Profile Index

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Occupation and Employer:
Self-employed Professional Speaker & Sales Trainer since 1974, specializing in custom corporate seminars and custom sales training. All 2500+ programs have come from word-of-mouth without advertising or marketing. Reasons clients give for hiring me repeatly is that the program was so customized to their needs, delivered with high energy, humor, custom visuals, detailed handouts and a unique follow-up program, and that my fee is performance-based, as determined by the audience evaluations. Audience size this past year has ranged from 20 people for two days to 7800 people for 90 minutes.

Accomplishments:
As a Toastmaster I've been awarded these recognitions: Area Governor of the Year, Best Evaluator in Arizona, Best Speaker in Arizona, Most Outstanding Toastmaster in Arizona, and in the 1974 International Speech Contest -- 3rd place. I'm also the 1989 recipient of the Golden Gavel.

Interests:
Waterskiing with Judy on a competitive ski course at our private ski lake in Gila Bend 2 days a week. Houseboating at Lake Powell (coming up to 1000 nights spent on our houseboat). Home improvement projects -- we've made 8 additions to our home over the past 35 years. Also stamp collecting, fishing, fishing, and more fishing, with lots of catching!

Personal and Career Goals:
My specific goals are personal and not to be shared, but in summary, all my goals focus around one word "improvement." I also love to help other people improve their speaking skills and their lives.

Professional Accomplishments:
Clients have coined the designation: "America's Most Prepared Speaker!" Charter member of National Speakers Association. Inducted into "Speakers Hall of Fame" as a CPAE. Inducted into the "Legends of the Speaking Profession" (2006).

Personal Accomplishments:
Married to my wonderful wife Judy since 1963. Two amazing daughters who live here in the Valley, with 4 grandchildren and 2 great son-in-laws.

Why do you stay in CHATS?
Having been to a lot of Toastmasters clubs since 1969, no other club I've been a member of, or have visited, has such a large collection of diverse personalities with so much potential to be truly great communicators like Chats! Most clubs have one, two or maybe three stars. CHATS has a majority of its large membership in this category!
 
How can CHATS help its members?
There's no magic formula for a great Toastmasters club, so here are my suggestions...
1. Come prepared for your assignment, no matter what it is, and commit to performing that function with the highest degree of focus, humor and enthusiasm you can muster.

2. Attend every meeting you can, even if you're not on the program.

3. Provide specific and honest input on each of your written evaluations. Tell the speaker HOW you think they can improve. Spank them when needed and deserved. Praise them when needed and deserved. Write a lot of things on the evaluation form! Follow up with phone calls and emails as you get new ideas on how they can be better next time.

Mentors Minute:
When I joined my first Toastmasters club in 1969, never did I imagine that my life would change to the degree it has. It took me four years of attending meetings every single week before I had the confidence to enter my first contest, but once I did, things improved at a rapid pace! My confidence grew, my skills grew and my income soared. What I learned at Toastmasters has earned me more money from speaking than I ever could have dreamed of. And the most positive personal reward has been the people I grew to know and respect in the many clubs I was a member of. Now as a CHATS member it's so exciting walking in at noon on Monday and seeing our members. As guests attest -- CHATS is electrifying, energized, so much fun and so very professional. It's every member's obligation to keep it that way. If you don't you'll be spanked!