Sandusky resident advances to international speech contest

Kitty Brandal, president of Corporate Compass Training, of Sandusky, has advanced to the Toastmasters International Speech Contest Semifinals, which will take place at the Toastmasters International Virtual Convention from Aug. 24-29. Brandal, a member of the Word Warriors club in Westlake, has advanced through five other local and regional contests over the past year. The five- to seven-minute speeches for the contest are judged on content, delivery and language. Brandal, along with 27 other contestants from around the world, have been invited to compete in the semifinals. From there, eight contestants will advance to compete at the 2020 World Championship of Public Speaking. The Toastmasters International Speech Contest began in 1938 and is the world's largest speech contest, involving 30,000 participants from 143 countries. Brandal attributes her success to her love for the audience, writing her messages based on her interpersonal interactions. She uses the vulnerability of real-life experiences to develop her speech and share her message. "The secret to a winning speech is to be vulnerable. Vulnerability is a main human connector," Brandal said