Page 7 - October 2019
P. 7
PJ Kleffner, DTM
Program Quality Director
Service with a Smile
Erik Bergman, DTM
“Welcome to my office,” says a smiling PJ Kleffner as he motions to an
empty chair amid the hubbub at a busy Panera Bread in Beaverton.
It’s his first day on the job as Program Quality Director (PQD), and
he’s already hard at work with a series of morning meetings before an
afternoon filled with event planning. He clears away his tea and scone
so he can share news of his latest challenge with Voices.
A Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM), PJ was appointed to the District
Leadership Trio by District Director Emilie Taylor to fill the year-long
position recently vacated by Cate Arnold. “I’m in hot mode,” he admits
with a laugh, and indeed he has literally rolled up his shirt sleeves as
he prepares to lead the Toastmasters Leadership Institute (TLI) on
November 16th. After that he’ll tackle speech contest season, followed
by the District 7 aAnnua Conference in April.
PJ brings 18 years of Toastmasters connections and a wealth of
business experience to his new role. He previously served on the District
Trio as Lt. Governor of Marketing (now called Club Growth Director)
in 2008-09. The usual track for Club Growth Director is to run for
PQD the next year and then complete the three-year commitment as
District Director. Due to a career that required extensive international
travel he made it clear at the time he could serve the District for just
one year. That career is behind him now; he tried retiring three times
before it finally stuck. He says, “I’m picking up where I left off 11 years
VOICES! | OCTOBER 2019 7
