--- title: "Talking Points: National Speakers Association’s Influence 2015" id: "29317" type: "post" slug: "talking-points-national-speakers-associations-influence-2015" published_at: "2015-07-16T22:03:33+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-16T14:19:33+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2015/07/16/talking-points-national-speakers-associations-influence-2015/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2015/07/16/talking-points-national-speakers-associations-influence-2015.md" excerpt: "The National Speakers Association’s Influence 2015 conference heads to Washington, DC, this weekend." taxonomy_category: - "Meetings / Events" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "conferences" - "Live Events" - "Meetings" - "Professional Development" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Talking Points: National Speakers Association’s Influence 2015 ## The National Speakers Association’s Influence 2015 conference heads to Washington, DC, this weekend. Professional speakers and their staffs will make their way to the nation’s capital in a few days to learn different ways to make themselves better, more successful, and more profitable. **Association:** National Speakers Association **Conference:** Influence 2015 **Venue:** Marriott Wardman Park **Location:**Washington, DC NSA’s [Influence 2015 (opens in a new tab)](http://www.nsaspeaker.org/attend/convention/) will officially kickoff with Saturday’s opening general session featuring “Chef Jeff” Henderson, who will discuss his 12 street-smart recipes for success that took him from drug dealer to TV celebrity chef to nationally acclaimed motivational speaker. Other noteworthy agenda items: **Hallway happenings**. After hearing that some of the best learning experiences happen when people connect with each other in the hallways to share big ideas, solve issues, create new ventures, and seal lifelong friendships, NSA is taking it up a notch and formalizing hallway experiences. Special volunteer guides will help attendees connect with new and old friends on their way to afternoon sessions. **Themes and formats galore.**Sunday is being hailed “Celebrity Sunday” and will feature mystery celebrity guests. One who’s already been revealed: George Takei. On “Money Monday,” every main stage and breakout session on is dedicated to game-changing, revenue-making ideas. And unique session formats like A Will for Skill Labs, which are three-hour hands-on workshops, and XY Fast Five—a speed showcase of skills by Xers and millennials—add to the meeting’s variety. **Kids are welcome too.**Children from 10 to 16 can participate in the meeting’s [Youth Leadership Conference (opens in a new tab)](http://www.nsaspeaker.org/youth-leadership-conference-2015/) . Those enrolled take part in creative, educational, and social activities that help mold them into the best individuals they can be. It also provides a unique opportunity for participants to interact with speaking professionals and peers in a fun, safe environment. Listen in on more of the meeting via [Twitter (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/nsaspeaker) ([#influence2015 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/influence2015?vertical=default&f=tweets) ) and [Instagram (opens in a new tab)](https://instagram.com/nsaspeaker) . (iStock/Thinkstock) [Samantha Whitehorne](https://associationsnow.com/author/samantha-whitehorne/) Samantha Whitehorne is a former editorial director of Associations Now in Washington, DC. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/samantha-whitehorne/) Tags: [#conferences](https://associationsnow.com/tag/conferences/) [#Live Events](https://associationsnow.com/tag/live-events/) [#Meetings](https://associationsnow.com/tag/meetings/) [#Professional Development](https://associationsnow.com/tag/professional-development/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoLakisha Woods, CAE Shares Her Experience at the 2025 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 12, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/08/12/lakisha-woods-cae-shares-her-experience-at-the-2025-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/) - [VideoDJ Johnson Shares His Experience at the 2025 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 12, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/08/12/dj-johnson-shares-his-experience-at-the-2025-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/) - [VideoAshley Cobb Shares Her Experience at the 2025 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 12, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/08/12/ashley-cobb-shares-her-experience-at-the-2025-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/) - [VideoJenny Teeson, CHSE Shares Her Experience at the 2025 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 12, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/08/12/jenny-teeson-chse-shares-her-experience-at-the-2025-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2015%2F07%2F16%2Ftalking-points-national-speakers-associations-influence-2015%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !