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Meet Ilya Filmus, a valued member of the National Stuttering Association team. Learn more about their role and contributions. Ilya Filmus Legal Counsel Ilya’s experience includes representing clients in employment, personal injury, and business matters. Ilya is passionate about fighting on behalf of the underdog – whether it be an employee who is mistreated in the workplace, a person who is injured, or a small business. Prior to entering private practice and founding the Infinity Law Group, Ilya externed for the Honorable D. Lowell Jensen (Ret.) of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, as well as for the Honorable Ming C. Chin of the Supreme Court of California. Ilya is a cum laude graduate of University of California, Hastings College of the Law, where he served as the Managing Editor of the Hastings International & Comparative Law Review. Prior to law school, Ilya graduated magna cum laude from UCLA with a double major and minor. Ilya is fluent in Russian and knows enough Thai to get a laugh out of anyone who speaks Thai. Ilya is passionate about the outdoors, the housing industry, and travel. Ilya is very fortunate to have lived in Africa, Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, and Western Europe. Ilya serves as legal counsel for the NSA/NSA Board, and is not a voting member of the Board of Directors.

Meet Elizabeth Minton, a valued member of the National Stuttering Association team. Learn more about their role and contributions. Elizabeth Minton Young Adults Committee 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. Elizabeth’s ultimate goal is twofold: to educate others about stuttering, breaking down misconceptions and fostering understanding, and to contribute to research efforts aimed at uncovering the causes of stuttering. Her commitment to these objectives showcases her drive to not only support the current community but also pave the way for advancements that could benefit future generations. As part of the Young Adults Committee, Elizabeth brings her passion, insight, and determination to advocate for awareness and inclusion. Her enthusiasm for learning and her dedication to the stuttering community make her a vital part of the NSA’s mission. Through her work, she hopes to inspire others and further the conversation around stuttering, both in academic and public spheres.

Learn how David Belgard,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Energy Accountant David Belgard Briefly describe your daily job duties. I am responsible for the coal and natural gas accounting processes for two power plants located in the South Louisiana. I account for anywhere between 8-to-10 million dollars of transactions each month. As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. The most challenging part of my job is the constant conference calls I am required to be on. Speaking on the phone is usually one of the biggest nightmares for someone who stutters. I have learned to embrace my stutter and understand that I bring value to the conversation, even if it may take me longer to finish what I am saying. 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 did not disclose my stuttering during the interview process and I have not openly stated that I have a stutter. I feel that it is quite obvious at times that I have a stutter so we should not have to degrade ourselves and mention it. I feel it is more empowering to embrace it and continue to try your best to speak even when you are caught stuttering in the conversations you have. Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work. At a young age, I made a decision that even though I might not be able to speak as fluently as other people around me, I can try my best to work harder than everyone else. So I believe stuttering has given me a drive that someone who does not stutter doesn’t have. People who stutter are some of the most incredible people in the world because not only do they have to handle the stress from ordinary work/life problems, but they also have to handle the stress of having a stutter. This makes us some of the most resilient and dedicated people in the world, in my opinion. What is your proudest moment at your current company? (Does not have to be related to stuttering.) I was hired during the process of my company acquiring another company in South Louisiana. I was hired to specifically assist in getting the accounting processes up and running for the new power plants we were acquiring. After nearly a year of hard work, my team and I were able to get a fluent accounting system up and running for these plants. While doing that, I was able to pass all four of my CPA exams and become a licensed Certified Public Accountant. This is my proudest achievement to date. What are your long-term career aspirations? I would love to open my own financial planning firm where I help struggling individuals and families become free from financial hardships. I grew up without a lot of finances and watched my mother struggle to provide for us. Those situations led me down the path I am on now and I want to let as many people know as possible that you do not have to live paycheck to paycheck and you do not have to live with financial stress during the course of your entire life. My main passion is to help, encourage, and inspire people in any way that 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? Never, ever, think you are inadequate in the workplace because you stutter. You are NOT unintelligent, and you are NOT sub-par. In fact, you are incredible, because in spite of your stutter, you are making the huge step to enter the workplace and try your best to be the best person in that company. The best advice I can give anyone is to never think less of yourself because it takes your longer to get your point across or finish what you are trying to say. You are knowledgeable in your area, so what you say matters and is worth waiting for!

< Back DEI Committee Spotlight: Julie Marshall — Building a More Inclusive NSA, One Voice at a Time For Julie Marshall, advocacy has always been second nature. As a speech-language pathologist, she’s worked with people who stutter across all ages and stages of life—always focusing on what matters most: their individual goals. Julie has long relied on the National Stuttering Association's resources and community. Now, as a proud member of the DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) Committee, she’s helping ensure that the NSA continues to grow into a space where all people who stutter feel welcome, represented, and empowered. “The NSA is a community where stuttering is celebrated. I joined the DEI Committee to help foster inclusion and promote equity.” The DEI Committee works to support underrepresented groups in the NSA—Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), LGBTQAI+ individuals, and multilingual speakers—while promoting diverse representations of stuttering throughout the organization. Julie is especially proud of continuing a weekly adult support group in honor of the late Dr. Walt Manning, a beloved leader and mentor in the stuttering community. “It’s a privilege to carry forward a space that offers connection and growth. I know Walt would be proud.” Her advice to newcomers? “You are welcome and accepted — wherever you are on your journey.” Get to know Julie: Favorite ice cream: Salted Caramel Favorite show: Ted Lasso Karaoke go-to: Anything by The Mavericks Pet: Phoenix, her 14-year-old mixed rescue pup Fun fact: She sings jazz on weekends! Dream vacation: Australia Julie’s voice and vision are helping the NSA grow into a more inclusive, connected, and diverse community—and we are so grateful for all she brings to the table. Thank you, Julie! Previous Next

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.

Meet Molly Porzel, a valued member of the National Stuttering Association team. Learn more about their role and contributions. Molly Porzel Outreach Coordinator Molly Porzel is an advocate for inclusion, empowerment, and the celebration of all voices. As the wife of a person who stutters and a mom of three kids (one of whom stutters), she brings a lived, family-centered perspective to the stuttering community. Molly works in Early Childhood Special Education and is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Social Work. She enjoys creating spaces where children (and adults) can feel seen, supported, and free to be themselves. When she’s not at the Annual Conference, you’ll find her co-leading the St. Louis Family Chapter or squeezing in as many 1-Day Conferences as possible!

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

Learn how Dr. Saundra Russell-Smith,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Elementary School Principal Dr. Saundra Russell-Smith Briefly describe your daily job duties. I recently graduated with my doctorate degree in Educational Leadership and am currently an elementary school principal in Joliet, Illinois. I talk to students, teachers, parent, and community members all day in an effort to improve student achievement and engagement at Carl Sandburg School. Did you self-disclose your stuttering during the job hiring process? I am quite good at being a covert stutterer. If I do stutter during an interview, I allow people to assume that it’s because I’m nervous even though I’m not. Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work. All of us are struggling with something deeply personal. Mine just happens to make its appearance when I open my mouth. After attending my first National Stuttering Association annual conference, I made a commitment to no longer be a covert stutterer. I’ve been open with my stuttering ever since. What is your proudest moment at your current company? I earned my doctorate degree at the end of my first year as a principal, which is typically the toughest year. My staff and students surprised me with a huge celebration, secretly inviting my whole family and my professors! My students made presentations and my staff presented me with a picture of the entire staff and student body! It was amazing! What are your long-term career aspirations? I want to continue to work as an educational leader, preferably as an education professor working with new teachers, specializing in trauma informed classrooms. 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 used to think that my stutter was a curse, something to hide from everyone, including myself. I have since realized that my stutter is my greatest gift. It’s one of the things that makes me uniquely qualified to do what I do and that is to inspire children, educators, and families to do the impossible, whatever it may be for them. Some days, I feel I’ve done the impossible for myself.

Learn how Justin James,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Chiropractor Justin James Briefly describe your daily job duties. I am a Doctor of Chiropractic, I specialize in rehabilitation. I spend my days speaking to patients to better understand their history so that I can effectively treat them. I also need to explain to them, in an easy to understand way, what their problem is and how I can assist them. As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. The most challenging part of my job is speaking with patients. It’s something I do all day, every day. This can be incredibly nerve-wracking some days, but I’m able to work past it and work through 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 to unsuspecting clients? I am blessed to own my practice. As a result, I didn’t have a job interview. I have chosen not to disclose my stutter to patients. I do not feel like it’s my place, in my position, to take the focus off of them. Their issues and health concerns are my primary focus. Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work. Stuttering has taught me so much. It has taught me empathy and understanding. It has shown me that struggling is part of life. But, with the proper mindset and tools, these obstacles can be overcome. What is your proudest moment at your current company? My proudest moment is actually going to work every day as a physician. Every day is a proud moment for me. When I think back to my childhood, I was always terrified to speak to anyone I didn’t know. Terrified they would see me stammer. I never thought in a million years I’d ever accomplish what I have accomplished. What are your long-term career aspirations? I want to be known for my rehabilitation skills. I want to be able to teach at local colleges and teach at seminars around the country. I’ve already done some speaking to students teaching them about differing rehabilitation strategies. 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 be afraid. You can and will accomplish great things. Some days are going to be harder than others. You’re going to get frustrated and that’s ok. You will get through it. You will succeed.

Meet Christian Ting, a valued member of the National Stuttering Association team. Learn more about their role and contributions. Christian Ting Marketing Coordinator Christian Ting is the Marketing Coordinator for the National Stuttering Association, a position he has held since 2022. In addition to his efforts expanding NSA’s marketing reach and content, he is also the chapter co-leader of the South Pasadena Chapter. Outside of his work in the NSA, he works as a film and tv producer at Made With Love Media, an LA-based production company. He focuses on telling vibrant, life-affirming and inclusive of the incredible people in the stuttering community who inspire him every day.

Learn how Kylie Pell,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Associate Teacher Kylie Pell Morgantown, WV Associate Teacher Bright Horizons Briefly describe your daily job duties. At my job with Bright Horizons, I work with a variety of different ages from infant to preschool age. My daily tasks include keeping a safe classroom, building relationships with families, transition tracking, conflict resolution with little ones, changing diapers, preparing meals, and more. As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. The most challenging part of my job is probably how my stutter affects my ability to communicate quickly at such a fast-paced job. The children and staff are incredibly understanding regarding my disfluencies though, and I’ve begun to learn that children are some of the most understanding and tolerant people in reference to differences. What are your long-term career aspirations? I am currently a junior at West Virginia University for Speech and Language pathology. I intend to pursue a masters in speech pathology so that I can be a clinician for children like me who have language difficulties. Did you self-disclose your stuttering during the job hiring process? I chose to disclose my stutter because it has become something over the years that I own. Disclosure of my stutter allows a weight to be taken off my shoulders; it allows me to stutter freely without being embarrassed. I find that people also really appreciate the transparency in the professional world. What is your proudest moment at your current company? My proudest moments at my job have been all of the times when I make valuable connections with children and their families. It is so beautiful to feel like such a big part of a child’s early learning. It warms my heart when I get big hugs when the children’s parents arrive to pick them up. Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work. I believe my stutter makes me way more sensitive to differences among my coworkers and families I work with. As someone who felt different for a long time, I make the point to treat everyone the same while recognizing and appreciating unique aspects. What’s your best advice for people who stutter just entering the workplace and for those in a career striving to achieve greater success? Stuttering does not make you incapable of having a professional career. It actually makes you more well equipped because we have had to develop perseverance due to our speech impediment. My biggest piece of advice would be to own your stutter and use it to your advantage. You are a more valuable worker due to your unique qualities.

Learn how Jeff Brown,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Postdoctoral Research Associate Jeff Brown Briefly describe your daily job duties. As a postdoctoral researcher in a neuroscience lab, I lead several experimental and computational projects aimed at better understanding how brain networks organize and tune themselves at the level of individual brain cells during the course of behavior. This sees me spending a good amount of time optically recording from live brains (those of sea slugs in my case!), while taking time to analyze data and write scientific code on my computer. The most rewarding part of my job involves mentoring graduate students, medical students, and undergraduates, however. Before starting my current position, I was honored to have taught and directed a clinical neuroscience course at a large medical school in Illinois for several years. As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. Since being a scientist depends on presenting your work and sharing your knowledge others, I do a fair amount of public speaking in my position; that was the case at a whole other level when I was lecturing to an auditorium full of medical students in my previous position! Sometimes–and particularly if I’m having a dysfluent day–maintaining fluency while speaking can be exhausting, and that fatigue sometimes amplifies the existing dysfluency. No matter what, however, I commit to making sure that I’m always able to say what I need to. What are your long-term career aspirations? Although I’m currently in a research-intensive position, I hope to land a faculty position at a liberal arts college in the next several years, in which I expect to have a small research laboratory of my own but otherwise hope to be able to pour myself into teaching and mentoring, which, as you may have figured out by now, are my foremost passions. If I have the opportunity to author a few books in the process, all the better! Did you self-disclose your stuttering during the job hiring process? After many years of being terrified about self-disclosing, I have become accustomed to speaking openly about my stutter, including with my current employer and colleagues, though I’d be lying if I said I’m ever entirely comfortable doing it. Nonetheless, I find that the less dramatically you self-disclose (e.g., “Oh, by the way, I should mention that I have a stutter, and you might sometimes hear me pause on or prolong certain words.”), the less importance the people to whom you disclose assign to it. Sometimes, people will tell me that they had no idea I stuttered, while others had apparently already realized; some people will follow up with a series of questions or show support, while others barely acknowledge that I’ve mentioned it. Regardless of the response it elicits, self-disclosure is first and foremost for your benefit: that’s a lesson I continue to learn! What is your proudest moment at your current company? Several years ago, I had a medical student in my clinical neuroscience course who consistently performed towards the bottom of my class. Although very bright and industrious, he had a difficult time wrapping his head around the course material, much to his frustration and disappointment. At one point during the semester, I held a learning session on infections of the central nervous system; since this student had a Master’s degree in infectious diseases, I thought this would be a wonderful opportunity for him to shine and hopefully bolster his confidence. After consulting with the student before our learning session, I asked him to share his expertise on a specific topic of relevance during the course of a whole-class discussion: it was so incredibly rewarding to watch him light up as he spoke passionately and authoritatively about this topic. When he was finished, the entire class of 140 students gave him a round of applause. Those are truly the moments you live for as a teacher. Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work. I’d like to think that I’m a better listener and more compassionate person in general as a PWS; it literally gives me pause in my life! At the same time, my stutter and the journey I’ve taken in becoming more comfortable coexisting with it have impressed upon me how liberating it is to be able to speak your mind without hesitation, no matter what your level of fluency in the moment happens to be. While these influences inform my approach to interacting with people in my research, I think my experiences as a PWS has more profoundly shaped my philosophy as a teacher: I strive to go the extra mile in listening to my students and taking the time to understand their learning and personal needs on a one-by-one basis. I try to serve not only as a content expert, but also a source of mentorship, empathy, and general support. I’d also like to think that the degree to which I’m transparent about my stuttering humanizes me, inviting my students to confide in me in return. What’s your best advice for people who stutter just entering the workplace and for those in a career striving to achieve greater success? Never doubt for a moment that you’re fully qualified to be where you are and doing what you’re doing! You have succeeded in spite of your stutter, and you’re a lot more–and have a lot more to say–than whatever words you may repeat, prolong, or block on. Never be ashamed that you stutter, or about anything else over which you lack control. Don’t hesitate to show some vulnerability by self-disclosing: not only can it be personally empowering, but it also stands to strengthen the relationships between you and those with whom you interact in your workplace. Above all, seek our help and mentorship when you need it: as a PWS, you are never alone!