“Spending the first six years of my career working in politics and on Capitol Hill afforded me the distinct privilege of observing elected officials delivering floor speeches, giving television interviews, hosting constituent meetings, etc. I can say with the utmost confidence that Mayor Elise Partin could hold her own with any of them. I have worked with Mayor Partin since 2012, and I have seen first hand how effective she is at communicating a message and connecting with an audience. She knows her realm of genius well and is thoughtful about selecting topics that allow her experience to shine. More than anything, however, I have always been struck by how relatable she is as a public speaker. Her humility, her down-to-earth approach, her warmth are just some of the tools she uses to draw you in and make you care.“
Meghan Hickman
Executive Director, EngenuitySC
Elise is a speaker who has it all—great messages, dynamic delivery, and the ability to connect with the audience on a personal level at the same time wowing them. She speaks with authority and command respect, but does it with a genuine desire to be real at the same time.
I’ve seen audiences light up when she speaks—because they love her energy and her sincerity. You can tell they know they’re in good hands.
She is brilliant at using stories to make her points, another thing you can see audiences responding to as they go along for the ride with her
She always brings humor, too—often with fun stories about the hard lessons she’s learned. Audiences appreciate that honesty and respect her willingness to share what’s gone wrong as well as what’s gone right.
She inspires audiences to envision what’s possible—whether that’s for a collective taking on a big challenge or for an individual who wants to try something new.
She helps people find confidence—and not just through the confidence she projects as a speaker. She is honest about obstacles, but she also shows how those can be overcome through stories from her own personal experiences and other stories she tells.
She energizes people to take action. She has a way of framing big problems so that we can see what to do next—whether that’s take on an issue in society or take a smaller step toward a personal goal. In public speaking courses, for example, I watch how she helps people take small risks and move forward because she brings her energy—and almost gives them a transfusion of it.
She makes things easy to understand, by talking about complex issues in a concrete way that the rest of us can relate to.
She is always eager to help us find the best in ourselves.
Jenny Maxwell
Co-Director, Buckley School of Public Speaking
“The speech you delivered to us at the conference was the most captivating speech I’ve ever heard. Not only did you take us on a journey mentally but emotionally. I was left encouraged and charged to go back to my City and fight harder than ever.“
Cornelius Huff
Mayor, Inman
As a Cayce Community leader, I have had many opportunities to witness your outstanding gift of public speaking. When you address an audience, you have the ability to inspire high school students and other professional groups of all ages to be the change that they wish to see in society. This point has been a motivating topic in many of your keynote speeches. The quote "You are capable of Amazing Things" is a great example of the impact you have on audiences in this community.
Cayce Community Activist
Mrs. Elise Partin taught me in my Honors Demystifying Elected Office class where we learned about different aspects of elected office and the political world. She has my highest recommendation when it comes to educating students on elected office and more. "
Sedrick Sweat Jr.
South Carolina Honors College Student
When you invite Elise Partin to speak at your event, prepare to be inspired. Elise’s energy and enthusiasm quickly engage her audience. You feel as though she is talking directly to you.
An accomplished speaker, she exhibits the very best in leadership. Her dedication to her community combines with an eye to the wider world. Known for listening to the diverse needs of residents, she has been recognized for her focus on economic development and efforts to promote regionalism.
{"Her compassion, her integrity, her sincerity — all come through and make her good at delivering her message. She is that rarity in experienced speakers"=>"a genuine, unpretentious person who truly cares about what she is talking about."}
Elise is especially good at motivating women to step outside their comfort zones, as she herself did in running for mayor of Cayce. Men and women in all walks of life are needed to solve problems at all levels, she says.
I’ve had the pleasure to have Elise both as a main speaker and a panel member on several of my company’s events. As I’ve said in introducing her, she is truly a rock star in her own right.
Licia Jackson
former associate publisher, Columbia Regional Business Report
“I took Elise’s 'Demystifying Elected Office' course through the South Carolina Honors College during the fall of 2016, when the ability to sift through bias in media and understand the U.S. political system was more crucial than ever before.
Throughout the course, my classmates and I were encouraged and supported in challenging our own beliefs, engaging in productive and thoughtful debate, and questioning the assumptions underlying politics at the local, state, and federal levels. Elise has an incredibly extensive network of connections working within and adjacent to the political arena, and she capitalized upon this network to ensure we understood the dizzying array of perspectives and goals present within U.S. politics. We heard from speakers with expertise in campaign management and finance, political reporting, lobbying, ethics, and far more throughout the semester. Beyond this incredible insight into the daily operations of politics, Elise also sought to help us break down the imposter syndrome surrounding elected office — she encouraged each of us to see ourselves as potential candidates regardless of our backgrounds, and she helped us recognize the humanity present in every sensationalized elected official or candidate.
Today, almost three years after I took her course, I cannot see or hear a political advertisement without immediately analyzing the biases and rhetoric present in the message — I believe I’m more effectively able to parse through the extraneous details to recognize the most important content within political reporting. For this, and for the confidence Elise instilled in me to think of myself as a competent, critical piece of the political process, I will be forever grateful!”
Reaghan Murphy
USC Honors College Student