Cleveland Plain Dealer: Daniel Abreo Inspiring Others with his Words

Inspiring Others with his words

by: Raven Hill   Daniel Abreo arrived in Cleveland 19 years ago from Uruguay, unable to speak a word of English.  But today he has few qualms about speaking in front of audiences of any size.

Abreo said he started public speaking after he "fell in love" with the presentations motivational speakers gave at his job.

He enrolled in the Dale Carnegie training program, which helped increase his confidence in speaking in front of groups.  He had been speaking off and on for 14 years before joining Toastmasters International in 1995 to fine-tune his presentation.

"I try to tell people how great the opportunities are here if you make the right choices", he said. "This is the only country where the fences are there to keep others from coming in.  Other countries use them to keep people from leaving."

Abreo, who speaks Spanish and some Italian, gives a minimum of three speeches a month with different organizations.  He usually does two presentations for Mothers Against Drunk Driving.  Abreo also spoke at the Euclid Fourth of July celebration and during career day at a West Side elementary school..

Patricia Oakar, MADD's Victims Advocate coordinator, said MADD was lucky to find him.

"He just has a zest for life," Oakar said.  "He feels that every day is a gift from God and that you should live it as though it is your last."

Oakar said Abreo is very effective as a speaker in their three-tiered program designed to make drunken-driving offenders aware of their good fortune in receiving a second chance.  She said MADD plans to give him a major role in its new program targeted at offenders who speak only Spanish.

"He makes [offenders] admire the police officer who stopped them because they could have been killed, or killed, someone else," she said.

Abreo said he tries to bring to light the value of God and family, both of which come first i his life.

"Family is everything," he said.  "They will live with me in good times and bad.  These are the people who are the biggest joy of my life."

Abreo married Grace, his high school sweetheart, shortly after arriving in America.  They have three children who are both the "highlight of my life" and the first audience for his speeches.  He works full time as an electrician for Doan Electric and is an independent agent for Primerica Financial Services, a division of the Travelers Group.

In addition to family and religion, Abreo said, self-discipline and a sense of humor have enabled him to overcome adversity.  He eventually hopes to become a full-time professional speaker, taking his message to a broader audience.

"I hope to empower people," he said.  "When they believe in themselves, they go out and accomplish their dreams." 

Empowering others is what Oakar said is his greatest asset.  "He sincerely wants to help people," she said.  "he's great."

Abreo said that the quality is a result of his American beginnings.

"I tell them about what happened to me," he said.  "I came to this country and didn't speak a word of English.  But according to some people, I am very successful from where I came from."