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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!

Learn how Rivky Susskind,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Speech Language Pathologist Rivky Susskind Briefly describe your daily job duties. I am a speech and language pathologist. I evaluate and provide intervention for school age children in a special education environment who display challenges in the areas of speech and language. As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. My biggest challenges as a PWS are communicating with parents and faculty in more formal contexts such as an IEP (Individualized Education Program) or parent teacher meetings or collaborative group meetings. I also have difficulty communicating with parents who are resistant to their child being seen by a person who stutters. Also, phone calls can often present a challenge because the listener cannot tell what’s going on with me on the other side of the line, and those silent moments can be all the more awkward. Do you self-disclose your stuttering to unsuspecting co-workers and clients? I often self-disclose that I stutter. I usually wait until a stuttering moment occurs and then say, “… by the way, I have a mild stutter, just letting you know, and actually it’s one of the big factors that got me into this field to begin with.” I then leave an open space for questions and try to convey that I’m comfortable talking about it. Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work. My stutter is part of what makes me a unique, brave, strong individual. In my more confident moments it serves as a strength and part of my “story.” Others around me also know that I am somewhat of an expert on the topic and they will come and ask me questions pertaining to a relative or friend of theirs who stutters. What is your proudest moment at your current company? I was extremely proud of myself when I overcame my fear of tackling parent teacher meetings over the course of my first few months at this school. It was one meeting after the next and quite daunting to keep facing parents and disclosing my stutter over and over in a short period of time. What’s your best advice for people who stutter just entering the workplace and for those in a career striving to achieve greater success? Own who you are and go for what you want. Do not let society’s expectations and “norms” dictate what you can and cannot do. Go for it. Fail. Fail dozens of times and go for it again. Don’t stop pushing until you can say that you are doing what you want in life. It’s okay to not feel okay all the time. We are all human and stuttering can be a crazy uphill climb and struggle. But remember that your dreams and goals are important, and you have the gift of YOU to share with the world.

Learn how Lisa Barone,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Chief Marketing Officer Lisa Barone Briefly describe your daily job duties. I’m responsible for developing integrated marketing strategies for Overit clients and internally for the agency. I focus much of my time on the branding, content marketing, and social media side of things, but work closely with a talented team of colleagues who specialize in areas such as public relations, graphic design, video production, audio, and more. I also have the opportunity to pitch new opportunities to potential clients, which means I get to meet folks very early on in our engagement and be part of the initial impression of Overit. As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. The most difficult part of my job as a person who stutters is often the internal feelings of guilt that I’m not giving an idea or campaign justice when I’m pitching or presenting it. Much about helping a client to feel confident in the capabilities of Overit is in the presentation of it. It can be easy for my fragmented delivery of a concept to put feelings of doubt or lack of confidence where there wouldn’t be otherwise. In many, even most cases, I don’t think it’s an issue but sometimes it can show itself. 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? My stuttering is severe enough that I don’t have to self-disclose. It’s evident immediately. I’ve never felt a need to offer a “disclaimer” and I’ve generally felt that as long as I appear comfortable, the listener (whether an internal colleague or a client) generally feels comfortable as well. I’ve learned the person you are speaking with generally feeds off your confidence and your energy. When I started at Overit, my boss shared a TEDx speech I gave about stuttering with the office and encouraged employees to watch it. By doing that, he did me favor. He paved the way for my coworkers to “find out” about my stuttering on their own. They weren’t caught off-guard (which can be awkward even with the best intentions!). And, they also saw stuttering is not something I shy away from. I’m comfortable with it, so they were given permission to be comfortable about it, too. Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work. Much of the work I do involves voice. It’s about helping brands identify who they are, their point of difference (i.e .what makes them weird and interesting!), and their messaging. I’ve believe strongly that the reason I am able to help brands find their voice is because I’ve spent my entire life fighting for mine. That fight has underscored its importance. I understand voice and the ability to find people who are “weird” in the same way you are differently than someone who doesn’t have the same speech issues. Early in my career, I found it very difficult to find employment, just as it can be for anyone who stutters. That left a strong imprint on me to prove my value and prove my worth. It gave me an incredible work ethic that helped me to stand out and to propel me when I was starting out and it’s something that I’ve kept. What is your proudest moment at your current company? Building my team is my proudest moment. When I started at Overit eight years ago, the agency didn’t have a content marketing or a brand team. They created engaging content and excellent videos, but it was part of other services. When I joined Overit, it was an impetus for them to change how they approached creating content and videos. I now manage a team of writers, brand builders and social media experts. Together, we create great campaigns for clients, while also defining and strengthening their brand. Having been with Overit for several years now, I’ve experienced ebbs and flows with the business, and the company has been there for me, as well. I feel proud to have found Overit. What are your long-term career aspirations? I want to keep doing what I’m doing and building great brands for clients I believe in. What’s your best advice for people who stutter just entering the workplace and for those in a career striving to achieve greater success? When you’re just entering the workplace, your energy should be spent focusing on your craft. It’s natural to be self-conscious of your speech but the more comfortable you are with it, the more comfortable others will be. And it’s probably given you a bunch of other great assets. It’s given you empathy and compassion and helped you to see things differently than your non-stuttering colleagues. There are benefits from people a person who stutters in the workplace and workplaces need us.

Learn how Wesley Freeman,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Cost Modeling Manufacturing Engineer Wesley Freeman Briefly describe your daily job duties. I create financial cost delta analysis for jet engine manufacturing processes and engine component changes. As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. The most challenging part of my job as a stutterer would be presenting to upper management, and their partners. It brings a very high stress environment when you have to be precise and diligent in communicating jet engine manufacturing process and component changes, as well as financial data. There’s certain vocabulary that may be unavoidable that I know are problem areas when talking. What are your long-term career aspirations? I’d love to be a motivational speaker, and an advocate for unique individuals like myself. Did you self-disclose your stuttering during the job hiring process? Yes! I always introduce myself and let people know that I stutter! I love that it gives me a chance to get the “pink elephant in the room” out of the way, and gives me a chance to educate people in what stuttering is if they’ve never came in contact with a stutterer. It is always well received, and sparks my confidence in every group I work with. What is your proudest moment at your current company? My proudest moment at my current company is when I switched from an on-site engineering role to off-site role. All of the shop floor workers expressed how I touched their lives or made their day better by my daily plant walk arounds just to say “good morning” and stopping to get to know them as people not just workers. I was able to make an impact on someoneelses life by putting myself outside of my comfort zone everyday! Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work. My stutter has made me a more valued contributor at work because I’m more likely to put myself into awkward speaking situations; whether it’s reaching out to a team member that I’ve never talked to before or always checking in on people. It has opened the door to people being able to come to me for anything they need without hesitation and that has had a team building effect. 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 be afraid to let your stutter show! Your authentic self will captivate and open up the hearts and minds of many that you come in contact with!

Learn how Jeff Fett,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Marketing Director Jeff Fett Briefly describe your daily job duties. As the Marketing Director, I oversee a department of seven marketing professionals. It’s my job to oversee the execution of all of the company’s marketing efforts including: Print Collateral, Social Media Posts, Digital and Print Ad Campaigns, Internal Communications, as well as Brand Development/Management to name a few. My first big project in my new position is to develop a new corporate website. That should launch after the first of the year. As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. The most challenging part of my job has been proving that I am capable. In college, I was told by a Graphic Design professor, “Please change your major. No one will ever take you seriously or hire you.” At my one-year evaluation of my first professional job I was told, “You may have noticed that we haven’t let you go out and meet the clients. That’s because we consider you to be disabled and we feel you will embarrass the clients.” After working as the Creative Director for 10 years at my previous job, I was promoted to Marketing Department Manager. Six weeks after the promotion, I was told there was going to be a “restructuring.” They wanted me to go back to being the Creative Director again and someone new was going to brought in at a higher level to oversee Marketing and other company efforts. The reason they gave me was: “We feel you don’t have the voice for the job.” So, they took away the promotion based solely on the fact that I stuttered. In April of 2013, I was hired in as the Marketing Manager at America’s Preferred Home Warranty (APHW). I was brought in to start up and build APHW’s Marketing Department. When they APHW hired a CEO a few months later, I was told he would eventually look to bring in a Chief Marketing Office (CMO) to oversee all of Marketing. His background was Fortune 500 companies, mine was small businesses. This past year he finally acted on looking for his CMO. The candidates he interviewed didn’t pan out. I was told that I wasn’t qualified for the position, so I didn’t seek it out. Following those interviews, they realized it would take two years for a CMO to become effective and in the meantime, they would also bog our processes down with a lot of questions. That opened the door for my recent promotion to Marketing Director. When the promotion offer was made, which was a total surprise, I was told they wouldn’t take “no” for an answer. I have also been told that after I go through a period of training, I will eventually become the Chief Marketing Officer. I have now achieved what many had told me could never be accomplished because I am a person who stutters. Did you self-disclose your stuttering during the job hiring process? Yes, I did disclose my stuttering during the job interview. My stutter during the interview actually became an asset. At what I would consider to be the halfway point of most interviews, the company president stopped the interview. He said, “I’ve heard enough. I can see from the way you handle your stuttering, that you are a fighter. I sense that if you don’t know the answer to a problem, you will go to great lengths to find the solution and solve it. I’m not going to interview another person for this job, you are my person. And I promise you the stuttering will never be a problem.” To date, the promise has been kept. Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work. During my interviews, I have always described my stuttering as an asset. I mention that people who stutter are natural listeners. When you are interviewing a client during the development process for a marketing project, if you are doing all of the talking, you are not listening to what the client is saying. I also mention that when I block, I’m usually really fighting to say something that I feel is important. That has taught me to listen to the inflections in a client’s voice. From my stuttering behaviors, I have learned to listen for the words/phrases a client emphasizes when speaking and the words/phrases or thoughts a client repeats. These are the cues that I focus on when developing a project. I have found that they provide me the key to developing the “true flavor” that my client is seeking. What is your proudest moment at your current company? My proudest moment came two years ago. APHW, when I was hired, was housed in a small 4,400-sq. ft. building and doing business in only five states. Two years ago, we moved into a 27,000-sq. ft. building. The morning of the Grand Opening for our new corporate office, I was standing alone with the APHW President in the middle of the office. We were looking around and realizing just what we had accomplished in four short years. The new office interior is a direct reflection of the branding look and feel that I had developed for APHW. At that moment, it really hit me, I had totally rebranded a company and been successful with it. That is a graphic designer’s dream. It proved that all of those who said I couldn’t do it, were wrong. Currently we are doing business in 49 states, soon to be all 50. What are your long-term career aspirations? My long-term aspirations are to be the best CMO I can be and retire from APHW in about 10 years. What’s your best advice for people who stutter striving to achieve greater career success? My first piece of advice is to surround yourself with a good circle of close friends. My job at APHW came from a reference from the printer I worked with at my previous job. They just happened to be the main printer for APHW as well. They knew of my frustration at my previous job, with the promotion being removed. So, when the APHW President was in their shop talking about his need to have someone come in and build a Marketing Department for him, they hooked me up for interview. My second piece of advice is to always give your employer “results they can’t argue with.” That was how I overcame my CEO’s objection to my background only being in small businesses. Having the CMO candidates not pan out, made him take a closer look at the results I had achieved. That was why when the offer was made, I was told, “We won’t take ‘no’ for an answer.” Your stuttering will always create doubts and roadblocks in employer’s minds, but if you continuously achieve excellent results, that will be your key to unlocking the doors for future opportunities.

Meet Tanya Banks, a valued member of the National Stuttering Association team. Learn more about their role and contributions. Tanya Banks Adult Programs Chair (NSA Board of Directors) Tanya serves as the Regional Chapter Coordinator for the Central North and Northeast Regions. Central North: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Minnesota, Wisconsin Northeast: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont Tanya Banks has been an active member of the NSA since 1998. She is the Chapter Leader of Detroit/Royal Oak and Regional Chapter Coordinator for the Central North region. She is also the Adult Programs Chair on the Board of Directors. She was recognized as NSA Chapter Leader of the Year in 2013. Her chapter was recognized as Chapter of the Year in 2023, and she was also recognized as Regional Chapter Coordinator of the Year in 2023. She has worked as a customer service representative for 22 years and credits finding her voice to the NSA. She is an avid angel collector, enjoys inspirational music and old comedy shows. Term began June 2024

Meet Patrice Nolan-Fox, a valued member of the National Stuttering Association team. Learn more about their role and contributions. Patrice Nolan-Fox Seasoned Voices Committee Patrice Nolan-Fox is a person who stutters with a deep understanding of covert stuttering. Over the course of her remarkable 44-year career as a speech and language pathologist, Patrice made significant contributions to her field, combining her professional expertise with her personal experiences to help others overcome obstacles and find their voices. Originally from Springfield, Massachusetts, Patrice now resides in the scenic town of Bennington, Vermont, where she continues to inspire those around her. Her long career reflects her passion for communication, education, and empowering individuals to reach their full potential. Patrice’s journey is a testament to her resilience and dedication. By navigating her own experiences with covert stuttering, she has developed a unique perspective that has enriched her work and her connection to the stuttering community. Her legacy as both a professional and an advocate continues to resonate with those she has touched throughout her life. Now enjoying her time in Vermont, Patrice’s story serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of perseverance, compassion, and the impact one person can have on countless lives.

Learn how Derek Mitchell,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Senior IT Service Strategy Analyst Derek Mitchell As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. Communication is the most important aspect of my job. Being successful as a business analyst requires understanding business operations and technical processes but also knowing how to communicate that information is most important. At times my stutter makes it difficult to clearly explain processes and concepts to my co-workers whether it’s in a meeting or a one-on-one situation. Did you self-disclose your stuttering during the job hiring process? I disclosed my stutter on the initial phone job interview and during the onsite job interviews with my current company. I made the decision to start disclosing my stutter during interviews six years ago. I realized that when I disclosed, I felt much more comfortable and didn’t have as much anxiety about my speech. This allows me to focus more on selling my experience and skills as opposed to being fluent. When I disclose, I keep it short and simple only telling the interviewer that I have a speech difference and invite them to ask questions about it. I state it as a matter of fact and do not add any extra context if it’s not needed. What is your proudest moment at your current company? During emergencies, my company uses several methods of communicating with their employees. One system that sends out emergency communications began to have issues and caught the attention of the school superintendent. I was asked to analyze the issue and come up with a solution. When I discovered the source of the problem, I then had to present my analysis to the various departments that had been affected. It was difficult, but I was able to present the information clearly and impress my boss. What are your long-term career aspirations? A career as an author and professional speaker are my long-term goals. While writing has always been a big part of my life, speaking is very new to me. Because speaking was always difficult for me, I heavily relied on my writing to communicate in certain situations. As a result, I developed proficiency and passion for writing. Before joining Toastmasters speaking professionally was a least likely profession for me than being an astronaut. After becoming move involved in Toastmasters, I realized that as I was beating my fear of public speaking, I was also developing a love for it. 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 advice is to not let your stutter dictate your career path. Your stutter or level of fluency doesn’t qualify or disqualify you for a certain career path. Focus and double down on the actual skills that will make you successful in your career. There’s nothing wrong with working on your fluency but know that it will not be the determining factor for your success or failure.

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.

Learn how Logan Williamson,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Process Engineer Logan Williamson Briefly describe your job and daily work duties. I am a process engineer at Corning, a Fortune 500 company that specializes in glass and ceramics technology. I currently work in the Pharmaceutical Technologies division, a newer business within Corning that focuses on developing and manufacturing pharmaceutical packaging devices such as vials, syringes and cartridges. My daily responsibilities include monitoring the key process parameters to ensure all quality specifications are met, implementing continuous improvements ideas, owning and updating documentation, troubleshooting equipment, scheduling maintenance, and being the spokesperson for process performance at the daily production meeting. Before becoming a process engineer, I began my career with Corning as a shift supervisor, managing front line operations within the plant. In this role, I directly managed a team of about 20 operators to ensure that daily production targets and quality standards were met. I am also an officer within Corning’s internal Toastmasters club, serving as Vice President of Membership. As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. The most challenging part of my job as a person who stutters is working in an environment known for constant change. Most of the time, I am juggling multiple high-priority tasks at the same time. This can result in me being stressed out as a I try to coordinate activities to various groups of people. When I get stressed, it directly impacts the severity of my stutter, which can result in frustration and loss of focus. I overcome this by trying to focus on prioritizing my tasks so that I do not become overwhelmed. Did you self-disclose your stuttering during the job hiring process? I disclosed my stuttering by talking about my leadership experience as an NSA chapter leader during college. This allowed me to frame my stutter as a strength, rather than a weakness. It also portrayed a sense of personal confidence that I think potential employers will admire from a candidate who stutters. Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work. Being a person who stutters is humbling. I believe the experiences that a person who stutters goes through makes them more empathetic and increases their emotional intelligence and ability to connect with others. This characteristic really helped me when I served as a shift supervisor at Corning. I had a natural sense of understanding for my employees need to be heard and understood. Because of this, all of them respected me and valued my opinion when I had an idea – because they knew I was taking their interest into account when making a decision. What is your proudest moment at your current company? There are two moments that come to mind. The first was when I transitioned out of my shift supervisor role. During my final days as their supervisor, many of my employees came up to me and thanked me for the job I had done. They appreciated the respect that I had for each and every one of them and took the time to wish me the best in my new role as an engineer. The second proud moment came when I was elected as Vice President of Membership of the Toastmasters club at Corning. I had only been a member for about 2 months when I was nominated for the role. During my first speech to the club I talked about the challenges I had overcome in my life, with a specific focus on the challenges of stuttering. In this speech, I believe they saw the emotional connection that I could form with people and had faith that I could transfer this over to forming relationships and interacting with potential new members as an ambassador for the club. 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 turn down opportunities because of your stutter. Confidence only comes by tackling challenges and overcoming adversity. I suffered from low self-confidence while in college because I was always blaming my stutter for my short-comings and missed opportunities. At some point late in college (and after my involvement with the NSA), I decided to step outside of my comfort zone and never let my stutter stop me from doing something I wanted to do again. This was the point at which my life began to change for the better. As I took on more challenges, my confidence blossomed, and I rode this high to take on even tougher challenges. This “challenge — confidence — tougher challenge — more confidence” feedback loop has allowed me to be in the fortunate position I am today. The tough lesson that took me nearly 20 years to learn is you only truly fail when you do not try. Just think – if you try something and it kills you, you won’t have to do it again! (Thanks Eric Mandel for this wonderful motto from the 2019 NSA Annual Conference.)