Aaron W. Beverly
2019 World Champion of Public Speaking
Storyteller | Keynote Speaker | Trainer | World Traveler

In August 2019, Aaron Beverly emerged as the winner of the Toastmasters International Speech Contest, an annual public speaking competition that includes over 30,000 competitors worldwide. Performing the speech entitled “An Unbelievable Story,” Aaron provided a humorous take on the heavy subject of race and the importance of “acceptance despite difference.” That speech won him the prestigious title of World Champion of Public Speaking.

An accomplished speaker prior to the 2019 championship, Aaron also earned 2nd place in the International Speech Contest in 2016. Giving a speech that has come to be known simply as the “57-Word Title Speech,” Aaron spoke about the power of using a few words in world that believes “more is better.” Beverly is also, a five-time speech contest semifinalist, and a Moth Story Slam winner.

Oddly enough, Aaron considers himself to be “one of the most introverted people you can meet.” Public speaking and storytelling were extroverted activities he never thought he’d pursue. However, with hard work, dedication and a team of invaluable supporters, Aaron has become proficient in both skills and has learned to balance his innate introversion with flashes of extroversion.

Storytelling and public speaking have not only led Aaron to engage audiences at Fortune 100 companies such as Vanguard, J.P. Morgan Chase and Wells Fargo; notable Universities such as Temple, Drexel and the University of Pennsylvania; but they have also allowed Aaron to travel to countries around the world including: Taiwan, Malaysia, India, and the extremely foreign land known as Canada.

Aaron is living proof, that the art communication can have a profoundly positive effect on the advancement of your professional career and the fulfilment of your life.

Dr. Kevin C. Snyder
Toastmasters International 2022 Accredited Speaker

“We are so thrilled to welcome a dynamic, professional speaker to keynote at our upcoming conference! Dr. Kevin Snyder, DTM, was the only Accredited Speaker honored by Toastmasters International in 2022. He has presented motivational trainings and teamwork/communications workshops for over 1,150 organizations in all 50 states and several countries. If any of you work for a company who would like to utilize Kevin for a keynote or training workshop 1-2 days before or after our event, Kevin might be available and agreeable to a discounted speaking fee! Please visit Kevin’s website to view his sample leadership programs, demo videos and to reach Kevin directly: www.KevinCSnyder.com.”

Perry Neal, DTM
Past District Director

Perry Neal is a Distinguished Toastmaster and a Past District Director. Perry was honored as the 2015-2016 Division Director of the Year and was awarded the 2017-2018 Excellence in Program Quality at the International Convention in Chicago. He is currently the Vice President Education of the Virginia Beach Toastmasters and an ILC-nominated candidate for International Director from Region 7.

Subbi P. Mathur, Ph.D., DTM
8 DTM Awards

Dr. Subbi Mathur is a Professor Emeritus, Medical University of South Carolina (Retd 2005); Past Distinguished District 58 Governor (2011-2012); Past Region 8 Advisor 2015-2017 (All 9 Districts Distinguished and higher 2015-2016); Past Select Distinguished Area 13 Director, District 45, 2021-2022. Last year, she served as Select Distinguished Area 13 Director in District 45 Toastmasters in Canada. She has held numerous officer and executive leadership roles in her Toastmasters career.

Dana G. Richard, DTM
Past District Director

Dana G. Richard, DTM, brings over 40 years of leadership training, education, and experience to this discussion. In addition to 30 years of experience in the US Air Force, he served 20 years in Federal Civilian Service including service on the Defense Security Service Leadership Advisory Board. He joined Toastmasters in 2013 as the president of a newly chartered Toastmasters club and he has held most club leadership positions and multiple Toastmasters district leadership positions including district director. During the 2019-2020 Toastmasters program year, he led District 29 to be one of only three US districts to achieve distinguished status at the start of the Covid pandemic—putting leadership theory into practice.

Sam Worthingtonana G. Richard, DTM
Past District Director

A native of Southern California where his career as a digital advertiser began. He worked in this capacity for 22 years before he moved to Roanoke in March 2021. He was the Regional President for Lee Enterprises where he managed the operations of the Roanoke Times, Lynchburg News & Advance, Martinsville Bulletin and Danville Register. He currently serves as the VP of Digital for Lee Enterprises in Virginia. He is an avid cyclist and outdoor enthusiasts who enjoys all that Virginia’s Blue Ridge has to offer. He is proud to call Roanoke his home along with his wife Alicia.