"PATRICIA BALL, CSP, CPAE, is President of Corporate Communications and a communications specialist, Certified Speaking Professional, keynoter, diversity trainer, author, actor and presentation skills coach. A graduate of Washington University, she is a veteran speaker, having been speaking professionally nationally and internationally for over 25 years. Patricia served as a past national president of National Speakers Association and a past international president of the International Federation for Professional Speakers. She has helped thousands of executives, salespeople and others to communicate more persuasively in their personal and professional lives. Patricia's dynamic presentations combine warmth, believability and class with high-content, take-home value. She has been inducted into the CPAE (Council of Peers Award for Excellence) Speaker Hall of Fame - the ""Oscar"" of the speaking profession, and has earned the Certified Speaking Professional Designation of Achievement. Patricia has received intensive training in diversity and gender issues from the Copeland Griggs Institute in California. In 2004, NSA awarded her the coveted International Ambassador Award. Her superb talent for customizing programs to meet organizational needs has become her recognized trademark, and has earned her the title of ""The Speaker With the Dramatic Impact!"" Patricia has a best-selling audio album called ""Honing Your Presentation Skills,"" and is the author of the book, ""Straight Talk Is More Than Words,"" which deals with how to be more persuasive and convincing."