Cross-Cultural Expert David Cragin Slated to Deliver Session at Toastmasters District 83 Conference

May 15, 2013 - PRLog -- Cross-Cultural language expert Dr. David Cragin, will present the workshop “Language Skills for Cross-Cultural Communication: How Much Do You Need to Know?” at the Toastmasters International District 83 Annual Spring Conference planned for Saturday, May 18 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Newark Airport, 128 Frontage Road in Newark, NJ.

During David’s workshop, he will address the benefits of learning a new language and various foreign language learning techniques that are effective for adults who may work full-time and have other life responsibilities.

Conference Chair Margarita Estrada notes, “We are excited to have David Cragin as one of our workshop presenters. David, speaks Chinese and some Tagalog, is a true professional who is passionate about language and its place in business.  His workshop: “Language Skills for Cross-Cultural Communication: How Much Do You Need to Know?” will emphasize the benefits of learning a new language, and the tight linkage between language and culture.”

The annual three day event, sponsored by Toastmasters International District 83, has as its theme “Out Of Many Comes The Voice Of Excellence!” The event conference will feature keynote speaker award winning writer, Karin Price Mueller. Ms. Price Mueller is joined by the lineup of business and professional communication workshop leaders listed below.  For information on attending, visit the Toastmasters Conference site -- http://www.toastmasters83.org/district-conference/online-registration.html

Pamela Winter, DTM, Governor of District 83 said, “This year’s Spring Conference theme is personally important to me. It is a celebration of our diversity, with its particular strengths, quirks and traditions. We all come from someplace and to identify, embrace, share and acknowledge our roots creates a profound understanding and appreciation among those whose lives we touch. Toastmasters teaches us that with better communications skills we can be more comfortable and confident in our vastly different cultures allowing us to share and gain greater understanding and acceptance of others.”

Confirmed speakers and session topics include:

1.  Sylvie Nappey, ACB - "How Cultural Diversity Instills Creative Leadership"

2.  David Cragin, Ph.D., ACG, ALB - "Language Skills for Cross-Cultural Communication: How much do you need to know?"

3.  Ansley Lamar, ACS - "Difficult Discussions: The art and science of handling critical conversations."

4.  Roberto Sempe, CC, CL - "The Hispanic Dynamic: Closing the communication gap with Latin America and with a growing Hispanic population in the U.S."

5.  Cheryl Washington, CC - "Build a Multicultural Social Media Brand that Rocks!"

6.  Paul Camarinha, CC, ALB - "Be Aware! Be Awake! Be Safe!"

7.  Heath Suddleson, DTM, PID - "The Attitude Check – Lessons in Leadership"

8.  Bismark Del Villar I, ACB - "Results Oriented Leadership"

9.  Cornelia Wright, CC - "How to be Interview Savvy"

10.  Carol Jean Dokes, ACS, ALB - "Body Wars:  Winning strategies for your body parts to become friends not foes"

11.  Laura Steele, CC/Chloe Moodley - "Self Map: Developing Your Personal Vision Statement"

12.  Debra Hollinrake - "EFT – Your Bridge to Public Speaking"

Hundreds of Toastmasters members in the Metropolitan New Jersey, Rockland County, Staten Island area — as well as their family, friends, and the general public — will gather together to attend educational presentations on how to sharpen their public speaking, communication and leadership skills.

In addition to the conference educational sessions, District 83’s top-notch speakers will compete in the District 83 International Speech Contest scheduled for Saturday and the District 83 International Evaluation Contest for Sunday morning. Both days of the conference promise to be packed with fun, excitement and learning.

About Dr. Dave Cragin

Dr.  Dave Cragin is Associate Director of Chemical Notification and Registration for a Fortune 100 pharmaceutical company and on a daily basis he interacts with individuals across the globe.  Previously, he worked 8 years for a French-owned company in Philadelphia, where he received extensive cross-cultural training.  He speaks Mandarin Chinese and has knowledge of a variety of languages and cultures.  This coupled with his technical and Toastmasters skills resulted in his appointment as a Professor of the International Program in Pharmaceutical Engineering Management of Peking University, Beijing, China, where he teaches yearly.  In addition to these more recent experiences, other cultural experiences included having a Japanese Major Professor in graduate school, laboratory colleagues from many countries and living in Europe for several years.  

His professional experience also includes teaching a yearly graduate course as an Adjunct Professor of Health Policy for the University of the Sciences, Philadelphia.  Dr. Cragin has served as VP-Elect, VP, President, and Past-President for the Mid-Atlantic Society of Toxicology, the largest chapter of the Society of Toxicology with over 400 members.  He received his Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Toxicology from University of California, Davis, his B.S. in Zoology from the University of Rhode Island, and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology.  

Dr. Cragin is a member of Merck Toastmasters, where he served as President, and has attained his Advanced Communicator Gold and Advance Leader Bronze (ALB) designations.

About District 83

District 83 of Toastmasters International proudly serves over 4,000 members in 155 clubs throughout the metropolitan area of New Jersey and includes Staten Island and Rockland County, New York.  For information about local Toastmasters in District 83 visit http://www.toastmasters83.org.

About Toastmasters International

Toastmasters International is a nonprofit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of clubs. Founded in October 1924, the organization currently has more than 280,000 members in 13,500-plus clubs in 116 countries. Each week, Toastmasters helps more than a quarter million people of every ethnicity, education level and profession build their competence in communication so they can gain the confidence to lead others. For information about local Toastmasters clubs, please visit www.toastmasters.org. Follow @Toastmasters International on Twitter.