Toastmasters' Top Honor Goes to Carolyn Kepcher

Noted businesswoman to receive Golden Gavel award at organization's annual convention

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, Calif., April 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Toastmasters International today named Carolyn Kepcher the recipient of the organization's 2010 Golden Gavel award. The prestigious award is given annually to an individual distinguished in the fields of communication and leadership.

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"The best speakers and leaders are those who use imagination and creativity to achieve their objectives," says Toastmasters International President Gary Schmidt. "We have selected Carolyn as this year's Golden Gavel recipient for her commitment to helping working women get ahead and providing a platform for them to learn, share and grow through her work as an author, leader and mentor."

Kepcher first rose to national prominence in her position as an executive vice president of The Trump Organization and chief operating officer for Trump Golf Properties, and her subsequent role on the NBC series, "The Apprentice" from 2004-2006.

"I worked for Donald Trump for 11 years, and in that time I learned that it is possible for a woman to survive and do well in a male-dominated culture," says the Ridgefield, Conn., resident.

Since leaving The Trump Organization in 2006, she has earned a solid reputation as a thought leader on business, and in particular, women in business. She authored the best-selling business book Carolyn 101 and currently writes the weekly "Your Career" column for The New York Daily News, which addresses business, career and balance.

Kepcher also heads up WorkHerWay.com, a Web site that offers advice to women in the workplace. Kepcher works with more than 150 contributing authors and experts to make WorkHerWay a comprehensive resource for career and life skills.

Kepcher will accept the Golden Gavel Award and address the attendees during a dinner held in her honor on Friday Aug. 13 at the J.W. Marriott Desert Springs Resort and Spa in Palm Desert, Calif. The event is part of the Toastmasters' International Convention, taking place Aug. 11-14, 2010. The public is invited to attend.

The Golden Gavel has been presented by Toastmasters since 1959. Past recipients include Walter Cronkite, Stephen Covey, Zig Ziglar, Dr. Joyce Brothers, Deepak Chopra and Debbi Fields.

For more information about this year's International Convention, visit www.toastmasters.org/Convention2010.

About Toastmasters

Toastmasters International is a nonprofit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of clubs. The organization currently has 250,000 members in 12,500 clubs in 106 countries. Since its founding 85 years ago in October 1924, Toastmasters International has helped more than four million men and women give presentations with poise and confidence. For information about local Toastmasters clubs, please visit www.toastmasters.org

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Gary  Schmidt

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Daniel  Rex

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SOURCE Toastmasters International