< Back Previous Lisa Lanham Presenter Lisa Lanham works for ClearPath Wealth Partners as a Client Service Associate – Paraplanner, retired from Boeing after 32 years, and enjoys family and the outdoors. She is a person who stutters and this is her first NSA conference. Next

Meet Erica Perez, a valued member of the National Stuttering Association team. Learn more about their role and contributions. Erica Perez Conference Coordinator Erica Perez works part-time in the Admissions and Records Office at Fullerton College, supporting students and staff with enrollment services. She has been a dedicated member of the National Stuttering Association (NSA) since 2002, contributing in a variety of behind-the-scenes roles that support the NSA’s mission. With a background in hospitality spanning 18 years, Erica brings valuable experience in customer service and team leadership. She lives in Anaheim with her husband, Aaron, and their two children, Lily and AJ, and is actively involved in their school PTAs.

< Back Previous Tim Flynn Presenter Tim Flynn stutters with the best of them and has been a part of the NSA somewhere between forever and an eternity. He grew up in the Washington D.C. area and currently works as a speech pathologist in Arlington, VA. Tim is the co-chapter leader of the Washington D.C. chapter. He has published multiple studies measuring and altering stuttering stereotypes. He is an active and passionate member of the stuttering community and has presented multiple workshops for NSA and other conferences over the years. In his spare time, Tim enjoys living his best bro life in the gym, eating food erasing any gym progress, and finding humor in everyday life. Next

< Back Previous Haley Totherow Presenter Haley Totherow resides in Benicia, California. Her background is in both Bakery Production and Social Media Coordination. She is most passionate about stuttering advocacy, including running her own Instagram account focused on stuttering awareness, @StutterWithMe. In her free time, she enjoys baking, doing crafts, and adding to her trinket collection. Next

Meet Paula Campbell-Schwab, a valued member of the National Stuttering Association team. Learn more about their role and contributions. Paula Campbell-Schwab Seasoned Voices Committee Paula Campbell-Schwab is married to Doug Schwab and lives in Houston, Texas. She is 71 and a retired Special Education teacher. Paula is the co-founder of the Houston Chapter which started in 1985 and has been an active member of the NSP/NSA attending many conventions and conferences.

Join the Detroit/Royal Oak - Adult stuttering support group. Connect with others, share experiences, and access resources through the National Stuttering Association. Detroit/Royal Oak ADULT CHAPTER HYBRID MEETINGS CENTRAL NORTH REGION Official NSA Chapter - Michigan State Welcome to the NSA Detroit/Royal Oak 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? Hybrid 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? St. John’s Episcopal Church – 26998 Woodward Avenue (East corner of 11 Mile Road) Royal Oak, MI 48067 When? Meetings are held on the 4th Thursday of each month from 6:30-8:30PM. Meetings in January, February, March, October, November, & December are held online. Chapter Leaders Who leads the meetings? Tanya Banks & Kelley Duren-Jones Chapter Leaders Get in touch! tbanks7917@sbcglobal.net (734) 425-9565 - 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! What are NSA Local Chapters? Local chapters are the heartbeat of the NSA — powerful spaces where you can meet others, share experiences, and feel supported. Whether you’re an adult who stutters or part of a family navigating stuttering together, we have a chapter for you. Learn more about NSA Chapters and find a meeting close to home! Read more about NSA Chapters and plan to attend a meeting near you! What does a local NSA chapter do? How can I find a local NSA chapter? What happens at an NSA meeting? Who attends an NSA Chapter? Do you need to RSVP before joining an NSA chapter meeting? Do you offer virtual chapter meetings? Don’t see an answer to your question? How do I start a local NSA chapter? How do I start a local NSA chapter? 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

Learn how Carl Johnson,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Medical Unit Maintenance Tech Carl Johnson Briefly describe your daily job duties. I am responsible for daily maintenance of medical units for Atlantic Health System hospitals and health care facilities. As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. It’s challenging to have conversations with nurses and doctors who don’t know I have a stutter and aren’t patient. Did you self-disclose your stuttering during the job hiring process? If so, how did you do it? I disclosed that I am a person who stutters early in the interview process and during my face to face interview, I let my interviewer know I have a stutter. Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work. Stuttering has made me a better and more valued contributor because I work twice as hard to prove I that belong. I feel like I need to prove a point that people who stutter are extremely smart people who show great perseverance. What is your proudest moment at your current company? I was told I am doing a great job and I have great work ethic. What are your long-term career aspirations? My long-term aspiration is to manage a group of people and feel comfortable having open discussions. 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 advice to anyone who stutters is to have confidence when speaking and try to talk to as many people as you can so you can gain greater comfort in talking. Not being afraid to talk will help you to become a more fluent speaker.

< Back Previous Landon Coffell Presenter Landon Coffell, a 28-year-old person who stutters (PWS), currently lives in central Arkansas with his wife, Kaseenah. He works as a Business Services Coordinator at Best Beverage. This role challenges him as a PWS, as he must communicate effectively both within the company and with external vendors. In his spare time, Landon enjoys hitting the gym, hiking, and fishing, and is also enjoying his first year of marriage! This past year, he spoke to a cohort of graduate program speech-language pathology students on the challenges and realities of being a PWS and this experience sparked an interest in more speaking opportunities in the stuttering world. Next

< Back Previous Joan Ross Presenter Joan Ross is a dedicated attendee of National Stuttering Association (NSA) Annual Conferences with her husband, Dave, and their two daughters and their families. Their journey started in 2008 in their home state of New Jersey, when they attended their first Annual Conference. Joan is the Chapter Leader of the NSA Central Jersey Chapter. Joan is also a small business owner and realtor. Her daughter Courtney, who has stuttered since the age of 3, has been a huge driving force in Joan's life. Joan embraces the role of grandma to 6 grandchildren as they attend their 18th consecutive Annual Conference in Charlotte. Next

Meet Tanya Banks, a valued member of the National Stuttering Association team. Learn more about their role and contributions. Tanya Banks Adult Programs Chair (NSA Board of Directors) Tanya serves as the Regional Chapter Coordinator for the Central North and Northeast Regions. Central North: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Minnesota, Wisconsin Northeast: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont Tanya Banks has been an active member of the NSA since 1998. She is the Chapter Leader of Detroit/Royal Oak and Regional Chapter Coordinator for the Central North region. She is also the Adult Programs Chair on the Board of Directors. She was recognized as NSA Chapter Leader of the Year in 2013. Her chapter was recognized as Chapter of the Year in 2023, and she was also recognized as Regional Chapter Coordinator of the Year in 2023. She has worked as a customer service representative for 22 years and credits finding her voice to the NSA. She is an avid angel collector, enjoys inspirational music and old comedy shows. Term began June 2024

< Back Previous Dana Koprowski Presenter Dana proudly calls the Chicago suburbs home and is the devoted single mother of her 5-year-old son, Grayson. Being Grayson’s mom is her greatest joy and most important role. Professionally, Dana works in property management. She loves building relationships and creating positive experiences for the communities she serves. She discovered the National Stuttering Association in 2017 and attended her first Annual Conference in 2018, where she immediately felt a sense of belonging and inspiration that continues to motivate her today. In her spare time, Dana enjoys crafting and thrifting—finding beauty in the unexpected and turning simple treasures into something special. Next

< Back Previous Jessica Hudson Presenter Jessica Hudson is a speech-language pathologist based in Arizona who has worked almost exclusively with people who stutter throughout her 13-year career. She is the owner of Stuttering & Speech Therapy of Arizona, a practice she founded 10 years ago to create a supportive, affirming space for individuals and families impacted by stuttering. Jessica is passionate about changing the narrative and reducing stigma surrounding stuttering. She holds the Ally of Stuttering Seal and previously served as a Chapter Leader in Phoenix. Outside of work, she loves traveling, working out, and taste-testing the tortillas made at her husband’s tortilla factory. Next