Professional Speakers Associations

Meeting Professionals International
The 17,200 members of MPI are meeting-industry professionals who plan and/or manage meetings for corporations and associations. The group offers educational programs to help members obtain the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation.
Contact: 972.702.3000

National Speakers Association
NSA, an association of more than 3,800 professional speakers and businesses that serve the speaking industry, offers the Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) program; it holds a convention and several regional training workshops and labs each year. It produces Professional Speaker magazine, Who's Who in Professional Speaking: A Meeting Planner's Guide, and the "Voices of Experience" audiotape program. Members also have access to SpeakerLink, the association's Web resource.
Contact: 480.968.2552

Toastmasters International
Toastmasters is a not-for-profit educational organization devoted to helping people improve their public-speaking skills. Internationally, nearly 190,000 members belong to 8,800 local clubs, which meet regularly to give members the opportunity to learn and practice public-speaking techniques.
Contact: 949.858.8255

International Society of Meeting Planners
ISMP includes professionals from more than 90 countries who plan or coordinate meetings or represent meeting sites. The group offers three professional designations: Registered Meeting Planner, Certified Event Planner and Certified Destination Specialist.
Contact: 320.763.4919