Speakers Academy Enrollment

An Invitation for Aspiring, New, and Experienced Professional Speakers...

Map Your Blueprint to Success at Speakers Academy Reimagined

In Just 8 Sessions, Our Faculty of Established, Experienced Speakers Will Help You Chart Your Course to Speaking Success.

Registration closes January 23, 2026!

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Map Your Blueprint to Success with the

Speakers Academy

Hear directly from our 2026 Co-Deans, Rosie Zilinskas and Dean Heffta, as they share what makes the Speakers Academy a game-changer for aspiring and experienced speakers alike.

In just 8 dynamic virtual sessions, you’ll learn from a faculty of seasoned professionals who will guide you step-by-step to:

This program is designed to give you the insights, tools, and strategies to chart a clear path to speaking success.

Learn the Business of Speaking - From Established, Experienced

Professional Speakers

Professional speaking is a lucrative—but challenging—profession. NSA Illinois’ Speakers Academy provides the resources you need to understand the business of speaking.

The faculty features dedicated, accomplished professionals who make all or part of their living as professional speakers. You’ll learn the speaking business from the inside out from professionals from USA & Europe who have spoken to audiences all around the globe.

Of course, we’ll show you how to enhance your presentation skills. But NSA Illinois’ Speakers Academy focuses on how to develop and market yourself to people at corporations, associations, and organizations who hire—and pay—speakers.

Speakers Academy will help you address core business issues as a professional speaker and answer your pressing questions, like:

How do I position / differentiate myself?
What topics will I speak on?
How do I market myself to be a successful speaker?
What sales techniques are most appropriate?
Who are my core customers? Corporations, Non-Profit, Associations, Individuals, All of them?

Speakers Academy is not just a great educational experience, it is also a fun program where you likely will meet many new friends.

If you’re an emerging or experienced speaker who’s ready to invest in taking your speaking business to a higher level, join NSA Illinois’ Speakers Academy today!

Announcing the NSA-IL Spring 2026

Speakers Academy

Sessions are held on Saturday mornings from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Session 1-7 are VIRTUAL, with our final session being held IN PERSON!

Build your speaking business in just 8 sessions with the guidance of established professional speakers.

Each session covers essential information, from improving platform skills to marketing and running your business. Get the tools you need to succeed as a professional speaker!

What Have Previous Attendees Said?

Your 8-Session Roadmap to

Speaking Success

note: SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Session 1: January 23

Position Your Expertise

Learn how to develop a clear positioning statement that communicates who you serve, what you do, and the value you bring.

Session 2: February 6

Build Your Professional Bio & Introduction

Learn the difference between a professional bio and speaker introduction and develop both to communicate your credibility and expertise.

Session 3: February 23

Navigate Ethics & AI

Explore ethical considerations and practical ways professional speakers can use AI responsibly in their speaking business.

Session 4: March 13

Strengthen Your Keynote With Storytelling

Learn how to identify, shape, and use stories that strengthen your keynote and connect with your audience.

Implementation Session 1: March 20

Put It Into Practice

Work on your Speaker Academy materials, apply what you’ve learned, and get support as you continue building your speaking foundation.

Session 5: April 3

Strengthen Your Stage Presence

Explore the elements of effective delivery and strengthen how you use your voice, movement, energy, and presence on stage.

Session 6: April 17

Get Booked to Speak

Learn practical strategies and resources for identifying speaking opportunities, positioning yourself, and getting booked.

Implementation Session 2: April 24

Refine & Prepare

Continue implementing what you’ve learned, refine your materials, and prepare for your final Capstone presentation.

Capstone: May 8

Final Presentation (In-Person Session)

Take the stage for a live performance, receive feedback from industry professionals, and capture professional reel footage.

Discover Why Graduates Rave About the NSA Illinois

Speakers Academy

When you register, you’ll receive a seat at this full-day, live and in-person speaker showcase, featuring exciting presentations by 10 elite professional speakers. You’ll also get:

Meet Your NSA-IL Speakers Academy

Co-Deans

Speaker Academy is delighted to have two respected industry voices as Co-Deans – Dean Heffta and Rosie Zilinskas. They will present the core syllabus of Speakers Academy each week.

These gifted speakers have decades of speaking experience and live “The Spirit of Cavett” by generously sharing their wisdom and hard-won lessons to support future generations of speakers.

About Dean Heffta

Dean Heffta is a leadership & communication speaker and trainer who helps leaders create more connected, committed, and courageous teams. His clients range from international Fortune 100 companies to family-owned farms. He is the co-author of “How We Connect: Using Process Communication Model to build healthy relationships.” Dean is the immediate past president of the Illinois chapter of the National Speakers Association and a current member of the National Speakers Association’s Chapter Leadership Committee.

About Rosie Zilinskas

Rosie Zilinskas is the driving force behind the “No Woman Left Behind” initiative, dedicated to empowering women in the corporate world. As a Certified High-Performance Coach with over three decades of corporate leadership experience, Rosie offers a wealth of knowledge through her High-Performance and the “No Woman Left Behind” podcast. With a focus on building confidence and a strategic career roadmap, she guides women to overcome professional challenges and achieve recognition. Her work is fueled by her executive insights from a Fortune 500 insurance company, aiming to close the gender gap and foster inclusivity. Rosie is committed to creating a more empowered society by inspiring women to embrace their power and brilliance.

meet your 2026

Speakers Academy Faculty

check back soon - more speakers are being added

Start Strong: Build a Speaking Career You Love

With guest expert Cara Silletto, MBA, CSP

You have the message. Now you need the roadmap.

If 2026 is the year you launch—or relaunch—your speaking business, you might be asking yourself: Where do I start? How do I stand out? How do I avoid costly mistakes?

The NSA-Illinois Speakers Academy is here to guide you. On January 24, join us for Start Strong: Build a Speaking Career You Love with Cara Silletto, MBA, CSP. Cara has been where you are now, and she knows the obstacles—and the shortcuts—to success.

In this session, you will:

Get clear first steps to build your speaking career with confidence
Learn what to avoid so you don’t waste time or money
Discover proven strategies that successful speakers use
Walk away with practical, actionable advice you can apply immediately

By the end, you’ll have a focused plan to start strong, build momentum, and create the speaking career you’ve imagined.

NSA Kentucky’s Past-President Cara Silletto, MBA, CSP, will join us to show us under the hood of her unique business model explaining how she successfully transitioned her company from primarily keynote speaking into a larger training company with longer client contracts, bigger deposit checks, and several external facilitators who teach her proprietary material so Cara can stay home more.

Today, Cara’s “day job” is running her training firm, Magnet Culture, and speaking to business leaders and owners across the country about how to reduce unnecessary employee turnover and bridge generational gaps in the workplace. But she’ll share with our NSA chapter how she grew her business over the last decade and built a team of staff and contracted trainers.

Cara’s path to speaking is an interesting one as she started her career on the stage at age 7 in the Silletto Family Band (yes, just like the Partridge Family). She earned her MBA in Entrepreneurship from the University of Louisville in 2010, and Cara says she hit the jackpot when she found the perfect job as a professional speaker because it blends her passions for both business and performance into one amazing career! Cara also earned her Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) designation from NSA in 2020.

Jeff Rogers is the 2024 NSA national winner of “Last Story Standing,” an award-winning Television Host, Professional Emcee, Wall Street Journal & USA Today Best-Selling Author, and sought-after public speaker with 30+ years of experience engaging audiences.

Growing up, he had a built-in audience as one of eleven kids from an Irish-catholic family in Chicago and went on to become one of the youngest performers to be hired at the renowned Second City Theater (John Belushi was the youngest).

Jeff’s latest book is the international & Amazon bestseller The Playmaker Mindset: A Radically Fun Way To Build A Culture Of Teamwork And Instant Innovation. Jeff is the co-author of the Wall Street Journal & USA Today The Expert’s Cure and the Amazon bestseller Office Sportz! The Official Office Games Handbook.

Lois Creamer is an industry expert working with speakers who want to book more business, make more money and fully monetize their message. She is the author of the updated “Book More Business: Make MORE Money Speaking”, and “The Speaker Author: Sell More Books and Book More Speeches”.. Both books are available on Amazon.

Clients include Hall of Fame Speakers – Chicken Soup’s Jack Canfield; author of The Sales Bible Jeffrey Gitomer; Patricia Fripp and more. Her clients also include many whose names may not be familiar but who do very well in the speaking industry.

Her expertise and no-nonsense style have led her to present at NSA national meetings and chapters, CAPS, and to members of the Global Federation. In 2021, the Professional Speakers Association United Kingdom and Ireland named her an “Honorary Fellow.”

Lois has appeared in Forbes, Bloomberg Business, Speaker Magazine, INC Magazine, and The Wall Street Journal.

Steve Bollar, CSP, a.k.a. “Stand Tall Steve,” is an educational thought leader, former Superintendent of Schools, principal, author, and school culture and motivation expert. He is known for his quick wit, creative thinking, and humorous personality.

Steve has been identified as one of the Top 30 Global Gurus In Education. He is the author of the leadership book Stand Tall Leadership, school culture book Ideas, Ideas, Ideas! and is a co-author of the book series 10-Minute Classroom Starters.

Steve openly shares his knowledge, experiences, and creativity with others. He speaks to students, staff, and communities worldwide about thinking differently about schools, education, and life.

Jeannie Walters, CCXP, CSP is a customer experience speaker, trainer, host of the “Experience Action” podcast, and CEO of Experience Investigators. She is a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) and a Certified Customer Experience Professional (CCXP).

She helps business leaders – from individuals to small businesses to Fortune 1000s – learn and apply customer-centric initiatives that benefit their customers, employees, and bottom line.

Organizations including Georgetown University, LinkedIn Learning, and the Online Marketing Institute, as well as companies like Zurich, SAP, Verizon, and Cisco, have trusted Jeannie to speak, educate, and consult.

Jason Hunt, CSP speaks on topics of self-leadership, team-leadership and leadership of others. His leadership journey started at the age of 19 when he was asked to lead a church congregation of 100 members in outer Siberia. Since that assignment, Jason has been in various leadership positions, including principal of a junior high where he turned around the culture of a school in only two years.

Jason has a master’s degree from the University of Minnesota in leadership and is certified by the John Maxwell Leadership Institute. He’s also the author of The Other Side: Five Rules for Leading with Influence, a book designed to help new leaders thrive as they cross the line from being a great doer to being a great leader.

Jason’s company, I2: Eye Squared Leadership, delivers customized leadership training focused on equipping leaders to make an impact on the lives of their employees. He lives in Owatonna, Minnesota, with his wife and four kids.

Christopher Carter is the communication skills expert who helps leaders build relationships. With an academic background teaching theater and communication, plus 30 years as a professional speaker, entertainer, and corporate emcee, Christopher gives leaders the tools they need to establish trust and credibility, build a powerful personal presence, and truly connect with their teams.

He has presented to thousands of associations, corporations, and universities, including: The Million Dollar Roundtable, Medical Group Managers Association, Government Finance Officers Association, Land Improvement Contractors Association, National Equipment Dealers Association, John Deere Equipment, ExxonMobil, United Airlines, and many, many more.

Plus special guest speakers

Dr. Laticia (Tish) Thompson, PhD is the Founder and Chief Business Psychologist of Legacy Blueprint, LLC, a management consulting firm that teaches people how to play respectfully and productively with each other in the workplace sandbox. She is known for driving change in organizations that stick and creating a learning experience that’s fun, thought-provoking and capitalizes on the knowledge in the room.

Dr. Tish holds a Master of Science degree in Management and Organizational Behavior with two concentrations from Benedictine University. She completed her PhD in Business Psychology from the Chicago School for Professional Psychology with an emphasis in Consulting. Her dissertation is titled, “Fostering Employee Engagement in Healthcare Settings in VUCA Environments.”

She earned the coveted title of best-selling author for her personal story called, “I Am Not My Hair.” Just the title alone makes you curious. She delivers content in the areas of leadership, change, organizational culture, and self-discovery. She is a TEDx Speaker and her talk is entitled, “I Am… Bold, Bald and Beautiful.”

What inspires Dr. Tish professionally is working with organizations across industries that understand the power of getting things done through people and have an appetite for building the best organizational culture possible to make it happen.

She refuels by driving her kids crazy (finally… their turn), working out with people who push her to her limits, and she enjoys the art and science of a glass of red wine.

Dr. Tish is a mother of four, a five-time marathon finisher and resides in Chicago with her family.

Kevin E. O’Connor, CSP, CEC is an experienced executive coach, consultant, and professional speaker, as well as an author and lecturer.

His expertise focuses on career development, the challenges of leadership, business relationships, successful communication and the effectiveness of teams.

He specializes in working with professionals, particularly technical professionals, who have been promoted to leadership positions where they now lead their former peers. He has a proven track record within the healthcare sector for transforming outstanding physicians to extraordinary physician executives.

Conor Cunneen is an Irishman, happily exiled in Chicago where he says “the Guinness is good, the people are friendly and he has been force-fed more corned beef and green beer than he ever had in Ireland!”

As an Irish immigrant, he is a very proud recipient of the President’s Gold Medal for Volunteer Service for the work he does with job seekers.

He is also an in-demand keynote speaker, facilitator, author, consultant, award-winning humorist and master of ceremonies to associations, corporations, and healthcare.

Bonus Workshop

How to Craft Your Signature Talk

Your signature talk is the presentation you want to be known for as soon as someone hears your name. It’s a way to position yourself as an expert – and sell your products, services, and yes, additional speaking engagements.

Creating a powerful signature talk is so much more than speaking about a subject you’ve mastered. To do its job — winning the hearts and minds of your audience, as well as influencing the meeting professionals who will hire you — your signature talk must be carefully structured.

During this half-day virtual workshop, you’ll discover:

Critical elements that your signature talk must include to be effective
How to use your signature talk to stand apart from other speakers in your space
Secrets to structuring your signature talk so you can repurpose the content, while keeping the material fresh and customized to each audience
Tips for incorporating humor into your signature talk (even if you don't think you're funny)

Best practices for grabbing - and holding - your audience's attention
A successful signature talk is never fully finished. Successful professional speakers are always looking for ways to update and strengthen their signature talks to make them more memorable, meaningful, and mesmerizing.
And much more!

But the hardest step is getting the first draft of your signature talk written. During this hands-on workshop, we’ll guide you step-by-step through the process of drafting your signature talk. You’ll walk away with a solid start — and a clear plan to finish your draft and continue developing your presentation.

Details about this workshop, including the date, are being finalized. As a member of the Spring 2025 Speakers Academy, you’ll be able to attend for free and receive access to the recording.

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