New Chapter Announced - Press Release

For more information: Steve Waterhouse, vice president of membership 904-269-2299 Ext.102 steve@predictiveresults.com

For Immediate Release

Local Chapter of National Speakers Association Forms
Organization offers Support to North Florida Speakers

(Jacksonville, Fla.) April 14, 2008: NSA of North Florida has filed to become an official chapter of the National Speakers Association. The group met to elect its board of directors and officers for 2008 – 2009. They are:
§ President – Dr. Jarik E. Conrad, Conrad Consulting Group, LLC
§ President Elect - Mary McCormack, On-Purpose Partners, LLC
§ Treasurer- Josette Mandela, H&R Block
§ V.P. Programs- Pegine Echevarria, Team Pegine
§ V.P. Membership- Steve Waterhouse, Predictive Results
§ Secretary, Zelda Fraden, Zelda, LLC
§ At large board member: Shiro Iwae, Health To Me
§ At large board member: Candace Moody, WorkSource

The local chapter is a revival for the group, which met until 2004. Membership in the organization, which will meet four times during the year, is open to people who receive compensation for speaking or speak frequently to audiences of 15 or more as a part of a salaried position. Suppliers to public speakers, speaker bureau owners and support staff to speakers also qualify for membership. The organization welcomes members from anywhere in North Florida and South Georgia. The other Florida NSA chapter is based in West Palm Beach.

“We have a great deal of talent – and variety - among professional speakers in this area,” said Dr. Jarik Conrad, NSA North Florida president. “Many of us have been informally sharing information and ideas for quite a while, but we wanted a forum to do it on a regular basis.” NSA North Florida represents an opportunity for full-time and part-time speakers to learn from each other and from experts from across the country that the organization will bring in as guest speakers. According to Conrad, “Members will also have the opportunity to network with people who understand and appreciate the joys and challenges in making a living as a speaker.”

The next meeting of the group will take place in June. For information on membership and meeting dates, contact Steve Waterhouse at steve@predictiveresults.com. You may also visit the groups blog at: http://groups.google.com/group/north-florida-nsa.
The National Speakers Association (NSA) is the leading organization for professional speakers. Since 1973, NSA has provided resources and education designed to advance the skills, integrity and value of its members and the speaking profession. NSA offers industry-specific information and training in the areas of business management, marketing and presentations skills. ###