Carey Sue Vega (USA) 

Award-winning Etiquette Expert 

www.careysuevega.com

I officially became an Etiquette Professional in 2001 when I completed training with the National League of Junior Cotillions to become a licensed director.  I ‘unofficially’ have been an Etiquette Professional for many years leading up to the formal training.  In 1989 I developed a ‘Manner Madness’ program for the recreation department at the resort where I was serving as an intern.  For 10 years I worked for Norwegian Cruise Line and during that time while I was a Cruise Director, I put together an Etiquette and Entertaining program with another crewmember.  He was a formally trained English Butler so I owe much of my ‘formal’ etiquette training to him.

I currently offer programs for students 5^th - 8^th grade, High School, as well as Business Etiquette and Corporate Training for college students and professionals.

 I love working as an Etiquette Professional; sharing the tools and tips to help people feel more comfortable in any situation is so rewarding.  So many people think manners and etiquette are stuffy and formal.  When in reality, they give you great self-esteem and help you to fit in, allowing you to put others at ease.

When I first started working with the high school students, we were kicking off our first class and my brain was saying to me “what in the world made you think this was going to be a great idea”.  The teens were sitting there, looking at me with their arms crossed, slumped down in their chairs… hating me, hating their parents for sending them to me.  You get the picture.  But by the end of the first class, we had made great headway and they were all enjoying themselves and we were on the road to a positive experience.  We recently ran into one of those former students, who recently graduated college.  He said his experience in our program proved to be invaluable as he interviewed for school and internships, throughout his college  experience and even more so now that he is heading out into the ‘real world’.

During that first experience, I learned that people want to learn; they want to feel more comfortable in social situations.  That helps me to feel more confident in my teaching abilities and I am more at ease when I go into the ‘classroom’ setting… knowing what the end result is going to be. I strongly believe that manners and etiquette are our compass and anchor for happy living as we navigate the social seas of life.