BECOME A MENTOR

Hi  I'm John. I stuttered severely until the age of about 19. It's gotten  way better but stil happens daily.  Got through college made friends,  and have had a successful career in sales,  where I need to speak with  people daily. Hoping to provide some perspective, advice, and mainly  lend an ear to help others.

LinkedIn URL

I’m  Dan Sura, a 41-year-old Senior Buyer – Capital Investments at Volvo  Group in Greensboro, NC, where I lead cross-functional capex projects,  Mexico sourcing initiatives, and supplier development. I also bring over  10 years of automotive industry experience in procurement, project  management, and cross-functional leadership. I’m a husband and father of  two young daughters (Reina and Gianna), a bilingual English/Spanish  speaker, and an active Christian who integrates faith, therapy, and  community into my daily life. I’ve lived with a stutter my entire life,  and it has shaped many of my challenges and victories—from navigating  high-pressure work environments and building team connections, to  pursuing new goals like becoming a real estate agent to demonstrate that  people who stutter can thrive in any field while serving the Latino  community. This past July, I attended the National Stuttering  Association conference, where I vulnerably shared my story through a  letter to my 12-year-old self, a speech, and a slam poem—embracing my  voice, ADHD, faith, family, and the power of healing through openness.  I’m excited to join the mentor program to support others on their  journeys, offering practical encouragement, professional insight, and  the reminder that our differences can become sources of strength and  connection.

LinkedIn URL

Andrew  Herrick (PWS) is a big believer in Speaking Imperfectly! As a design  and manufacturing engineer, small business entrepreneur, and project  manager, Andy has navigated many challenges of professional  communication. He believes that people who stutter belong everywhere in  the workplace, from board room to back room, and that only by accepting  your voice as imperfect can you confidently pursue perfect communication  with others. Outside of work, you might find Andy climbing a mountain,  reading a novel, studying for his latest industry certification,  whitewater kayaking, visiting extended family, attending a theatre show,  or building something weird in his garage.

I'm Alyssa Gemellaro, a second-grade teacher with a passion for education and a personal understanding of the challenges of stuttering, as I've stuttered since elementary school. With a degree in Elementary Education and a master's in Educational Technology, I bring both expertise and empathy to my classroom. Outside of teaching, I coach soccer, run the student council, enjoy going on walks, and love to read. I am committed to creating an inclusive and supportive learning environment.

My name is Jordan Langston. I'm originally from Philadelphia. I completed my B.S. in chemistry at Oakwood University in Huntsville, AL, and my masters and Ph.D. in bioengineering at Temple University in Philadelphia. I am currently a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology at Boston University Medical School. I've been in Boston for a little over a year now. My long-term career goal is to become a professor in a medical school department at a university. In my potential role, I will develop and maintain a funded research program that focuses on kidney disease using cell biological, computational and pathological tools to unravel the underlying molecular mechanisms that contribute to kidney disease, specifically in transplant patients. Besides being a person who stutters, I am also a transplant recipient, and so I am cognizant of the burden and toll that life-long monitoring, via routine blood work and daily immunosuppresion, has on a patient. Thus, I am adamant about advancing kidney precision medicine and helping those patients, like myself, who are lamenting for change.

LinkedIn URL

I am a very down-to-earth kinda chick. I love making new connections and my passion is helping others to see themselves and become a better version of themselves. I graduated from columbia college chicago with a ba in journalism. I love writing stories, poems and songs. Storytelling and communication are my strong suits. I believe life itself is a story, everyone is a character with a specific role to play. There's many lessons to learn that catapult us to greatness. In my spare time, I'm a content creator posting positive spiritual content that enriches the lives of women. I also spend lots of time with my family and friends and love exploring my city. Coffee and good food is my love language.

LinkedIn URL

I have over 20 years of experience in finance, marketing, strategy and healthcare. I graduated with a degree in finance from Ohio State University and an MBA from Northwestern. Currently, I live in Columbus Ohio and am married with two teenage boys. I would love to share my experience navigating a career while managing stuttering in order to help others.

LinkedIn URL

Mia Hitterman is a person who stutters and has previously modeled and worked in production for various fashion brands. She earned her Bachelor of Fashion Design from Dominican University. In 2023, Mia received the Comcast Miss Community Service Award at the Miss Chinatown USA Pageant in San Francisco for her work in fashion and her advocacy for the stuttering community. Outside of work, she enjoys dancing, watching shows, and spending time with her friends.

LinkedIn URL

Arnee Gomez is a person who stutters and has been a member of the NSA since 1996. Arnee brings more than 25 years of leadership experience in Human Resources, where she has worked closely with business leaders to drive organizational success and create inclusive, supportive workplace cultures. As a leader and someone who stutters, she is passionate about making sure all voices are heard and has helped employees achieve their career goals. She is the founder of Aloft HR Partner, LLC, a talent strategy consulting firm that focuses on both strategic and tactical HR and talent management support. Arnee holds a bachelor's degree from the University of California, San Diego, and an M.B.A. from the University of Washington.

LinkedIn URL

Mallorie was interested in speech and language development from a very young  age, an interest that eventually and logically led to the field of  speech-language pathology. Mallorie received a Master's degree from  Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon, and has worked in multiple  settings where one finds SLPs. Mallorie is a fierce advocate and ally  for people who stutter and for people with disabilities. Outside of her  career and volunteer work, Mallorie enjoys traveling, food, the great  outdoors, reading books about Ernest Shackleton, listening to stand-up  comedy, and speaking German.

Industry: Speech Language Pathology
Title: Speech Language Pathologist

I'm a proud person who stutters. I joined the National Stuttering Association when I was 12 years old, and that experience profoundly shaped my path toward becoming a speech-language pathologist. After earning my bachelor's degree in Communication Disorders from Auburn University, I completed my master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Toledo, where I first became involved in stuttering research and earned an Advanced Certificate in Stuttering Intervention. Following graduate school, I began my career as a speech-language pathologist in Knoxville, Tennessee, working in private practice and schools across East Tennessee. Through these experiences, I saw a clear need for greater stuttering education, support, and resources—which inspired me to return to school for my Ph.D. I am now a fifth-year doctoral student at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, where my research, teaching, and advocacy all center on stuttering. My work aims to bridge neuroscience and clinical practice to develop identity-affirming, evidence-based approaches to stuttering therapy. Throughout my doctoral training, I've been honored with the Dean's Award for research and community service, the Knoxville 40 Under 40 Award, and the National Stuttering Association's Krishnan Family College Scholarship. Beyond research, I continue to lead the Knoxville NSA Chapter and remain deeply committed to empowering people who stutter to find their voices and share their stories.

LinkedIn URL

Aidan is a Health and Wellness professional, public speaker, and advocate with a passion for helping individuals thrive at the intersection of physical health, mental well-being, and identity. With experience spanning Public Health Practice and Community Leadership, I bring a unique perspective that combines scientific knowledge with lived experience. Aidan serves as a Chapter Leader in the Washington, DC area and Chair of the Young Adult Committee for the National Stuttering Association, where I lead programming, advocacy, and community-building initiatives. Through this work, as well as public speaking engagements and media appearances, I champion conversations around stuttering, race, neurodiversity, and identity.

LinkedIn URL

Sara Merkle, EdD, is a School Success Specialist at the University of Delaware's School Success Center and teaches courses in the College of Education and Human Development. Her interests include adolescent literacy instruction and achievement, curriculum development, influencing relationships between leaders and teachers, education equity, and advocacy for teachers and students. Dr. Merkle believes that education is a form of social justice, and she amplifies the voices and experiences of literacy educators in her instructional coaching and partners with them to drive practice and achievement. She is a person who stutters, a characteristic that has complicated and enhanced her life.

LinkedIn URL

Alonzo Jones, Jr., a person who stutters, serves as the Credit Manager at the Bank of Zachary, where he leads credit analysis and portfolio management while supporting the bank's strategic lending initiatives. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Finance and Accounting from Louisiana State University and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Alonzo believes that personal challenges can be powerful teachers, his journey with stuttering has strengthened his empathy, resilience, and communication skills, qualities he brings into both his leadership and mentorship. Outside of work, he enjoys fitness, continuous learning, and spending time with his wife and son.

LinkedIn URL

Barry Shaul, who stutters, is the founder of Shaul Consulting, a security firm specializing in strategic leadership. A former corporate senior executive, he is recognized for his collaborative approach and practical risk management. Before the private sector, Barry spent over a decade as a Special Agent with the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service, including a role as assistant shift leader on Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's protective detail. He began his career as a police officer in Orange, California. Barry holds a B.A. from Cornell College and an M.P.A. from the University of Minnesota. Outside of work, he enjoys traveling with his family as they work toward visiting all 50 states.

LinkedIn URL

Ashish has a Masters in Computer Science and specializes in Artificial Intelligence. His work experience spans startups and bigtech, mostly in the field of AI infrastructure.

LinkedIn URL

Chris Monello lives in Tinton Falls, New Jersey and is a person who stutters. He started attending NSA local chapter meetings in 2014 and was quickly comforted by the stuttering community and inspired to help others who stutter. In 2021, he joined the We Stutter at Work Board to help advocate for people who stutter in the workplace. He's passionate about his career as the Head of Marketing at Scientific American Magazine. When he isn't working, he enjoys spending time with loved ones, traveling and yoga.

LinkedIn URL

Dr. Saundra Russell-Smith is a proud person who stutters, an award-winning educator, and the founder of Limitless Leaders LLC, a leadership development company that helps people turn what limits them into what leads them. After three decades as a teacher, principal, and district administrator, as well as multiple degrees in education, she now empowers others to lead with authenticity and confidence—especially those with hidden disabilities. Her book, Limitless Leaders: Leading Beyond Your Disability, shares her journey from silence to strength and inspires others to own their voice at work and beyond. When she's not mentoring or speaking, she loves traveling, storytelling, and spending time with family.

LinkedIn URL