In 1972, NSA's founder,  Cavett Robert, CSP, CPAE, came to the realization that he was spending more to get bookings than he was earning from them. He wanted to create a forum for speakers to improve their skills, increase their business and network with their peers.

Cavett had a vision for an organization where professional speakers could convene to improve their presentations, exchange ideas and share experiences. He felt that everyone involved in the speaking profession would benefit from growing the number and quality of professional speakers. He referred to it as "making a bigger pie."

For more information about the Cavett Award and past recipients click here.

Here are some significant points in NSA's history:

• Our first newsletter, Speak Out (the predecessor to Speaker magazine) was created in 1974. 
• Voices of Experience (VOE) audio magazine (initially called “Cassette of the Month”) started in 1976.
• The CPAE Speaker Hall of Fame was created in 1977 with 39 speakers being inducted. CPAE originally stood for Continuare Professus Articulatus Excellere, eventually being changed to Council of Peers Award for Excellence and then to CPAE Speaker Hall of Fame.
• The Cavett Award was first given in 1979.
• Meet the Pros (formerly called the Mentor/Mentee Program) started at the 1979 Convention.
• Winter Workshops started in 1977 at the Lincolnshire Resort in Illinois.
• The first Certified Speaking Professionals were presented in 1981.
• The first chapters were chartered in 1981.
• The first two Conventions (1975—attendance of 60—and 1976—attendance of 200) were held at the Camelback Inn in Scottsdale, Ariz. The third Convention was held at the Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix. Our first "out of Arizona" convention was held in Louisville in 1978.
• Membership grew rapidly from 1975 to 1980, with very little promotion or solicitation, mostly from speakers telling other speakers. We went from 100 members in 1974 to more than 1,000 in 1980. The rest is ongoing history!

Since it was established in 1973, the National Speakers Association's strength has sprung from its Founder Cavett Robert, CSP, CPAE. His love, encouragement, generosity and wisdom embody the spirit of NSA today and continue to guide the Association as it grows in number and diversity. We can never forget where our inspiration came from. That's why we've incorporated a little bit of Cavett in everything we do and everything we've created at NSA—from our mission statement, Code of Ethics, Conventions, Workshops and Professional Experts Groups (PEGs). Cavett displayed an uncanny ability to inspire others and share his wisdom and expertise. "A desire to help others is our most noble attribute; it gives immortal momentum to life and is our only certain path to heaven," he would say.

For more Information on Cavett Robert, visit www.cavettrobert.com