For professional speakers, the difference between landing a stage and getting ignored often comes down to one thing: the proposal. At the upcoming NSA Carolinas retreat, Barbara Rozgonyi is stepping in to help speakers stop wasting time on the wrong opportunities and start crafting submissions that actually get noticed.
Speaker SOS helps professional speakers choose worthwhile opportunities, strengthen CFP responses, and communicate their audience value.
Getting selected starts with choosing the right opportunity and showing why your expertise matters to that audience. A strong proposal makes that value easy to see.”— Barbara Rozgonyi, CEO CoryWest Media
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CHARLOTTE, NC, UNITED STATES, October 16, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Leadership visibility keynote speaker Barbara Rozgonyi will lead Speaker SOS: From Scary Submissions to Standout Stages, a 90-minute speaker proposal workshop, on October 26 at NSA Carolinas’ Speak or Treat retreat in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
This working session zeros in on a familiar pain point for professional speakers, consultants, trainers, and subject-matter experts: how to figure out which speaking opportunities are actually worth their time, and then how to build a persuasive argument that their expertise belongs on the program.
Rozgonyi will walk participants through her FRAME Method, a structured approach to evaluating calls for proposals (CFPs), researching what audiences and events really need, weighing business value, shaping proposal components around the audience, and settling on a clear next step.
“Better targets beat more submissions,” said Rozgonyi. “A stronger proposal starts before you write. You need to understand the audience, assess the opportunity, and make it easy for a selection committee to see the value you bring.”
A Practical Framework for Choosing Speaking Opportunities
A CFP, or call for proposals or presentations, is an invitation for speakers to pitch session ideas for consideration. Speaker SOS helps participants decide whether an opportunity actually fits their expertise, audience, and business goals before they invest time in drafting a response.
Participants will apply Rozgonyi’s five-step FRAME Method:
Find: Identify and rank potential speaking opportunities.
Research: Investigate the audience, event objectives, selection criteria, and submission requirements.
Assess and Align: Evaluate fit, compensation, business value, preparation effort, and missing information.
Make the Case: Connect an audience need to relevant expertise and a clear learning outcome.
Engage: Choose a next step, from asking the organizer a question to submitting a proposal or moving on.
The workshop also introduces the Trick or Treat Test, a decision-making tool for determining whether to pursue an opportunity, adapt a session idea, ask a clarifying question before investing more time, or simply pass.
Attendees will work with real opportunities to build a ranked list of three to five speaking targets, craft an audience outcome statement, outline core proposal components, and set a dated next action. A take-home workbook includes a target scorecard, a reusable proposal template, and an opportunity tracker.
Optional AI exercises help participants review public CFP requirements and spot gaps in their drafts. Speakers verify the information and bring their own experience, evidence, and voice to the final submission.
Connecting Expertise to Audience Value
Rozgonyi’s work focuses on leadership visibility: helping experienced leaders and experts make their value easier to find, trust, and choose. She describes the gap between the expertise someone has earned and what others recognize as the Expert Gap™.
Speaker SOS applies that same lens to the speaker-selection process. A strong proposal helps an organizer see the audience’s needs, the speaker’s relevant background, and what participants can expect to gain from the session.
For meeting planners and association leaders, that alignment makes it easier to evaluate proposals against program goals. For speakers building their businesses, it offers a disciplined way to prioritize opportunities and articulate the practical value of their expertise.
About NSA Carolinas Speak or Treat
NSA Carolinas, a National Speakers Association Elite Chapter, hosts its Speak or Treat retreat October 25–27, 2026, at Embassy Suites by Hilton Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Resort at Kingston Plantation in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
The retreat program also features Jane Jenkins Herlong on distinctive speaking strengths, Lynn Unsworth on AI and authentic influence, Doug Lyman on money mindset, Paulette Evans on imposter syndrome, and Crissy Fishbane on building a meaningful speaking business. Craig Collin serves as emcee.
Event details and current registration options are available on the NSA Carolinas Speak or Treat event page.
Bring Speaker SOS to Your Organization
Speaker SOS is available for National Speaker Association chapters, professional associations, and teams of experts who use speaking to share their knowledge and develop business relationships.
Rozgonyi is also available for interviews about evaluating speaking opportunities, writing audience-focused CFP responses, leadership visibility, PR, digital marketing, personal branding, and using AI in proposal development.
To discuss an AI keynote speaker or leadership visibility program or interview, contact Barbara Rozgonyi
About Barbara Rozgonyi
Barbara Rozgonyi is a leadership visibility keynote speaker, strategic marcomm / PR advisor, and founder of CoryWest Media and Brighter Presence™. She helps experienced leaders and experts communicate their value, strengthen credibility, and build visibility that supports professional opportunities.
Her speaking and training experience includes programs for Bosch, Boston Scientific, Association Forum, HuFriedyGroup, MPI, AMA, IMEX, PCMA, and PRSA. She served as co-dean of NSA Illinois Speaker Academy and on the boards of NSA Illinois and NSA Carolinas.
Rozgonyi has published wiredPRworks.com since 2006, co-founded Social Media Club Chicago in 2008, and hosts the Brighter Presence podcast. Learn more at BarbaraRozgonyi.com. Connect with Barbara Rozgonyi on LinkedIn.
About NSA Carolinas
NSA Carolinas is a National Speakers Association Elite Chapter supporting professional speakers, trainers, authors, consultants, and coaches through professional development and community connection. Learn more at https://NSACarolinas.org
Barbara Rozgonyi
CoryWestMedia
+1 6302077530
Why it matters: With more speakers competing for fewer stages, a structured approach to proposals can separate serious professionals from those just firing off submissions. Rozgonyi’s framework gives speakers a repeatable process to target the right opportunities and communicate their value — a skill that becomes increasingly critical as AI tools reshape how proposals are drafted and reviewed.
