Scott McKain, CSP, CPAE
Beyond Distinction™  

Becoming Unmistakably Valuable in a World Where “Different” Is No Longer Enough

For years, speakers were told they needed to be different. But today, different is everywhere. If clients can easily compare you, they can just as easily replace you.

Beyond Distinction™ is about becoming the only choice for your clients—not better, not cheaper, not slightly different, but unmistakably valuable.

The greatest threat to your speaking, consulting, or coaching business may not be your competition. It’s irrelevance. Your signature talk or program may no longer align with what clients need today. Your sales approach may be outdated. And in an AI-transformed world, some of the very strategies that created your past success could be the things that make you less visible tomorrow.

What once made you unique can now be quickly copied, matched, or replaced. Clients move faster. Expectations rise. Loyalty becomes more fragile. The challenge is no longer simply to stand out—it’s to remain relevant, valuable, and essential over time.

On October 9, Scott McKain, CSP, CPAE, and recipient of NSA’s Cavett Award, will bring his acclaimed Beyond Distinction™ framework to NSA-Colorado and apply it directly to the realities facing today’s professional speakers.

And this won’t be a keynote where you simply sit and take notes. Scott is creating an interactive working session where you’ll examine your own business, ask questions, exchange ideas, and explore how you can create and sustain distinction in your speaking career.

What You’ll Take Away

• Discover how successful speakers evolve rather than defend old talks, programs, services, and promotional strategies—and where to invest your resources for what comes next.
• Understand why becoming unmistakably valuable—not merely different—is the key to winning the work.
• Learn a framework for anticipating changing client expectations and evolving the experience you deliver to create trust and engagement competitors cannot easily replicate.
• Examine your own positioning and value and leave with practical ideas for becoming more distinct, relevant, and essential to the clients you want to serve.

Don’t just ask how you can stand out. Ask what you stand for—and whether your marketplace clearly understands it.

 About Scott:

Christine is a powerhouse on stage, delivering fast-paced, laugh-out-loud programs that fire up speakers with fresh ideas to elevate their businesses. With over 20 years of speaking experience around the globe, she’s a CSP, a CPAE Speaker Hall of Fame inductee, and a Certified Virtual Presenter—a triple threat of credibility, creativity, and connection.

As the award-winning author of THE GOOD STUFF and It’s YOUR Business, Christine draws on a rich background that includes a bachelor’s in communication, a master’s in adult education, and an honorary doctorate from Central Michigan University. Before stepping into the spotlight full-time, she worked as a university admissions officer, corporate trainer, and broadcaster— roles that shaped her into a storyteller with a knack for blending relatable insights with laugh-out-loud moments.

She’s a proud member of the NSA North Texas Chapter, loved co-chairing the 2017 Influence conference alongside Michael Hoffman, and has had a blast creating fun dance videos with her bestie, Tami Evans, for Thrive over the years.

Off stage, Christine is mom to college kids, wife to her “hottie engineer,” and a spirited (though she could use a short-game lesson) golfer. Her blend of humor and practical wisdom will leave you inspired, recharged, and ready to take your business to the next level.

Susan Frew, CSP

 
Susan Frew, CSP, is a dynamic keynote speaker, entrepreneur, and AI innovator who brings together decades of corporate leadership and hands-on business experience. A former Fortune 20 executive, Susan went on to build and scale her own Colorado business by 535%, earning a place on the Inc. 5000 list. Today, she helps leaders and entrepreneurs make AI practical, approachable, and profitable, combining real-world business strategy with humor and high-energy delivery. Susan also served as President of NSA-Colorado from 2023–2024.