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In recognition of his ability and influence as a public speaker, Nido Qubein of High Point, NC, has been selected as this year's recipient of Toastmasters International's Golden Gavel Award.

Qubein will be presented with the award on Thursday, Aug. 24, at the Fontainebleau Hilton Resort in Miami Beach, Florida, during Toastmasters' annual International Convention.

The Golden Gavel is the most prestigious award offered by Toastmasters International, a worldwide nonprofit, educational organization that teaches public speaking through a network of clubs. The award is presented each year to a distinguished individual in the fields of communication and leadership. Past recipients include Jeanne Robertson, Les Brown, Art Linkletter, Dr. Joyce Brothers, Deepak Chopra and management experts and best-selling authors Tom Peters and Kenneth Blanchard.

Qubein is the founder of Creative Services, Inc., a global consulting firm, specializing in custom-made educational programs. Qubein came to this country from Lebanon in 1966 at the age of 17 with $50 in his pocket, yet within a few decades ended up a multi-millionaire. Qubein began giving speeches about life in Lebanon and soon discovered his gift of connecting with audiences. Acting on the belief that people seek education rather than motivation, Qubein started his own company and by 1973, was giving speeches based on the leadership manuals he wrote and successfully sold through direct mail.

Qubein is a former president of the National Speakers Association and, in 1997, received the Ellis Island Congressional Medal of Honor, awarded to Americans for outstanding achievement and for making significant contributions to the nation's heritage. Qubein chairs the National Speakers Association Foundation and serves on 16 corporate and university boards. He also developed the Qubein Foundation, which has granted more than $2 million in scholarships to approximately 500 students.

Toastmasters International has helped more than four million people develop their communication and leadership skills since the organization's founding in 1924 at the YMCA in Santa Ana, Calif. Today, Toastmasters International has more than 175,000 members in 8,700 clubs in 70 countries.

SOURCE: Toastmasters International

Website: http://www.toastmasters.org/