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MEET THE MASTERS.

Master the art of communication with industry-leading coaches who help you command conversations and deliver your message with confidence, clarity, and impact.

MEET THE MASTERS.

Master the art of communication with industry-leading coaches who help you command conversations and deliver your message with confidence, clarity, and impact.

THE EXPERTS BEHIND THE VOICES

 

At Figures of Speech we believe that mastering communication can unlock doors to both personal and professional success. Behind this dynamic program are Bob Rathbun and Dez Thornton, two celebrated masters of communication who each bring a wealth of insight and a passion for helping others communicate with the same confidence and authenticity they're renowned for. 

With decades of experience in sports broadcasting and professional speaking, Bob and Dez provide personalized coaching, proven methodologies, and practical tools that empower you to navigate high-stakes moments—whether you're speaking to the media, negotiating deals, or building a personal brand. 

Together, they have built an unparalleled platform where athletes, performers, executives, and thought leaders can learn to craft and deliver impactful messages that resonate in every arena.

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MEET BOB RATHBUN

EMMY AWARD-WINNING SPORTS BROADCASTER

Bob Rathbun is widely celebrated as the longest-tenured TV play-by-play announcer in Atlanta Hawks history and one of the NBA's most recognizable and decorated play-by-play voices. Rathbun calls all of the games on the Hawks' Bally Sports Southeast package, the past 15 seasons teaming with Hall-of Famer Dominique Wilkins. He has also served as a play-by-play announcer for basketball and other sports on the ACC Television Network since 1988, has called games for both the ACC and the SEC on Bally Sports South and was the network’s play-by-play voice for the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream for 10 seasons.

Rathbun's prodigious basketball work has found its way to all of the major broadcast outlets and platforms, including CBS, ABC, ESPN, TNT and NBA TV. He has earned numerous significant broadcasting awards during his career, including 13 Southeast Regional Emmy Awards, the national Cynopsis Sports Media honor for live sports coverage, eight-time state honoree Sportscaster of the Year Awards from the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association (NSSA)and the Positivity in Broadcasting Award from Positive Athlete Georgia.

A motivational speaker and author, Rathbun hosts ‘A Trophy Life,’ the official podcast of the Naismith player and coach of the year awards, based in Atlanta. He also sits on the national Naismith Awards Board of Directors, and in 2023, added inclusion to the Board of Selectors to his duties. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in speech from Catawba College (1976).

MEET BOB RATHBUN

EMMY AWARD-WINNING SPORTS BROADCASTER

Bob Rathbun is widely celebrated as the longest-tenured TV play-by-play announcer in Atlanta Hawks history and one of the NBA's most recognizable and decorated play-by-play voices. Rathbun calls all of the games on the Hawks' Bally Sports Southeast package, the past 15 seasons teaming with Hall-of Famer Dominique Wilkins. He has also served as a play-by-play announcer for basketball and other sports on the ACC Television Network since 1988, has called games for both the ACC and the SEC on Bally Sports South and was the network’s play-by-play voice for the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream for 10 seasons.

Rathbun's prodigious basketball work has found its way to all of the major broadcast outlets and platforms, including CBS, ABC, ESPN, TNT and NBA TV. He has earned numerous significant broadcasting awards during his career, including 13 Southeast Regional Emmy Awards, the national Cynopsis Sports Media honor for live sports coverage, eight-time state honoree Sportscaster of the Year Awards from the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association (NSSA)and the Positivity in Broadcasting Award from Positive Athlete Georgia.

A motivational speaker and author, Rathbun hosts ‘A Trophy Life,’ the official podcast of the Naismith player and coach of the year awards, based in Atlanta. He also sits on the national Naismith Awards Board of Directors, and in 2023, added inclusion to the Board of Selectors to his duties. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in speech from Catawba College (1976).

MEET DEZ THORNTON

WORLD-RENOWNED PROFESSIONAL SPEAKING COACH

Dez Thornton is one of America’s premier communications coaches, helping business leaders, executives, TEDx Speakers, surgeons, and NBA players influence, persuade, and entertain audiences small and large. Dez himself has given hundreds of presentations and has trained over a thousand presenters, including eight members of the world-renowned TED conference brand.

Professionally trained at the University of South Carolina and Dale Carnegie, he is a past president of the Georgia Chapter of the National Speakers Association, the winner of Speak Tank, a speaking competition hosted by the NSA, and a speech coach for TEDxAtlanta. He has coached top-level professionals and corporate clients, and has taught a public speaking class for 7 years at a federal prison.

Throughout his extensive career Dez has dedicated himself to learning and teaching the art of speaking, making the complex simple, fast-tracking comprehension and helping thought leaders say the right words in the right way when they matter most.

MEET PAT ALACQUA

STRATEGIC ADVISOR & BUSINESS GROWTH STRATEGIST

Pat Alacqua has successfully built his own businesses while helping numerous leaders continuously achieve exponential growth. Utilizing his deep insights into the complexities of business challenges, he founded the Entrepreneur to Enterprise Program where he shares his wealth of experience and guides entrepreneurs and C-level leadership on their growth journeys.

With a mission to empower leaders Pat helps businesses Clarify their challenges, Chart strategic paths, and Coalign their teams through his unique 3Cs Process to Faster Results.  He further enables them to overcome obstacles, seize opportunities, and achieve their business goals in order to propel their companies forward faster. 

As a strategic advisor and thought partner, Pat has played a key role in developing the service offering system and marketing communication strategy for the launch of Figures of Speech.  As a trusted expert and sounding board, Pat continues to provide ongoing strategic guidance precisely when and where it’s needed, helping Figures of Speech reach key milestones, seize new opportunities, and drive long-term success.

MEET PAT ALACQUA

BUSINESS GROWTH STRATEGIST & OPERATING ADVISOR

 

Pat Alacqua is the business operating advisor and thought partner for Figures of Speech. Pat has been instrumental in shaping the service offering system and marketing communications, playing a key role in the company's successful launch. He continues to provide strategic guidance and operational support, ensuring Figures of Speech remains well-positioned for growth.

As a trusted advisor, Pat not only brings strategic insights, but also enures those ideas are effectively implemented. By working closely with leadership, he helps turn strategy into action, driving measurable results.

Pat has successfully built his own businesses while helping numerous leaders continuously achieve exponential growth. Utilizing his deep insights into the complexities of business challenges, he founded the Entrepreneur to Enterprise Program, where he shares his wealth of experience and guides entrepreneurs and C-level leadership on their growth journeys.

Pat helps businesses CLARIFY their challenges, CHART strategic paths, and COALIGN their teams through his unique 3Cs Process to Faster Results. His approach enables them to overcome obstacles, seize opportunities, and achieve their business goals, propelling their companies forward.

"Getting to call games for the Atlanta Hawks with Bob Rathbun was a dream come true. I learned a lot from Bob, particularly working in a 3-man booth. He helped us work together — on timing, patience, understanding the moment, whatever the case may be. Watching him work continues to motivate me to get better at my craft and hopefully to be in this business as long as he has."

 

Vince Carter

Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame '24.
8x NBA All-Star.

"The ability to have the confidence, to have the clarity, have the simplicity, have the patience, and to say the right thing in the right way at the right time isn't easy, you know, and it can be learned. These guys are brilliant at teaching people how to do that and how to do it in the right way that gets the right impact."

 

Dr. Bernie Mullin
Former NBA CEO and League Office
C-Suite Executive

"It's a no brainer for me. If you want to be a public speaker, if you want to do blogs, if you want to be on tv, if you want to do anything where you have to connect and sell yourself, these two guys can help you in every aspect of public speaking, podcasting, blogging, especially on tv."

 

 

Quincy Lewis

Former NBA & International Basketball Champion & Broadcaster

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