed funny ! He manages, at 8:30 in the morning, to bring 200 Swiss-Germans to laughter”
Neue Luzerner Zeitung, Switzerland

"Die ganze Basisausbildung wird vom Komiker Oskar begleitet, der die graue Theorie mit kurzen Einlagen auflockert.: Während Dircktor Rüdisühli spricht, sitzt Oskar dem Publikum zugewandt auf einer Bank, zieht Grimassen und sorgt für Lachanfälle bei den Zuschauern"
Neue Zürcher Zeitung 8 May 2002

"Ich habe noch selten bei einer Ausbildung so viel gelacht"
Der Bund 6 May 2002

"Oskar ist lustig ! Er schafft es, morgens um halb neun 200 Deutschschweizer zum Lachen zu bringen"
Neue Luzerner Zeitung 30 April 2002

"Afin de mieux faire passer le message, le Job Center a eu recours aux services du clown Oskar, un comique de situation professionnel qui s'est fait fort d'intervenir tout au long de la journée pour détendre l'atmosphere et illustrer les situations expliquées"
Le Journal Du Jura 24 April 2002

"The day left me with very different impressions. Particularly vital and relaxing was Oskar. Thanks to him I was able to sustain my concentration and attention at a high level. A didactic and inspired idea!"
Urs Bucher, Ausbildungsverantwortlicher für die Bundesausstellung, 29 April 2002

"Genial idea to have Oskar. He created a totally unique atmosphere, less serious, not boring"
Mark Gruenig, 24 April 2002

"My thanks go out particularly to Oskar, the entertainer-clown, who managed to keep our attention constantly awake and enliven the 'dry' subject matter. At the end of the day I didn't have a 'heavy' head as is usualfollowing such courses"
Anita Epprecht (13 mai 2002)

"Finally, I think it was a good, informative session, which, thanks to Oskar, was also relaxed"
Rita Lanz, Weiterbildung SBB (25 April 2002)

"Der Tag hinterlässt sehr verschiedene Eindrücke. Als sehr belebend und auflockernd habe ich den Clown Oskar erlebt. Dank ihm gelingt es, die Aufmerksamkeit und die Konzentration der
Anwesenden hoch zu halten: eine didaktisch hervorragende Idee! Bravo!"
Urs Bucher, Ausbildungsverantwortlicher für die Bundesausstellung, 29 April 2002

"Mein Dank geht vorallem an Oskar, der Entertainer-Clown, der es fertig brachte unsere Aufmerksamkeit immer wach zu halten und die "trockenen" Materien gezielt auflockerte. Am
Schluss des Tages hatte ich keinen "schweren" Kopf wie sonst nach eintägigen Kursen"
Anita Epprecht (13 mai 2002)

"Ansonsten denke ich ist es ein guter, informativer Anlass, der dank Oskar auch locker ist"
Rita Lanz, Weiterbildung SBB (25 April 2002)

"Génial l’idée avec Oskar, cela crée un état d’esprit tout autre, moins sérieux et moins rébarbatif"
Mark Gruenig, 24 April 2002