We are part of the National Speakers Association, the leading educational and networking organization for experts who speak professionally.

Our mission is to inspire — through example, education, and community — quality and professionalism in both speaking and business development for those who use the platform in their work.

Watch our Vision Statement in Action

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History

The National Speakers Association (NSA) was founded in 1973 by Cavett Robert, CSP, CPAE, who had a vision for an organization where professional speakers could convene to improve their presentations, exchange ideas and share experiences. Cavett felt that everyone involved in the speaking profession would benefit from growing the number and quality of professional speakers. He referred to it as “making a bigger pie.”

In 1980, NSA’s leaders recognized that members wanted more opportunity to connect than was afforded by the two annual meetings, so they proposed creation of local chapters. Under the leadership of Patricia Fripp, CSP, CPAE, the Northern California Chapter (NSA/NC) was formed, with 92 people attending its first meeting in San Francisco in September 1980.

Today NSA/NC is one of about 40 NSA chapters nationwide. While most of our members live in the San Francisco Bay Area, we have active members from Fresno to Sacramento to Eureka.

• Watch Michael Soon Lee, CSP, describe the “Spirit of NSA”
• Read Patricia Fripp’s tribute to Cavett (new window)
• Listen to a 1978 interview with Cavett Robert and Merlyn Cundiff about how NSA got started

NSA Designations

NSA has two professional designations. CSP is the Certified Speaking Professional designation, which is earned by meeting an extensive list of requirements. CPAE is the Council of Peers Award for Excellence, also called the CPAE Speaker Hall of Fame; only a few are awarded each year. More details, and a list of NSA/NC members who have received these honors, are on the NSA Awards and Recognition page.

Membership

To join the NSA/NC chapter, you must first be a member of NSA, which has several membership categories.

To become a Professional Member of NSA, you must meet ONE of the following options:

• Option 1: You have received compensation for at least 20 presentations in the past 12 months.
• Option 2: You have presented at least 20 times to audiences of 15 or more as a part of your salaried position in the past 12 months.
• Option 3: You made at least $25,000 presenting in the past 12 months.

To become a Service Supplier Partner of NSA, you must supply products or services to professional speakers.

Education

NSA and NSA/NC are committed to helping its members achieve their highest levels of competence as professional speakers. Four competency areas are recognized: Expertise (knowledge and experience in a particular area), Eloquence (the art of speaking effectively), Enterprise (skills needed to develop a successful speaking business), and Ethics (principles and standards for conduct as a professional speaker).

NSA/NC offers many varied educational programs throughout the year, for speakers at all levels of their speaking career.

For those speakers who do not yet meet the requirements to become a Professional Member, or for those members who want to develop additional skills in building a successful speaking business, we offer the Pro-Track program.

Networking

One of the biggest benefits of being part of NSA/NC is in the networking opportunities. Many people who experience NSA for the first time are astonished at how much our speakers are willing to share — experiences on the platform, ideas, what has worked, what hasn’t worked. In many organizations, people want to hoard and hide their success secrets. In NSA, thanks in large part to founder Cavett Robert’s “build a bigger pie” philosophy, members are eager to help each other, whether they are just starting out or are 20-year veterans.