Meet Rowan, a valued member of the National Stuttering Association team. Learn more about their role and contributions. Rowan Sisters Who Stutter Member Outreach Coordinator Rowan serves as the Member Outreach Coordinator for Sisters Who Stutter (SWS), where she focuses on strengthening member connection, engagement, and support within the community. She is also the Chair of Sisters Who Stutter, a group within the National Stuttering Association (NSA) dedicated to empowering and uplifting girls who stutter. In her outreach role, Rowan helps welcome new members, foster meaningful relationships, and ensure that girls feel seen, supported, and included. Her leadership is rooted in creating safe, affirming spaces where confidence can grow and shared experiences can turn into lasting connection. Rowan brings dedication and resilience to everything she does. She has been a member of her school’s Varsity Swim Team since seventh grade and also participates in Track and Field as a long-distance runner. Her athletic journey reflects her perseverance, discipline, and commitment to personal growth. Looking ahead, Rowan hopes to pursue a future in archaeology, combining her curiosity, love of history, and passion for discovery. She credits the NSA and Sisters Who Stutter community with helping her embrace her stutter and develop the confidence to lead and support others. Through her outreach work and leadership, Rowan continues to play a meaningful role in building a connected, welcoming community for girls who stutter.

Join the Sarasota - Adult stuttering support group. Connect with others, share experiences, and access resources through the National Stuttering Association. Sarasota ADULT CHAPTER IN-PERSON MEETINGS SOUTHEAST REGION Official NSA Chapter - Florida State Welcome to the NSA Sarasota 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? Gulf Gate Library – 7112 Curtiss Avenue Sarasota, Florida 34231 When? Meetings are held on the 1st Tuesday of each month from 6:00-7:30PM. Chapter Leaders Who leads the meetings? Jennifer Scharf Chapter Leader Get in touch! jenlscharf@gmail.com (941) 932-8824 - 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

< Back Seasoned Voices Committee Spotlight: Patrice Nolan Fox — Strength, Storytelling & Support The National Stuttering Association’s Seasoned Voices Committee continues growing, bringing together people over 50 looking for connection, mentorship, and shared experience. One of the inspiring voices within that group is Patrice Nolan Fox, a longtime member whose impact spans two decades. Patrice’s NSA journey began 20 years ago when a friend told her she’d love the community and should come to a meeting. That one invitation led to a life-changing experience. “They were right—I loved it. The NSA has helped me become much more open about my stuttering.” Patrice is not only a person who stutters but also a speech-language pathologist, giving her a unique dual perspective in our community. She’s spent 37 years as an educator, helping others learn and grow while learning a lot about herself. She serves on the Seasoned Voices Committee, which offers mature perspectives to the NSA’s broader goals—bringing insight to workshops, events, and resources designed to support people navigating life over 50. Patrice is incredibly passionate about creating a space where adults can feel empowered to embrace their voices—at any age. “Be open and don’t be afraid,” she advises new members. Fun facts: Favorite ice cream: Chocolate chip cookie dough Favorite TV show: Here Come the Brides Pet: A sweet kitty named Peaches Fun fact: She loves to act! Dream vacation: Scottsdale, Arizona Whether she’s offering support to a new member, mentoring others, or sharing her story as both an SLP and a person who stutters, Patrice embodies what it means to be a powerful part of the NSA family. Thank you, Patrice, for your dedication, openness, and unwavering support. You make our community stronger! Previous Next

Meet Doug Harris, a valued member of the National Stuttering Association team. Learn more about their role and contributions. Doug Harris Seasoned Voices Committee Doug Harris is a lifelong person who stutters, as well as a husband, father, and retired architect living in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. In 2024, Doug began reengaging more intentionally with his stuttering journey after decades of simply living with his stutter while largely ignoring both the challenges and opportunities it presented. He joined the Greenville, South Carolina NSA chapter and started becoming more involved in the community. Doug attended his first NSA Annual Conference in Denver in 2025, where the promise of a “life-changing experience” met and exceeded the expectations longtime conference attendees had shared with him. Shortly before the conference, Doug relocated from Western North Carolina to Lancaster and began attending the Philadelphia NSA Chapter, continuing to deepen his connection with the community. Today, Doug is helping organize an intergenerational discussion panel for the upcoming Charlotte conference. He has also participated in panels with speech-language pathology classes, sharing his lived experience with future speech therapists. As part of living a more intentional life as a person who stutters, Doug is also a member of Toastmasters International.

< Back Previous Stacey Nierman Presenter Stacey Nierman is a mother to three boys, one of whom stutters. She is a teacher, passionate about helping people embrace who they are. Stacey attended the National Stuttering Association’s (NSA) Annual Conference in St. Louis in 2023, where she found herself embraced by parents who shared her wide range of emotions and felt hope for her son’s future. Since then, Stacey and her family have become very active in the NSA. She lives in the Kansas City metro area and co-founded the Kansas City Area Family Chapter. Her goal in the NSA is to connect, support, and educate in a judgment-free zone. Next

Learn how Haley Aguayo,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Manager, Benefits & Compliance Haley Aguayo Briefly describe your daily job duties. As the Manager of Benefits and Compliance to a 300-employee international organization, I oversee the management and creation of benefits plans and ensure that we are compliant regarding various federal and state legislation requirements. I establish positive relationships with employees, benefit brokers, and vendors to ensure our benefits are communicated efficiently and carried out effectively. Benefits are the backbone of employee retention and recruitment, and it is my job to ensure we develop creative solutions to build a robust and competitive benefits package that serves our demographics while also keeping up with the latest trends. As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. I think with any environment, people are used to fast-paced communication styles. When you stutter, it puts a different pace on meetings and conference calls. As with many career paths, my job involves a lot of communication. I frequently speak with employees, brokers, and vendors. During my career, there have been times when I have been presenting and someone who is participating remotely says that the line is breaking up or that the sound is coming in choppy. During these moments, I have to explain that I stutter, which clears the air, and then I can continue. However, I have never encountered anyone who was rude about it, as they only care about the overall message and my knowledge surrounding the subject. 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 am a firm believer in self-disclosure as it helps me feel more relaxed and confident during the interview process. When the recruiter first contacts me to set up the phone screen, I respond confirming the best schedule for me and ask if they wouldn’t mind scheduling a few extra minutes to the interview because I stutter and I’d like to ensure that I have ample time to answer any questions they may have. Then, during the in-person interview with the hiring manager, I usually state in the beginning along with my introduction, “Before we begin our conversation, I’d like to let you know that I stutter, so if you don’t understand something I say or if you need me to repeat something, please let me know and I’d be glad to do so.” And then I head into the interview portion. I feel this acknowledgment not only shows confidence on my behalf but it also allows the listener to understand what is happening, so they do not jump to assumptions. I used to struggle with being present in interviews because internally my mind was so loud with anxiety and actively finding ways to avoid stuttering. I would say words that wouldn’t make sense because they were easier to say or avoid talking about certain accomplishments, that I wasn’t focusing on showing my personality and my attributes for the role. I knew that my experience and background were a great fit, but I couldn’t convey them because I wasn’t present in the conversation. When your focus is elsewhere, it’s hard to shine in an interview. I think what helped me the most was realizing that the interviewer is human too. They are not perfect; they face struggles and adversities in their life as well. However, they saw something in me and that is why I was there at the interview. They believed that I was one of the top candidates out of the many who applied, which is encouraging. Once I realized this, it was easier for me to let my personality shine and I was able to answer and engage in the conversations confidently. I made them feel at ease with my professionalism, knowledge, and expertise. If I happened to stutter, so be it. Because at the end of the day, the hiring manager just wanted someone who they can trust to come in to do the job well, and I knew that I was absolutely that person. Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work. I believe that stuttering has allowed me to be a good listener. When you work in human resources, people want to be heard. Showing my stuttering also shows my vulnerable side. There’s a humbling aspect of showing your struggle every day, and people find that relatable. Can you imagine working with someone in human resources who you find intimidating or not relatable? They wouldn’t be very approachable and they wouldn’t be effective at their job. I can choose to hide it by avoiding words or using techniques to be perfectly fluent, but I’m not fluent. I stutter, and it’s the way I am genetically programmed to speak. I once had a coworker tell me that maybe stuttering is my superpower. She went on to say that it has made me empathetic, patient, and a good listener, and not a lot of people have those skills. I couldn’t have said it better myself. What is your proudest moment at your current company? I’m still relatively new at my company, as I haven’t been there for a full year yet. But when I started, I hit the ground running wide-eyed with passion and excitement. This job is fast-paced and I was coming up on the busiest time of the year in regards to open enrollment planning and several compliance related projects. I might have had a few nerves here or there during this time period related to stuttering, meeting new colleagues, or leading presentations, but in all honesty, my main focus was that I came to do a job, and I worked hard to ensure that I was going to get it done accurately and efficiently. I’m proud that I was able to lead a successful open enrollment period, implement a new mental health benefit, complete several compliance audits, and find ways to improve existing procedures to better serve the organization, all within my first few months there. 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 true to your passions because you will never be happy if you settle. Apply for that job that pushes your comfort zone. I majored in Graphic Design in college because I thought it was a safe choice regarding stuttering. I only learned after I graduated that I made the wrong decision because I realized that my calling was to help people. I was bored and didn’t find satisfaction with what I was doing, and I knew that I didn’t want to keep doing it for another 40 years until I retired. 40 years is a long time to do something that you’re already bored with! In college, I would have never seen myself as both a Human Resources leader speaking with people every day, but I love it. Push yourself outside of your comfort zone so that you can continue to grow. Don’t let stuttering define what your barriers are and don’t let it have control over your happiness. I promise that you will find confidence and happiness through pushing your limits and exceeding in ways you never thought imaginable. Stuttering is only a hindrance if you let it become one.

Learn how Charles White, III,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Secret Service Charles White, III Briefly describe your daily job duties. I’m responsible for access control and interior/exterior protection of the White House. I help ensure everyone that walks on the White House complex is authorized from administration staff to visitors for appointments to tourists. As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. Finding the internal resolve and courage to open my mouth every day and speak to people at work and exercising my constitutional authority with my speech every day. 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, I self-disclosed during the application process. I verbally told the polygraph technicians that I stutter. (Polygraph? Remember, I work for the Secret Service.) I also disclose my stutter to co-workers, White House staff, and sometimes to tourists. Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work. I have a different sense of compassion, patience, and understanding than all my non-stuttering co-workers. I find myself not in a rush to get information from people. I let people take their time to speak their truth because what they have to say matters. What is your proudest moment at your current company? Taking my Mom as my guest to the Secret Service holiday party in 2013 and introducing her to President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. What are your long-term career aspirations? I plan on retiring from the Secret Service before I turn 50 years old. By doing so, I’ll be able to pursue my passions and dreams to serve other people full-time. What’s your best advice for people who stutter just entering the workplace and for those in a career striving to achieve greater success? Believe in yourself. Believe in your potential. Speak your truth. You have the Americans with Disabilities Act on your side and people need to hear your story. What you want to say from your heart matters, and it can positively impact other people.

Meet Alan Vu, a valued member of the National Stuttering Association team. Learn more about their role and contributions. Alan Vu Marketing Coordinator Alan is a speech-language pathologist, digital marketer, small business owner, and person who stutters (in no particular order). His passion lies in raising awareness on stuttering and empowering people with communication differences. In his free time, he enjoys playing the guitar, photography, and practicing mindfulness.

Join the Sandy - Kids stuttering support group. Connect with others, share experiences, and access resources through the National Stuttering Association. Sandy KIDS CHAPTER IN-PERSON MEETINGS SOUTHWEST REGION Official NSA Chapter - Utah State Welcome to the NSA Sandy 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? Kids 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? Meetings are held around the Sandy, UT area. Please reach out to the Chapter Leader to confirm meeting details. When? Meetings are held on the 1st Tuesday of each month at 4:45PM. Chapter Leaders Who leads the meetings? Katharine Emerson Chapter Leader Get in touch! katharine.g.emerson@gmail.com (801) 948-0904 - 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

Meet Russell Stevens, a valued member of the National Stuttering Association team. Learn more about their role and contributions. Russell Stevens Teen Advisory Council (TAC) Russell is a Senior at Vista Del Lago High School in Folsom, California. After attending his first conference in Newport Beach in 2022–where he made many friends along the way–Russell was elated to meet other teens with similar life experiences and strives to help others make the same connections he did. At school, Russell enjoys leading his teams in both football and baseball, and when he is not on the field or in the weight room, he is working towards graduating on the Engineering Design pathway. In his free time, Russell enjoys chilling with his friends and his cat, Jaguar.

Join the Seattle - Adult stuttering support group. Connect with others, share experiences, and access resources through the National Stuttering Association. Seattle ADULT CHAPTER IN-PERSON MEETINGS NORTHWEST REGION Official NSA Chapter - Washington State Welcome to the NSA Seattle 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? Meeting are held in the Seattle, WA area. Contact the Chapter Leaders for meeting details. When? Meetings are held on the 1st Sunday of each month from 1:00-2:30PM. Chapter Leaders Who leads the meetings? Andrew Chekerylla & Ashish Gupta Chapter Leaders Get in touch! westutterinseattle@gmail.com (206) 412-5760 https://tinyurl.com/westutterinseattle 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 John Finn,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Chief Scientific Advisor (CSO) John Finn Briefly describe your daily job duties. As the CSO of Tome, the Programmable Genomic Integration (PGI) company, I sit on the executive leadership team and lead a team of ~90 scientists in the Research and Development group. My daily job duties include A LOT of meetings! 1:1 meetings with my team members, small or large internal meetings, meetings with potential investors or partners. I also attend conferences and will be giving public presentations over the course of this next year. My primary role is to direct the science at Tome and make sure that we are on track towards turning our gene editing platform into life-changing medicines for patients in need. I spend a lot of time not only managing the science, but also the people involved in this highly collaborative, cross functional effort. As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. The most challenging part of my job is the unpredictability of my fluency. I have good days and bad days, and it is hard to tell how my fluency will be on any given day. I have learned to introduce myself and my stutter before every meeting or presentation as I find that this not only takes the pressure off of me, but it lets the listener focus more on what I am saying as opposed to wondering what is going on and if I am ok. I also find public speaking very challenging, whether it is talking in front of the whole company at an all-hands meeting, (140 people), or giving presentations at conferences. What are your long-term career aspirations? I am very grateful that I am already have my dream job! I have been working in the field of gene and cell therapy for almost 25 years and this opportunity at Tome, to not only work with such an amazing team, but use ground breaking technology to develop medicine for sick patients, is what I have been waiting for my entire career. 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 almost always disclose my stutter. Over the years, I have found that people appreciate when I am upfront about my stutter. I usually say something like “As you may be able to tell, I have a stutter. It can take me a bit longer to say what I want to say, but don’t worry, everything is fine, this is just the way that I talk. If you ever don’t understand me, please ask me to repeat myself. ” I sometimes will also mention that my brothers stutter, so that people can understand that there is a strong genetic component to stuttering. What is your proudest moment at your current company? My proudest moment happened right before our company was about to open our next round of financing. We had to raise a lot of money and I did not have any experience with pitching to investors. I was not sure how the Leadership Team (LT) at Tome felt about my stuttering and whether this would potentially hurt our chances by turning away investors. We had a very open conversation about my fluency with the whole LT and while it was a very difficult topic for me to bring up, I left the meeting feeling completely supported by the LT and empowered to represent my research team and highlight the incredible progress they have made. Fast forward a year later, I played a part in probably over 100 meetings with investors and we ended up having a very successful fundraise . It was the incredibly supportive attitude of the LT and their willingness to have a hard conversation about stuttering that I am most proud of. Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work. I think stuttering has given me more empathy for others and I think it also helps people connect with me on a personal level. There is a certain level of authenticity that comes with being who you are and this resonates with people. 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 yourself! I would also advocate self-disclosing in as many situations as you can. Spend time learning about yourself and factors that affect your fluency (for example, certain things that help with me are getting enough sleep, not eating a big meal right before a presentation, and daily supplementation with B1 vitamin). Try not to limit yourself out of fear. And always remember, after a hard day (whether it is fluency related or not), this too shall pass!