NSA-Wisconsin upcoming events

Hooked to Booked: 3 videos every meeting planner looks for when hiring speakers! (August 19, 2026)

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Speakers Tech Webinar Series

Hooked to Booked: 3 videos every meeting planner looks for when hiring speakers!
presented by Vaibhav "Happy" Nahata

Getting on stage today starts with getting on screen. 90% of meeting planners make decisions based on speakers' video assets!

No matter where you get leads from: outbound, referral, or inbound, video is the single biggest factor that converts interest into booked calls. For speakers, video is no longer optional, it’s the difference between being booked or not. But it’s overwhelming! Do I need a demo video? Shall I get videos on my social media? Should I make custom videos

Based on Happy’s experience of generating 100M+ views for speakers, he’ll share specific video strategies that will work for you. Learning outcomes include:

3 specific videos that are a MUST for every speaker!
The Secret-to-Spectacular speaker demo reel
Post Like a Pro—timing, frequency, and strategies to work with the algorithm.
Content Styles That Work—7 proven formats that generated 100M+ views.
Live Audit—real-time feedback on your videos.

No fluff, just real-world transformations you can use right away.

Vaibhav “Happy” Nahata is the Managing Director of Speakervideos, a video marketing company that has helped speakers generate 100M+ views and hundreds of engagements. A TV show presenter and motivational speaker, he has spoken to audiences in 54+ countries and built his own speaking business through content and video. Known for his trademark “JEEZ Syndrome” (Joyful Energy and Excitement Zest), he brings contagious energy, sparks conversations, and helps speakers worldwide grow with content.

The Business Behind the Stage (August 20, 2026)

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 21:00:00 GMT

Speakers Tech Webinar Series

The Business Behind the Stage
presented by Austin Grammon

What makes you great on stage is the opposite of what sustains a business: presence and spontaneity versus consistency and process. This talk breaks down the four buckets every speaking business already runs on (Leadership, Revenue Generation, Fulfillment, Back Office) and the data behind why treating yours like a business, not a paid hobby, is worth 3–4x the revenue.

Austin Grammon is the co-founder of SpeakerFlow, where he and his team build done-for-you business systems for professional speakers, coaches, and consultants who are world-class at what they do on stage and privately running a mess behind the scenes. He's spent a decade inside the speaking industry helping thought leaders stop running their businesses on vibes and referrals, and start running them like the professionals they already are.

The Speaker Website Elements that Turn Visitors into Bookings (August 26, 2026)

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 21:00:00 GMT

Speakers Tech Webinar Series

The Speaker Website Elements that Turn Visitors into Bookings
presented by Kristin Adkins

Your website has one main job before an event planner ever reaches out: build trust. In this session, former meeting planner and founder of Crash Design Co., Kristin Adkins, shares the five website elements that help professional speakers establish instant credibility, stand out from the competition, and become the obvious choice for events.

Kristin Adkins is the founder of Crash Design Co., a web design agency that helps speakers build websites that get them noticed, trusted, and booked. With a background in hiring speakers as a meeting planner, Kristin knows firsthand what decision-makers look for when choosing who to bring to their events. She now uses that perspective to help speakers showcase their expertise online in a way that builds credibility and opens doors to more opportunities. Through Crash Design Co., Kristin has worked with more than 100 speakers to create strategic websites designed to support their business growth. Her process combines messaging, strategy, and design so clients don’t just have a beautiful website... they have one that works. Kristin is passionate about helping experts look as qualified online as they already are in real life.

Your Video Production Blueprint: Create Reel Content with Confidence—Planning Your DIY and Professional Filming, and Saving Time & Money (August 27, 2026)

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Speakers Tech Webinar Series

Your Video Production Blueprint: Create Reel Content with Confidence—Planning Your DIY and Professional Filming, and Saving Time & Money
presented by Lisa Mares

As a professional speaker, you need great video to get booked—but you need bookings to get great video. So where do you start?

In this session, Lisa and her partner Henry will share a practical blueprint for building a video strategy that supports your speaking business at every stage. You'll learn where to begin, which videos to prioritize, how to create effective DIY content, and how to recognize when it's time to invest in a professional video production team. You'll leave with a clear roadmap for building a versatile video library that helps you attract more opportunities, strengthen your brand, and book more speaking engagements.

Lisa Mares of MaresMedia, is a video producer and cinematographer. With more than 30 years of experience as a co-owner of a video production company, she has built a career centered on the power of storytelling and the impact of compelling visual content. Her unique background in social work provides a strong foundation for understanding people, building meaningful relationships, and uncovering the authentic stories that connect with audiences. A true people person, she is passionate about working closely with each client to understand their vision and creatively bring their brand to life through video. She believes that every project is an opportunity to tell a story that inspires, informs, and leaves a lasting impression. With a focus on creativity, quality, collaboration, and client satisfaction, they create films that resonate with audiences, strengthen brands, and drive meaningful results.

Kick Start Weekend (September 11, 2026)

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Don't just collect great ideas.
Leave with a plan to grow your business.

Kick Start Weekend is a two-day, interactive experience designed to help professional speakers, trainers, coaches, and consultants move beyond inspiration and into implementation. We need to have 20 people registered by July 30th to run this event. Read on and register today! A room block will be available in August.

We've assembled an exceptional lineup of thought leaders—Mark LeBlanc, CSP, CPAE, Scott Lesnick, CSP, Deborah Biddle, and Will Bowen, CSP—to share proven strategies for building and growing a successful speaking business. But what makes Kick Start Weekend different isn't just the speakers. It's what you'll do with what you learn:

Learn from Industry Leaders
Gain practical insights and proven business strategies from nationally recognized Certified Speaking Professionals, including a CPAE Speaker Hall of Fame recipient.
Turn Ideas into Action
Following each presentation, you'll participate in facilitated small-group discussions where you'll debrief the content, exchange ideas with fellow attendees, and identify practical ways to apply what you've learned to your own business. Inspired by the highly successful CSP Summit format, these conversations are intentionally designed to help you leave with actionable next steps, not just pages of notes.
Ask the CSPs
Bring your questions to our interactive CSP Panel, where you'll hear candid advice, practical lessons learned, and business-building insights from multiple Certified Speaking Professionals. It's a unique opportunity to tap into decades of experience in an open, conversational setting.
Build Momentum Beyond the Weekend
Learning shouldn't end when the event does. Discover the NSA-WI CSP Accountability Program, where you'll have the opportunity to continue implementing what you've learned with the support and encouragement of fellow members committed to growing their businesses.
Connect with Your NSA-WI Community
One of the greatest benefits of Kick Start Weekend is the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with fellow speakers who understand your challenges, celebrate your wins, and inspire your next level of growth.

Attend Friday (9 to 5), Saturday (9 to 4), or experience the full two-day event. Lunch is included each day, and dietary accommodations will be provided.

Whether you're launching your speaking business, preparing for your next stage of growth, or looking for fresh ideas from some of the profession's most respected experts, Kick Start Weekend is designed to equip you with practical strategies, valuable connections, and the momentum to move your business forward.

When you leave Kick Start Weekend, you won't just have pages of notes. You'll have new ideas, meaningful connections, practical next steps, and the momentum to grow your business.

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Growing Your Business! When YOU Are the Business
with Mark LeBlanc, CSP, CPAE
What is the shortest path to your dream? Find out what you need to know and what you need to do – to fill your calendar with more of what you want. Would it surprise you to know your approach could be think like an artist and act like a business owner?

Hall of Fame speaker Mark LeBlanc will bring a treasure chest of insights, ideas, and a strategy or two for you to choose from. Our aim is for you to create a new starting line in the direction of your dream and make the next twelve months the best year of your life and work.

It will not be for the faint of heart. He will hold up a mirror to what you want and what you are willing to do in order to get more of what you want. With 43 years of experience, over two thousand presentations, seven books, and twenty-thousand business coaching hours—you will hear what you might never hear from anyone else. His first book, Growing Your Business is an underground bestseller and over eight hundred orders of fifty copies or more, he published the enhanced (25th anniversary) edition of the book that put him on the map and effectively became the catalyst for his incredibly career.

As a result of listening to Mark, people often share they are more focused, gain undeniable momentum, and have more impact and influence with the people they serve best. This is the experience you do not want to hear about from someone else. If you have heard Mark before, you know you are in for a treat.

On a professional note, in 2025, Mark was inducted as a Legend of the speaking profession by the Veteran Speakers Network in Washington, D.C. On a personal note, this past Summer he went on a short, five-hundred-mile walk across Spain—for the fourth time! You can find out more about Mark at www.GrowingYourBusiness.com.

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Planting Roots, Expanding Reach, and Growing Revenue
with Deborah Biddle

The speaking industry is evolving. Today’s most successful speakers don’t just deliver keynotes—they create integrated businesses that blend thought leadership, consulting, training, and long-term client relationships. But how can you grow that kind of business when life changes your location, the market shifts, or your clients are scattered across the Midwest and beyond?

Deborah Biddle, The People Culture Architect™, leads The People Company Consulting Group. She is a certified diversity practitioner, consultant, and speaker, who offers a personalized approach to helping her clients feel empowered, seen, and heard. With tailored workshops and consulting sessions, she is committed to helping organizations maximize belonging, productivity, and performance.

In this engaging and practical session, Deborah shares her real story of moving during the pandemic while maintaining and growing a successful dual business in speaking and consulting. From staying connected with Wisconsin clients to expanding into new markets in Illinois and across the region, she highlights what it takes to stay visible, credible, and connected—no matter where you are.

This program provides speakers with a roadmap to turn their expertise into a flexible, scalable business that extends beyond their ZIP code. If you’re ready to expand your influence, diversify your income, and build a practice that gains recognition—not just locally but regionally and nationally—this session is for you.

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7 Success Secrets Only Top Speaking Pros Know
with Will Bowen, CSP

Why do more than 9 out of 10 aspiring speakers walk away from the high-paying, exciting career of professional speaking every year? They don't know the seven secrets all top speaking professionals have learned and mastered-the key aspects of the art, business, and content of professional speaking.

Movement: Attract and keep every audience’s attention, engagement, and enthusiasm.
Mindset: What you say to yourself is more important than what you say to the audience. Own the room by owning your own mind.
Prospect: In less than one hour and for free, find thousands of prospects eager to hire you.
Systems: A simple, automated infrastructure that turns suspects into prospects and then turns prospects into high-paying clients.
Profitable: Professional speeches must provide a solution to one of two problems. Solve these problems and event planners have to hire you!
Construction: Every great speech takes the audience on a journey from trust, to anxiety, and finally to a practical solution.
Focus: Avoid “Shiny Object Syndrome.” Follow a proven plan and don’t get side-tracked by the countless distractions that present themselves.

Will Bowen is the visionary behind the Complaint Free® movement, inspiring millions to transform complaining into empowerment. Over 15 million people across the globe have embraced his 21-Day Complaint Free Challenge, transforming mindsets, workplaces, and relationships.

Will's message has earned him features on The Oprah Winfrey Show, NBC's Today, People, Forbes, Newsweek, The Wall Street Journal, Chicken Soup for the Soul—and beyond.

He holds the prestigious CSP (Certified Speaking Professional) designation and is a sought-after keynote speaker and trainer for organizations worldwide. His past clients include household names like Volvo, Kimberly-Clark, and The Million Dollar Roundtable.

Will is also a prolific writer; all five of his books have become international bestsellers, translated into dozens of languages and read by millions. His talks are equal parts inspiring, humorous, and transformational—designed to help leaders and teams reduce negativity, boost productivity, and cultivate a culture of what's possible. To learn more or bring Will to your organization, visit WillBowen.com.

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The Successful Speaker's Sales Funnel:
Turning RFPs, Referrals, and Follow-Up Into More Business
with Scott Lesnick, CSP
This is a 12-month, no-days/weeks-off (yes, there is freedom and flexibility) look at how I built and sustain a six-figure speaking business using more than 6,000 RFPs, referrals and staffing and follow-up systems. I'll share what actually converts leads into bookings, from picking up the phone to email campaigns, and open the floor for attendees to trade what's working in their own businesses or where they need assistance.

Scott Lesnick is a global keynote speaker renowned for his memorable presentations. Scott captivates audiences worldwide with his engaging style. He is a sought-after author, having published both a memoir titled Kidjacked – A Father’s Story and a critically acclaimed book titled Lifejacked: Life Lessons on Leadership.

Scott's expertise is recognized by his esteemed Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) designation from the National Speakers Association. Currently there are only 650 full-time speakers with this distinction worldwide.

In addition to his accomplishments as a speaker and author, Scott has made significant personal achievements. He recently presented at TEDx, sharing his insights and inspiring audiences. Also, Scott has completed the equivalent of running twice around the planet, covering an astounding distance of 50,000 miles!

Prior to his speaking career, Scott spent 24 award-winning years leading sales teams at Shaw Industries, a Fortune 500 company under the Berkshire Hathaway umbrella. This extensive experience in sales leadership provides him with practical insights and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by professionals.

Scott is a graduate of The University of Miami, Florida. His passion for sharing his story and leadership lessons has left a lasting impact on his audiences, earning him a reputation as a dynamic and influential speaker.

With his diverse background, engaging storytelling ability, and wealth of knowledge, Scott brings a unique perspective to his keynotes, leaving attendees inspired, motivated, and ready to take their leadership skills to new heights.

See Scott in action. Watch his TEDx talk.

Building Your Speaking Business: The Four Pillars Every Speaker Needs (September 16, 2026)

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 22:30:00 GMT

Midwest Speaker Academy

Building Your Speaking Business: The Four Pillars Every Speaker Needs
presented by Kelly Bubolz

Speaking is more than delivering a great presentation. Building a profitable speaking business requires trust, expertise, communication, and strategy.

In this interactive kickoff session, we'll explore the four pillars of Speaker Academy: Ethics, Enterprise, Eloquence, and Expertise. How they help attract clients, create memorable presentations, and grow a sustainable speaking business.

We'll also go behind the scenes of virtual speaking, from prospect calls to paid presentations, covering the simple technology, setup, and delivery practices that elevate your professionalism and confidence.

Whether you're just starting or adding speaking to an existing business, you'll leave with practical ideas and a stronger foundation for the year ahead.

Kelly Bubolz is a business strategist, professional speaker, and founder of Workforce Energy Management™. She helps organizations reduce burnout, strengthen leadership, and improve team performance by shifting the patterns that drive behavior, creating energized, resilient workplaces.

Like many speakers, Kelly started by chasing every opportunity and working harder than necessary. By leaning into the speaker academy pillars, she transformed speaking into a profitable business that aligned with the lifestyle she wanted.

Today, Kelly delivers keynote presentations, leadership programs, and virtual experiences nationwide. As Director of NSA Wisconsin's Speaker Academy, she's passionate about helping speakers build not just better presentations, but sustainable speaking businesses.

How to Utilize Multiple Talents to Generate Multiple Bookings, Products & Profits (October 14, 2026)

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 22:30:00 GMT

Midwest Speaker Academy

How to Utilize Multiple Talents to Generate Multiple Bookings, Products & Profits
presented by Sandy Geroux, MS, CSP

As speakers, we possess many talents often ignored in our speaking careers because we’re too busy to consider how to incorporate them or think they have no place in our programs. But your unique talents are personal resources that can help your speaking career soar.

In this interactive session, Sandy Geroux will share creative processes and success strategies she’s used to turn her talents into “hooks” that help her book full-fee engagements and obtain product pre-sales and book signings, even when they say they don’t pay speakers!

She’ll also show you how to turn props and presentation elements into products, promotional items and group mementos you can use to:

Engage and entertain your audiences
Stand out from the crowd
Create more bookings
Reinforce your message
Build passive income
Have greater income and reach
… and much more

Attendees will also receive a workbook containing resources, guidelines, royalty and trademark information and much more!

Sandy Geroux, MS, CSP is an international speaker, trainer, and author who helps organizations Turn Their Workplace Into a WOWplace™. She works with administrative, customer service, and leadership teams to strengthen partnerships, increase engagement, and create cultures that deliver exceptional experiences for both customers and coworkers.

Since 2000, Sandy has inspired audiences in more than 175 organizations across 41 countries through conferences, webinars, virtual training, and corporate programs. An award-winning speaker, she is known for her energetic, interactive style and practical strategies that help teams build stronger relationships, elevate service, and create workplaces where people thrive.

From Association Stages to Corporate Contracts: The Proven Blueprint for Building Authority Instead of Chasing the Next Gig (November 11, 2026)

Wed, 11 Nov 2026 23:30:00 GMT

Midwest Speaker Academy

From Association Stages to Corporate Contracts: The Proven Blueprint for Building Authority Instead of Chasing the Next Gig
presented by Ed Rigsbee, CSP, CAE

Most professional speakers spend their careers searching for the next engagement. The most successful speakers build something much more valuable: authority.

In this fast-paced, content-rich session, Hall of Fame speaker, consultant, and author Ed Rigsbee, CSP, CAE combines the proven association-market strategies from his classic book BOOKED! The Insider's Guide for Speakers Selling to Associations with the authority-building philosophy behind his newest work, Stop Chasing Gigs. Build Authority.

Participants will discover why trade associations and professional societies remain the most direct pathway to corporate business, consulting opportunities, strategic partnerships, and long-term career growth. More importantly, they will learn how to stop competing on activity and begin competing on expertise, positioning, and industry relevance.

This isn't another marketing presentation filled with social media hacks or prospecting tactics. It is a business strategy session for speakers who want to become the obvious choice within the industries they serve.

Participants will learn how to:

Position themselves as authorities instead of commodities.
Select and dominate a profitable industry niche.
Use association speaking to create recurring corporate opportunities.
Build relationship bank deposits that generate referrals for years.
Develop professional equity that increases fees while reducing competition.
Become the speaker clients seek out rather than the speaker chasing opportunities.

Whether you're building your speaking business or reinventing it, you'll leave with a practical roadmap for creating a career that becomes more valuable every year.

Ed Rigsbee, CSP, CAE has spent more than four decades helping organizations and professional speakers build relationships that create measurable business results.

A Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) and Certified Association Executive (CAE), Ed has been a professional member of the National Speakers Association since 1988 and has presented for NSA conferences and chapters since 1995. Known throughout NSA as "the association guy," he has helped countless speakers understand how trade associations and professional societies can become the gateway to corporate keynotes, workshops, consulting engagements, and long-term authority.

Ed is the author of BOOKED! The Insider's Guide for Speakers Selling to Associations, the influential The ROI of Membership, and his newest book, Stop Chasing Gigs. Build Authority, which challenges speakers to stop building speaking businesses and start building professional legacies.

When he isn't speaking or consulting, or running the nonprofit charity (Cigar PEG) that he created, Ed leads the Association & Society Speakers Community (ASSC), mentors professional speakers, and continues his mission of helping experts become indispensable to the industries they serve.