Team

Looking at a row of monitors in the control room of “Good Morning America” one day, producer Susan Tomai had an epiphany. Too many CEO’s and politicians were squandering a priceless opportunity on national television – failing to get their key messages across in a way that would sell products, advance and agenda, or win votes.

She started the media training and presentation training business that would become Oratorio and has since built a reputation as one of the world’s leading communications training specialists, counseling hundreds of business executives and public figures for interviews, crisis situations, speeches, presentations, and encounters with financial analysts and investors.

Susan has won several Emmy awards for her television work, as well as public relations industry awards including two Silver Anvils, the IABC Gold Quill Award, and several PRSA Certificates of Excellence and Commendations. She holds degrees in speech and drama from Marymount University and in mass communications from Emerson College, as well as a Certificate in Organization Development from Georgetown University.

Andy Field is an award-winning broadcast journalist who has spent much of the last decade as the ABC Owned Stations Washington Correspondent and Bureau chief for WABC-TV New York covering stories around the world, from Israel to the Panama Canal –  from the OJ Simpson Trial and four White House administrations, to medical, economic and consumer news.  Andy continues to produce and report stories for ABC Network Television and Radio, PBS, Discovery and other local and national programs.

He has won Emmy, Telly and Aegis awards and was part of ABC News’ 9/11 attack coverage that was awarded the Alfred I. Dupont Award and the George Foster Peabody Award, the two highest honors in broadcast journalism. As a media and presentation coach, Andy has prepared clients to appear on network programs including: Oprah, 20/20, Dateline NBC, CNN, CBS newscasts, and National Public Radio.  Andy received his Bachelor of Science degree in Broadcast Journalism from Syracuse University. 

Ben has been working with Oratorio since 2019, assisting with the transition into a virtual-focused workplace due to the pandemic. Since then, Ben has taken a more hands-on role in the company; participating in trainings, conducting interviews, providing technology assistance, and strengthening Oratorio’s social media presence.

Ben has excelled as a performer his entire life, beginning as a youth following his passion for music.  With 14 years of experience playing the cello, he excelled as a soloist and member of his school orchestra and enjoyed entertaining audiences. During this time, he played at the Kennedy Center, participated in the pit orchestra for musicals, and won multiple awards. Ben began his music career as a producer and audio-mix engineer, collaborating with award-winning artists to create songs in various studios around the DMV.  He continues to guide and encourage others in their journey to create and deliver their messages regardless of the platform.

Ben attended Old Dominion University for Computer Science, where his passion for technology and the limitless capabilities it possesses were discovered.

Egan has been a dedicated member of Oratorio Inc. since 2013, transitioning from intern to full-time media trainer in 2020. His work has been instrumental in delivering high-impact media and crisis communication training to executives and subject matter experts at organizations such as the World Bank Group, The American Academy of Actuaries, and The National Association of Manufacturers. Egan has also led presentation trainings for large groups, including over 100 participants at United Airlines, and contributed to the development of new training curriculums, website enhancements, and business development initiatives.

Before joining Oratorio full-time, Egan spent years in the automotive industry, working as both an auto mechanic and service advisor. His passion for hands-on work and problem-solving laid the foundation for his transition into training, where he discovered a deep love for teaching - first through mentoring younger technicians in the automotive field, and later by instructing law enforcement officers, military personnel, and civilians in firearms safety, operation, and marksmanship.

Egan brings a unique blend of technical expertise, communication skills, and empathy to his role, helping clients unlock their potential and perform with confidence. Outside of work, he finds joy in spending time with his family, caring for animals, and exploring the outdoors. His greatest reward is watching students grow and succeed, knowing he played a part in their journey.

Derek McGinty is a journalist, an award-winning interviewer and a commentator. He got his first job on the air back in 1984 at WHUR radio in Washington DC. From there he went to WAMU-FM where he launched a nationally syndicated daytime talk show on NPR. By the end of the century he’d been a correspondent on the CBS broadcast Public Eye with Bryant Gumbel and HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel.

After two years in New York as anchor of ABC’s World News Now and World News This Morning, It was back to his hometown of Washington DC to anchor WUSA’s fledgling 7pm local newscast. Derek spent 12 years at WUSA, retiring as main anchor in 2015.

Since then, Derek has been doing freelance television work for a diverse group of organizations, including AARP. 

In all those incarnations Derek has believed that ideas matter more than ideology, and he is proud of his reputation for fairness, professionalism, and good conversation.

One of the driving forces behind Gerald (“Gerry”) Patterson’s leadership development philosophy is “continuous learning,” his belief that everyone from top executives to new employees must find recurring ways to improve. Before joining Oratorio, Gerry served as Director of Training at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and managed a multi-million dollar training budget serving over 50 locations nationwide. Throughout his career, Gerry has emphasized the importance of the learning through instructor-lead sessions, as well as the reinforcement of new skills through follow-up coaching and e-learning.  

Among Gerry's accomplishments are the development of and approval for the EEOC’s first Executive Training Plan and its first Leadership Succession Management Plan.  He also negotiated approvals of policies on supervisory, managerial, and executive development, and served as program manager and COR for the agency’s 360 Degree Leadership Assessment survey administered to all agency executives, managers and supervisors. Gerry earned an MBA from The George Washington University and a B.S. in Business Management and Administration from Indiana University.

Bryan Ashby is an award-winning media professional with 30 years of experience performing and managing a broad range of communication disciplines. As a media trainer and presentation coach to Fortune 100 companies and federal agencies, he has prepared leaders for keynote addresses, media interviews, Congressional testimony, sales pitches and oral presentations. Mr. Ashby holds a BA in Communications from The University of Maryland and is a member of the Screen Actors Guild.