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< Back Jacob Bossier Speaker Jacob Bossier is a twenty year old college student in his sophomore year at Southeastern Louisiana University. He’s in a fraternity that he’s actively involved in. Jacob enjoys hanging out with his friends, working out, and spending time with his family. He is most interested in digital media, but is majoring in Computer Science. This will be his third NSA conference. Previous Next

Meet Holly Nover, a valued member of the National Stuttering Association team. Learn more about their role and contributions. Holly Nover Family Programs Chair Holly is a person who stutters, a parent of a child that stutters, and a Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) who has been active with the NSA since 2007. Professionally, Holly has earned two master’s degrees: Communication Disorders from the University of Central Florida and Educational Leadership from the American College of Education. She has worked as a SLP in the medical, private, and public-school settings and currently works in a public school district serving as the District Program Specialist for SLPs. She has served as a Lead SLP in her school district and was named Speech Language Pathologist of the year by the Jacksonville Area Speech Pathology Association in 2009. She has presented on stuttering at the local, state, and national levels. Holly lives in Jacksonville, Florida with her husband and is the mother of two boys and a Labrador Retriever. She enjoys watching sporting events, traveling to tropical locations, puzzles, spending time at the beach, and organizing. Holly is a loyal Jacksonville Jaguars fan. Term began May 2021

Join the Lenexa - Adult stuttering support group. Connect with others, share experiences, and access resources through the National Stuttering Association. Lenexa ADULT CHAPTER IN-PERSON MEETINGS CENTRAL SOUTH REGION Official NSA Chapter - Kansas State Welcome to the NSA Lenexa 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? Lenexa Public Market -- 8750 Penrose Ln, Lenexa, KS 66219 When? Meetings are held on the first Monday of every other month from 6:00 to 7:30 PM. Please contact the Chapter Leader to confirm the meeting schedule. Chapter Leaders Who leads the meetings? Becca Grussgott Chapter Leader Get in touch! becca@freedomtospeaktherapy.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

Learn how Kelsey Smith,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Interpreter Kelsey Smith Briefly describe your daily job duties. I was an Interpreter while working for the National Park Service. Many duties come with being an Interpreter, including: leading tours, giving visitors the rules before they enter Carlsbad Caverns National Park, and working at the information desk. I am transitioning to the United States Forest Service soon and do not know all of my new job duties yet! Some of my responsibilities will be: patrolling the backcountry, writing citations, cleaning the recreation area of trash, and crowd control. I will also have the opportunity to get my red card, meaning I will be able to fight wildfires. As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. The most challenging part of my job is when I am having an exceptionally non-fluent day. Even if I do not want to give a tour/program because my stutter is out of control, I still have to do it. 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 at work? Yes, I disclosed my stutter during the hiring process. All my job interviews were via phone and my stutter is moderate to severe. Usually all I say at the beginning of an interview is, “I have a stutter.” A few times I have been able to work it into the conversation instead of just blurting it out. When I give tours/programs I tell the visitors I have a stutter. During my five years with the National Park Service. I have told roughly 8,000 visitors I have a stutter! Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work. Stuttering makes me a better, more valued contributor at work because I have shown my co-workers that people from all walks of life can work for the National Park Service. I also help them become better listeners and be more patient. What is your proudest moment at your current company? My proudest moment was when I was working at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. During my first ever Bat Flight Program I had close to 350 people attend. The feeling of telling that many people at once “I have a stutter, so if there is anything you need me to repeat, just ask,” was unlike anything I had ever felt before. It was a freeing experience to be able to say that. What are your long-term career aspirations? My long-term career aspiration is to be a Chief of Interpretation at a national park. I don’t know which national park, but the beauty of my career is not knowing where you will be in a year or two. There is always adventure while getting to travel and live in some of the most beautiful places in the United States. What’s your best advice for people who stutter just entering the workplace and for those in a career striving to achieve greater success? Follow your dream job. Do not let the naysayers get you down! Just because we stutter doesn’t make us bad communicators. We have the unique ability to make people better listeners. Some days are going to be rough, but there is always tomorrow.

Meet Lydia Webb, a valued member of the National Stuttering Association team. Learn more about their role and contributions. Lydia Webb Young Adults Committee Lydia Webb (20 years old) is absolutely thrilled to be a part of the NSA’s Young Adult Council. In her teen years, she served on the Teen Advisory Council and grew so much through that opportunity. Lydia is currently a Junior at Liberty University in Virginia, studying American Sign Language Interpreting with minors in Criminal Justice and Psychology. She has been regularly attending NSA conferences for the past 9 years and barely remembers her life without NSA. She is so excited to grow and get to know more people in her stamily

Meet Quinn Helfand, a valued member of the National Stuttering Association team. Learn more about their role and contributions. Quinn Helfand TAC Quinn, an 18-year-old computer science major at American University, has been an active member of the National Stuttering Association (NSA) community for many years. Originally from Dallas, Quinn has attended seven NSA conferences and several local chapter meetings, making meaningful connections and contributing to the supportive environment the NSA is known for. As a member of the Teen Advisory Council (TAC), they are passionate about fostering a sense of belonging and helping others feel welcomed. Quinn’s favorite part of NSA conferences is the opportunity to welcome newcomers and reconnect with old friends, creating bonds that celebrate shared experiences and mutual support. Their warmth and enthusiasm make them a natural leader in the stuttering community, helping others feel at ease and embraced. Outside of their academic and advocacy work, Quinn enjoys exploring their creative side through art and reading, finding inspiration in new stories and perspectives. They also cherish spending time with friends, valuing connection and camaraderie in all aspects of life. Quinn’s journey with the NSA reflects their commitment to building a stronger, more inclusive community for people who stutter. With their blend of technical skills, creativity, and compassion, Quinn is poised to make a meaningful impact both within the stuttering community and in their future endeavors.

< Back Elizabeth Minton Speaker Elizabeth is a passionate advocate for the stuttering community and an active member of the National Stuttering Association's Young Adults Committee. A rising senior at Western Carolina University, she is pursuing a degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders, building on her foundation with an earlier degree in Communication Studies. Her academic journey reflects her deep interest in understanding the complexities of stuttering and her dedication to making a difference. Previous Next

Learn how Christopher Monello,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Senior Marketing Manager Christopher Monello Briefly describe your daily job duties. Simply said my job is to drive subscription revenue growth across all digital channels: email, social media, website, search, etc. As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. The most challenging part of my job is communicating via Zoom, phone calls, Slack messages, etc. As a person who stutters, it’s hard for others to know when I’m done sharing a thought. This can be frustrating when I’m in the middle of a block and I need a bit more time to convey my ideas. In person communication is easier for others to gauge when I’m done speaking. 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 self-disclose during the job hiring process, but I wish I would’ve. Disclosing stuttering makes you and your counterpart feel more comfortable and more often than not, makes for easier communication. I disclose my stuttering to colleagues now when the time feels right. I never force disclosing my stutter. Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work. I think I’m a better communicator and listener because of my stutter. I listen to others and in general I’m more patient. What is your proudest moment at your current company? My proudest moment at my current company was finalizing a major project. My first project onboard 3 long years ago (feels much shorter) was to create automated email frameworks to onboard each category of our customers: subscription, eBook, and single issue. This project was very technical and also creative in nature. Accomplishing this and being able to share both positive engagement and revenue results signified the value I could bring to my superiors. What are your long-term career aspirations? My long-term career aspiration is to take all of the experience that I’ve built working in marketing in various industries (client-side, media, technology and publishing) and start my own application/company (still brainstorming ideas). I’d love to be my own boss one day and also build a company culture of acceptance across the board. What’s your best advice for people who stutter just entering the workplace and for those in a career striving to achieve greater success? Always be yourself. Don’t let your stutter define you. Join the NSA local chapter meetings and take advantage of their online resources. I interviewed for over 70 companies when I first graduated college in 2014. The process was rigorous and frustrating. Once I joined the NSA local chapter in midtown Manhattan, I felt immediately at home. To be so comfortable and open about my stutter with fellow stutterers is a gift that continues to enhance my life. You can get job interview tips and build both personal and professional relationships by joining the NSA community.

< Back Sarah Onofri Speaker Sarah Onofri has been involved in the NSA since 2006. She is the NSA Family Programs Coordinator, and is a co-leader of both the NSA Boston Adult Chapter and Family Chapter. She teaches English as a Second Language at an elementary school. Previous Next

Learn how Sharon Emery,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Senior Consultant Sharon Emery Mason, MI Senior Consultant Truscott Rossman Briefly describe your daily job duties. Having worked over 30 years in communications — as a journalist, university instructor and public relations professional — I have added a new career: book author, including extensive speaking engagements. As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. The book is my memoir, “It’s Hard Being You, A Primer on Being Happy Anyway,” so of course it details my battle to be a communicator who struggles to speak. Sharing that experience out loud was a challenging step I thought I’d never take. But I did … and people are receptive! What are your long-term career aspirations? Mentoring others who struggle to speak, and educating the fluent public about how they can overcome being “disabled listeners”. Did you self-disclose your stuttering during the job hiring process? I self-disclose in that I have a severe stutter, so listeners always know upfront that I am one unique speaker… I try to help them get over it. What is your proudest moment at your current company? I love helping Truscott Rossman clients “make every word count”. Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work. When you’re a person who stutters, you don’t want to waste a single breath on unnecessary words. Here’s to clear, direct, impactful communication! 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 your stutter as a key part of who you are. Own it, and then be brave enough to let yourself fill up an entire room.

< Back Ben Pahl Speaker Ben, a 29-year-old PWS, currently lives in Columbus, OH with his two turtles - a stuffed turtle from his childhood aptly named "Turtle", as well as a carved wooden turtle from his adolescence, also aptly named "Turtle". He currently works at a small, local downsizing company that helps seniors downsize from their homes into a senior living community. "It's not much, but it's honest work," he says. Ben coaches both volleyball and basketball for his local Special Olympics program. He's good at neither sport, but loves being involved in the developmentally disabled community. Ben makes it his mission to help spread awareness to both those who stutter, as well as to those who don't, that stuttering is okay! In his free time, Ben enjoys finishing half a crossword puzzle before quitting, obsesses over meaningless baseball stats, and roots for a team that torments his soul - the Cleveland Guardians. Previous Next

Meet Derek Daniels, a valued member of the National Stuttering Association team. Learn more about their role and contributions. Derek Daniels Research Committee Standing Member Dr. Derek E. Daniels is an associate professor and graduate program director in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Wayne State University in Detroit, MI. He is originally from Houston, TX. Derek received his bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Grinnell College (1998), master’s degree in Communication Disorders from the University of Houston (2002), and PhD in Communication Disorders from Bowling Green State University (2007). He has been a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist since 2002. Derek has presented locally, nationally, and internationally on stuttering. He is a person who stutters, and conducts research on public perceptions of stuttering, and factors that influence the psychosocial experiences of individuals who stutter. He is particularly interested in identity, stigma, intersectionality, self-help groups, and culturally responsive practices. In 2023, Derek received the Professional of the Year Award from the National Stuttering Association. He is also a former President of the Michigan Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Derek’s hobbies include creative writing (poetry), 80s music, country music, and 80s and 90s television shows. He especially loves handwritten notes, cupcakes, recipes, soft chocolate chip cookies, and a nice glass of cranberry juice.