admin, Author at NSA Austin

Kent Cummins

by admin | Mar 19, 2021 | Speakers

He’s called, “The Fantastic Kent Cummins,” and he is a prolific writer, teacher, and entertainer.

Kent’s specialty is “Magic With a Message,” in which he uses the fascination and fun of magic to educate, inspire, and entertain. This is what led him, in 1993, to start The Fantastic Magic Camp, a fully-inclusive program which has helped build confidence in thousands of children in Central Texas.

Kent’s first public magic show was in 1952 in his home town of Del Rio, Texas, at the age of nine. His first professional speaking gig was for Navy club managers in 1970. Retired from the US Army as a Lieutenant Colonel, Kent is a Certified Military Community Executive (CMCE)…and a Certified Juggling Instructor! (There is a photo somewhere of him juggling live hang grenades in Vietnam.)

But Kent believes that his most important title is “Grampa.”

Sometimes, It takes a Magician!

Courtney Clark, CSP

by admin | Mar 19, 2021 | Speakers

At age 26, I beat cancer. But five years later, doctors told me that a routine scan of my brain showed an aneurysm that was about to rupture.

I had a series of three brain surgeries in 2011 to remove the aneurysm. During those months I spent lying in bed, in pain so intense I wanted to die, I realized I had a choice for how I could move forward. Now I teach others how to make that same choice.

I designed my presentations to help organizations adapt to change and crisis when the stakes are high. I’ve done the research and I’ve lived it: I know that resilience in the face of major stress is possible, and I know how to get it done. Audience members who hear my presentations say my strategies make it easier to manage change, cope with anxiety, bounce back, let go of “the plan,” and get clarity when life, love, or work throw you a curveball.

I love to work with what I call “Pillar Professionals”^TM – people whose roles require they remain solid, like a pillar, regardless of chaos or change around them. Typical Pillar Professionals^TM are often found in education, healthcare, administration, customer service, sales, and IT. The people in these roles are called on to be highly resilient because of the pressure of their work and their critical position at the foundation of their organization.

When I’m not on stage working with one of my incredible clients as a motivational speaker, I’m serving my community. In fact, my research shows that giving back to others is the singe best way to get perspective on our own struggles. So I volunteer as the President of the Austin chapter of the National Speakers Association, and I’m on several nonprofit boards. I got my Masters Degree in Philanthropy from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. I’ve been honored with the Leadership Austin Ascendant Award, as well as my high school’s Distinguished Alumnae Award. I’ve also been recognized by Austin Monthly magazine as one of “20 in their 30s,” and by GivingCity magazine as one of 2012’s “New Philanthropists.”

Jim Comer

by admin | Mar 19, 2021 | Speakers

Jim Comer, the On-Stage Strategist, is a speaker, author, speech coach and communication consultant. He works with people who want to be more confident, persuasive speakers in their professional and personal lives. Jim has more than 25 years of experience working with Fortune 500 companies and has coached five CEOs, as well as candidates for Governor of Texas and Lt. Governor of California.

As a speaker, Jim has informed, inspired and entertained audiences in from Cancun, Mexico to Halifax, Nova Scotia with keynotes including “YOU Are the Message” and “How to Survive Caregiving with Sanity and a Sense of Humor”. His speeches provide valuable content that audiences can use immediately, along with laugh-out-loud humor and lively interaction.

His work as a writer includes How to Survive a Roommate, a book about his early days as an actor in New York, that landed him on the “Today Show”. His book, When Roles Reverse: A Guide to Parenting Your Parents, was nominated by the Texas Writers’ League as Best Non-Fiction Book of 2007. Jim’s articles have appeared in The New York Times, Washington Post and Reader’s Digest. He has ghostwritten three biographies, is a veteran of six quiz shows, including Jeopardy, and appeared in a comedy act at the Improv in New York..

Jim is a graduate of Trinity University with a B.A. in Political Science and a minor in Drama. He worked at the Dallas Theater Center, studied acting in New York with David LeGrant and has performed in theaters across America.

Sara Canaday

by admin | Mar 19, 2021 | Speakers

Leadership Speaker and Acclaimed Author

A rare blend of entrepreneurial spirit and perceptive warmth, Sara Canaday has a unique gift for helping high-potentials and leaders achieve their best.

Sara began her journey working full-time while she earned an MBA. As she climbed the ladder of corporate America, she repeatedly observed a surprising phenomenon: the most successful people weren’t necessarily the ones with the highest IQ or best job skills. She recognized instead that career advancement was much more closely linked with how people applied their knowledge and talents — their capacity to collaborate, communicate, and influence others.

Because of this revelation early on, Sara developed an uncanny ability to pinpoint the pivotal attributes that could make or break a career, and she was able to convey that information in a compassionately candid way. Colleagues, subordinates, and superiors alike frequently approached Sara for her advice on overcoming career hurdles and developing strategies to increase their personal market value. Despite reaching an executive position in operations with a major company, Sara realized that helping others to maximize their career potential was truly her life’s work.

Today, Sara is happily fulfilling that commitment as a keynote speaker, author, and executive coach. These venues have given her the opportunity to mentor and support thousands of people in diverse situations, inspiring many of them to move from insight to action with dramatic career results.

Sara lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband Brandon, her daughter Taylor, and her son Cole. She proudly follows the same advice she shares with her clients: be honest with yourself, never stop finding ways to improve, and –- if all else fails — head to Starbucks for a Double Mocha Latte with extra whipped cream.

Patti DeNucci

by admin | Mar 19, 2021 | Speakers

Patti DeNucci was raised in an entrepreneurial family that placed a high value on community and connection. She has enjoyed successful careers in communications, promotion, and talent management and has been a business owner for more than 35 years. Her lifelong passion is studying, practicing, and teaching the art and science of attracting and building rewarding relationships. Patti has worked with and presented to hundreds of individuals and organizations across dozens of industries, helping them to generate millions of dollars in referrals and revenue. Her work, leadership, and reputation have earned her numerous awards in business, communications, and publishing. She also has been chosen to serve in leadership roles within the National Speakers Association at both the local and national levels.