Don Franceschi

Don is the author of the Amazon Best Seller, FROM AWFUL TO AWESOME: 9 ESSENTIAL TOOLS FOR EFFECTIVE PRESENTATIONS.  Before becoming an independent speaker and consultant, Don spent 29 years with the State of California, with his last position as Regional Loss Prevention Manager for all of Northern California.  He is an active member of Toastmasters, and is the current President of the Next Level Toastmasters.  He is a Santa Rosa Junior College Community Education instructor, a frequent guest speaker for the Sonoma State University Hybrid Saturday BA Program, and a TEDx Sonoma County Organizing Committee member. 

Don’s book on Amazon:  https://amzn.com/B01GFJNZBK

Don’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVsuyRmD9OXbVqKAOQ4yTPA/videos

Don’s Website:   www.FromAwfulToAwesome.com

Leslie Neal

As Co-founders, Sue Haun and I organized Next Level Toastmasters in January, 2015, and it has been thriving ever since. I first joined Toastmasters in July 2010 at Santa Rosa Club 182 where I'm a past President. As a speaker coach I work with individuals as well as teaching workshops and group trainings. Frequently using EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) as a tool to implement change, my clients get fast, easy and lasting results to maximize their speaking and presentation skills.

Tony Navarra

Exuberance, excitement, and enthusiasm are what Tony Navarra brings to the table. Whether selling fireplaces to homeowners, speaking to large audiences at trade conventions or managing multi-million-dollar railcar repair budgets, Tony gives it his all with zing and pizzazz!

He has many years of success in working for corporations and small businesses, always increasing sales, and improving the internal workings of the organization. Also, a true entrepreneur, he has had several successful ventures of his own along the way.

You will love Tony’s perspective on the art and science of selling.

Dennis Mangan

Dennis has a PhD in microbiology/immunology, is a retired science administrator and enjoys talking about science. He loves helping people explain complex things in ways that are interesting, informative and even entertaining. He started the Chalk Talk Science Project in 2012 to integrate communication training into the careers of all scientists/engineers/technicians. The Project introduces storytelling as a fun, yet powerful tool to use for science presentations.

Dennis walks through creeks, bushes and heavily wooded areas looking for his lost golf balls. He lives in Santa Rosa CA with his wife and cockapoo dog.

Contact: chalktalkscience@gmail.com

Marie O’Neill

Marie O’Neill, MBA, is a dynamic life coach, astrologer, speaker coach and lecturer who founded Padma Life Coaching in Santa Rosa, California. With her expertise in the field of personal development, she helps individuals and groups to enhance their lives and achieve their goals.

An accomplished author, Marie's most significant work to date is 'And The Lotus Opened – A Memoir'. In this groundbreaking memoir, she detailed her journey of healing from trauma while providing a roadmap for others. Her other contributions include articles in various holistic and astrological journals, and she frequently lectures at Astrology and holistic conferences through the United States.

As a Distinguished Toastmaster through Toastmasters International, Marie utilizes her skills as a speaker coach to guide others in developing their public speaking abilities. Additionally, she has served on the Board of Directors with TEDx Sonoma County for seven years, bringing inspiring and transformative talks to the stage.

With over 20-years’ experience as a life coach, Marie’s passion is helping her clients achieve their goals and shine brightly in the world. She specializes in working with individuals dealing with trauma, guiding them through their healing journey.

For more information about Marie O’Neill and her coaching services:

Contact: http://www.padmalifecoaching.com. 1-800-337-7682

Connect with her on social media at:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/padmalc https://www.facebook.com/marieoneillauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/coachmarie1
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marieoneill/
YouTube: @padmalifecoaching

Nancy Woltering

I am thrilled to be part of our very dynamic and advanced Next Level Toastmasters Club. We are all working together to create an environment that supports our continued growth, so that we can all utilize our speaking skills in new and exciting ways. I work as an Associate Planner at the Town of Woodside. I have spent my career working in areas of land use and environmental planning, focusing on the challenges we face as a region, State, country, and world. Making a positive difference requires taking my own speaking skills to the Next Level!!

David Woltering

David has spent the last 35+ years working as a City Planner, sharing his passion to create more livable, diverse, and inclusive communities, balancing the needs and interests of economic development, downtown revitalization, appropriate levels of growth, and environmental protection. He has been the Planning Director or the Community Development Director for various northern California communities including the Town of Windsor, the City of Cotati, the City of Clayton, and the City of San Bruno. He retired from direct public sector work in October of 2018 to start his own consulting firm, Woltering Community Planning, LLC. In this capacity, David offers services to local governments in the areas of Community Development, Downtown Revitalization, Economic Development, and Local Government Administration/Management. Since transitioning to consulting, David has provided Interim Planning and Building Director and Interim Community Development Director services to several northern California communities. David is a long-standing member of the American Planning Association (APA) and the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). Additionally, David has presented professional papers at International Making Cities Livable (IMCL) conferences on various topics including, “The Explosive Economic Growth in the San Francisco Bay Area After the Great Recession of 2007-2009”, in Rome, Italy; “Integrating High Technology Work Environments into Local Communities through Purposeful Design,” in Santa Fe, New Mexico; “Creating a Vision for Bay Area Urban Livability While Maintaining Economic, Social, and Cultural Diversity,” in Ottawa, Canada; “Windsor, California’s Remarkable Transformation from Sprawling Suburbs to a Beloved Town with a Vibrant, Mixed-Use Town Center,” and “Maintaining a Livable Community While Adapting to COVID-19 Protocols – Perspectives and Experiences from Healdsburg, California,” both in Carmel, Indiana; “A Downtown Reimagined: Visions and Strategies to Restore Vibrant, Safe, and Memorable Connections to Historic Squares, Districts, and Public Spaces of Downtown Santa Rosa, California,” in Le Plessis-Robinson (Paris), France; and a follow-up paper on Downtown Santa Rosa in Poundbury/Dorchester, England. David thoroughly enjoys the camaraderie and passion for public speaking he shares with his Wine Country Speakers colleagues.

Contact: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidwoltering/ ; dwoltering@aol.com ; WolteringCommunityPlanning@gmail.com