Each week on this blog I enjoy highlighting some of the cool things my friends do in their personal and professional lives.
The National
Speakers Association
Certifies 51 Speaking Professionals
The National Speakers Association (NSA), the leading organization
for the professional speaking industry, is proud to
announce 51 professional speakers have earned the Certified Speaking
Professional® (CSP) designation in 2015.
And the cool part.... Many of these people are my personal friends!!!
Established
in 1980, the CSP is the speaking profession’s international measure of speaking
experience and skill. Little more than 12 percent of the speakers worldwide
hold this professional designation. I earned this designation in 2014 and am very proud of this achievement.... which makes it more fun to welcome other committed speakers into the club.
The
CSP designation is conferred by NSA on accomplished professional speakers who
have earned it by meeting strict criteria. CSPs must document a proven track
record of continuing speaking experience and expertise, as well as a commitment
to ongoing education, outstanding client service, and ethical behavior. The 2015
class of CSPs was honored during a ceremony on July 18 at the annual NSA
Convention in Washington, D.C.
"The
Certified Speaking Professional® (CSP) is the highest designation that can be
earned by a member of the National Speakers Association or another association
of the Global Speakers Federation,” says 2014-2015 NSA President Shep Hyken,
CSP, CPAE. “CSP is earned as a result of experience, education and competency
in the speaking industry, which also includes input from clients and a CSP
Review Panel process. When clients hire a professional speaker who has
earned the CSP designation, they can be assured the speaker brings to the table
a high level of experience and professionalism.”
Yep, it is a big deal, and it is so cool to honor all the recipients and some of my dear friends on week #133 of "Cool Things My Friends Do".
Introducing the
2015 Class of Certified Speaking Professionals
(my friends are highlighted... but congratulations to all):
Ulrike Aichhorn, CSP, Salzburg, Austria
Diane Amundson, CSP, Winona, Minn.
Paul Burton, CSP, Hood River, Ore.
Christian Chua, CSP, Singapore
Todd Cohen, CSP, Philadelphia, Penn.
Sharon Connolly, CSP, Sydney, Australia
Rick Davis, CSP, Chicago, Ill.
Shirley Davis, CSP, Washington, District of Columbia
Mike Dilbeck, CSP, Fort Worth, Texas
Diane DiResta, CSP, New York, N.Y.
David Dow, CSP, Memphis, Tenn.
Helen Dyrkacz, CSP, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Marcus Engel, CSP, Orlando, Fla.
Candace Fitzpatrick, CSP, Plano, Texas
Jennifer FitzPatrick, CSP, Kent Island, Md.
Anne Guignon, CSP, Houston, Texas
Steven Iwersen, CSP, Lenexa, Kan.
Randy Keirn, CSP, St. Petersburg, Fla.
Shawn Kershaw, CSP, Chalfont, Penn.
Susan Leahy, CSP, Los Angeles, Calif.
Jennifer Ledet, CSP, Thibodaux, La.
James Lindell, CSP, Dousman, Wis.
Steve Lowell, CSP, Ottawa, Canada
Charles “Chip” Lutz, CSP, Sturtevant, Wis.
Wayne Messmer, CSP, Chicago, Ill.
Joseph Michelli, CSP, St. Petersburg, Fla.
Mike Moran, CSP, Ridgewood, N.J.
Paula Morand, CSP, London, Ontario, Canada
Cory Mosley, CSP, Henrico, Va.
Larry Ohlhauser, CSP, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Meredith Oliver, CSP, Raleigh, N.C.
Lethia Owens, CSP, O’Fallon, Mo.
Elaine Pasqua, CSP, Doylestown, Penn.
Eileen Pease, CSP, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Gil Penalosa, CSP, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Kathy Peterson, CSP, Storm Lake, Iowa
Bart Queen, CSP, Oxford, N.C.
Rochelle Rice, CSP, New York, N.Y.
Gary Rifkin, CSP, Dallas, Texas
Rhonda Savage, CSP, Gig Harbor, Wash.
Lauren Schieffer, CSP, Olathe, Kan.
Michael Schmidtmann, CSP, Warrenton, Va.
Robert Siciliano, CSP, Revere, Mass.
Sami Jo Small, CSP, Winnipeg, Canada
Marty Stanley, CSP, Kansas City, Mo.
Barbara Teicher, CSP, Lenexa, Kan.
Jess Todtfeld, CSP, Massapequa, N.Y.
Ricardo Vargas, CSP, Lisbon, Portugal, Spain
Sharon M. Weinstein, CSP, Chicago, Ill.
Lewin Williams, Sr., CSP, Las Vegas, Nev.
Dirk Zeller, CSP, Bend, Ore.
Have A Great Day
thom singer
