Ms. Starnes received her B.S. in Education with a Speech and Drama Certification from the University of Missouri-Columbia and her J.D. from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and is licensed to practice law in the state of Missouri.
As a practicing attorney, Ms. Starnes saw the disastrous effects of poor communication which often resulted in litigation.
In addition to practicing law, Rita has been an adjunct instructor at Maryville University in Communication Law and a full-time instructor at Linn State Technical College. At Linn State Tech, she taught Oral Communications, Business Psychology, and Business Law, among other courses. She served on various committees and was elected Senate Faculty President by her peers. She watched the students who cultivated their communication skills rise to the top of their class.
Rita is the founder of Osage Community Players, Inc., a thriving not-for-profit community theatre. She has judged numerous speaking events on the secondary and post-secondary level, and has served on several not-for-profit boards as well as volunteered countless hours to community projects.
With this diverse background, Ms. Starnes is dedicated to helping others avoid making communication errors and directing them to become dynamic communicators. She will give you a frank, direct appraisal of your performance and offer support to help you improve your communication abilities. You can read all the books you want, but the way to become a better speaker is through proper preparation and practice.
Past Speaking Engagements:
AccuPays – Customer Communication
Advantage Club – Making and Keeping Friends
Association of Missouri Electric Coops – Dealing with Difficult People and Leadership
Central Missouri American Society for Training and Developing – Featured Speaker on Presentation Skills
City of Jefferson – facilitating Planning Meeting
Department of Health and Senior Citizens – Keynote on Gender Communication
Infocrossing – Effective Customer Communication
Institute of Internal Auditors – Ethics in Today’s Business Environment
Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce – gender Communication
Jefferson City High School – Making the Best You out of the Read You
Delta kappa Gamma – Alpha Theta Chapter – Gender Communication
Legends Bank – multiple presentations on Effective Customer Communication
Linn State technical College Communication Department Instructors – Generational Issues
Linn States Technical College Students – Dining Etiquette
Linn R-11 Effective Communication for Teambuilding
Missouri Assisted Living Association – Gender Communication
Missouri Association of Nursing Home Administrators – Effective Listening
Missouri Dental Association – Difficult People and Teambuilding
Missouri Health Care Association – Communicating with Difficult People, Ethics and Leadership Academy
Missouri concrete Association – Effective Customer Communication
Missouri Association of Countries – Presentation Skills
Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education – Difficult People
Missouri Farm Bureau – Coping with Difficult People, Effective Customer Communication, Coping with Change
Missouri Society of Association Executives – Listening
Project Management Institute – Navigating Ethics in Today’s Business Environment and Difficult People
Public Service Commission – Dealing with Difficult People and Communicating for an Ethical Environment
Society of Government Meeting Professionals – Coping with Change, Difficult People and Listening
Speaking of Women’s Health – Gender Communication and Value of Friendship
Special Olympics Leadership Conference – Resolving Conflict
Women’s Network, Columbia Chamber of Commerce – Gender Communication
Multiple Individual Coaching Presentation Skills – Names provided upon request
Speaking References available upon request