The History of EMS
EMS Communications marks the coming together of the talents, insights, expertise and personalities of its two founders, Eliot M. Shapiro and Eric M. Schor. (That’s where the name comes from. Get it?)
In 1998, Eric and Eliot were two business professionals who pooled their skills and initials to form EMS in their own unique vision: as a company dedicated to teaching business professionals to become more successful in communicating with skill, clarity and confidence.
Based in the north suburbs of Chicago, EMS Communications relies on common sense perspective, keen understanding of the dynamics of interpersonal communication, a casual-yet-direct training style, a sense of humor, and an intuitive recognition of the many factors and techniques useful in coaching people to present themselves more effectively in public.
Historically, the lives of Eric and Eliot, two dynamic, funny and effective executive trainers, have paralleled each other in different ways:
- They were childhood friends who went to camp together, got in trouble together, and joined the same fraternity at the University of Illinois.
- As adults, they both met their wives at the same place, share a passion for the White Sox and for Bruce Springsteen, and enjoy spending beautiful days on the golf course.
- In recent years, they both have become devoted fathers, and moved their families to Deerfield, Illinois, where they live within blocks of each other.
- Today, they share a vision: to rid the world of boring presentations, one speaker at a time.
The EMS “board of directors” is always present in business and family affairs. Eric and Alyssa Schor have enough boys for an infield—Tyler, Abe, and twins Seth and Josh—who contribute anecdotes, musical choices, baked goods and vocal variety to the business and personal mix. Eliot and Ellyn Shapiro add to the conference room with their son, Noah, whose storytelling ability—complete with gestures, of course—is becoming legendary throughout the Midwest, and Rose, who brings an extra dose of cuteness as the youngest member of the board.