How good a speaker is Bill Stainton, CSP? When the National Speakers Association (NSA) was looking for the perfect opening keynoter for their New York City convention (the largest in the association’s history), they chose Bill Stainton. His standing ovation performance led one former NSA president to say, “I’ve never seen anyone combine so many elements of a great keynote as brilliantly as you did!” Bill’s programs are always customized, and always entertaining. That’s why he’s a CSP (Certified Speaking Professional), the speaking profession’s highest earned international measure of excellence. Fewer than 15% of NSA members worldwide have achieved the CSP designation, and Bill is proud to be among them. And in 2019, Bill was inducted into the Speaker Hall of Fame (there are currently fewer than 185 speakers in the world in this exclusive club)!
The Speaker
The Producer
It’s hard enough to win one Emmy Award. Bill has won 29. More important, as the Executive Producer of Seattle’s legendary comedy TV show Almost Live!, he led his team to over 100 Emmys of their own, as well as 10 straight years of #1 ratings. Along the way, Bill worked with (and learned from) other successful entertainers like Jerry Seinfeld, Ellen DeGeneres, and Bill Nye the Science Guy. Bill has also written for HBO, Comedy Central, and The Tonight Show.
The Person
Bill grew up behind a dairy farm in the Amish countryside of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. A strange start, perhaps, for a guy who then spent 20 years in television, rubbing shoulders with celebrities and rock stars. But it all comes together on the stage, where Bill brings his unique life experience to every customized program. When he’s not working with, or speaking for, clients around the world, Bill enjoys scuba diving, flying airplanes, and irritating blues club bands by continually asking to sit in on drums or keyboards. Occasionally they say yes.
National Speakers Association
Bill is very active in his professional organization, the National Speakers Association (NSA). His contributions to the association include:
- being the opening keynoter for the New York City convention (the largest in NSA history)
- producing and hosting the monthly audio magazine, Voices of Experience
- publishing multiple articles in the monthly print magazine, SPEAKER Magazine
- co-chairing the 2012 Winter Workshop
- producing the 2016 CPAE Hall of Fame Banquet
- serving as President of the Northwest Chapter of NSA
- producing the 2019 CPAE Hall of Fame Banquet
- co-chairing the 2020 National Convention, Influence 2020
- conducting workshops for two dozen regional NSA Chapters
- delivering breakout sessions at multiple national NSA events