For the 2010 conference, we are doing something new that we think you will just love! Rather than have one keynote speaker (usually from outside the NSA) speak at the conference, we will have a few members from our “All Star” team speak at the general sessions. Five “NSA All-Stars” will share their stories as people who stutter, explaining how they have accepted their stuttering and not let it stand in their way.

Here is a sneak-peak at this year’s “All-Star” team players:

Katie Duffield

Katie Duffield is a 12 year old from Harrisburg , Pennsylvania . She is going into 7th grade. Katie began stuttering as soon as she began talking, but that hasn't held her back. Katie has been actively involved in theater through school, church and a local acting troop. She is also in her school's chorus, plays the violin and is learning to play guitar.

Furthermore, she is interested in writing and won her school's prestigious award for Outstanding Writer of the Year. She has used her writing to encourage other stutterers, and had an article about her experiences as a kid who stutters published in Stutter Buddies. She is currently writing her own comic book. This is Katie's fourth NSA Conference. Katie lives at home with her mom and dad, two fat cats and a dog named Murphy.

Drew Kiser

Drew is a junior at Tusculum College in Greenville , TN where he is pre-med and plays tennis on an academic scholarship. He posted a 14-4 tennis record this year and has made the South Atlantic Conference Commissioner and Athletic Director’s Honor Roll in both his Freshman and Sophomore year. He was recently praised by a professor for a project that included a 10 page paper and PowerPoint on stuttering.

Kenny Koroll

Kenny has been a stutterer all his life. He has a Bachelors and Masters Degree is Occupational Health and Safety from Northern Illinois University . He works as a Federal Compliance Officer for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. He once worked as the youngest trainer at the National OSHA Training Institute traveling the nation conducting training courses and seminars. He has been voted Regional OSHA Compliance Officer of the Year and was one of three finalists for the Chicagoland Federal Law Enforcement of the Year Award. He now lives in St. Louis , MO.

Marilee Fini

Marilee Fini, M.A. CCC/SLP is a practicing speech pathologist in Cleveland , OH running her own private practice, MLF Speech Therapy. She graduated from John Carroll University with a B.A. in Communications in 1991 and graduated from Kent State University with a M.A. in Speech Pathology in 1993. Marilee has been regularly speaking on the subject of stuttering throughout the U.S. for the last 10 years of her career. She has spoken at speech and language conventions, worked for various seminar companies and presented for schools and hospitals. Due to her experience, she has had clients from out-of-state come to Cleveland in order to seek her consultation in the area of stuttering. Marilee considers her stuttering a gift that she continues to unwrap in order to help others discover their full potential!

Charles Marcus

Charles resides in Toronto , Canada . He is a best selling author and highly sought after professional speaker. He is also a past nominee for the Canadian Courage-to-Comeback Award.

We hope you will enjoy these new refreshing general sessions and make you think about your own personal journey. Maybe you will be the next one we ask :-)

Cathy Olish

NSA Board of Director