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PAYN-KNOPER EARNS CERTIFIED SPEAKING PROFESSIONAL DESIGNATION
Speaker magazine names the agricultural advocate
one of “25 Hot Speakers” in 2009
Speaker magazine names the agricultural advocate
one of “25 Hot Speakers” in 2009
LEBANON, Ind. — July 7, 2009 — Michele Payn-Knoper, a professional agricultural speaker and principal of Cause Matters Corp., has earned the coveted Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) designation, and has been singled out in the current issue of Speaker magazine as one of the “25 Hot Speakers” who are shaping the speaking industry.
Payn-Knoper, who for eight years has been building her speaking practice on connecting agriculture to “the 98.5% of Americans not involved with farming,” said she was “truly humbled” by the recognition. She hopes it will help her reach even more agriculturists with advocacy training and tools to educate the consumer public about farm and food issues.
According to the National Speakers Association (NSA), fewer than 10 percent of speakers who belong to the International Federation for Professional Speakers hold the CSP distinction. One of 30 professionals to earn the CSP in 2009, Payn-Knoper will be honored at the NSA Convention in Phoenix, Ariz., on July 19.
“It is an honor to receive this designation while doing what I love: helping agriculturists champion their cause,” Payn-Knoper said. “I am grateful to those clients who allowed me to continue serving them while completing the tenuous five-year CSP process.”
Established in 1980, the CSP is the speaking profession’s international measure of experience and skill. The NSA and the International Federation of Professional Speakers (IFPS) bestow the title only on accomplished professional speakers who have met strict criteria. CSPs must demonstrate continuing speaking experience and expertise, as well as a commitment to ongoing education, outstanding client service and ethical behavior. Some of the criteria for earning and maintaining a CSP designation includes serving a minimum of 100 different clients within five years while presenting a minimum of 250 professional speaking engagements.
Coined “Agricultural Champion” by Speaker magazine, Payn-Knoper also is one of NSA’s “25 Hot Speakers” of 2009, and featured in the July/August issue of the publication. “Michele’s efforts in agricultural advocacy, including her embracement of social media, demonstrate genuine leadership in shaping the professional speaking industry,” reports Kirstin Carey, chair of the magazine’s advisory board. “She has demonstrated a unique ability to build communities around issues.”
Adds Payn-Knoper, “I was surprised to learn I was on the NSA list. For me, the recognition is a tribute to the people involved in the business of raising food, feed, fuel and fiber. Food is a hot subject, and we need to capitalize on this movement to help overcome misinformation about farming.”
The National Speakers Association is the leading organization for professional speakers. NSA's thousands of members include experts in a variety of industries and disciplines. Since 1973, NSA has provided resources and education designed to advance the skills, integrity and value of its members and speaking profession. For more information, visit NSA's Web site at www.nsaspeaker.org.
Payn-Knoper is known as a leader in agricultural advocacy, having worked with thousands of people through her motivational keynotes, workshops and social media tools. She is the founder of AgChat on Twitter, a weekly streaming conversation for people in agriculture that has captured national media attention. She also consults and conducts training and keynote addresses across North America, as well as overseas. Her blog “Gate to Plate” can be found at http://causematters.wordpress.com.
More about Michele Payn-Knoper: Driven by a passion to build connections between the farm gate and consumer plate, Michele founded Cause Matters Corp. in 2001. Cause Matters Corp. offers training, webinars and consulting services in agricultural advocacy, grassroots marketing, fundraising and social media. Clients include Farm Bureaus in more than 20 states, National Corn Growers Association, California Association of Fairs, Elanco Animal Health, National Pork Board, Milk Promotion Services of Indiana, Wisconsin Dietetic Association, American Agri-Women, and many others. More information can be found at www.mpk.info.
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