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< Back Cameron Joyce – Embracing Authenticity and Empowering Others When Cameron Joyce joined the National Stuttering Association four years ago, he was looking for something he had never experienced before: a sense of community among people who truly understood him. “Before joining, I had never met anyone else with a similar experience. I wanted to build meaningful relationships, learn from others, and feel less alone in my journey.” Today, Cameron is a key leader on the Young Adult Committee, helping to guide workshops and year-round sessions that support people in their 20s and 30s as they navigate careers, relationships, and communication with confidence. “The NSA showed me I can achieve my goals with, not despite, my stutter.” Cameron’s journey of embracing his stutter openly—especially in industries like consulting and banking, where polished speech is often expected—has been a deeply personal and powerful one. He shares that being authentic about his stuttering has not only helped him grow, but has also allowed him to support others walking a similar path. “Being authentic about my challenges has allowed me to grow personally and professionally, and it’s given me the opportunity to support and encourage others who might face similar struggles.” His door is always open—literally. “If you're a person who stutters and ever want to talk, my phone is always open to you. If I don't answer immediately, I'm either asleep or no longer on this earth!” His advice to newcomers is simple: ”Reach out. Say ‘Hey.’ It might sound cliché, but the NSA really is a family that supports each other.” Get to know Cameron: Favorite ice cream: Mint Chocolate Nature preference: Mountains Rewatch pick: The West Wing Karaoke jam: “Ordinary Girl” by Hannah Montana Dream pet: A house full of sugar gliders Fun fact: Born on Leap Day! Dream destination: Geneva Cameron’s story is one of growth through vulnerability, strength through community, and empowerment through self-acceptance. The NSA is lucky to have him, and young adults in our community are stronger because of his voice. Thank you, Cameron! Previous Next

Learn how Nina Zito,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Elementary School Teacher Nina Zito Briefly describe your daily job duties. As an elementary public school teacher, I plan and execute lessons for my students in word work, reading, writing, math, science, social studies and social emotional learning. I interact with my colleagues and the parents of my students on a daily basis. As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. The most challenging part of my job is never knowing how my stutter will be that day. There are many activities I am required to do such as Parent Teacher Communication, Observations and Read Alouds that I have to do, even when speaking is difficult. 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, I disclosed my stuttering right away and it was very well received by my administration and colleagues. Every May for Stuttering Awareness Week, I have a table in the main lobby with information and giveaways (thanks NSA) to educate others on stuttering and what exactly it entails because quite honestly, most people just don’t know! Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work. Stuttering definitely makes me more understanding and a better listener and educator because I know what it’s like to have a struggle and overcome that struggle, whether it is “seen” or “unseen.” What is your proudest moment at your current company? My proudest moment right now is of my students who are doing a wonderful job at remote learning. What are your long-term career aspirations? I would love to continue to teach and educate students and their parents and if some education about stuttering is included, that would be wonderful. What’s your best advice for people who stutter just entering the workplace and for those in a career striving to achieve greater success? Days might be challenging and speaking might be hard but you are your biggest advocate. Advertising my stutter always worked well for me and I hope it does for you too. We are all in this together and you most definitely should not give up on your dreams because you are not alone in this!

Learn how Leigh Gaston,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Assistant Editor Leigh Gaston Los Angeles, CA Assistant Editor Paramount Pictures Briefly describe your daily job duties. I am currently working on a new production of The Spiderwick Chronicles that will be airing on Disney+. I handle and organize all the dailies from production. I am responsible for the sound design of the episode and I also cut scenes. Once each episode is locked, I prep everything so it can be finished and ready for air. As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. Communication between departments and staff is very important. I work closely with the Director, Showrunner, and other Executive Producers. Being able to express artistic concepts and execute them requires me to talk often and maintain professionalism. What are your long-term career aspirations? I am working towards becoming an Editor full time and my ultimate goal is to Direct. When I was younger and stuttered so much, I never thought I would actually get this close to directing and it seemed foolish to even think about holding a position of such authority where you had to talk so much. Did you self-disclose your stuttering during the job hiring process? I have not talked to anyone here about my stuttering. Usually in my life, if the subject ever comes up I don’t shy away from being open about it. I just haven’t felt the need to explain myself yet and I just go with the flow of my speech, whatever it may be on that given day. Everyone has unique aspects about themselves that I don’t believe need to be explained before you get to know them on a personal level. What is your proudest moment at your current company? This is the first show I have worked on within my favorite genre (Science Fiction/Fantasy), and when the team is receptive to my creativity that gives me great happiness! Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work. The experience I have had with stuttering over the course of my life has made me very resilient, and that resilience helps when the workload is heavy and the workday goes long. I think stuttering also makes me very empathetic, which helps in this line of work. Being able to imagine what will make the audience feel a certain way is very important. 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 may seem impossible to imagine sometimes, but if you pursue your passions and take it one day at a time there’s no reason you can’t achieve your goals in life and in your career. I didn’t know how I would even get to where I am today but I trusted that if I worked hard, stayed patient, and remained positive that things would most likely unfold in the way they I hoped. Be brave!

Learn how Jake Kail,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Field Project Manager Jake Kail Briefly describe your daily job duties. As a Field Project Manager for NetApp Professional Services, I’m responsible for managing the delivery of service implementation projects for our Commercial, Enterprise, and Global customers in the world of hybrid cloud data services. I develop plans around service delivery, build technical teams, and take a consultative approach to align with customer expectations and ultimately get the job done. I also served as a Field Artillery Officer in the United States Army from 2015-2019 before joining NetApp. As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. Translating my thoughts into coherent sentences can be challenging. I have a stutter that often prevents me from getting past an initial letter of a word. I often try to restart my thought, or simply avoid the word all together and find a suitable substitute. As someone who gets in front of customers on a daily basis, getting the right point across is paramount so this causes me anxiety on a daily basis. When I have my bad days, I sometimes avoid talking when not completely necessary and this has caused me to shy away from reiterating key points that get glossed over. 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. I was wrongly conditioned at a young age to try my best to hide my stutter. As I’ve grown in the past few years, I’ve realized the value of disclosure and how much of a weight it can lift. I’ve been very lucky to have an employer that looks past my stutter and sees my value as an asset to the team. Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work. Stuttering has allowed me to have a high level of emotional intelligence. Building relationships, speaking honestly, and being personable are all skills I have thanks to my stutter. I often try to highlight who I am behind my speech difference and that vulnerability speaks volumes when building and leading teams. What is your proudest moment at your current company? My proudest moment at NetApp was actually in the first three months of working. I was fresh out of the military and I was learning how to work in a very different environment. During our introductory presentations I was very relaxed and had no trouble delivering the message. A week later, I gave my second presentation and could barely get a word out. Many co-workers did not know about my stutter and their concern for my well-being made it worse. A few weeks later I had an executive briefing and I prepared for days. This presentation went very well, and I was praised by leaders across the organization for my preparedness and resilience. What are your long-term career aspirations? I want to be an expert in my craft and an honest leader of people. Leading people has been a lifelong passion of mine and I want to continue developing that skill set. Regardless of the industry, people deserve leaders that listen and support their goals. I want to be that leader. What’s your best advice for people who stutter just entering the workplace and for those in a career striving to achieve greater success? Don’t let fear overcome your potential. It took me 4 years of being in the workforce to realize that people generally don’t care as much as you think they do. If you are honest about your stutter, explain that it does not impact your value and ability to achieve results, people will respect you and work with you to help you grow. If they do not, they are not worth your time, plain and simple. Surround yourself with supportive people and seek out employers that embody that mindset.

< Back Older Adults Committee Spotlight: Jim McClure – A Legacy of Leadership and Lifelong Advocacy Few people have impacted the NSA quite like Jim McClure has. With 41 years of unwavering involvement, Jim has become a cornerstone of the NSA and a national voice for people who stutter. His story began in Chicago, where he helped organize a self-help group that eventually affiliated with the NSA (then the NSP). His dedication to community, advocacy, and awareness grew from there. “I’ve made a second—or maybe third—career out of stuttering advocacy,” Jim says with pride. Over the years, he has used his expertise to serve the NSA, the Stuttering Specialty Board, and ASHA’s Certification Council, pushing for greater representation, understanding, and professional accountability for people who stutter. One of Jim’s most notable contributions was organizing a publicity campaign around the release of The King’s Speech. His work significantly boosted the NSA’s visibility and sparked national conversations about stuttering, identity, and support. “Learning to take risks with my speech helped my career, and using my professional skills to help the NSA has been a source of satisfaction.” Today, Jim continues his leadership as a member of the Older Adults Committee, helping offer mentorship and a mature perspective to our growing group of members aged 50 and older. His advice to those new to the NSA? “Use the opportunity of conferences and chapter meetings to venture into uncomfortable speaking situations and master them.” Get to know Jim: Favorite ice cream: Chocolate swirl Nature pick: Desert Favorite film to rewatch: Master and Commander Pet status: Emotional support human to a cat Fun fact: Jim spent 25 years serving in the U.S. Navy Jim’s contributions to the stuttering community span decades, platforms, and lives. Thank you, Jim, for your lifetime of leadership, compassion, and bold dedication to the NSA! Previous Next

Meet Ben North, a valued member of the National Stuttering Association team. Learn more about their role and contributions. Ben North Young Adult Committee Leader Ben lives in Washington D.C. and is an attorney at the Binnall Law Group, a constitutional law and civil rights law firm. He litigates civil rights and constitutional law cases before courts and administrative agencies, and at educational institutions, advocating for the right of all people to be treated fairly and equally before the law. Ben’s first NSA conference was in 2008, he served on the Teen Advisory Council (TAC) from 2011-2016, and was TAC Chair from 2013-2016. He is excited to serve the NSA again as chair of the Young Adults Committee.

< Back Supporter Spotlight: Ariel Sonn – From Silence to Strength When Ariel Sonn first joined the National Stuttering Association in 2017, it was during a pivotal season: her final year of college. After years of avoiding conversations about stuttering, she reached a place of acceptance — and longed to connect with others who stuttered too. Her first NSA conference was in Chicago in 2018, and it sealed the deal: Ariel was hooked. They found a community full of pride, honesty, and joy — and it changed everything. “I heard about the NSA from Vivian Sisskin. When I finally got to a place of acceptance in my stuttering journey, I decided that I wanted to meet more people with whom I could form close connections. For the longest time, I hated talking about stuttering. I couldn't even watch someone on TV stutter because it made me feel so ashamed. But then I realized the beauty and happiness of immersing yourself in a community of people who stutter and have no shame.” What followed was a complete transformation in Ariel’s relationship with stuttering. What once caused shame and silence now became a powerful part of her identity — one they proudly share. “I have moments of struggle almost every day, but the hold those moments have on me is nearly diminished.” These days, Ariel is the person her friends and family turn to for education and insight on stuttering. They’ve helped shape more inclusive, empathetic conversations — and they’re proud of it. My friends and family all support me and have shared moments where they have learned how to be better allies to other people who stutter that they've encountered in their lives. Those moments make me so proud.” Ariel’s advice to new NSA members? “Embrace everything. Have an open mind and open arms.” Get to know Ariel: Favorite ice cream: Cookies and cream Nature pick: Beach Favorite show: Gossip Girl Karaoke jam: Pink Pony Club Pets: None (yet!) Tattoo: A sparrow on her wrist to represent Jack Sparrow and the spirit of adventure 🇮🇹 Dream trip: Italy’s coastline From hiding her stutter to celebrating it as a gift, Ariel has become a beacon for others on their journeys. And through it all, the NSA community is better for having them in it. Ariel — thank you for your light, your voice, and your fierce support! Previous Next

< Back Seven Cats, One Bold Voice: Caitney File’s NSA Story If you’ve ever wondered what bravery looks like, try picturing a left-handed teen with seven cats, a killer karaoke ballad, and a brand-new outlook on stuttering. That’s Caitney File. Caitney joined the NSA in July 2024 and she’s hit the ground running. After attending the NSA Conference that summer (just an hour and a half from home), she walked away with more than some awesome NSA merch. She left with a new understanding of herself. “I learned that I had been a covert stutterer,” she says. “Since learning that, I have tried to stutter freely. I do my best to say what I want, even if it will make me stutter. Although, becoming an overt stutterer is a continuous process, and I still struggle with it at times.” That commitment to growth, to authenticity, and to showing up even when it’s hard is something Caitney’s proud of. And she should be. She recently took a college speech class, even though public speaking has always been the thing she avoided most. “Throughout middle and high school, I stayed in the lines of my 504 plan. However, I wanted to challenge myself since I will attend college in the fall. So far, I have presented three speeches varying from two to seven minutes!” Caitney’s already giving back in big ways. She’s a member of the Teen Advisory Council (TAC) and serves as the Member Outreach Coordinator for Sisters Who Stutter (SWS), where she connects with other girls across the country and keeping the spirit of community going all year long! Her advice to newcomers? Get involved. “Get involved - whether in person or virtually! Go to the NSA's website to see what chapter meetings are in your area and what Zoom groups the NSA offers.” When she’s not doing all that, you’ll find her soaking up beach vibes, rewatching New Girl, jamming to John Mayer’s “Slow Dancing in a Burning Room,” or chilling with one of her seven cats. And someday? You just might find her eating gelato in Italy. Caitney’s story is still unfolding, but it’s already clear that she’s not just finding her voice. She’s owning it. Previous Next

Meet Danielle Werle, a valued member of the National Stuttering Association team. Learn more about their role and contributions. Danielle Werle Research Committee Standing Member Danielle Werle, PhD, CCC-SLP serves as Associate Director of Clinical Research at the Arthur M. Blank Center for Stuttering Education and Research. Her research interests include the cognitive and linguistic contributions to stuttering across languages, mitigation of stereotype threat and stigma for individuals who stutter, and translation of research to evidence-based practice. In addition to research, at the Blank Center Danielle coordinates the clinical programming as well as the training of undergraduate and graduate student clinicians.

Learn how John Moore,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Marketing Consultant & Keynote Speaker John Moore Briefly describe your daily job duties. Following spending a decade as a marketing manager with Starbucks and later as the director of national marketing for Whole Foods Market, I’m now a self-employed marketing consultant. I work with a variety of clients developing ideas for how the business/organization can better design products and programs to make an impact. Interestingly, I routinely give keynote presentations at marketing conferences. As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. Talking on the phone continues to be difficult for me. Anytime I have to call someone out of the blue, I feel all the pressure and anxiety that comes with being a person who stutters. How do you currently disclose your stuttering to co-workers, clients and or customers? As a conference keynote speaker, I always disclose my stuttering at the start of each presentation. I find that letting people know early on that I stutter helps to endear myself to the audience. I also find people pay more attention to my presentation because I must have something important to say otherwise why would I choose to be so vulnerable on stage. Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work. Stuttering has forced me to be a better written communicator. Added to that is a “perfectionist” streak within me that makes me be very detail-oriented. This helps me when writing emails, proposals, presentations and business books. What’s your best advice for people in a career striving to achieve greater success? For people in a career, strive to be the most knowledgeable person in your company about something important. In other words, become a subject matter expert in something. You could be the go-to person for how to use pivot tables in Excel or the person with the most knowledge about a product line your company sells. Co-workers will come to you asking for help and that makes you an indispensable employee who is better positioned for future promotions.

Learn how Zac Rankin,a person who stutters, achieved career success. Get inspired by their journey. Tax Managing Director Zac Rankin Briefly describe your daily job duties. As a Tax Managing Director, I’m in charge of dozens of clients and professional staff. I manage all my client’s projects, ensure client work gets done, call clients to update project status, and field calls from clients about consulting work. In addition to my client work, I also manage our professional staff. This includes checking-in with them on projects, career development discussions, helping employees with technical work or other issues, and occasionally helping with personal issues. As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job. The most challenging part of my job is the constant social interaction. A day does not go by when I’m not spending a large part of my day speaking with people. Most of the time the people I speak with already know I stutter. But, I get calls from clients or from new staff who don’t know. I try to disclose, but this doesn’t always happen. It’s very draining day after day to be so conversational even when I don’t want to be – especially when I’m having disfluent days. Did you self-disclose your stuttering during the job hiring process? If so, how did you do it and how do you currently disclose your stuttering to unsuspecting co-workers, clients and or customers? I did not self-disclose during my job interviews. Unfortunately, I was ashamed of my stuttering and it showed. I was turned away from every job interview with public accounting firms. It wasn’t until my last interview, with BDO USA, which I still work for 12 years later, that I owned my speech. I persevered and wasn’t going my stutter hold me back from getting the job I wanted. Today, I make a point of bringing up my stutter during first encounters with people. During interviews for new staff, I open with the same thing, “Hi my name is Zac. First off, I want to let you know that I am a person who stutters. If I say anything you may not clearing hear then please ask me to repeat myself.” Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work. I spend a lot of my time listening. It helps make our professional staff at BDO USA feel valued and listened to, and I’m better equipped to help them by listening more. This helps with clients as well because I can hear what their concerns are and be able to better assist them. What is your proudest moment at your current company? I have two proud moments. First, was giving a two-hour presentation to a client’s Board of Directors. This was the first presentation I gave to such a high-level audience. I practiced for hours the night before and started to psych myself out; but, I did a great job with minimal disruptions. Second, was being nominated to be a Tax Partner in the Anchorage BDO USA office. What are your long-term career aspirations? My ultimate goal is to thrive in the professional world as a person who stutters. When I was interviewing for jobs in public accounting, I was greeted with the typical reaction from firms because of my stutter. I was even told to not pursue public accounting because it requires too much talking. I strive to be an example for people who stutter that there are no limits in any professional and in life. 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 tremendous value. Do not let your stutter limit the greatness you can achieve. Your voice is worth being heard, especially today when “social norms” are being challenged. Own your truth. Speak your truth.

Meet Christine Rose, a valued member of the National Stuttering Association team. Learn more about their role and contributions. Christine Rose Regional Chapter Coordinator - Central South Region Arkansas, lowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas Christine Rose is a Speech-Language Pathologist who works as a graduate clinical instructor at St. Louis University. She is committed to raising awareness of stuttering as a verbal diversity and destigmatizing stuttering in society. Christine co-leads a National Stuttering Association Caregiver virtual support group with Jamie Saunders, MSW, a licensed social worker and a parent of a person who stutters. The group’s mission is to invite parents and caregivers to express their hopes and fears and share the wisdom of their journeys as they support their loved ones who stutter. Christine lives in St. Louis, Missouri, and she enjoys spending time with her children and husband.