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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 (2)

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.

Co-authored Articles (9)

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