After spending four years as a consultant for Microsoft, Edward Anderton cofounded Scarlata Chocolate in Seattle, Washington, in 2012. He has managed the company’s steady growth each year through various events, ecommerce solutions, and investments in the company’s employees. Edward Anderton also has won several speech contests during his time in the Edmonds chapter of Toastmasters International.
Toastmasters clubs have been around since the first club met at a YMCA in Santa Ana, California, in 1924. These clubs started as places for young men to develop their public speaking abilities. In 1970, the first female member, Helen Blanchard, joined Toastmasters under the pseudonym of Homer Blanchard. Helen Blanchard later became the first female president of Toastmasters in 1985.
Nearly 16,000 Toastmasters clubs now exist in 142 countries. These clubs train promising individuals to succeed in various leadership positions that require excellent speeches. Coaches, mentors, and business leaders around the globe acquire leadership and communication skills in Toastmaster workshops and competitions. In 2016, Toastmasters members converged in Washington, DC, for the organization’s annual conference, and Darren Tay received top honors in the public speaking competition.
