Corinna Koehler, Area 14 Director
Please join me in congratulating Corinna Koehler for being only the 4th Lady Sevener to achieve a Level IV award in the Persuasive Influence path after Diane Horton, EC4; Yesica Vazquez, DL4, and Elaine Dusetzina, EC4. Corinna joined San Diego Toastmasters 7 in November 2017. In her 3 years and 4 months with our club she has successfully completed Legacies Competent Communicator, Advanced Communicator Bronze, Competent Leader, and Advanced Leader Bronze awards.
Corinna began her formal Toastmaster leadership career as our Club Secretary where she ran tight Executive Committee meetings followed by 2 terms of service as our VP of Education. She is currently the Area 14 Director and serves Center city Speaker TM 643, City Speakers TM 1112, Loquacious Nooners Club 3121, and Career Builders TM 5223. Most recently Corinna earned Toastmasters International Triple Crown recognition for earning 3 Pathways Level awards in the same Toastmaster year. We are blessed to have her as one of our own.
Elaine Dusetzina, DTM - Area 9 Director
San Diego Toastmasters 7 is proud to recognize Elaine Dusetzina, as the first club member to complete an educational path – Effective Coaching – in the Toastmasters International Pathways educational program launched in the Fall of 2018.
Elaine joined San Diego Toastmasters 7 in October 2017 and is among the first members to focus on the Pathways program. During her 3-year Toastmasters career, Elaine served as VP of Public Relations from 2018-2019 during which she interviewed many of our club's high achieving members on the club's page, "Members in the Spotlight."
In 2020, Club President Shadi Abudayeh awarded her the President's Grab the Gavel award for most Outstanding Leadership contributions to San Diego Toastmasters 7. She currently sits on SDTM7's Public Relations Committee.
Elaine is a National board-certified Health and Wellness Coach and the founder of Evoke Strong LLC. She's a proud mom of two girls, a Navy Veteran, and a retired Navy Spouse.
Jonathan L. Berman, DTM
San Diego Toastmasters 7 Club President, Jonathan L. Berman, is the 12th club member since 2004 to earn Toastmasters International coveted Distinguished Toastmaster award.
An adventurous traveler and surfer from San Diego, California, Jonathan joined San Diego Toastmasters 7 in 2014. Berman thrilled his audiences with stories of the Brazilian Favelas, the friend zone, and his love for astronomy. He is a two-time Club Humorous Speech Champion and the 2016 Area 9 Humorous Speech Runner up.
As VP of Membership and VP of Public Relations under Club President, Amir Guri, in 2015-2016 Berman demonstrated to be a women's advocate. Indeed, Berman campaigned to fill a gender gap at San Diego Toastmasters 7 by organizing the first All Ladies Toastmasters meeting and recruiting 4 new female members that evening including Past Club President, Aimee Fuller.
Last but not least, Berman was mentored by Distinguished Toastmaster, Damarys Alicea, and in turn mentored Distinguished Toastmaster, Alberto Alvarado. Please join me in congratulating Distinguished Toastmaster and Toastmasters International Triple Crown award recipient, Jonathan Berman.
By Christoph Kubitza, DTM with contributions from Yesica Vazquez, DTM
Alberto Alvarado, DTM
Distinguished Toastmaster, Alberto Alvarado joined Club 7 in September of 2015. Alberto was awarded Grab the Gavel 2015-2016 and Toastmaster of the Year 2016-2017 for excellent work in fundraising, special events, and membership. He also served as club Treasurer for 3 terms.
In the past several years, Alberto co-chaired the Leadership and Communication Expo (LACE) – San Diego 7's biggest event with over 200 in attendance.
Alberto has served two terms as a district leader – he was our past Area 9 Director and currently serves as District 5 Public Relations Manager. Professionally, he works for The Costco Auto Program and is a Consultant in the field of Automotive Marketing.
Joyce Persichilli, DTM
One of our most accomplished members, Joyce has been a Toastmaster member since 1995. Over the years she held numerous roles at the club, area, division, district and international level in Toastmasters. She was the 2018 District 5 Toastmaster of the Year and a recipient of the Presidential Citation from Toastmasters International in August of 2018. She is most proud of being the 1st recipient of the Helen M. Blanchard Trail Blazer Award presented to her by Helen M. Blanchard in 2010.
Joyce currently holds the position of District Finance Manager for District 5 Toastmasters, Judging Chair for District 5, LDT Trainer, Awards Chair, Pathways Team Member and Acting Southern Division Director. She also has earned two DTM awards!
Currently, she is the Mentor/Mentee Chair for San Diego Toastmasters 7. In addition to being a member of San Diego Toastmasters 7, she is a member of Club 407 in District 100 where she serves as club treasurer.
Christoph Kubitza, DTM
Christoph is one of our longtime members who joined back in April 2004 after he was laid off by Rain Bird International. He wanted to become better at organizing and presenting his ideas in staff meetings and to prepare himself for job interviews.
Currently, he's a Warehouse 1st Shift Supervisor of Kraft Heinz San Diego food processing plant, home of the Delimex brand of Mexican frozen food. He's responsible for a team of 10 Material Operators that supplies 6 production lines.
Christoph has been instrumental in the growth of San Diego Toastmasters 7 serving as a mentor to various members of the club. He is also helping to grow another club in San Diego, Creatively Speaking Toastmasters. He is the 2018-2019 Club Treasurer.
His hobbies are reading, movies, archery, touch rugby, and travel.
More Featured Members
Shadi Abudayyeh, CC/CL
Shadi joined San Diego Toastmasters 7 in August 2015 and is serving his second term as President. In his occupation as a business analyst, he was recommended from his place of work (Wells Fargo) to join Toastmasters. When Shadi isn't at Toastmasters he can mostly be found at home with his wonderful girlfriend and silly dog, at a brewery debating his three favorite "B words" (burritos, baseball, beer) or planning his next vacation. Shadi welcomes and encourages you to come visit San Diego Toastmasters 7 and see how it can help improve your life in ways you didn't anticipate.
Chris Hammell, ACS/ALS
Chris Hammell has been a member of San Diego Toastmasters 7 since 2010. He won first place in the Area 21 and 2nd place in the Eastern Division Humorous Speech Contests in 2011. He was club VPE throughout 2014, a past Area 26 Director, and the Area 9 International Speech Champ. In 2018 he was awarded the Helen Blanchard Trailblazer Award. Chris started Improv Masters in May of 2015. In addition to improv, Chris has taken NCT's stand-up comedy training and opened for Dat Phan, the winner of the first season of NBC's Last Comic Standing. None of which would have been possible without Toastmasters.
Eric Linder, DTM
A member since 2006, Eric has contributed greatly to the growth and success of Toastmasters 7. He's a Distinguished Toastmaster, a past 5-term Club President and a mentor to over a dozen members. Outside of the club he served as Area 9 Director for six Clubs and was subsequently awarded the Area 9 Director of the Year (Making A Difference) Award for 2016-2017.
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