NSA-Wisconsin upcoming events

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. See below for The Wisconsin Hotel Room Block.

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.

Book your room at The Wisconsin Hotel by August 14th to get our special rate: $129

Block name: WI National Speakers Association

Block code:0609WINASA

Booking link: https://reservations.travelclick.com/9877333?groupID=5402435

Phone number: 608-254-2285 – Please leave your name, phone number if we do not answer and we will call you back as soon as possible. Feel free to follow up with your reservation request at frontdesk@thewisconsinhotel.com or gsmgr@thewisconsinhotel.com

CANCELATION POLICY:

FREE Cancellation 48 hours prior arrival until 4:00 PM local hotel time. Canceling your reservation after 4:00 PM (local hotel time), or failing to show, will result in a charge of 1 night per room to your credit card or other guaranteed payment method. Taxes may apply. Failing to call or show before check-out time after the first night of a reservation will result in cancellation of the remainder of your reservation.

SECURITY DEPOSIT

First Night Deposit due at the start Cancelation Policy. A $50 Incidental hold is applied upon arrival with the remaining balance for the stay. Minimum Stay night request might apply.

Building Your Speaking Business: The Four Pillars Every Speaker Needs (Academy) (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.

Virtual Speakers Development Lab (September 19, 2026)

Sat, 19 Sep 2026 14:30:00 GMT

Join us as a speaker or come for the fun and gain some insights and tips as you watch others get coached by our established professional members.

One of the most valuable services offered by NSA-WI is the Speakers Development Lab. All members -- from Past National Presidents and CPAEs to new candidate members -- are welcome to attend. The Lab operates much like a Hollywood “Actors Studio” where speakers, facilitators, seminar leaders, those who sell products or services through public presentations, etc. can go to try out new material, revise current material, practice delivery techniques, etc.

Our goal for the Speakers Lab is to take speakers, facilitators, teacher/leaders at their current level of skill, impact, fee level, etc., and help them move up to the next level. Both those speaking, and observers benefit from the Lab, and the net effect is to increase the skills and impact of each participant.

Click here or more information.

How to Utilize Multiple Talents to Generate Multiple Bookings, Products & Profits (Academy) (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.

Mic Check Monthly (October 16, 2026)

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 19:00:00 GMT

Mic Check Monthly

October topic: Best/Worst Gig Stories

Mic Check Monthly is a mostly monthly, casual Zoom meetup designed to help NSA Wisconsin members connect, collaborate, and support one another in their speaking businesses.

These informal calls are a chance to meet and correspond with other members. Drop in as you’re able, and join the conversation. Expect a great time of sharing ideas and asking questions!

Note: you will receive the Zoom link in your confirmation email after you register.

From Pretty Good to Last Story Standing (October Chapter Meeting) (October 20, 2026)

Tue, 20 Oct 2026 14:00:00 GMT

October Chapter Meeting

From Pretty Good to Last Story Standing
presented by Johanna Walker

As a professional speaker, you already know stories matter. You tell them on stages all the time. But there’s a difference between telling a “pretty good” story and telling one that moves the room, takes your audience on a journey, and stays with them long after it’s over.

Too many speakers get buried in the backstory, wander away from the point, get lost in the weeds, or forget to build any stakes, leaving the audience wondering… “Huh? Why are they telling that story?”

With NSA's Last Story Standing 2027 competition upon us, now’s the perfect time to dig into the nuts & bolts of how to find, craft, and tell a story that moves your audience to inspired action -- not to mention wins competitions!

In this hands-on session, you’ll workshop a story for the Last Story Standing competition. We’ll dig for stories—including ones you might not even know are stories yet. Then we'll break it down, rebuild it, and figure out what works, what doesn’t, and how to make it stronger.

Whether you’re headed for the competition or simply want your stories to make a bigger impact from the stage, you’ll leave with a stronger story and practical tools you can use with every story you tell.

Johanna Walker is a speaker, trainer, and storytelling expert who helps coaches, consultants, leaders and subject-matter experts communicate with clarity, confidence, and authenticity when the stakes are high. She has presented for corporations, nonprofits, startups, community organizations, and on the TEDx stage. She is also a Moth StorySLAM winner, and the 2025 winner of the Denver NSA Chapter Last Story Standing competition.

Johanna is the founder of Speaker’s Playground and Craft Your Talk, experiential training programs that help her clients turn their ideas and expertise into clear, compelling talks and deliver them with confidence. For 11 years, she produced and hosted Boulder’s Story Slam, a nationally recognized storytelling series featuring true stories told live on stage. In other words, she’s spent a lot of time listening to stories, telling them, and figuring out what makes them tick.

Johanna is also a performer and solo theater artist who has written and toured original shows throughout the U.S. and Canada. Along the way, she’s danced at the White House in a rabbit suit, cut fish heads in Alaska, and delivered messages by bike in pre-email New York City—so she has plenty of stories to tell.

She currently lives in Northampton, Massachusetts, where she dances tango, lindy hop & contact improvisation, grows food in her garden, and often gets distracted by the birds that visit her neighbors bird feeder. Learn more about Johanna or find her on LinkedIn.

Agenda

8:30 -- Arrive, Networking
9:00-10:00 -- In-Meeting Speaker Lab (requires separate registration if you would like to speak)

10:30-Noon -- Johanna Walker: From Pretty Good Story to Last Story Standing
Noon-1:00 -- Lunch, Networking

1:00-1:30 -- Inside the Speaker Studio: Pieces of the Pie
1:30 -- Johanna Walker
3:30 -- CSP Journey: Accountability Decisions

In-Meeting Speakers Development Lab (October 20, 2026)

Tue, 20 Oct 2026 14:00:00 GMT

In-Meeting Lab
Join us as a speaker and take advantage of the built-in audience at our chapter meeting

One of the most valuable services offered by NSA-WI is the Speakers Development Lab. The Lab operates much like a Hollywood “Actors Studio” where speakers, facilitators, seminar leaders, those who sell products or services through public presentations, etc. can go to try out new material, revise current material, practice delivery techniques, etc.

Click here or more information.

If you would like to also attend the Chapter Meeting, register here.

Think Like a CEO: The Business of Speaking Beyond the Stage (November Chapter Meeting) (November 05, 2026)

Thu, 05 Nov 2026 20:00:00 GMT

November Chapter Meeting - Members Only

Think Like a CEO: The Business of Speaking Beyond the Stage
presented by Marquita Miller Joshua

Speaking is your craft, but building a successful business requires thinking like a CEO. This session helps speakers understand how to scale revenue, improve profitability, interpret financial reports, manage accounting, and tax responsibilities, and make sound business decisions. Attendees will gain practical tools to build a stronger, more profitable, and sustainable speaking business.

Marquita Miller Joshua is a governance-focused executive, financial strategist, board leader, and Certified Speaking Professional with expertise in financial literacy, tax strategy, regulatory compliance, fiduciary oversight, and organizational growth. As Founder and President of Five Star Tax and Business Solutions, she provides strategic financial guidance to small and midsized businesses, with a focus on risk mitigation and sustainable growth.

Marquita serves as President of Holy Rosary Credit Union, where she provides executive leadership, financial stewardship, and governance oversight. She also serves as Treasurer on the Executive Board of the National Speakers Association and as a board member for Make-A-Wish Kansas and Missouri.

An Enrolled Agent with the IRS and author of multiple books, Marquita is nationally recognized for translating complex financial and regulatory concepts into clear, practical strategies that help leaders and organizations make better decisions.
ater artist who has written and toured original shows throughout the U.S. and Canada. Along the way, she’s danced at the White House in a rabbit suit, cut fish heads in Alaska, and delivered messages by bike in pre-email New York City—so she has plenty of stories to tell.

Agenda

2:00 -- Welcome
2:05 -- Marquita Miller Joshua: Think Like a CEO: The Business of Speaking Beyond the Stage
3:30 -- Q&A

3:50 -- CSP Journey: Accountability Decisions

From Association Stages to Corporate Contracts: The Proven Blueprint for Building Authority Instead of Chasing the Next Gig (Academy) (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.

Mic Check Monthly (November 16, 2026)

Mon, 16 Nov 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Mic Check Monthly

November topic:
Current Obsession -- Book, hobby, pods, etc.

Mic Check Monthly is a mostly monthly, casual Zoom meetup designed to help NSA Wisconsin members connect, collaborate, and support one another in their speaking businesses.

These informal calls are a chance to meet and correspond with other members. Drop in as you’re able, and join the conversation. Expect a great time of sharing ideas and asking questions!

Note: you will receive the Zoom link in your confirmation email after you register.

Confidence Doesn't Wait for the Yes: Your Vision, Your Voice, Your Next Gig (Academy) (December 09, 2026)

Wed, 09 Dec 2026 23:30:00 GMT

Midwest Speaker Academy

Confidence Doesn't Wait for the Yes: Your Vision, Your Voice, Your Next Gig
presented by Meshell Baker

Most speakers rehearse the speech. But many speakers do not rehearse the sale.
That's the gap. Not stage presence. Not story. The proposal that never gets sent, the price that's never said out loud before it's said to a client, the "no" that gets read as "they don't like me" instead of "not yet."

This session names the pattern and rebuilds it. Attendees leave with a declared vision for their speaking legacy and a rehearsed sales conversation, the belief shift and the muscle, in the same room, on the same night. We will equip you to close the gap between what you say on stage and what you say in the sales conversation. Participants declare their speaking legacy, then rehearse the exact conversation standing between them and their next gig.

Highlights:

Confidence Is Daily Practice, Not a Feeling You Wait For: Stop treating confidence as something that arrives once the gig is booked and start building it as the thing that gets the proposal sent.
Your Legacy Defines Your Vision - Your Vision Defines Your Ask: Declare the speaker you're building toward and connect that vision to the conversations required to get there.
Rehearsal Beats Willpower: Practice a sales conversation out loud, in real time, before you ever have to say it to a client.
Silence Is Not Rejection: Reframe the gap between proposal and response as biology, not verdict, and build a next-conversation-is-a-yes mindset.

Meshell Baker is the Chief Confidence Igniter and published author of UNSTOPPABLE: Embrace Your Unshakeable Confidence, with over two decades driving performance across Fortune 500 organizations including Ford, UPS, Salesforce, Accenture, and Microsoft.

She builds confidence as a repeatable performance system, not motivation that fades by Monday. Known for bold storytelling and contagious energy, Meshell has an average Talkadot rating of 94.5 across more than 2,000 attendees, and speakers who've heard her routinely credit her sessions with the moment they finally sent the proposal, made the ask, or took the leap they'd been circling for years.

Mic Check Monthly (January 19, 2027)

Tue, 19 Jan 2027 16:00:00 GMT

Mic Check Monthly

January topic: What would your dream gig be?

Mic Check Monthly is a mostly monthly, casual Zoom meetup designed to help NSA Wisconsin members connect, collaborate, and support one another in their speaking businesses.

These informal calls are a chance to meet and correspond with other members. Drop in as you’re able, and join the conversation. Expect a great time of sharing ideas and asking questions!

Note: you will receive the Zoom link in your confirmation email after you register.

Follow Up Strategies That Will Get More Clients and Close More Sales (Academy) (February 03, 2027)

Wed, 03 Feb 2027 23:30:00 GMT

Midwest Speaker Academy

Follow Up Strategies That Will Get More Clients and Close More Sales
presented by Wanda Allen

Follow-up is one of the most overlooked—yet most profitable—parts of the sales process. Too often, it becomes a burdensome “to-do” or gets pushed aside entirely. In this powerful presentation, Wanda cuts through the noise and gets to the heart of why follow-up gets neglected and how to fix it. You will walk away with a proven, easy-to-implement approach that turns follow-up into a consistent, results-generating habit. Whether you're struggling to stay organized, afraid of being pushy, or just not seeing results, this session delivers the clarity and motivation they need to take action.

Key Takeaways:

Why using a follow-up system is critical for long-term sales success
Common follow-up systems that don’t work — and what to do instead
How mindset directly impacts consistency and confidence in follow-up
Eye-opening sales statistics that reinforce the importance of follow up.
Three simple, immediately actionable strategies to boost follow-up performance

Bottom line: The one who follows up is the one who gets the business.

Wanda Allen is an international speaker, coach, and corporate trainer, and the author of Follow Up Savvy and Follow Up Sales Strategies. With a 25-year corporate background, including 15 years as a Senior Vice President, Wanda brings deep expertise in sales, business development, and client relationship management. Recognizing follow-up as one of the most underutilized – yet most powerful – tools in sales, Wanda founded Follow Up Sales Strategies to teach professionals how to convert contacts into clients through proven follow-up systems. Her methods are practical, tested, and results oriented. Today, she helps entrepreneurs, business owners, and sales professionals grow their pipelines, boost sales performance, and build lasting relationships through the power of effective follow-up.

Mastering the Art of Creating a Killer Keynote that Forges Deeper Connections with Your Audience (February Chapter Meeting) (February 17, 2027)

Wed, 17 Feb 2027 15:00:00 GMT

February Chapter Meeting

Mastering the Art of Creating a Killer Keynote that Forges Deeper Connections with Your Audience
presented by Karen McCullough

In a world where audiences are bombarded with information and seem to have the attention span of a goldfish, capturing and maintaining their attention is more challenging than ever. Your presentation must rise above the noise and engage while create a genuine connection with your audience.

In this workshop, Karen share a repeatable process you can use to help you connect to every audience and deliver a killer presentation. We will dive into the creative process, adding audience-focused pieces to your presentation.

You will walk away with a structure that will help you gain insights into what audiences in 2024 and beyond want, need, and demand!

Learning Objectives - just a few!!!!

Gaining a deeper understanding of the audience and the buyer
Developing your conference call strategy
Adding empathy and vulnerability stories to your presentation
Developing a great opener -Being the guide, not the hero
Using Karen's keynote framework while preparing for every presentation
Creating engaging content "chunks"

Karen McCullough , CSP went to her first NSA conference in 1999 in Dallas and she was hooked. She graduated from Houston's Speaker Academy in 2000, got her CSP in 2006, and then ran the chapter’s Speaker Academy for the next three years. She has presented to over 1000 top corporations from American Express to Zappos. Last year she did a breakout session at Influence with CSP, CPAE Linda Larsen entitled Own the Stage, Master the Spotlight!

Karen loves what she does and she loves creating high content, high engagement, high humor keynotes. She created her first Killer Keynote workshop in 2015 and has presented it to NSA chapters as well as her corporate clients. A few years back, she attended Donald Miller's StoryBrand workshop and incorporated some of the StoryBrand concepts into her process. Today, Karen teaches speakers to rise above the noise, engage, and connect with audiences.

Come ready to roll your sleeve up and dive in! You are going to love this session!

Agenda

8:30 -- Arrive, Networking
9:00-10:00 -- In-Meeting Speaker Lab (requires separate registration if you would like to speak)

10:30-Noon -- Karen McCullough: Mastering the Art of Creating a Killer Keynote that Forges Deeper Connections with Your Audience
Noon-1:00 -- Lunch, Networking

1:00-1:30 -- Inside the Speaker Studio: Pieces of the Pie
1:30 -- Karen McCullough
3:30 -- CSP Journey: Accountability Decisions

In-Meeting Speakers Development Lab (February 17, 2027)

Wed, 17 Feb 2027 15:00:00 GMT

In-Meeting Lab
Join us as a speaker and take advantage of the built-in audience at our chapter meeting

Click here or more information.

If you would like to also attend the Chapter Meeting, register here.

Mic Check Monthly (February 26, 2027)

Fri, 26 Feb 2027 20:00:00 GMT

Mic Check Monthly

February topic: Family Life Intro -- Bring your pet and talk about life outside work

Mic Check Monthly is a mostly monthly, casual Zoom meetup designed to help NSA Wisconsin members connect, collaborate, and support one another in their speaking businesses.

These informal calls are a chance to meet and correspond with other members. Drop in as you’re able, and join the conversation. Expect a great time of sharing ideas and asking questions!

Note: you will receive the Zoom link in your confirmation email after you register.

The Art of Presenting and Performing (Academy) (March 03, 2027)

Wed, 03 Mar 2027 23:30:00 GMT

Midwest Speaker Academy

The Art of Presenting and Performing
presented by John Watkis

Is a speech a performance? If you’re not comfortable performing, is it possible to still be entertaining? Find out the answers to these questions (and many more) during this interactive session with speaker, performer, and presentation skills coach, John Watkis.

John Watkis is an award-winning performer, international speaker, author, high-stakes
performance coach, and voice actor. In addition to nearly three decades of experience delivering keynote speeches and workshops for clients in seven countries, and on four continents, he has written speeches for corporations, government officials, non-profits, professional speakers, and a hall-of-fame athlete.

He’s the author of Speaking Notes: The Eight Essential Elements to Make Your Speech Music
to Their Ears, a salsa dancing champion, and the first Canadian actor to play Mufasa in the
onstage Disney musical, The Lion King.

John uses his center stage speaking method to help speakers steal the spotlight when they stand up to speak.

Speaker Hot Seat: Lessons from Those Who've Been There (Academy) (April 14, 2027)

Wed, 14 Apr 2027 22:30:00 GMT

Midwest Speaker Academy

Speaker Hot Seat: Lessons from Those Who've Been There
A panel discussion

There’s no better coach than someone who has already walked the path. In this interactive session, you'll have the opportunity to ask your toughest speaking business questions to a panel of seasoned professional speakers who have built successful careers through experience, not theory.

From getting booked and increasing fees to handling difficult clients, marketing, travel, rejection, and everything in between, our panelists will share honest insights, practical strategies, and lessons learned along the way. Come ready to ask questions, gain multiple perspectives, and leave with ideas you can immediately apply to your own speaking business.

A pre-session survey will be emailed out to those who are registered to gather your questions for this panel to answer.

Mic Check Monthly (April 19, 2027)

Mon, 19 Apr 2027 17:00:00 GMT

Mic Check Monthly

April topic: Local Flavor -- What's the best thing about where you're based in Wisconsin?

Mic Check Monthly is a mostly monthly, casual Zoom meetup designed to help NSA Wisconsin members connect, collaborate, and support one another in their speaking businesses.

These informal calls are a chance to meet and correspond with other members. Drop in as you’re able, and join the conversation. Expect a great time of sharing ideas and asking questions!

Note: you will receive the Zoom link in your confirmation email after you register.

Beyond Applause: Creating Sustainable Income and Impact Through Training (Academy) (May 12, 2027)

Wed, 12 May 2027 22:30:00 GMT

Midwest Speaker Academy

Beyond Applause: Creating Sustainable Income and Impact Through Training
presented by Jason A. Hunt, CSP

Speaking is an incredible way to make an impact, but it doesn’t have to be the only way. As you build and further develop your speaking business, training can help you create deeper relationships with clients, generate recurring revenue, and make a lasting difference long after the keynote ends. Image building long-term partnerships where you work with the same organization over multiple sessions, creating real transformation, rather than constantly chasing new clients for single engagements. That’s the power of training.

Whether you want to supplement your speaking or focus entirely on training, this session will help you build a profitable, sustainable business by mastering the structure, content, and sales of training. If you want to move beyond applause and build a business with greater impact, stronger client relationships, and more predictable revenue, this session is for you.

Jason A. Hunt, CSP is a leadership speaker, author, and thought leader who helps leaders slow down, see clearly, and choose better under pressure so they create bigger impact and more influence when it matters most. He has worked with more than 40,000 leaders across organizations large and small, equipping them to move beyond authority into influence that actually sticks. Jason’s journey began at 19, leading a church group of 100 people in outer Siberia. Since then, he has served in a wide range of leadership roles, including as a school principal, where he failed miserably. Those experiences shaped his belief that titles and good intentions aren’t enough.

Jason holds a master’s degree in leadership, is the author of five books, and the creator of The Discernment Path™, a leadership framework that helps leaders slow down, see clearly, and respond intentionally. He is a past president of the NSA Minnesota, is a CSP, and currently serves as a Chapter Leadership Committee member for NSA National.

Mic Check Monthly (May 17, 2027)

Mon, 17 May 2027 19:00:00 GMT

Mic Check Monthly

May topic: Travel Hacks -- What are your best travel secrets?

Mic Check Monthly is a mostly monthly, casual Zoom meetup designed to help NSA Wisconsin members connect, collaborate, and support one another in their speaking businesses.

These informal calls are a chance to meet and correspond with other members. Drop in as you’re able, and join the conversation. Expect a great time of sharing ideas and asking questions!

Note: you will receive the Zoom link in your confirmation email after you register.