Mentors

Dr. Saundra Russell-Smith is a proud person who stutters, an award-winning educator, and the founder of Limitless Leaders LLC, a leadership development company that helps people turn what limits them into what leads them. After three decades as a teacher, principal, and district administrator, as well as multiple degrees in education, she now empowers others to lead with authenticity and confidence—especially those with hidden disabilities. Her book, Limitless Leaders: Leading Beyond Your Disability, shares her journey from silence to strength and inspires others to own their voice at work and beyond. When she’s not mentoring or speaking, she loves traveling, storytelling, and spending time with family.

Industry: Education & Leadership Development
Title: CEO & Founder, Limitless Leaders LLC
LinkedIn URL

Chris Monello lives in Tinton Falls, New Jersey and is a person who stutters. He started attending NSA local chapter meetings in 2014 and was quickly comforted by the stuttering community and inspired to help others who stutter. In 2021, he joined the We Stutter at Work Board to help advocate for people who stutter in the workplace. He’s passionate about his career as the Head of Marketing at Scientific American Magazine. When he isn’t working, he enjoys spending time with loved ones, traveling and yoga.

Industry: Media
Title: Director of Marketing
LinkedIn URL

Emmett Myers is a person who stutters and a Software Engineer from Omaha, Nebraska. He attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he majored in Computer Science and served as a Head Teaching Assistant for multiple Honors Software Engineering courses. Emmett has been coding since high school and has interned at companies including Google, Garmin, and Bosch. As someone who stutters, he’s passionate about helping others build confidence in their communication and careers, and he hopes to show that stuttering and strong technical leadership can go hand in hand. Outside of work, Emmett enjoys playing basketball, watching sports, and spending time with friends and family.

Industry: Technology
Title: Software Engineer Intern
LinkedIn URL

Ashish has a Masters in Computer Science and specializes in Artificial Intelligence. His work experience spans startups and bigtech, mostly in the field of AI infrastructure.

Industry: Technology/Healthcare
Title: Senior Backend Engineer
LinkedIn URL

Barry Shaul, who stutters, is the founder of Shaul Consulting, a security firm specializing in strategic leadership. A former corporate senior executive, he is recognized for his collaborative approach and practical risk management. Before the private sector, Barry spent over a decade as a Special Agent with the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service, including a role as assistant shift leader on Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s protective detail. He began his career as a police officer in Orange, California. Barry holds a B.A. from Cornell College and an M.P.A. from the University of Minnesota. Outside of work, he enjoys traveling with his family as they work toward visiting all 50 states.

Industry: Consultant
Title: Owner & Principal Consultant
LinkedIn URL

Alonzo Jones, Jr., a person who stutters, serves as the Credit Manager at the Bank of Zachary, where he leads credit analysis and portfolio management while supporting the bank’s strategic lending initiatives. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Finance and Accounting from Louisiana State University and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Alonzo believes that personal challenges can be powerful teachers, his journey with stuttering has strengthened his empathy, resilience, and communication skills, qualities he brings into both his leadership and mentorship. Outside of work, he enjoys fitness, continuous learning, and spending time with his wife and son.

Industry: Finance
Title: VP - Credit Manager
LinkedIn URL

 Sara Merkle, EdD, is a School Success Specialist at the University of Delaware’s School Success Center and teaches courses in the College of Education and Human Development. Her interests include adolescent literacy instruction and achievement, curriculum development, influencing relationships between leaders and teachers, education equity, and advocacy for teachers and students. Dr. Merkle believes that education is a form of social justice, and she amplifies the voices and experiences of literacy educators in her instructional coaching and partners with them to drive practice and achievement. She is a person who stutters, a characteristic that has complicated and enhanced her life.

Industry: Education
Title: School Success Specialist
LinkedIn URL

 With over 15 years of management experience, I have a proven track record of operational excellence, people development, and problem-solving in various industries, including e-commerce, retail, and manufacturing. I am passionate about talent growth, innovation, and customer satisfaction. I have used my Stutter as superpower, to get people to truly listen.

Industry: 3PL Warehouse Operations
Title: Director of Operations
LinkedIn URL

Aidan is a Health and Wellness professional, public speaker, and advocate with a passion for helping individuals thrive at the intersection of physical health, mental well-being, and identity. With experience spanning Public Health Practice and Community Leadership, I bring a unique perspective that combines scientific knowledge with lived experience. Aidan serves as a Chapter Leader in the Washington, DC area and Chair of the Young Adult Committee for the National Stuttering Association, where I lead programming, advocacy, and community-building initiatives. Through this work, as well as public speaking engagements and media appearances, I champion conversations around stuttering, race, neurodiversity, and identity.

Industry: Advocacy, Health and Wellness
Title: Tier 3 Trainer and Wellness Coach
LinkedIn URL

I’m a proud person who stutters. I joined the National Stuttering Association when I was 12 years old, and that experience profoundly shaped my path toward becoming a speech-language pathologist.  After earning my bachelor’s degree in Communication Disorders from Auburn University, I completed my master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Toledo, where I first became involved in stuttering research and earned an Advanced Certificate in Stuttering Intervention.  Following graduate school, I began my career as a speech-language pathologist in Knoxville, Tennessee, working in private practice and schools across East Tennessee. Through these experiences, I saw a clear need for greater stuttering education, support, and resources—which inspired me to return to school for my Ph.D.  I am now a fifth-year doctoral student at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, where my research, teaching, and advocacy all center on stuttering. My work aims to bridge neuroscience and clinical practice to develop identity-affirming, evidence-based approaches to stuttering therapy.  Throughout my doctoral training, I’ve been honored with the Dean’s Award for research and community service, the Knoxville 40 Under 40 Award, and the National Stuttering Association’s Krishnan Family College Scholarship. Beyond research, I continue to lead the Knoxville NSA Chapter and remain deeply committed to empowering people who stutter to find their voices and share their stories.

Industry: Speech Language Pathology
Title: Speech Language Pathologist
LinkedIn URL

Mallorie was interested in speech and language development from a very young age, an interest that eventually and logically led to the field of speech-language pathology. Mallorie received a Master's degree from Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon, and has worked in multiple settings where one finds SLPs. Mallorie is a fierce advocate and ally for people who stutter and for people with disabilities. Outside of her career and volunteer work, Mallorie enjoys traveling, food, the great outdoors, reading books about Ernest Shackleton, listening to stand-up comedy, and speaking German.

Industry: Speech Language Pathology
Title: Speech Language Pathologist