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Join the Cedar Falls/Waterloo - Adult stuttering support group. Connect with others, share experiences, and access resources through the National Stuttering Association. Cedar Falls/Waterloo ADULT CHAPTER IN-PERSON MEETINGS CENTRAL SOUTH Official NSA Chapter - Iowa State Welcome to the NSA Cedar Falls/Waterloo 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? 524 Main Street, Cedar Falls, Iowa When? Meetings are held on the last Monday of each month from 6:30-7:30 PM. Chapter Leaders Who leads the meetings? April Schmiesing & Nick Ellis Chapter Leaders Get in touch! aschmiesing@yahoo.com 319-231-1672 - 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

Learn how David Lamberti,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Creative Director David Lamberti Detroit, MI Creative Director OUTFRONT Briefly describe your daily job duties. Design advertising campaigns, consult with current and potential clients, manage a team of Art Directors and Graphic Designers. As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. From the outside, I suppose you would think it would be the constant personal interactions and group presentations that are called for, but I take on every interaction as a challenge. If you have something valuable to say people will listen (no matter how long it takes or how many times you have to say it). I have always made sure I am well informed and on top of my skill sets. That expertise and knowledge gives me the confidence I need. What are your long-term career aspirations? To continue to use my skills to help businesses achieve success and to help those on my team grow and reach their full potential. Did you self-disclose your stuttering during the job hiring process? I have always been upfront about it and explain that I am not nervous or unsure, this is just the way I am wired. I am a visual artist, so my work does most of my talking for me, so that has always helped. I’m paid to be a creative, critical thinker, sometimes I joke that there are so many ideas in my head it’s almost like they are tripping over each other trying to get out. What is your proudest moment at your current company? I work hard to make sure those around me grow and succeed. Discussing perceived obstacles and finding ways around or through them occurs on a daily basis. It’s something I know a thing or two about. Thanks, stuttering! Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work. My stuttering pushed me inward as a child, but it helped me grow as a visual artist because drawing and painting was my language. As I got older and learned to accept my stuttering, I was able to turn that voice into a career. Stuttering also makes me a better, more valued contributor because it causes me to think before I speak, resulting in more thoughtful responses. What’s your best advice for people who stutter just entering the workplace and for those in a career striving to achieve greater success? You are probably more concerned about your stuttering than anyone else! Research and learn as much as you can about the company you are targeting. Find someone to practice answering interview questions with. Practice once, practice twice, practice three times. For those already in a career, my advice is the same, know your stuff. If you have to present practice, practice, practice. In both cases, confidence in content breeds fluidity. We are all different, but the day I stopped worrying what others thought of my stutter everything changed.

< Back Alyssa Kalwasinski Speaker Alyssa Kalwasinski is a teen who stutters from Ohio and a Public Outreach Officer for Sisters Who Stutter. Alyssa enjoys playing lacrosse, going to the beach, and hanging out with friends. This is Alyssa’s first year at the NSA conference and she is excited to try new things surrounded by others like her! Previous Next

Join the Knoxville - Family stuttering support group. Connect with others, share experiences, and access resources through the National Stuttering Association. Knoxville FAMILY CHAPTER IN-PERSON MEETINGS SOUTHEAST REGION Official NSA Chapter - Tennessee State Welcome to the NSA Knoxville 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? Bearden Branch Library – 100 Golf Club Rd Knoxville, TN 37919. When? Meetings are held on the 4th Thursday of each month from 6:00-7:30PM. Chapter Leaders Who leads the meetings? Randy Ferguson Chapter Leader Get in touch! aviationmechanic1@gmail.com (865) 804-0928 - 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

Join the Olympia - Adult & Family stuttering support group. Connect with others, share experiences, and access resources through the National Stuttering Association. Olympia ADULT & FAMILY CHAPTER VIRTUAL MEETINGS NORTHWEST REGION Official NSA Chapter - Washington State Welcome to the NSA Olympia 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 & 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? Virtual Meetings When? Meetings are held virtually on the 1st Monday of the month from 7:00-8:00 PM. Contact the Chapter Leader (360-589-9854) for the meeting link. Chapter Leaders Who leads the meetings? Craig Zora Chapter Leader Get in touch! czor490@gmail.com (360) 589-9854 - 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

Learn how Margaret Heffernan,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Production Manager | Producer Margaret Heffernan Chicago, IL Production Manager | Producer George P. Johnson Briefly describe your daily job duties. I’m a production manager and producer for events and broadcast media. I oversee the execution of projects and manage cross-functional teams including audiovisual, scenic, creative, logistics, etc. I’m the main point of contact for clients and key liaison between teams. As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. The main part of my job is talking to people. Leading meetings, doing presentations, and confidently representing my team can be difficult when I can’t even confidently say my name! I always have moments where I don’t feel as fluent or composed as I need to be as the source of leadership for a project. I started my career as a theater stage manager, where my job was to call cues over headset. I think those nerves, when the show rests in your words and the entire crew is listening, gave me a great sense of confidence walking into the workforce. What are your long-term career aspirations? I love what I do, and want to continue working with the talented and creative people I’ve had the pleasure of working with. Did you self-disclose your stuttering during the job hiring process? I don’t disclose my stutter during interviews or at work. I find that bringing attention to my stutter actually makes it worse. Most people think I just have a slow (or strange) speech pattern. But as I start moving into more senior-level positions, where fluency is more relevant, I may choose to disclose it. What is your proudest moment at your current company? Any time we get positive client feedback about feeling supported and led throughout the project, that’s a good day! It reminds me that my stutter doesn’t always impact my work. Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work. Stuttering makes simple things really challenging. I credit my strong work ethic to my stutter, because I always need to give 110% just to say my name. What’s your best advice for people who stutter just entering the workplace and for those in a career striving to achieve greater success? People will hear what you say, not necessarily how you say it. I was really nervous leaving college. School provides a sort of safety-net for people who stutter, and I realized that my career opportunities were going to be impacted by first impressions. Embarrassing moments and bad days are inevitable, but confidence and preparedness speak louder than a stutter.

Join the Salt Lake City - Adult stuttering support group. Connect with others, share experiences, and access resources through the National Stuttering Association. Salt Lake City ADULT CHAPTER IN-PERSON MEETINGS SOUTHWEST REGION Official NSA Chapter - Utah State Welcome to the NSA Salt Lake City 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? Draper Library (Study Room) 1136 Pioneer Rd, Draper, UT 84020 When? Meetings are held on the last Wednesday of each month at 6:00PM at the Draper Library. Chapter Leaders Who leads the meetings? Dan Heaps & McKenzie Jemmett Chapter Leaders Get in touch! dheaps38@gmail.com 801-232-3122 - 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

Join the Lexington - Adult stuttering support group. Connect with others, share experiences, and access resources through the National Stuttering Association. Lexington ADULT CHAPTER IN-PERSON & VIRTUAL MEETINGS SOUTHEAST REGION Official NSA Chapter - Kentucky State Welcome to the NSA Lexington 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 & 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? Good Samaritan Professional Arts Center 4th Floor Suite 402 135 E Maxwell Street, Lexington, KY, 40508 When? Meetings are held in-person on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 7:00 PM. Contact Chapter Leader if you would like to join virtually. Chapter Leaders Who leads the meetings? J.T. Dials & Meg Shake Chapter Leaders Get in touch! lexington.nsa@gmail.com 606-626-8862 - 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 From Uncertainty to Mock Interviews: Chris Monello-Johnson’s Stuttering Journey If you’ve spent any length of time in the NSA community, chances are you’ve crossed paths with Chris Monello-Johnson, or at least heard his name. Maybe you’ve even done a mock interview with him and walked away with a little more confidence than you came in with. Chris has been part of the NSA world for a decade now, long enough to remember life before he joined and wise enough to be grateful he did. After college, Chris found himself wrestling with confidence, especially when it came to job interviews and showing up authentically. He wasn’t sure how his stutter fit into the “real world” version of success. That’s when his speech-language pathologist in NYC stepped in with a pivotal invite: “Come to a chapter meeting.” That meeting changed everything. “I’ve accepted my stutter, no longer hide it, and have found an incredibly supportive community,” Chris says. In the years since, he’s become an open stutterer and mentor to others on similar paths. One of his favorite ways to give back is helping other people who stutter crush those nerve-wracking job interviews. “Mock interviews are my favorite part,” he says. “I love helping people achieve their career goals.” His advice to anyone new to the NSA? “Meet as many people as you can — everyone is welcoming and supportive.” But don’t let all that career talk fool you, Chris knows how to keep things fun, too. He’s got two dogs, a soft spot for peanut butter ice cream, and an encyclopedic knowledge of Real Housewives of NYC. He’s also no stranger to a spotlight: he’s auditioned for American Idol and America’s Got Talent, and his go-to karaoke jam is Bon Jovi’s Living on a Prayer. As for his dream getaway? Bali’s calling. We’re not saying NSA should plan an Annual Conference there, but… we wouldn’t be mad about it. Chris Monello-Johnson reminds us that stuttering doesn’t hold you back from showing up, speaking out, or singing in front of a crowd. It’s just one part of your story. Previous Next

< Back Ezra Horak Speaker Ezra Horak, a stutterer, is the founder of Stutterology, an empowering digital content platform that educates about stuttering lived experience through a neurodiverse and trauma-informed lens. Ezra is Board Co-Chair for SPACE: Stuttering, People, Arts, Community, Education, and has volunteered with various stuttering organizations for over ten years. They have two cats and are an avid family historian. Previous Next

Learn how Ariel Sonn,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Marketing Coordinator Ariel Sonn Briefly describe your daily job duties. I’m a marketing coordinator for a cybersecurity company, RackTop Systems. Since we’re still relatively small, my job duties range from event planning to digital ad creation to market research. I love that I can dabble in a little bit of everything. It’s a great place to learn what you enjoy best and focus on improving certain skills. It’s also a collaborative environment, which means there’s lots of opportunities to engage with others! As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. The most challenging part of my job is making a good first impression. I put a lot of pressure on myself to sound perfect when talking to individuals because I know how important first impressions are in an industry that’s exploding with business. Everyday I’m working on incorporating my stutter into the idea of a great first impression. It’s definitely a work in progress! 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 self-disclose during the interview process. We discussed flex time, so I mentioned that on Wednesdays I attend speech therapy because I’m a person who stutters and would need to fit my schedule around that. It went super well, and my boss was very understanding and supportive. I currently self-disclose to my colleagues by mentioning that I’m going on vacation to attend the National Stuttering Association Conference in July, or by mentioning that I have to leave work a few minutes early to make it to speech therapy. I like to incorporate advertising into the existing conversation because it feels much more natural! It also invites follow up questions from the audience, which is nice. Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work. Stuttering makes me value good communication SO much. And good communication doesn’t just mean fluent speech. Saying what you want to say, when you want to say it, is critical when working in a fast-paced startup environment. Listening to what others are saying is also very important because it allows you to understand what the common goal is and how you can contribute to it. Because of my stutter, I have excellent communication and listening skills that allow me to provide and reciprocate valuable ideas. What is your proudest moment at your current company? Since starting this new job, I’ve looked at this as an opportunity to “start fresh” and show people that I’m a confident communicator despite having a stutter. With this attitude, I’m able to actually show my stutter and feel less embarrassed and ashamed. I have a bunch of little moments that I’m really proud of, such as moments where I showed stuttering without feeling embarrassed, and moments where I had a more personal conversation about what it’s like having a stutter. It’s the little, daily victories that mean the most to me right now! What are your long-term career aspirations? I love working in marketing because the landscape is always changing. There are endless learning opportunities. One day in the future, I’ll be in an executive position where I’m responsible for creating a highly successful and impactful brand strategies for a company. If I can look at my work and say that I helped grow a company from a startup to an industry leader, then I will have reached my career goals! What’s your best advice for people who stutter just entering the workplace and for those in a career striving to achieve greater success? Be confident in your abilities. Your stutter, your age, your background, etc. doesn’t affect your abilities as long as you are confident in yourself. We’re living in a society where speaking up is more valued than ever, so don’t be afraid to assert yourself into something if you know you can provide value.

Join the Huntington/Marshall U. - Family stuttering support group. Connect with others, share experiences, and access resources through the National Stuttering Association. Huntington/Marshall U. - Family FAMILY CHAPTER IN-PERSON & VIRTUAL MEETINGS MID-ATLANTIC REGION Official NSA Chapter - West Virginia State Welcome to the Huntington/Marshall U. 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 & Virtual 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? Monthly meetings are held virtually, and in-person events are held quarterly around the Huntington area. When? Virtual monthly meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month at 6:00 PM. In-person events are also held quarterly. Please contact the Chapter Leaders for more information and to join our mailing list! Chapter Leaders Who leads the meetings? Emmalee Moles & Jamie Maxwell Chapter Leaders Get in touch! MUNSAFamily@gmail.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! "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