Biography

John Bourdage, founder of Bourdage Consulting, has dedicated his life’s work to the improvement of interpersonal relationships, whether casual or business, through a renewed understanding of social skills.  Bourdage teaches the social skills that are critical for success in this image-conscious world – skills that are necessary yet commonly overlooked by other programs.

Bourdage is a 1985 graduate of the Ivor Spenser School for Butler Administration and Personal Assistants in London. Under the tutelage of Ivor Spenser, who was toastmaster and event coordinator for Buckingham Palace, Bourdage was trained in such areas as manners and etiquette, food and wines, entertaining, and the fine arts. Bourdage studied clothing with various tailors on Saville Row, restaurant and hotel management at the Ritz and Savoy hotels, cigars and tobaccos at Alfred Dunhill, and specialty shopping at Harrods.

While in London, Bourdage served as associate project director for a “Royal Gala and Ball” in honor of her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Kent. The event, which benefited the Samaritan Society, was held at Harrods. Along with coordinating event logistics, Bourdage helped secure contributions from companies such as Moet et Chandon, Remy-Martin, Jaguar Motors, Christian Dior, and Godiva Chocolates.

Upon returning to the United States, Bourdage helped launch Pronzzo’s Ristorante, an upscale establishment featuring Northern Italian gourmet cuisine. Bourdage served as manager/maitre d’ hotel and was responsible for developing service styles and general staff training.

Leaving New York again, Bourdage was hired by Universal Locations of Hollywood, a company that secures on-location sites for the motion picture and television industries. As a location manager, Bourdage handled all the arrangements between the studios and location owners, including contracts, commitments, and on-site supervision. His clients included Twentieth Century Fox, Lorimar/MGM, Universal Studios, Tri-Star Productions, and Disney Productions, for such projects as TV’s “Dallas”,  “LA Law”, and “Moonlighting”, the motion picture “Beverly Hills Cop II”, and various music videos featuring Phil Collins.

While in Hollywood, Bourdage observed that many young business people, as well as seasoned corporate executives, lacked even the most basic social and interpersonal skills. He returned home to Western New York to organize and perfect his program to teach others the social skills that he had spent years learning.

As he developed and refined his program Bourdage worked as a consultant on image and etiquette. He worked with a number of local businessmen who wanted to learn how to dress for success, and how to entertain at home, teaching them other facets of business deportment and social amenities.

Bourdage has also worked with a number of candidates for public office at the federal, state and local levels. He consulted with candidates on public appearances and donor relations, and coordinated various campaign events.

As a speaker and trainer on manners, social skills, hospitality management and other business deportment, Bourdage has provided workshops at Delphi’s Harrison Radiator Division, the law firm of Hodgson Russ, the United Way of Buffalo, Delaware North, Seneca Niagara Casino, Seneca Allegany Casino, Niagara University, the State University of New York at Buffalo, Canisius College, and other regional community colleges.  He has also presented at High Schools throughout Western New York including Sweet Home, Lockport, Grand Island, and Kenmore West districts.

His seminars are unique courses on the soft skills needed to accompany technical proficiency in today’s marketplace, which he has refined through years of training and delivery. Bourdage has presented his concepts and training through the Dale Carnegie program and at Bryant and Stratton Business schools.  In addition he has worked extensively with Niagara University’s College of Hospitality on various programs to include wine and food pairing dinners, wine courses, and a comprehensive etiquette program including dining and business receptions.

Bourdage is available for seminars, lectures, workshops, training, and personal consultation in the areas of manners, social skills, networking, hospitality management, and other areas of gracious living.