Thursday, November 17
8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m., CT
Ernest N. Morial Convention Center

Can't join us in person? Watch the Opening General Session livestream on the Virtual Library platform! The livestream is open to all; no registration or log in is required.

The Opening General Session kicks off the ASHA Convention! This popular event brings everyone together to celebrate the speech, language, and hearing professional community and celebrates our 2022 theme, “Reframe Your Thinking: Resilience Reinvented.” You'll be welcomed by ASHA President Judy Rudebusch Rich, who will update everyone about the Association’s activities and accomplishments and share her insights on the theme. Then, Convention Co-Chairs Mark DeRuiter and Edie Hapner will offer highlights of what’s in store for you in New Orleans this year to get you excited about the next 3 days. Finally, we will welcome special guest Jonathan Lee Iverson as keynote speaker to share his story about how reframing your thinking and resilience can help you tap into your strengths to reinvent your path.

Jonathan Lee Iverson got his start as a performer through his membership in the famous Boys Choir of Harlem. While a choir member, he traveled worldwide. During his travels, he had the opportunity to perform on some of the world’s most renowned stages and has sung for world leaders and dignitaries, including United States Presidents George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan, and Jimmy Carter, as well as Noble Peace Prize Winner Nelson Mandela. Iverson has also shared the stage with Lou Rawls, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Plácido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, Betty Buckley, Pete Seeger, Zubin Mehta, Perry Cuomo, Kathleen Battle, Shirley Verett, Tony Bennett, James DePriest, and Lena Horne—all before the age of 18.

Iverson went on to study voice performance and trained to become a professional opera singer while attending the Hartt School of the University of Hartford; however, his life took an unexpected turn when he was recruited fresh out of college by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. There, in 1998, he became not only Ringling’s youngest ringmaster but the first-ever African American ringmaster. Performing at approximately 450 shows annually across the United States and Mexico, Iverson’s presence as ringmaster led Ringling to set box office records.

Iverson spent 20 years performing with Ringling, but when the circus held its final show in 2017, his life took another unexpected turn. Since then, he has reframed his thinking about the identity he held as ringmaster to reinvent himself as a public speaker. Iverson is a captivating storyteller who now talks to audiences about finding resilience by embracing life’s detours. He has learned that no matter the path, you get to where you’re supposed to be.

Join us on Thursday morning for Iverson’s riveting discussion of resilience and reinvention at the Opening General Session. This inspiring event jumpstarts the ASHA Convention and will get you energized and enthused!

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ASHA would like to thank our sponsors for their generous support. Sponsors are not responsible for the content of this conference nor does ASHA endorse their products or services.