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Christine Ferrera

Etiquette Coach

Christine Ferrera is an etiquette coach based in Fontana, California. With over 12 years of experience, she is the founder of Polished Message Etiquette (PME), a modern training platform focused on Communication, Image & Style, and Comprehensive Etiquette. Christine works with professionals, college students, youth leaders, and community organizations to teach real-world etiquette and professional presence. She offers coaching through formal presentations, interactive workshops, and one-on-one sessions, both in person and virtually. Her work has been featured in Microsoft-sponsored workforce readiness initiatives, live etiquette intensives, and high-impact teaching engagements. Her speaking engagements include California State University, Fullerton, as well as community collaborations with the Miss Fontana Pageant & Leadership Program, Girl Scouts of America, and Redlands Kids' Connection.

Education

  • AA, Respiratory Care (Professional License Earned)
  • Retired after more than 23 years of professional service, before founding PME

Certifications & Organizations

  • Distinguished Toastmaster (Toastmasters International, 2018)
  • Qualified Speaker (QS), Toastmasters District 12 Speakers Bureau, 2024
  • Microsoft-Sponsored Etiquette Educator, Inland Empire Skills Training
  • Ambassador of the Year, Fontana Chamber of Commerce, 2022–2023

Favorite Piece of Advice

Etiquette is not about perfection—it’s about presence. I often remind clients that how you show up communicates long before you speak. When your tone, posture, and purpose align, you don’t only make an impression—you leave one that’s worth remembering.

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Forum Comments (4)

Should you bring a gift to a gender reveal party?
Gift-giving at a gender reveal party is typically an option, not expected. Should you decide, a gender-neutral option would be best. If the invitation specifically says, "no gifts", I honor the request.

However, sending a personal gesture, such as a small floral arrangement or something thoughtful and private, can be a nice way to celebrate the moment.
What are the most important parts of phone etiquette?
My top essentials for phone etiquette, worth using time and time again:

At Polished Message Etiquette (PME) sessions, I Christine, often say:
Your voice is your presence, especially when there is no handshake or eye contact to support it.

Your phone etiquette may seem simple, yet it often determines whether someone feels seen, heard, or dismissed. Whether answering a call in a professional or personal setting or returning a message. These thoughtful cues that make all the difference.

From a PME perspective, here are a few essentials I return to again and again:
1. Answer with awareness. A rush or distracted "Hello?" can send the wrong signal. Take a breath. A simple visual is counting 1-5 silently, significantly pausing. Breathe, smile (yes, it can be heard), then pick up with presence.

2. Tone is posture made audible: What we say matters: however, how we say it often matters more. Choose a tone that reflects poise not pressure. Avoid speaking too loudly or too softly, articulate and enunciate your words with intention. Clear and concise. (You want your listener to understand, correct?)

3. Greet with clarity: A "Good morning, this is Christine" instantly sets a professional tone. Avoid abrupt phrases as "Yeah? or "Who is this?"
4. Know your space: Be thoughtful of your surroundings.Avoid answering when distracted, driving, or in a noisy environment. If you must answer acknowledge the limitation and offer to call back.

5. Close with style: Avoid rushing to end the call. One of the best ways is "Thank you for calling" or "I look forward to following up." This leaves a lasting impression.

Phone etiquette is more than being perfect. It sounds as if you genuinely desire to be in the conversation. You are creating a space for respectful, meaningful words the resonates with the listener. Presence, even over the phone, can be felt... A beautiful gift of conversation.
How do you properly set a table for dinner?
Dining at an elegant establishment is a special experience! Understanding utensil placements and their use makes the offerings even more tasty.
Learning to properly set a table may be challenging. However here are a few tips for wonderful experiences.
Each person has 12 to 14 inches of personal dining space. One of the most asked questions at a dining table is "Is this my glass or is this your glass?" Remembering the water glass is placed slightly above the knife. This, allows the diner to focus on the dining experience.
Now, within the personal dining space, know which is the diner's dominant hand (Right or Left) then place the knife accordingly. Tip: Left-handed guest's best seating position is an end. seat, to prevent bumping into the right-handed person. The single or double forks preferably a small and standard size, depending on the courses on the opposite side of the plate.
This beautiful plate is placed about an inch above the table's edge. Then above the plate, there may be a small spoon and a small fork.The wait staff will remove one after guest has chosen a dessert.
As one's dining experience becomes more elegant, their establishment's courses increase. And...more utensils. Encourage yourself to become familiar with the styles and uses. Then, enjoy every elegant meal in style at home or a fine restaurant.
The Joy of knowing what to do.
How Talk to Teens My Age
When you are a shy person, just think that wherever you are when you're young, you're not there by accident, and someone around you can help you. We must always ask - ask questions . Even if you're shy, you can ask someone, “Can I talk with you?” or “How are you?”. It's a skill that can be learned.

Being curious is so powerful . There's a big difference between being curious and nosy. However, it's how you phrase it, or how we ask that first question. Typically, when I'm curious about a point or a situation, I simply say, “I'm curious. Would you care to share more?” And the earlier we start practicing the skill, the easier life gets for us.

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