CHRISTINE
KITCHENMASTER
BILL GOVE SCHOLARSHIP
School: California State University at Northridge
job that you don’t enjoy. I truly believe
that everyone has something that they
were meant to do. You may not know it
until it hits a quieter place inside of you.
Most of us just aren’t quiet enough to
hear it.
How did you get involved with NSA?
Dottie Walters, CSP, suggested that I get
involved, so I started attending Greater
Los Angeles chapter meetings. I first
attended Convention in 1997 and was
overwhelmed. When I attended again
in 2005, I met Gemenie Babb and Sue
Leonard and became the “NSA daughter”
of Rick Jakle, CSP, and his wife, Sharon.
What is A ToP Banana?
A TOP Banana is an entertainment and
seminar company I started. It began in
1989 with presentations for community and non-profit organizations, and
developed into a motivational speaking
company that specializes in encouraging people to live fuller lives of
meaning, integrity and hope. Visit www.
ATOPBanana.com for more information.
What’s it like competing at
Toastmasters?
Competing is always fun. The last few
years have become more challenging
because I joined an advanced group. Also,
with the international competitions, there
is usually more stress involved because a
lot of people are vying for those titles and
they take it very seriously.
What is your motto?
Work, play, pray. I love work and I don’t
believe in retirement. I think that we were
meant to provide service to others in one
way or another.
How did you get the opportunity
to keynote on behalf of Jim Droz?
Jim got double booked and asked
me to present his Real Estate Success
program for him, which was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—he’s a top
producing salesperson for Century 21.
Do you have any suggestions for the NSA Student
Membership program?
I feel like the speaking business
lacks a clearly defined on-ramp
for getting started. I would like to
learn more about topic selection,
credibility and authenticity.
I opened with “Number 1 is so overrated” instead of something boring like,
“I’m sorry the real guy couldn’t be here.”
I was nervous and wondered how people
would receive the presentation. Although
I did well, it made me realize that real
estate isn’t my ideal topic.
What topics do you want to
speak about?
I love the idea of “do what you love”
because life is too short to clock in to a
Who do you look up to in the speak-
ing industry?
I have been most profoundly moved by
Zig Ziglar. I also look up to Rick and
Sharon Jakle, Al and Maureen Walker,
Glenna Salsbury, Jeanne Robertson, Tim
Gard, Mark Sanborn, Joe Calloway (all
CSP/CPAEs), Hank and Lola Gillebaard,
NSA staff and countless others who
repeatedly made me feel welcome,
encouraged and part of an incredible
organization.
Kitchenmaster’s sister, Tayler, inspired her 2008 Toastmasters International speech.
Freelance writer Lauren Aiken has been published in 944, Arizona Foothills, bizSanDi- ego and Desert Living. For more information, visit
www.LaurenAiken.com.
