Jeanne Robertson reached her 6’2” stature at age thirteen. Perhaps it was an indication of a future speaking career that would soar to great heights. No, professional speaking might not have been predicted when Jeanne was in the seventh grade in Graham, North Carolina, when and where she would have been voted most likely to make the basketball team and least likely to be a contestant in the Miss America Pageant. She did make the team—averaging more than thirty points per game in her junior and senior years—but as Miss North Carolina 1963 she also competed in the Miss America Pageant where she was named Miss Congeniality. It was her participation in and perhaps even her losing of the Miss America title that turned Jeanne’s life into a succession of events which led her to be one of the funniest and busiest professional speakers in America today. After being asked to speak every day as Miss North Carolina, Jeanne found that people were willing to pay her to come and address their groups and conventions and loving every laughing minute of it. They wanted Jeanne-not just a title holder-and they wanted her because she made them laugh. At that point, Jeanne still viewed speaking as a way to make a little money while continuing her education. She received her degree at Auburn University and taught physical education in high school and college, a career she enjoyed for nine years. But as the requests continued to pour in for her to speak, she finally stopped teaching and entered professional speaking full time. With the flexibility to speak more often, Jeanne’s rise in the speaking profession was nothing short of phenomenal. In addition to a full speaking schedule year after year, she has been awarded every top honor and designation in her profession including the Certified Speaking Professional designation (CSP) in 1980 and being inducted in the CPAE Speaker Hall Of Fame in 1981. In 1989 she became the first woman to receive that association’s most cherished honor, the Cavett Award. The Cavett is awarded annually to one member “whose accomplishments, integrity and reputation are a credit to NSA and the speaking profession.” Toastmasters International named Jeanne the recipient of its 1998 Golden Gavel Award, given annually to one individual for accomplishments in leadership and communications. She is the only female professional speaker who has received this honor. Jeanne has produced four humor videos and written three books on humor - "Humor: The Magic of Genie," "Mayberry Humor Across the USA" and "Don’t Let the Funny Stuff Get Away." These books are filled with reality-based stories, which illustrate her humor philosophy. While she enjoys making people laugh, Jeanne views the role of a humorist as more than eliciting laughter. As audiences are holding their sides and wiping tears from their faces, she makes her point clear. As Jeanne Robertson says, "The Meetin' Ain't Over 'til the Tall Lady Speaks!" Titles Humor: More Than a Laughing Matter Humor: A Personal Strategy for Success Here He Is… Mr. Meeting! Topics Humor, Entertainment, Motivation, Women Click topic above to see more speakers on that topic Speaker's Asking Fee Range $7,500 - $9,999 Click on fee range to see more speakers. This is the starting keynote fee range - other programs may be higher. State NC Click on state above to see more speakers from that state. Fees The fee range quoted means the speaker's fee starts somewhere within that range. Note that speaker's fees are subject to change and some speakers may have special fee quotes.