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< Back Gabe Reinstein Speaker Gabe is a senior at Highpoint Regional High school in Sussex, NJ where he plays football, ski races, and is a member of the jazz ensemble. Gabe loves the outdoors and spends a lot of his time skiing the mountains of the Northeast as well as tent camping with the Scouts. He is very excited for his third year on the TAC. Previous Next

< Back Edmund Metzold Speaker Edmund Metzold (he/him) has been an active member of the NSA since 2015, attending chapter meetings and national conferences ever since. He is a co-leader of the Boston Adult Chapter and is very involved with Passing Twice, an organization for LGBTQ+ people who stutter. Edmund works as a Sr. Production Support Analyst for a healthcare data analytics company. In his free time, he loves traveling, playing trivia, and singing with his barbershop chorus and quartet. Previous Next

Learn how Rob Bloom,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Creative Director Rob Bloom Briefly describe your daily job duties. I am a Creative Director for Universal Orlando Resort. So in addition to regularly trying to drink my weight in Butterbeer, I’m responsible for creating work that helps tell brand stories and bring the Universal Orlando brand to life–whether that’s through social content or short films or any other medium. Daily duties can include anything from creative brainstorms to being on set for a production to working with an editor on a video piece. As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. Obviously, my job requires a lot of talking. Pitching ideas, talking to casting agents, presenting to large groups of people, directing talent, etc. I’ve grown to be more comfortable in these situations over the years. Funny enough, it’s the daily video call meetings that I’m finding the most challenging right now. Lots of people on a call, lots of conversation back and forth. It can be hard to jump in and say what you want to say. 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 didn’t self-disclose during the hiring process for Universal Orlando because I didn’t feel like my stuttering was preventing me from presenting myself the way I wanted. I did, however, disclose it to several team members in recent months. I wanted them to be aware that some situations, particularly during COVID, are challenging for me. Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work. Stuttering has, no question, made me more empathetic and also a better listener. In work, sure, but also in life. What is your proudest moment at your current company? Working for a theme park and entertainment company like Universal has been a lifelong dream of mine. So my first day on the team was definitely one of my proudest moments, for sure. Since then, though, I’m proud any time I get to be on set, directing talent, working with our crew, or just collaborating with our team to create great work. What are your long-term career aspirations? To keep doing what I’m doing for this company for as long as possible. It’s a privilege to be able to create work and tell stories that resonate with millions of people. I love what I do and will continue to do it with passion and enthusiasm for as long as I can. What’s your best advice for people who stutter just entering the workplace and for those in a career striving to achieve greater success? Do not let stuttering stop you from achieving your goals. Yes, stuttering is hard and, some days, it downright sucks. But always remember, you are more than your stuttering. It’s just one part of you and you have gifts and talents that deserve to be recognized and celebrated. A person who stutters can absolutely do anything they want to do.

Join the Missoula - Adult & Family stuttering support group. Connect with others, share experiences, and access resources through the National Stuttering Association. Missoula ADULT & FAMILY CHAPTER IN-PERSON & VIRTUAL MEETINGS NORTHWEST REGION Official NSA Chapter - Montana State Welcome to the NSA Missoula 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 & 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? Missoula Public Library -- 455 E Main Street, Missoula, MT 59802 When? Meetings are held on the first Monday of each month from 6:00 to 7:30 PM. Contact the Chapter Leader to join virtually. Chapter Leaders Who leads the meetings? Bridger Jones Chapter Leader Get in touch! nsamissoula@gmail.com (406) 493-2864 - 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 Burlington - Teen stuttering support group. Connect with others, share experiences, and access resources through the National Stuttering Association. Burlington Teens TEEN CHAPTER HYBRID MEETINGS NORTHEAST REGION Official NSA Chapter - Vermont State Welcome to the NSA Burlington Teen 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? Teen 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? University of Vermont Eleanor Luse Center (Pomeroy Hall waiting room) – 489 Main Street Burlington, VT 05405. Parents are required to stay onsite, and may attend the separate parents meeting. When? Meetings are held on the 2nd Thursday of each month from 5:30-6:30PM. Meetings are hybrid, concurrently held on Zoom and in person. For details about meetings and for any other information, please contact the Chapter Leaders. Chapter Leaders Who leads the meetings? Danra Kazenski & Sully Kiley Chapter Leaders Get in touch! burlingtonstutters@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

< Back Heather Najman Speaker Heather Najman is a therapist and somatic teacher and practitioner, who has been involved with the stuttering community for 30 years, currently as a NSA Chapter Leader, workshop facilitator and Stutter Slam host. She assists people to support their nervous systems, connect with their courageous selves, and lessen the effects of the trauma that comes from stuttering. Previous Next

< Back Mike Molino Speaker Michael (Mike) Molino was born and raised in San Jose, California. Prior to receiving his Master’s Degree in Speech Pathology, he served in the US Navy for 24 years. Mike has been stationed all over the West Coast and has made 6 Western Pacific Cruises and numerous other deployments. Although he has been retired for 14 years now, he still remembers that part of his life just like it was yesterday. Mike has two grown children and has been married to his wife Teresa for 32 years. They currently live in the greater area of Sacramento, CA. Previous Next

Learn how Kimberly Reese,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Candle Production Kimberly Reese Briefly describe your daily job duties. I create and sell a variety of candles across the United States. As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. The most challenging part of my job is when people see me as just my stutter, and not as a human being. What are your long-term career aspirations? My goal is to branch out and sell my candles internationally, with the immediate goal of selling in Africa in 2024. 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? No, I do not disclose my stuttering. Stuttering is a part of me, but I don’t let it define me. What is your proudest moment at your current company? My proudest moment is more general – just that I started with nothing and turned it into something! I’ve loved candles all of my life, and so I worked hard to learn how to produce them, how to market myself, and how to sell, which I now do all over the country. Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work. I am independent and making my own way in this world, never letting anyone disrespect me. What’s your best advice for people who stutter just entering the workplace and for those in a career striving to achieve greater success? Command respect and show everyone that you are a hard worker.

Join the Bloomington - Adult & Family stuttering support group. Connect with others, share experiences, and access resources through the National Stuttering Association. Bloomington ADULT, FAMILY CHAPTER HYBRID MEETINGS CENTRAL NORTH REGION Official NSA Chapter - Indiana State Welcome to the NSA Bloomington 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, 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? Bloomington, Indiana 47408 When? Virtual meetings are held on the 1st Tuesday of each month from 7:00-8:00PM. We meet in-person periodically for special events. For details about meetings/events and for any other information, please contact the Chapter Leaders. Chapter Leaders Who leads the meetings? Julia Rademacher & Jackie Huddle Chapter Leaders Get in touch! julwood@iu.edu (812) 856-4727 - 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 Resnick,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Manager, Product Design David Resnick Briefly describe your daily job duties. I manage the Enterprise Product Design team at Hulu where I oversee the design of apps and services for Hulu’s Ad Platform, Content Management System, Customer Support, and Data & Analytics. I represent my team within my department leadership as well as with initiatives in other areas of the company. I keep my team running smoothly, facilitating a culture of open communication, critical thinking, and collaboration. Hands-on design is also part of my work, which entails figuring out how people can use our apps better and improving upon the look and feel for the Hulu brand. As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. Although I’m told that I do well in presentations and meetings, it is still terrifying when I open my mouth to speak in those situations. That fear has decreased over the years by gaining more experience, and also through the support of my stuttering community. I’m in a position where I have to do a lot of talking with business leaders and team members and I want them to have trust and confidence in me. It’s important to show them what I have to offer and not let my stuttering keep me from that. Did you self-disclose your stuttering during the job hiring process? Yes, I self-disclosed. I did so in the context of bringing up my work with Stutter Social and the National Stuttering Association. It’s a unique thing for most people to hear about and they always want to hear more. Self-disclosing lets others know that you’re not hiding and that you’re comfortable talking about stuttering. I’ve found this puts them at more ease, which in turn puts you more at ease! Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work. No doubt about it, stuttering has made me a more compassionate person. I’m a better listener in terms of giving people the time and space to say what they need to say. And I can establish empathy faster because EVERYONE has “something” in their lives that has caused them pain, shame, embarrassment, struggle, etc. When people see me with my “something” on clear display, they open up more quickly about themselves and this helps build professional relationships. What is your proudest moment at your current company? My proudest moment was when I got promoted to manager. I was so excited I had to walk around the block a few times just to let the energy out! About two years earlier, I was laid off from a company whose private equity owners decided to take the company in a different direction. It was a big blow because things were going well for me. I had two young kids and it just came out of the blue. It knocked me off my feet for a bit. But, I decided I was going to see the opportunity in the situation. I worked diligently to up-level my career from that point, first as the lead designer at a known startup, and then as a senior designer at Hulu. When the manager promotion came around, it was like the completion of a two-year cycle of my hard work paying off. What are your long-term career aspirations? I want to uplift people’s hearts and minds through art, technology, and unconditional love. I don’t know how that will play out in my career and I don’t put limits on the possibilities. VP of Product Design? Inventor of new technology? Performing artist (with said new technology)? Writer and speaker? CEO of Hulu????? What’s your best advice for people who stutter just entering the workplace and for those in a career striving to achieve greater success? I have a whole lot to say about this topic and it has little to do with stuttering. To summarize, I’ll give you the “Three P’s”: Personality, Preparedness, and Positioning. Personality is a major factor in how others perceive and relate to you and also how you see yourself. Personality determines things like the opportunities you pursue and what people you attract to support you in your endeavors. Preparedness is about what you have done to date that makes you capable of doing the work you’re seeing to get a job doing. You’ve got to be prepared! This includes education, training, and work experience—and this also includes work ethics like persistence, diligence, and awareness. Positioning is the fusing together of personality with preparedness to put yourself in the best position to get the right job and follow the right career path for you. It’s probably the easiest of the Three P’s to do, but it requires that you get the other Two P’s right first. And to do it well, you need an understanding of your industry, market, peers, and professional network.

Learn how Wladimir Lyra,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Assistant Professor Wladimir Lyra Briefly describe your daily job duties. Planning, running, and interpreting computer simulations of astrophysical theories. Communicating my discoveries with my peers through scientific articles and talks, teaching undergraduate and PhD level classes. Mentoring graduate students on their research. Writing proposals for research money. Meetings with faculty peers and communicating with the general public via public talks and popular science articles. As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. Initially it was about giving talks, but that became second nature around the transition from PhD student to postdoctoral researcher. Now I give talks with ease. What is still challenging sometimes is talking to higher-ups who hold power over me. And at times also doing the occasional round table of “everybody introduce yourself” impromptu thing. Wouldn’t call it challenging, but certainly unpleasant. 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 students? I did, in the diversity statement: “This is perhaps the part I feel I am making myself the most vulnerable in this coming out essay [I had already addressed being Latino and non-straight], I disclose that I stutter. The disfluency is mild (as evaluated by speech and language pathologists) and not classified as a disability, or even a speech difference. Still, I am constantly in speech therapy to keep it in check. It does not affect my teaching, but I still open the first class of every course by saying ‘Before we continue, let’s get something out of the way. I have been speaking for 20 minutes now, you probably noticed it already: I stutter. It’s not that I’m nervous, it’s not that I’m looking for the word in English, it’s just the way I speak. I am comfortable with it, and I hope you are too.’ So far, it has been a complete non-issue.’” Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work. I grew up with relatives telling me that there was stuff I couldn’t do because of it. If I had believed them, I would not have accomplished half of what I have done. If anything, my stutter makes me work harder because I knew it could be in the way of my goals. This experience helps me understand ableism. Perhaps because of it, I will be the first to tell a deaf student or a student in a wheelchair that their disabilities are not insurmountable obstacles to becoming a scientist. What is your proudest moment at your current company? Mentoring is my greatest source of pride. Helping students develop their true potential is priceless. I’m also proud to get federal research grants and publish influential results. What’s your best advice for people who stutter just entering the workplace and for those in a career striving to achieve greater success? Keep in mind that people are not as judgmental of our speech as we think they are. Insecurity, not stuttering, is your worst enemy. A moment of stuttering does not overrule a lifetime of successes, including those that got you the job. Nothing good comes out of trying to hide it. It’s not something you should feel shame about it. Don’t let it define you but wear it with pride, like we do in the LGBT community, and it can only positively affect your sense of worth.

Learn how Jonah Otis,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Senior Manager Jonah Otis Briefly describe your daily job duties. I’ve had several roles during my tenure at PayPal. Currently, I am responsible for learning and development, employee experience, and people business operations across PayPal’s technology platforms and infrastructure teams. That means I look after how our employees learn and grow, how our managers can best support their teams, and helping to ensure we’re building an inclusive workplace. As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. Definitely public speaking. I have a mild stutter and I’m prone to fluctuations in my fluency depending on the circumstances. The most challenging part of my job is usually when I’m anxious about something I’m working on and need to present it to a group. Sometimes I’m so focused on my fluency that I forget the flow of information I’m trying to communicate. In other words, when the message can get lost because the stutter has stolen all my energy. How supported at work do you feel by your co-workers, supervisor(s) and the company itself? I feel very supported, but not in an intentional way. I’ve spent most of my tenure at PayPal as a covert stutterer, and I never self-disclosed despite the fact that I know people can see and hear my stutter. Not once have I felt that I was not welcome or not included because of my stutter, and I’ve never been told that my stutter is a hinderance to my ability to do 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? I did not self-disclose my stuttering during the hiring process, and I kept it to myself for the next 14 years. Of course, I knew that people could see my facial contortions, blocks, clenching, etc., and hear prolongations, repetitions, and pauses in my speech. But I didn’t want to acknowledge it. That was, until an executive leader approached me about talking to his son, who also stutters. That unexpected request sent me on my own journey to self-disclosure and involvement with the stuttering community. Since then, I’ve been very open about my stutter, even mentioning it during public presentations I’ve given. PayPal has also publicly featured me in social media where I disclose that I’m a person who stutters. Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work. While the disadvantages of stuttering are obvious, no one really talks about how it can be a superpower. In the competitive, fast-paced world of corporate America, stuttering gives me the superpowers of vulnerability and relationship-building. It goes without saying that as a stutterer, I’m vulnerable. But that vulnerability allows other people to let their guard down with me and be more open and honest. That openness leads to better ideas, innovation, and willingness to cooperate and collaborate. I’ve built a lot of relationships over the years which have helped me achieve professional goals. From a neurodiversity standpoint, being a stutterer has given me perspective on products, features, and usability that neurotypical people might not necessarily have. This helps when I am developing my own programs, helping to drive change in an organization, or supporting a product launch or test. 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 is to self-disclose, own your stutter, and join a local NSA chapter for support. I can’t emphasize enough how much those things have changed my life for the better. Self-disclosure can be very hard but knowing that I have a community behind me makes all the difference. When we self-disclose and own our stutter, we disarm detractors and find our allies. We also neutralize some of our anxiety related to stuttering at work, taking away the worry about colleagues finding out that we stutter. I also recommend learning about the neurodiversity movement; the perspective that it offers helped me to see the value in being a stutterer.