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Learn how Joe Bergren,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Marketing Director Joe Bergren Briefly describe your daily job duties. I’m a content producer for ET Digital, primarily writing news and feature video packages that publish on ET’s many platforms. These include ETOnline.com, ET Live, YouTube and more. As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. This might be a common response here, but certainly instances where I’ve needed to request assistance. In my case, it would be steps in the production process that require vocal performance. Since I happen to work with a wonderful team of true professionals who have been nothing but supportive, the actual ‘challenging’ aspect here is only the self-imposed anxiety that can happen when asking for accommodations. Did you self-disclose your stuttering during the job hiring process? If so, how did you do it and how do you currently disclose your stuttering to unsuspecting co-workers, clients and or customers? I did not. Many people knew me before I moved into my current position and were aware I’m a person who stutters. In other situations, I’ve had to assess the best strategy for both disclosing to individual co-workers, as well as groups of people. Each context has its own set of variables that influence my approach. Overall, I usually try to capitalize on organic moments where an opportunity has presented itself for me to segue into disclosing my stutter. This includes during very casual, even mundane conversations, and more formal discussions. Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work. I usually take a few moments to consider my fluency options (so to speak) for what I need to say during a meeting or discussion. In one way or another, it’s something I’ve instinctively done going all the way back to group assignments in middle school. An unintended (albeit very welcome) side effect is that you end up listening very intently to what each person is saying. You have to. One reason simply being that jumping off what someone is talking about is a bonafide speaking shortcut. And in order to utilize those moments, I give my full attention to anyone who has the floor. The macro benefit here is, of course, showing my peers that I believe what they’re saying is important and has value. Because it does, and for me — in more ways than one. Overall, this could be simplified to the more cliche notion that people who stutter become great listeners. Which is true. Part of the joy of being in this community is witnessing the many ways stuttering has us leveling up in these spaces. What is your proudest moment at your current company? In an abstract sense, it would be having started in a position where “entry level” could not have been a more accurate description. From the perspective in my current role, it’s incredibly fulfilling to see how I’m able to apply what I’ve learned to the new experiences that greet me everyday. What are your long-term career aspirations? Continuing to produce stories in the online media landscape and identifying what storytelling structures connect with audiences the most. I am working toward multiple trajectories, all of them focused on connecting people with themes and subjects I’m passionate about. This will hopefully include long-form content, digital and real-world mediums, blue sky brainstorming, diverse collaborations, and helping people tell THEIR unique stories. What’s your best advice for people who stutter just entering the workplace and for those in a career striving to achieve greater success? Recognize moments where you can open up about being a person who stutters to co-workers, peers, clients, etc. Invite those moments, even. Roll out the red carpet for them.* Speaking only for myself here, it’s been easy to forget how much it’s influenced who I am, where I’m at and what lies ahead for me. Sharing that with other people isn’t just about disclosing for professional or practical reasons. In the past, I’ve realized how leaving out such a significant part of one’s life creates an incomplete picture of yourself for everyone to see. The journey with that ongoing a-ha moment has fundamentally made my professional life better and, dare I say it, more fun. Lastly, don’t be afraid of any presumed challenges and awkward situations that you’re going to encounter. Not to say there won’t be obstacles and maybe even countless awkward moments on account of being a person who stutters. After all, it’s our lot in life. But the endurance we gain from them absolutely cannot be matched. *(why yes I do work in entertainment news why do you ask.)

Learn how Leonardo Soto,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Detective / Hostage Negotiator Leonardo Soto New Haven, CT Detective / Hostage Negotiator New Haven Police Department Briefly describe your daily job duties. I’m a detective with the Special Victims Unit (SVU). I specialize in investigating crimes involving human trafficking and child exploitation. I am also part of the Emergency Services Unit as a hostage / crisis negotiator. As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. As a detective, you have to gain the victim’s trust and make them comfortable. As a person who stutters, it is often a challenge because people may not see you as competent because of the stuttering. It’s the same when speaking to a suspect as well. As a hostage negotiator, you have to speak with people during what can possibly be the worst moment in their lives. I have had successful negotiations during my career, but my stuttering was often questioned during the negotiation process. What are your long-term career aspirations? Eventually, I would like to take the next promotional test and become the unit commander for the special victims unit. Did you self-disclose your stuttering during the job hiring process? Before I was a police officer, I was a paramedic for many years, I never actually disclosed my stuttering during a hiring process. The first time I ever disclosed that I actively stuttered was when I went to Hostage negotiator school. Part of the process was to speak in front of the class about yourself and that was the first thing I disclosed. Since then, wherever I go or whatever I do if I have to speak to someone I will disclose. I also started disclosing that I stutter when I have to negotiate with someone. What is your proudest moment at your current company? Working in the law enforcement field for the last 15 years, I have had many proud moments. One of the proudest was when I graduated from the police academy. There were many doubts that I would even make it through the academy due to my stuttering, but with hard work and determination, I made it through and I’ve had a very successful career. Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work. I think when people who are not law-enforcement hear that you as an officer stutter, they don’t just see the officer, but they tend to see the human being. What’s your best advice for people who stutter just entering the workplace and for those in a career striving to achieve greater success? Never limit yourself. Never let anyone tell you that you can’t follow a dream or pursue a goal just because you stutter. Put it out there. Let everyone know that you stutter and you are confident within yourself. When people see your confidence, they will be confident in you as well.

Join the Kingston - Adult stuttering support group. Connect with others, share experiences, and access resources through the National Stuttering Association. Kingston ADULT CHAPTER VIRTUAL MEETINGS NORTHEAST REGION Official NSA Chapter - Rhode Island State Welcome to the NSA Kingston Chapter! The National Stuttering Association’s® motto: If You Stutter, You’re Not Alone®, is what our NSA Chapters are all about! Chapter meetings are open to people who stutter, family members of people who stutter, speech-language pathologists (SLPs), and anyone that wants to learn more about stuttering. Feel free to reach out to the Chapter Leader(s) to find out more about our chapter. We hope you will join us! How do you typically meet? Virtual Meetings What age group can attend? Adult What languages are spoken? English How much does it cost? Free! Meetings Here is information on the location and schedule of our meetings. Reach out to the Chapter Leader(s) for more information! Where? Kingston, RI When? Virtual meetings are held on the 4th Wednesday of each month at 7:00PM. Contact the Chapter Leader for the meeting information. Chapter Leaders Who leads the meetings? Alisa Baron Chapter Leader Get in touch! BaronA@URI.edu (440)465-4033 - Questions? We know that attending your first NSA Chapter meeting might be a little intimidating so we’ve tried to answer some of your questions! We know once you get there, you’ll be greeted by Chapter Leaders who have been in your shoes before and are happy to welcome you! ! Widget Didn’t Load Check your internet and refresh this page. If that doesn’t work, contact us. Testimonials Read more about the power of chapters and support groups from NSA members themselves! "When I attended my first conference in 2019. I was welcomed into this "stamily" with open arms and haven't left the bear hug since!" Lexi Hewitt Exton, PA Chapter "Other people who stutter are the best sources of support, love, and encouragement on your journey. Don't be afraid to reach out, no matter what stage you're at." Gina Waggott Author, Entrepreneur "This community has helped me rediscover myself as a confident and capable person who stutters." John Ontiveros Lorem, CA Chapter

< Back Dana Koprowski Speaker Dana Koprowski has been a part of the NSA since 2018 and attended her first conference in her hometown of Chicago, IL. She works as an Assistant Property Manager where daily communication with the public is a critical part of her role. Dana is a proud single mother of four year old Grayson, who is a great communicator and keeps mom on her toes. Previous Next

Meet Alyssa Kalwasinski, a valued member of the National Stuttering Association team. Learn more about their role and contributions. Alyssa Kalwasinski Public Outreach Coordinator Alyssa lives in Central Ohio and is a sophomore in high school. Alyssa has stuttered her whole life and has recently gotten involved in advocacy and support for stuttering. She has played field hockey and lacrosse during high school and also likes to ride dirt bikes with her dad. She is up for any challenge and loves to try new things! Alyssa is a part of multiple clubs at her school, including Interact Club, which grants many volunteer opportunities; Girl Up Club, which promotes female empowerment; and Alyssa’s favorite, American Sign Language Club. As a Co-Public Outreach Officer for Sisters Who Stutter, Alyssa sends informational emails to speech-language pathology clinics across the nation in hopes of spreading the word about SWS.

Join the Boston - Family stuttering support group. Connect with others, share experiences, and access resources through the National Stuttering Association. Boston Family FAMILY CHAPTER IN-PERSON MEETINGS NORTHEAST REGION Official NSA Chapter - Massachusetts State Welcome to the NSA Boston Family Chapter! The National Stuttering Association’s® motto: If You Stutter, You’re Not Alone®, is what our NSA Chapters are all about! Chapter meetings are open to people who stutter, family members of people who stutter, speech-language pathologists (SLPs), and anyone that wants to learn more about stuttering. Feel free to reach out to the Chapter Leader(s) to find out more about our chapter. We hope you will join us! How do you typically meet? In-Person Meetings What age group can attend? Family What languages are spoken? English How much does it cost? Free! Meetings Here is information on the location and schedule of our meetings. Reach out to the Chapter Leader(s) for more information! Where? Location may vary around the Boston area. When? Quarterly meet-ups happen around the Boston area. Please contact the Chapter Leaders for information! Chapter Leaders Who leads the meetings? Sarah Onofri, Liz Gomez & Lisa Greenleaf Chapter Leaders Get in touch! BostonStutters@gmail.com - http://www.bostonstutters.com Questions? We know that attending your first NSA Chapter meeting might be a little intimidating so we’ve tried to answer some of your questions! We know once you get there, you’ll be greeted by Chapter Leaders who have been in your shoes before and are happy to welcome you! ! Widget Didn’t Load Check your internet and refresh this page. If that doesn’t work, contact us. Testimonials Read more about the power of chapters and support groups from NSA members themselves! "My first NSA Boston gathering as a teen changed how I saw my stutter—I finally heard others stutter too. After attending the 2021 NSA Conference, I went from seeing my stutter as my enemy to seeing it as something I could live with." ---Ethan Gioscia "The NSA Boston Chapters gave me true belonging. I found people who feel like family—who check in, cheer me on, and make me feel seen. Parents and fellow adults became the strongest supporters of my voice. My growth began the moment I found this group." ---Michèle Ayoub "I didn't know what to expect from my first NSA Boston event. I just knew I wanted my son to see other people who stutter and find community. Turns out that I needed this community just as much! Driving home, my son said seeing other people who stutter for the first time made him feel 'alive.'" ---Dolla Seng

Learn how Patrick Harvey,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Assistant Merchandise Manager Patrick Harvey Briefly describe your daily job duties. My daily job duties at the Camelback Resort involve delivering customer service to arcade room guests and helping them redeem their tickets for prizes at the redemption counter. I’m also responsible for keeping the store stocked with prizes, inventory management, and making sure the toy crane machines are full. When I’m not at work, I’m in college pursuing my bachelor’s degree in communication studies. As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. The most challenging part of my job is speaking to the guests if they need help or if I’m helping them at the redemption counter. Sometimes I get stuck on a few words but it doesn’t stop me from doing my job! Did you self-disclose your stuttering during the job hiring process? If so, how did you do it and how do you currently disclose your stuttering to unsuspecting co-workers, clients and or customers? Yes, when I first started the job as a regular employee, I let them know that I stutter. When it came to the end of the job interview, I told them I stutter and they were completely fine with it and didn’t judge me. To my co-workers, I just tell them I stutter, I’m not afraid to tell anyone because it’s a part of me and I don’t have any regrets about it. For my guests at work, I don’t disclose that I stutter unless I have to, but they don’t question me about it. Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work. Stuttering makes me a better, more valued contributor at work because it’s a part of me and I love myself for who I am. It definitely motivates me to engage in conversations with the guests and see how they’re doing. It also motivates me to keep on talking and not to feel bad if I do get stuck on a few words even when people see that I’m struggling a little bit. What is your proudest moment at your current company? My proudest moment at my current company is first, getting promoted a few years ago and becoming the Senior Merchandise Attendant. My best proudest moment is recently becoming the Assistant Merchandise Manager. As a person who stutters, this feels so good. It shows that no matter if we stutter, we all can accomplish and achieve anything we want to in life!!! What are your long-term career aspirations? My long-term career aspiration is to become a motivational speaker for people who stutter. I want to motivate everyone and let them know that stuttering is a gift and you can be anything you want to be in this world!!! What’s your best advice for people who stutter just entering the workplace and for those in a career striving to achieve greater success? My best advice to my stuttering family is to always let your voice be heard, you don’t have to hide your voice. Get involved and put your ideas also on the table!!! Always love yourself and accept yourself for who you are!!! You are amazing and wonderful, and you can achieve all your goals and dreams in life!!!

Meet William Webster, a valued member of the National Stuttering Association team. Learn more about their role and contributions. William Webster Research Committee Standing Member Dr. William Webster is a retired university professor, a former Dean, and a person who stutters. During the first 22 years of his career, he was a professor and chair of psychology at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada with an active research program focused on brain mechanisms underlying stuttering. The results of that research have been published in more than 20 journal articles and several book chapters and have been presented at a number of conferences. He co-authored with Marie Poulos in 1989 a clinical manual entitled, “Facilitating fluency: Transfer strategies for adult stuttering treatment programs” (Tucson, AZ: Communication Skill Builders). In 1991, he was appointed Dean of Social Sciences at Brock University in St. Catherines, Ontario, followed in 2002 as Director of the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Western Ontario (now Western University) in London, Ontario. He is currently completing a book to be entitled, “Stuttering and the brain: Reflections on my journey.”

< Back Sisters Who Stutter Spotlight: Maya Singal – Speaking Freely and Leading Boldly Sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is show up as yourself. For Maya Singal, that step began just a year and a half ago when she joined the NSA. What she was looking for was a space where she could speak openly and without fear—and what she found was a life-changing community. “I wanted to be a part of a community where I felt accepted and where I could truly speak without judgment or shame.” Now a proud member of the Sisters Who Stutter (SWS) Committee, Maya is using her journey to inspire other girls who stutter to speak up, take chances, and celebrate their voices. Whether it’s in the classroom, during Zoom calls, or encouraging others at the Annual Conference, Maya leads with compassion and strength. “I’m proud of being able to present and participate in my classes frequently throughout the school year.” Her advice for new NSA members is filled with encouragement and honesty: ”You’re never alone in anything. There will always be someone who is right beside you along any journey! NSA is so supportive and welcoming, it really will change your view on life.” Get to Know Maya: Ice cream favorite: Cookie Dough Nature choice: Beach Favorite show: Gilmore Girls Karaoke jam: “Cruel Summer” by Taylor Swift Pet: Gryff, her lovable Bernedoodle Fun fact: Loves trying new vegetarian foods Hobby: Golf, for the outdoors and community Dream vacation: New York City Your voice matters just as it is—and with community, kindness, and confidence, you can use it to uplift others, too. Thank you, Maya! Previous Next

< Back Evan Kaczmarski Speaker Evan will be a senior for the 2025-2026 school year. He plays the trumpet is active in marching band and FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) and loves all sports. He has plans to major in sports medicine or physical therapy when he graduates high school. He is a person who stutters but NEVER lets that get in his way. Previous Next

Join the Huntington/Marshall U. - Adult stuttering support group. Connect with others, share experiences, and access resources through the National Stuttering Association. Huntington/Marshall U. - Adult ADULT CHAPTER IN-PERSON MEETINGS MID-ATLANTIC REGION Official NSA Chapter - West Virginia State Welcome to the NSA Huntington/Marshall U. Adult Chapter! The National Stuttering Association’s® motto: If You Stutter, You’re Not Alone®, is what our NSA Chapters are all about! Chapter meetings are open to people who stutter, family members of people who stutter, speech-language pathologists (SLPs), and anyone that wants to learn more about stuttering. Feel free to reach out to the Chapter Leader(s) to find out more about our chapter. We hope you will join us! How do you typically meet? In-Person Meetings What age group can attend? Adult What languages are spoken? English How much does it cost? Free! Meetings Here is information on the location and schedule of our meetings. Reach out to the Chapter Leader(s) for more information! Where? Marshall University Smith Hall, Room 311 One John Marshall Drive Huntington, WV 25755 (Corner of 3rd avenue and Hal Greer Blvd) When? Meetings are held on the 1st Thursday of each month at 6:30PM. Chapter Leaders Who leads the meetings? Jamie Maxwell & Bryan Matthews Chapter Leaders Get in touch! maxwellja@marshall.edu (304) 696-3634 - Questions? We know that attending your first NSA Chapter meeting might be a little intimidating so we’ve tried to answer some of your questions! We know once you get there, you’ll be greeted by Chapter Leaders who have been in your shoes before and are happy to welcome you! ! Widget Didn’t Load Check your internet and refresh this page. If that doesn’t work, contact us. Testimonials Read more about the power of chapters and support groups from NSA members themselves! "When I attended my first conference in 2019. I was welcomed into this "stamily" with open arms and haven't left the bear hug since!" Lexi Hewitt Exton, PA Chapter "Other people who stutter are the best sources of support, love, and encouragement on your journey. Don't be afraid to reach out, no matter what stage you're at." Gina Waggott Author, Entrepreneur "This community has helped me rediscover myself as a confident and capable person who stutters." John Ontiveros Lorem, CA Chapter

< Back Tracey Wallace Speaker Dr. Tracey Wallace is a long-time member of the NSA and past Adult Programs Chair. She was a covert stutterer until age 27 when she learned about Avoidance Reduction Therapy for Stuttering (ARTS) which changed her life. Her journey since then has been one of self-discovery and challenging fears. Dr. Wallace is an Educational Audiologist in DC, and Co-Owner of Hennessy Creek Brewery in MD. She has been married for 33 years and has two adult children. Previous Next