Teresa Zumwald to speak at the 2017 World Conference of the Professional Speechwriters Association
ENGLEWOOD, Ohio, April 12, 2017 – Teresa Zumwald and Janet Stovall will present the career track session “The Freelance Survivors: Secrets from Independent Speechwriters Who Have Made It This Far” on Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 17, at the 2017 World Conference of the Professional Speechwriters Association (PSA) at Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
Zumwald is the owner and president of Zumwald & Company, LLC, and Stovall is the founder and principal of The Point Communications.
A Cicero Speechwriting Award-winning freelancer since 1989, Zumwald’s first tip is never to use the world “freelancer” with a prospect, because it contains the severely misleading term “free.”
Stovall, another Cicero-winning freelancer since 1994, has developed ways of speaking to clients that keep clients coming back. (Hint: Politeness and compliance are not always the order of the day.)
In conversation with Gotham Ghostwriters’ Dan Gerstein, they’ll share how to:
- Set up the necessary business processes
- Market wisely
- Cultivate self-discipline
- Avoid pitfalls that sink freelance speechwriters
Conference highlights
The 2017 PSA World Conference opens with a searching keynote speech by Tony Schwartz, the ghostwriter of the book that made President Trump plausible, “Art of the Deal.”
The conference includes White House speechwriters to every president from Obama back through Nixon. It ends with a capnote conversation with First Lady Michelle Obama’s speechwriter Sarah Hurwitz.
Attendees will enjoy professional and personal exchanges with some of the most illustrious, industrious and inventive corporate, nonprofit, university and independent speechwriters in the business.
Hosted by the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University, sponsored by Gotham Ghostwriters and SKDKnickerbocker, convened by the PSA and emceed by “Vital Speeches of the Day” editor and publisher David Murray, the annual world conference is the place where speechwriters and executive communication professionals gather annually to exchange ideas, solve problems and build relationships.
Visit the PSA World Conference website for more information.
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About Teresa Zumwald
Opening her own shop in 1989 was an experiment that’s never ended for Teresa Zumwald, a speechwriter, speech coach, communications consultant and three-time corporate history book author. At Zumwald & Company, LLC, she’s worked one-on-one with brilliant CEOs, entrepreneurs and subject matter experts at more than 80 organizations to tell stories that resonate. In 2009 she added speechwriting to her repertoire, and since 2013, her speeches have won eight awards including three Cicero Speechwriting Awards. She’s also the speechwriter for the chairman of the board of two global manufacturing companies based in Europe.
About Janet Stovall
Founder and principal of The Point Communications, Janet Stovall helps corporate, nonprofit, political and entertainment leaders communicate the messages they want in the voices they need to the people they choose.
Her niches are healthcare, IT and workplace diversity. She’s increasingly a go-to on culturally credible communications.
She also develops and manages marketing and advertising campaigns, communications and executive positioning projects for leading U.S. companies.
