Learn how David Alpuche,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Photographer/Entrepreneur David Alpuche Briefly describe your daily job duties. I own and run two businesses. I have a photography business specializing in weddings, portraits and fine art photography. And two years ago, I launched a line of photography inspired yoga mats, under the brand “Dream Yoga Mats.” As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. The most challenging part of my job was deciding to go for it. I’ve long known that I was a good photographer, but my stutter scared me from having to talk to clients, having to introduce myself over and over and again, and having to run a business by myself. I didn’t think clients would be comfortable talking to me or that they would take me seriously. It took me years of worrying about it to understand that as a photographer I have the luxury of my work doing the talking for me, and while interviews and first impressions are important, at the end of the day if my work is good (and it is) I shouldn’t worry that much. I still struggle during client interviews, but I am more comfortable now than I was when I started. As far as the yoga mat business, I didn’t have the hesitation I had with the photography, but I also didn’t consider how much talking would be involved in trying to sell a product to a mass market. I still struggle and I don’t think I’m the best salesman, but I still put myself out there. I have auditioned twice for Shark Tank with my Dream Yoga Mats and even though I haven’t been selected yet, I was proud of both my auditions. Do you self-disclose your stuttering to unsuspecting clients? My stutter is so severe that I really have no choice when it comes to talking about it. I have found out that bringing it up immediately when I talk to clients works best, because that way they don’t worry about what is going on and I allow them to focus on my work. I have become so good at it that I have an arsenal of jokes or stories to tell when I disclose, and I can immediately see how the clients feel more comfortable after. They get where I’m coming from and that creates a connection right away. Plus, I think stuttering makes me memorable and that is an asset when it comes to competing for clients. Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work. I firmly believe that the reason I am a good photographer is directly related to stuttering. Ever since I was a kid, I was very good at visual arts, first with drawing, then painting and eventually leading me to photography. Communicating visually allowed me to tell stories without words, learning how to transmit emotions and use color to say exactly what I wanted to say. Stuttering also taught me to be patient, and with photography sometimes you need a lot of patience to capture exactly the moment you want. What is your proudest moment so far in your career? Creating a line of yoga mats made me extremely proud as it was the first time I went from an idea to prototyping to making my product real. I had zero experience in this kind of business but after a few google searches, tons of patience, lots of mistakes, and a lot of friendly support, I got it started. The business is still in its infancy, but I am very proud of the road traveled so far. Having the courage to audition for Shark Tank twice was also a proud moment because it forced me to become a salesman in front of an audience, and while I think it could’ve gone way better, just being there was enough of a confidence boost (and success) in my eyes. Maybe the third time will be the charm.

Learn how Conor Quinn,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Commissioner & Restaurant Owner Conor Quinn Briefly describe your daily job duties. As a commissioner in my community I talk with constituents every day and deal with their concerns. Commissioners run the government in the township, pass budgets, ordinances, and serve as the voice for the constituents. My other job is as a restaurant owner in my township. I help manage the daily operations of the restaurant and deliver the best possible service and food we can. As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. As a stutterer, the most challenging part of being a commissioner and restaurant owner is speaking in public. But I’ve not let that hold me back in speaking up. 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, when I ran for Commissioner I’d speak to residents and if I stuttered, then I would let them know that I stutter. Everyone from the residents to my fellow commissioners are very understanding and respectful. That also goes for my job as a restaurant owner. Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work. It shows you’re not afraid of being you. What is your proudest moment at your current company? My proudest moment was when I won my election. I live in the greatest community and being able to give back is what I enjoy. What are your long-term career aspirations? My long-term plan is to best represent the people in my community. Maybe I’ll run for higher office because public service is important to me. I will continue to work at the restaurant and who knows, maybe I’ll own other restaurants too. You never know what life holds. 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 shy away from speaking. Embrace it. If you stutter let people know, you’ll find out people are very understanding. Don’t be ashamed.

Find stuttering resources and programs for teens. Join a supportive community designed to empower young people. Connect, Support, and Thrive The teenage years can be an exciting and challenging stage of life – new schools, new freedoms, and new challenges, including those with your speech. Many teens who stutter may feel like they are the alone, like they are the only one who understands how they feel. Am I Alone? As a teen who stutters, you may experience daily challenges and difficulties that your peers do not. You may face ridicule by classmates. You may experience anxiety in social situations such as dating, but with the added worry of “Will he/she not like me because of my stutter?” You may feel nervous in class wondering if today is the day the teacher will call on you to participate. You may wonder if you are alone. You’re in the right place to connect with other teens who have been through some of the same experiments, struggles, and triumphs, and know exactly how you feel! NSA Teens understand the specific challenges and difficulties that you may be experiencing, and they are here to support you and help you to navigate through them successfully. Stuttering is a part of you, but it does not – and will never – define you. YOU ARE NOT ALONE! The NSA is Here to Help! We offer a variety of ways to connect with other teens who stutter, both online and in person. FIND YOUR LOCAL CHAPTER NSA TEENS INSTAGRAM NSA TEENS FACEBOOK GROUP TEEN ADVISORY COUNCIL UPCOMING NSA EVENTS Junior Chapter Leaders This specialized position is open to teens (ages 13-17) who want to become more involved in their chapter meetings, working with existing Chapter Leaders in the planning and execution of chapter meetings, and who can serve as a role model for their peers and/or the younger children in their chapter. This is an opportunity for teens to become more engaged within the NSA, learn leadership skills, and express themselves creatively, with the opportunity to continue on as Chapter Leaders when you ‘age out’ of your NSA Teen or Family Chapter. Junior Chapter Leaders will still need their parent or guardian to attend all meetings with them, and the Chapter Leader must be there for the entirety of the meetings as well. Interested? Apply today! Learn More About Stuttering Stuttering Explained Causes of Stuttering Treatment for Stuttering Facts about Stuttering Myths about Stuttering Famous People Who Stutter Educating your Classmates Find a Speech Therapist

< Back Previous Dr. Saundra Russell-Smith Presenter Dr. Saundra Russell-Smith is an award-winning educator, speaker, and leadership strategist with over 30 years of experience as a counselor, teacher, principal, and district administrator. She is the founder of Limitless Leaders LLC, a leadership development company that empowers individuals to turn perceived limitations into leadership strengths through coaching, workshops, and her signature L.E.A.D.E.R. Framework. As the author of “Limitless Leaders: Leading Beyond Your Disability,” Dr. Russell-Smith inspires others to lead with authenticity, purpose, and confidence. Next

Learn how David Haas,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Executive Director David Haas Briefly describe your daily job duties. I run a nonprofit called Sarah’s Guest House. We are a healthcare hospitality home that provides lodging, transportation, meals and comfort to patients and families of patients receiving medical care in Central New York. I oversee all operations including directing staff and leading our organization. This includes developing and furthering community relationships, fundraising, managing house operations and developing and administering a budget. As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. I am constantly challenged in my job when speaking. Each day, I must communicate with my staff, our volunteers, and the 1,000+ guests who stay at our house annually. Not to mention our partners, donors, and supporters. I often speak in the community about our organization. This requires me to present at local hospitals, churches, events, and anytime outreach is needed. At times I am only given a few minutes to tell someone or a group of people about our organization and I must make sure I am using my time wisely and articulating our mission properly. Did you self-disclose your stuttering during the job hiring process? If so, how did you do it and how do you currently disclose your stuttering to unsuspecting co-workers, clients and or customers? I did self-disclose. My resume noted that I am the leader of the Syracuse chapter of the National Stuttering Association, and I spoke about it during my interviews. I knew the job would require the Executive Director to be the face of the organization and be comfortable speaking in front of large groups of individuals on behalf of Sarah’s Guest House. I described my plethora of experience speaking to local audiences about stuttering including giving a TEDx Talk in 2014. I don’t always disclose my fluency disorder to everyone I speak with. It depends on my day and the situation. If I feel an additional amount of pressure (on top of the usual everyday pressure), I may say that I a person who stutters, “please be patient as I articulate my message.” This is especially true if it’s an important meeting and I’m asking someone to make a donation or pledge to Sarah’s Guest House and I want their full attention. I almost always mention my stuttering when presenting in the community or speaking at an event. I believe this helps put both my audience and myself at ease so they are not wondering why I might be struggling to communicate in a way they might be used to hearing. This also offers me an opportunity to educate the public in regards to stuttering, which I believe I am called to do. Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work. The guests who stay at Sarah’s Guest House are typically going through one of the most difficult situations in their life when they decide to stay with us. It is of dire importance that we as staff and volunteers are able to show an ability to understand and share the feelings of another – to be empathic. I believe that there is no group of people more empathic than individuals who stutter. I also believe that in a fast-paced, perfection seeking world, being the leader of an organization as a person who stutters allows me to flip the script. My staff, volunteers, board members, and those around me know that I am not seeking perfection, but rather a commitment to do the best we can in a manner that shows respect for our duties and those we are serving. What is your proudest moment at your current company? This past year was one of the hardest in my career. Leading a healthcare organization during the middle of a pandemic was very stressful. Our largest fundraising event had to be cancelled and we had to pivot plans to raise enough funds to continue operating the house. This led us to holding several smaller virtual fundraisers during 2020 including a one-week digital campaign we called ‘Fund the House.’ This unique campaign raised over $30,000 in one week utilizing only social media. Our campaign was nominated and selected as the Central New York Business Journal’s NONPROFIT AWARDS Outstanding Fundraising Event of 2020 with the award criteria being “running an innovative and unique event which engaged donors, board members, volunteers and staff to further the organization’s mission.” What are your long-term career aspirations? I am in the career I feel I was called to be in. I have always known I have wanted to give back to the public and my community. I hope to be blessed enough to do so for many more years. What’s your best advice for people who stutter just entering the workplace and for those in a career striving to achieve greater success? It’s interesting, when I was younger and even into my early 20s, I never talked about stuttering. It wasn’t until I was introduced to the National Stuttering Association while in graduate school that I felt I needed to be more open with myself and others. I decided I wasn’t going to let my stutter control me any longer. My life took a 180-degree turn and I began down a path that led me to being able to use my voice to advocate for others. I know everyone who stutters, stutters differently, and has a different story. But I would encourage you to never sell yourself short. Always advocate for yourself and be open with those around you. You are the next leader and you have an opportunity to educate others – go for it!

Discover a volunteer opportunity with NSA and help people who stutter feel supported. Join Our Team At the National Stuttering Association, leadership is rooted in service, collaboration, and community impact. Our work is guided by people who believe deeply in advocacy, inclusion, and creating spaces where people who stutter are heard and supported. Why Join the NSA? We’re more than an organization. We’re a community. A place where people who stutter—and those who support them—can show up fully, speak freely, and never feel alone. Community First We listen to and learn from the lived experiences of people who stutter. That’s where everything begins. Inclusive Leadership We believe leadership should reflect the diversity of our community. Every voice matters here. Mission-Driven Our work is about real impact—supporting individuals, strengthening communities, and changing how the world understands stuttering. Always Evolving We’re open to new ideas, new perspectives, and better ways to serve our community. Vice Chair (Volunteer Board Position) This is a volunteer Board leadership role, not a paid position. Learn More Apply Now Your perspective matters, and your voice can make a real difference in helping people feel less alone. Volunteer: Share Your Voice, Make an Impact You don’t need a title to make a difference. If you care about storytelling, education, or creating content that helps others feel seen—you can play a powerful role in our community. Ways you can contribute: Content Creation Write blogs, articles, or resources that educate and support Storytelling Help share real experiences from people who stutter Social Media Create content that reaches and connects with more people Research & Education Help build accessible, meaningful resources for different audiences Your voice matters. And for someone out there, it could be the reason they feel less alone. Get Involved as a Volunteer

Learn how Steven Dunn,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Trial Lawyer Steven Dunn Dallas, TX Trial Lawyer Dunn Law Firm Briefly describe your daily job duties. Daily job duties include helping people who are disadvantaged due to mental health challenges, specifically eating disorders. As a trial lawyer, I help them seek justice, health care, and support in a loving and caring environment. As a father whose daughter was taken from him by anorexia, I know the pain caused by the loss of a loved one, and fight daily for the mental health of others. As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. During trial I explain to the jury, “You may have noticed that I stutter. If that would be a problem for you to see my client objectively, let me know and we can talk to the judge about this”. What are your long-term career aspirations? Continuing to help others with their challenges! Did you self-disclose your stuttering during the job hiring process? As someone who is self-employed, the hiring process is not exactly applicable. However, I am very upfront talking with clients, new friends, and acquaintances about this. What is your proudest moment at your current company? Helping others to recover from eating disorders. 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 resilient!

Learn how Craig Cieslik,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Health and History Teacher Craig Cieslik Briefly describe your daily job duties. Teaching Health and History to high school students. This is my 25th year! As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. I explain to the students on day one that I’m a lifelong stutterer and we all struggle with things in life and I’m lucky I stutter. It could have been worse. I also teach students that most people who stutter don’t talk for a living, and I do. That they can also overcome any disability or fear that they have and pursue their dreams like I did. What are your long-term career aspirations? I have been married almost 12 years now, and have a 6 year old son. I have gone from coaching record-setting high school football teams to coaching 5 and 6-year olds in soccer and basketball. It’s been fun, and I joke that it’s not that much different than coaching high school kids! Maybe someday I will coach high school football again. I’ve been blessed beyond my wildest dreams from a young kid who was scared to talk because of my stutter to being able to have my dream job the past 25 years, travel the world with my wife, raise a child, and live in Orange County, California (one of the greatest places in the world!). Did you self-disclose your stuttering during the job hiring process? Yes, I am always upfront about it. I had the privilege to take a course on stuttering with Dr. Sheehan 30 years ago who was a pioneer in the stuttering field. She taught me to always come out and say ‘this is who you are’ to put everybody at ease. That way, people won’t guess or think you are nervous, which could impact your hire. I also joke around a lot about my speech. I will say, ‘I stutter, but I make up for it with good looks!’ What is your proudest moment at your current company? Proudest moment was setting national records as the head coach of the football program. Like with my speech, we were underdogs and we outworked everybody else and did some amazing things. Lots of the records still stand over 10 years later. I’m also proud when students tell me how much they loved my class and how they get used to my stuttering and don’t even see me as a stutterer. I keep students at ease by joking about my speech and saying things like, ‘you can either listen to me stutter, or we can just do the work’. At one time I had to sue my district after some administrative discrimination and mocking due to my speech disability. I stood up for myself as I have always been taught, the judge ruled in my favor, and the district settled the case. Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work. Ever since I was a child I felt I had to always prove myself and work harder then anybody else. By working hard and being good at school and sports I wasn’t judged by how I talked, rather I was judged on my skills. That gave me so much confidence to talk, to ask out a girl, etc., and also helped me to deal with kids who made fun of me or thought I was weird. I got great self esteem from working hard and having great parents and siblings who always encouraged me and didn’t cater to or feel bad for me. My siblings also never made fun of my speech problem which is pretty amazing and cool. What’s your best advice for people who stutter just entering the workplace and for those in a career striving to achieve greater success? You have to be upfront about and proud of your speech difference. I’m glad I stutter. It made me the person I am today, and it has made me popular in ways with people my entire life saying things like, ‘you know, that tall guy who stutters. Oh yes, Craig. That’s his name’. You have to be confident in your abilities. A lot of people may doubt you and even talk down to you, but it’s just a lack of education on their part. Be a team player and everything else will work itself out.

< Back Previous Molly Porzel Presenter 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! Next