May 2025 Newsletter

Countdown: Two weeks until the 2025 OCDA Conference!

You still have time to register!

2025 OCDA Conference

June 5-6, 2025

Ashland University, Ashland, Ohio

We are thrilled to extend an invitation to the OCDA 2025 Conference, Seasons of Change in Career Development: Where We’ve Been, Where We Are, and Where We’re Going. 

We have a ton of great sessions lined up for you! Check out the full agenda at THIS LINK. You won't want to miss this exciting conference and celebration!

Join the OCDA Board!

OCDA is celebrating 50 years of impact — and we want YOU to be part of the next chapter! Join the OCDA Board and make a difference in the lives of career professionals across Ohio.

️ Gain leadership experience
Expand your professional network
Drive meaningful change

Click here to complete our interest form!

Pulse on Ohio: Government Relations Updates

Legislative Update: Tracking Key Bills Impacting Career Development & Workers

Our Government Relations Committee continues to closely monitor legislation that could impact our members and the communities we serve, positively or negatively. In this month's Pulse on Ohio column, we would like to share three bills flagged by our committee that we are watching. All of these bills sit within the Ohio House of Representatives and have been referred to committees. If you would like more information on a bill or want to share your feedback with your legislators, we recommend going to https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/

Ohio House Bill 231,
the Paid Parental Leave Act, proposes a state income tax credit for employers offering paid parental leave. This offers up to $300 per day per employee in tax credit benefits for the employer with a ceiling. This could incentivize employers to offer equitable paid leave. We are watching this bill with optimism, as it could incentivize Ohio employers to offer paid parental leave benefits.

Ohio House Bill 157,
the Hunger Free Campus Act, would designate certain higher education institutions as “Hunger Free Campuses” and provide funding to combat food insecurity. The proposed budget includes $625,000 for this initiative and prioritizes campuses with high Pell Grant enrollment. 

Ohio House Bill 95
appropriates $1.44 million annually for the state's 2026 and 2027 fiscal years to bolster Ohio’s veteran support infrastructure in higher education, through leadership development, professional training, and direct support for veteran offices and military-affiliated students.

We encourage you to email the committee chair (sarah@valuesbasedcareers.com) with any input about how these bills impact your organization, work, or clients, or to suggest additional bills we should track that have an impact on the career development field. Our final committee meeting of the year will be held on June 23, and we welcome anyone interested in joining the committee to reach out.

1975-2025

Trivia Fun: In 1975, which tech giant was founded by two childhood friends in a garage in Albuquerque, New Mexico?

A) Apple

B) Microsoft

C) Intel

D) Oracle

Stay tuned for the next newsletter for more 50th anniversary trivia and the answer to this month's trivia question. Attend OCDA professional development events and keep with OCDA on social media for a chance to win a prize at the OCDA conference in June!

Featured Career Resource: Indeed's Career Guide!

Indeed's Career Guide offers invaluable salary and pay resources to help your clients navigate pay discussions with confidence!

Useful features include:

Step by step salary negotiation and job promotion scripts and examples
Average salary data and articles on different position types
Industry-specific compensation benchmarks
Tips for discussing pay during interviews
Guidance on timing salary conversations

Completely FREE and regularly updated, Indeed's Career Guide gives clients the tools they need to advocate for fair compensation as they enter and continue in the workforce!

Link to the guide: https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/pay-salary

If you have any ideas for membership email content, please email Chelsea Francis at 
cfranci1@cscc.edu.

OCDA April 2025 Newsletter

Welcome to the Ohio Career Development Association Newsletter!

As we continue to navigate an ever-evolving professional landscape, the Ohio Career Development Association remains committed to supporting career development professionals across the state. In this edition of our newsletter, we bring you updates on upcoming events, professional development opportunities, and the latest trends in the career development space. Whether you're looking to expand your network, discover new resources, or stay informed about the latest industry insights, we're here to help! Thank you for being a valued member of OCDA — together, we are shaping the future of career development in Ohio!

Do you have photos from past OCDA meetings, events, or conferences? We want to see them as part of our 50th Anniversary Celebration this year!

Please share any OCDA photos with us at ohiocda@gmail.com or by messaging us on any of our social media platforms!

Registration for the OCDA 2025 Conference is now open!

2025 OCDA Conference

June 5-6, 2025

Ashland University, Ashland, Ohio

We are thrilled to extend an invitation to the OCDA 2025 Conference, Seasons of Change in Career Development: Where We’ve Been, Where We Are, and Where We’re Going. Early bird registration ends April 18th. 

To register and learn more about the 2025 OCDA Conference, you can follow THIS LINK. You won't want to miss this exciting conference and celebration!

If you’re attending the OCDA Conference, make the most of your stay and check out a few itineraries from Explore Ashland to find the best spots to eat, explore, and unwind before and after the conference!

Learn more at https://www.exploreashlandohio.com/itineraries-to-explore-ashland-ohio.

Remember to book your lodging for the OCDA conference! OCDA has a group hotel rate available at the Hampton Inn & Suites Ashland of $189 per night!

️Book now through May 5 to secure your room.
Learn more at ocdaonline.org/location&hotels.

Sponsorship Packages

Sponsor the 2025 OCDA Conference!

Does your organization want to support career development in the state of Ohio? Consider sponsoring the 2025 OCDA Conference! This conference serves as a pivotal gathering for professionals in the career development field, bringing together leaders, practitioners, coaches, and educators from across the state.

Why sponsor the OCDA Conference?

Exposure
Networking
Brand Recognition
Variety of Sponsorship Packages available

To learn more about sponsorship packages, please visit ocdaonline.org/sponsorships

Questions about the conference?

Email President-Elect/Conference Planning Chair, Kaleigh Mahon at kmahon3@kent.edu.

Pulse on Ohio: Government Relations Updates

We are pleased to share the launch of a new resource dedicated to tracking federal legislation and providing timely updates on key policy developments to career development professionals. This tool has been provided to us by the National Career Development Association's Government Relations Committee. This tool offers access to proposed and enacted bills, legislative updates, and detailed summaries to support informed decision-making and deeper engagement with the legislative process. Access the resource through the link below: https://votervoice.net/NCDA/home. To get involved with the NCDA or OCDA Government Relations Committee, please email sarah@valuesbasedcareers.com.

Please see the information below for details:

Advocating for Career Development during Revolutionary Times 

Explore the essential role of career development practitioners in shaping public policy to support the career continuum. Participants will learn effective strategies for creating and implementing local "Hill Days" and initiatives. Attendees will leave with practical steps to engage with policymakers while advocating for impactful changes in career development policies.

PRESENTERS: Sarah JanTausch, SRJ Coaching & Consulting; Kaleigh Mahon, Grow Well Cleveland, LLC; Michelle Norris, The Ohio State University

DATE/TIME: 06/19/2025 10:50 am  |  06/19/2025 11:50 am

FORMAT: Leadership Mini-Session (25 minutes)

Advocacy Training and Legislative Updates from the NCDA Government Relations Committee 

Advocacy is a key pillar of NCDA's Strategic Plan - do you have the resources, tools, and training you need to advocate for career development? Join this session to learn how to advocate at the local, state, and national levels, and hear about the progress of NCDA's Government Relations Committee.

PRESENTERS: Sarah JanTausch, SRJ Coaching & Consulting; Elle O'Flaherty, Interlace Solutions; Shelby McIntyre, Pasadena City College

DATE/TIME: 06/18/2025 3:00 PM  |  06/19/2025 4:00 PM 

1975-2025

Trivia Fun: A McDonald’s in Sierra Vista, Arizona, offered this convenience to customers for the first time in 1975. Name that service.

Stay tuned for the next newsletter for more 50th anniversary trivia and the answer to this month's trivia question. Attend OCDA professional development events and keep with OCDA on social media for a chance to win a prize at the OCDA conference in June!

March's Trivia Answer: In 1975, which iconic rock band released the song Bohemian Rhapsody, a six-minute epic that would go on to become one of the most famous songs in music history? Answer: Queen

February's Trivia Answer: Introduced in 1975, this candy has pressurized carbon dioxide gas bubbles embedded inside it, creating a slight popping reaction when it dissolves. Name that candy. Answer: Pop Rocks

Career Development Jobs

Check out these career development job postings!

STEM & Pre-Health Career Catalyst, Ohio Wesleyan University

Career Pathway & Internship Coordinator, North Central State College 

Career Counselor, Columbus State Community College 

Featured Career Resource: O*NET

O*NET OnLine offers a powerful occupation search feature that helps students/clients discover their perfect career path!

Key search features include:

O*NET is completely FREE and maintained by the U.S. Department of Labor, ensuring your students/clients get reliable, up-to-date information for making informed career decisions.

If you have any ideas for membership email content, please email Chelsea Francis at cfranci1@cscc.edu.

OCDA March 2025 Newsletter

A Message from OCDA President, Richard Fajardo

As career development professionals, we spend our days helping others navigate their journeys—counting steps forward, reflecting on past experiences, and embracing the unknown future. Numbers often shape our paths, from milestones reached to chances taken, but what do they truly mean in the grand scheme of growth and purpose?

Today, OCDA President Richard Fajardo shares a thought-provoking poem that captures the ebb and flow of a professional journey, reminding us of the moments that define our careers and ourselves. Through "Random Numbered Thoughts of an OCDA Professional," he reflects on the highs, the near-misses, and the invaluable lessons learned along the way.

Let this piece inspire you to celebrate where you've been, embrace where you are, and look forward to what’s next—always staying true to yourself.

Random numbered thoughts of an OCDA professional

50 years of providing career development support
49 past chases for gold
48 hours to think things over
40 thoughts of being too old?
30 steps to no longer being young?
25 moments half a lifetime ago
24 memories of a meaningful day
21 times having the winning hand
18 lottery tickets to take a chance
16 sweet reasons to keep chasing your dreams
15 seconds of fame to spare
13 Fridays of questionable luck
12 o’clock, is it midnight or midday?
10 seconds till takeoff
7 times luck seems to have paid off
6 more weeks of wintery weather
5 up high, down low, hopefully not too slow
4 seasons, the cycle of change
3 cheers for a job well done
2 weeks notice to move on to the next adventure
1 unique you, always be yourself
0 reasons to compromise who you are
-1 let’s nip that negative thinking in the bud

By: Richard Fajardo
2024-2025 OCDA President, Archives Co-Chair, and Website Co-Chair

Announcement for Ohio Counseling Association (OCA) / Ohio Career Development Association Dual Members

End of OCA / OCDA Dual Renewal Option

As a follow-up to our recent change in status as an independent nonprofit organization, we and OCA will no longer be offering an OCA / OCDA dual membership renewal option. We are proud to remain trusted affiliates of each other, and membership to both groups is still welcomed. However, all OCA renewals must go directly through OCA, and all OCDA renewals must go directly through OCDA.

Please contact us at ohiocda@gmail.com if you have any questions related to this. 

Pulse on Ohio: Government Relations Updates

Please see the information below for details:

Advocating for Career Development during Revolutionary Times 

Explore the essential role of career development practitioners in shaping public policy to support the career continuum. Participants will learn effective strategies for creating and implementing local "Hill Days" and initiatives. Attendees will leave with practical steps to engage with policymakers while advocating for impactful changes in career development policies.

PRESENTERS: Sarah JanTausch, SRJ Coaching & Consulting; Kaleigh Mahon, Grow Well Cleveland, LLC; Michelle Norris, The Ohio State University

DATE/TIME: 06/19/2025 10:50 am            |           06/19/2025 11:50 am

FORMAT:                     Leadership Mini-Session (25 minutes)

Advocacy Training and Legislative Updates from the NCDA Government Relations Committee 

Advocacy is a key pillar of NCDA's Strategic Plan - do you have the resources, tools, and training you need to advocate for career development? Join this session to learn how to advocate at the local, state, and national levels, and hear about the progress of NCDA's Government Relations Committee.

PRESENTERS: Sarah JanTausch, SRJ Coaching & Consulting; Elle O'Flaherty, Interlace Solutions; Shelby McIntyre, Pasadena City College

DATE/TIME: 06/18/2025 3:00 PM   |  06/19/2025 4:00 PM

1975-2025

Trivia Fun:  In 1975, which iconic rock band released the song Bohemian Rhapsody, a six-minute epic that would go on to become one of the most famous songs in music history?

Stay tuned for the next newsletter for more 50th anniversary trivia and the answer to this month's trivia question.  Attend OCDA professional development events and keep with OCDA on social media for a chance to win a prize at the OCDA conference in June!

February's Trivia Answer: Introduced in 1975, this candy has pressurized carbon dioxide gas bubbles embedded inside it, creating a slight popping reaction when it dissolves. Name that candy.  Answer: Pop Rocks

Forage is an innovative free resource that allows for career exploration and preparation.

Offers free virtual job simulations from major companies like JPMorgan Chase, Accenture, and BCG.

Allows job seekers and students to gain real-world experience in industries like finance, tech, and consulting.

Can be a great resume booster and way to explore different career paths without commitment.

Check out Forage to see how it can support your clients today!

If you have any ideas for membership email content, please email Chelsea Francis at cfranci1@cscc.edu.

[return to March 2025 - Part 1]

OCDA February 2025 Newsletter

Welcome to the Ohio Career Development Association Newsletter!

As we continue to navigate an ever-evolving professional landscape, the Ohio Career Development Association remains committed to supporting career development professionals across the state. In this edition of our newsletter, we bring you updates on upcoming events, professional development opportunities, and the latest trends in the career development space. Whether you're looking to expand your network, discover new resources, or stay informed about the latest industry insights, we're here to help! Thank you for being a valued member of OCDA — together, we are shaping the future of career development in Ohio!

Join us for an exciting webinar taking place on Monday, March 17th. 

Register online HERE

Do you have photos from past OCDA meetings, events, or conferences? We want to see them as part of our 50th Anniversary Celebration this year! Please share any OCDA photos with us at ohiocda@gmail.com. 

Call for Proposals
DEADLINE EXTENDED: Friday, March 7, 2025

Want to Share Your Expertise? Submit a proposal for the OCDA 2025 Conference! This year’s conference theme is Seasons of Change in Career Development: Where We’ve Been, Where We Are, and Where We’re Going, and the theme consists of 3 pillars that will be used as guidance for our selection of presentations. To learn more about OCDA’s conference theme and guiding pillars as well as submit a proposal, you can follow THIS LINK. The deadline to submit your proposal is FRIDAY, March 7, 2025, at 11:59pm EST. 

Sponsorship Packages

Sponsor the 2025 OCDA Conference!

Does your organization want to support career development in the state of Ohio? Consider sponsoring the 2025 OCDA Conference! This conference serves as a pivotal gathering for professionals in the career development field, bringing together leaders, practitioners, coaches, and educators from across the state.

Why sponsor the OCDA Conference?

Exposure

Networking

Brand Recognition

Variety of Sponsorship Packages available

To learn more about sponsorship packages, please visit ocdaonline.org/sponsorships

Questions about the conference?

Email President-Elect/Conference Planning Chair, Kaleigh Mahon at kmahon3@kent.edu.

Government Relations Updates

The OCDA Government Relations Committee (GRC) is excited to share the launch of our Advocacy webpage on the OCDA website! This new page will be for news/information about the Government Relations Committee.

Check out the latest Pulse On Ohio article for a ton of helpful links, resources and information that would be beneficial to you and the constituency groups you serve HERE

Want to get more involved with OCDA? Join the Awards Committee!

If you're looking for ways to get involved in OCDA, consider joining the Awards Committee to help coordinate the awards presented at our Annual Conference. For further information, contact Anna-Kaye Rowe, Awards Chair at rowea@ohio.edu. We have two openings available.

2025 OCDA Awards Nominations are Now Open!

Every year, OCDA recognizes professionals in the field of career development! This year, OCDA is looking for nominations for four different awards. Nominate a colleague for the following awards:

Outstanding Graduate Student Award

The Career Innovator Award

The Bob Windle Leadership Award

Conference Themed Award: The Transformational Impact Award

Visit ocdaonline.org/awards to complete the nomination form.

Celebrating 50 Years of OCDA: 1975-2025

Trivia Fun: Introduced in 1975, this candy has pressurized carbon dioxide gas bubbles embedded inside it, creating a slight popping reaction when it dissolves. Name that candy.

Stay tuned for the next newsletter for more 50th anniversary trivia and the answer to this month's trivia question. Attend OCDA professional development events and keep with OCDA on social media for a chance to win a prize at the OCDA conference in June!

Featured Career Resource: OhioMeansJobs.com

OhioMeansJobs.com has a ton of cool career resources that can be shared with your students/clients!

Resources include but are not limited to:

Resume builder and rater

Budget calculator

Skill and interest assessments

Free GED in college entrance practice tests

Interviewing practice tool

Job listings/job search platform

Information about in-demand careers with links to local training programs and scholarships

Career Zone video library

Career skills information

Virtual and in person workshops

Special sections for veterans, students, and workers with disabilities

Some of these services are also offered in person at OhioMeansJobs centers across the state and every county has an OhioMeansJobs center!

If you have any ideas for membership email content, please email Chelsea Francis at cfranci1@cscc.edu.

OCDA January 2025 Newsletter

A Message from OCDA President, Richard Fajardo

Dear Members,

Did you know that "Love Will Keep Us Together" by Captain & Tennille was the Number 1 single in Billboard Magazine's Top Hot 100 songs of 1975? Why am I bringing this up?

As you may have heard, we are celebrating OCDA's 50th Anniversary this year because we were founded in, you guessed it, 1975! So much has happened in the Career Development arena over the past 50 years. We hope to have you join us for the upcoming conference June 5th-6th at Ashland University, as well as for other workshops and events as we build on what we have done in the past and what we currently do to put together an exciting future for ourselves and the people we serve.

Another reason I bring up music is that music can be a great way to relax and reflect. I don't know about you, but I have enjoyed countless hours putting together different playlists in my lifetime--sometimes to reflect on past or current times in my life (sometimes happy, sometimes sad, sometimes other emotions), other times with themes like 'sports music', and even the occasional collection of my latest downloads. In fact, one of my favorite moments connecting my career to music was listening to my favorite 'latest downloads' playlist from my time in grad school at Bowling Green State University during my drive to a final job interview at The Ohio State University. It was during my Graduate Assistantship with the Graduate and Executive Programs in Business Office at BGSU when I found my passion for working professionally in higher education. In turn, after that interview day, I received the offer for my current job with the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at OSU.

A fun project I am now working on in my downtime is putting together a playlist of 1 song from each of the years I have been alive. I will admit, I was not around yet when "Love Will Keep Us Together" was at the top of the charts, nor was I alive when ABBA released "Dancing Queen" in 1976, itself one of the top songs of the 1977 charts (my wife, who also was not around at that time, made sure to include the Mamma Mia! movie cover of the song on our wedding playlist). I look forward to completing this new playlist! I just counted and have 22 songs filled in as of this writing. I will say that one of my favorite songs, "No One" by Alicia Keys, made the list on that old BG playlist, my wedding playlist, and my new '1 song per year' playlist.

Do you ever use music to help you relax and reflect? Are there any songs that define moments or eras of your life? Is there an album that instantly takes you back in time to your younger self? Whatever the song, genre, etc. is, I hope you rock on, feel the rhythm, enjoy the flow of the moment, and although this song did not make the cut on my '1 song per year' playlist, in the words of Lee Ann Womack: "I hope you dance!"

Best regards,

Richard Fajardo

2024-2025 OCDA President & Archives Co-Chair

Do you have photos from past OCDA meetings, events, or conferences? We want to see them as part of our 50th Anniversary Celebration this year! Please share any OCDA photos with us at ohiocda@gmail.com. 

Conference Updates

SAVE THE DATE!

2025 OCDA Conference

June 5-6, 2025

Ashland University, Ashland, Ohio

We are thrilled to extend an invitation to the OCDA 2025 Conference, Seasons of Change in Career Development: Where We’ve Been, Where We Are, and Where We’re Going. To learn more about the 2025 OCDA Conference, you can follow THIS LINK. You won't want to miss this exciting conference and celebration!

Call for Proposals

DEADLINE: Friday, January 31st 2025

Want to Share Your Expertise? Submit a proposal for the OCDA 2025 Conference! This year’s conference theme is Seasons of Change in Career Development: Where We’ve Been, Where We Are, and Where We’re Going, and the theme consists of 3 pillars that will be used as guidance for our selection of presentations. To learn more about OCDA’s conference theme and guiding pillars as well as submit a proposal, you can follow THIS LINK. The deadline to submit your proposal is THIS FRIDAY, January 31, 2025 at 11:59pm EST.

Sponsor the 2025 OCDA Conference!

Does your organization want to support career development in the state of Ohio? Consider sponsoring the 2025 OCDA Conference! This conference serves as a pivotal gathering for professionals in the career development field, bringing together leaders, practitioners, coaches, and educators from across the state.

Why sponsor the OCDA Conference?

Exposure

Networking

Brand Recognition

Variety of Sponsorship Packages available

To learn more about sponsorship packages, please visit ocdaonline.org/sponsorships

Questions about the conference?

Email President-Elect/Conference Planning Chair, Kaleigh Mahon at kmahon3@kent.edu.

Government Relations Updates

The OCDA Government Relations Committee (GRC) is excited to share a recap of our Second Annual Government Education and Engagement Day that took place in November 2024! This exciting event provided the opportunity for OCDA members to engage in advocacy efforts at the Ohio Statehouse! To read more about this exciting event, follow THIS LINK.

Additionally, the OCDA GRC is proud to share the launch of our Advocacy webpage on the OCDA website! This new page will be for news/information about the Government Relations Committee. You can learn about the GRC as a whole, how OCDA engages in advocacy, and it will also be the location of our GRC news known as the Pulse On Ohio! Check out the Advocacy page HERE.

Want to get more involved with OCDA? Join the Awards Committee!

Join the Awards Committee!

If you're looking for ways to get involved in OCDA, consider joining the Awards Committee to help coordinate the awards presented at our Annual Conference. For further information, contact Anna-Kaye Rowe, Awards Chair at rowea@ohio.edu. We have two openings available.

Nominations Coming Soon!

Be on the lookout for the official call for award nominations next week in your inbox and on our social media. We're super excited about this year's Conference-themed award and can't wait to share all the details and review your nominations. Please be thinking of colleagues you may want to recognize for their work in the career development field.

Featured Career Resource: CareerOneStop Interest Profiler

Our Newsletter Committee member, Sarah Grace McCollough, shares a tool she has used with students to explore career options:

https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Careers/interest-assessment.aspx

As a part of CareerOneStop, a FREE career resource, you can participate in an Interest Profiler. Once completing this short 30-question assessment based on your preferences for various work tasks, you can receive results based on your interests & skills. The results help to identify how you relate to 6 work personalities: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, & Conventional. It then connects you with job profiles from the Career One Stop, which is sponsored by the US Department of Labor (these are updated with salaries, job profiles, and more!).

As a whole, CareerOneStop is a great tool for career explorers and students who are trying to determine career & major options!

If you have any ideas for membership email content, please email Chelsea Francis at 
cfranci1@cscc.edu.

OCDA Government Education and Engagement Day

OCDA spent Wednesday, November 13th at the Ohio Statehouse for the 2nd Annual Government Education and Engagement Day! Throughout the day, attendees had the opportunity to engage in advocacy activities, tour the Ohio Statehouse, meet with guest speakers from the Ohio Department of Jobs & Family Services, and drop off letters/information about OCDA to state legislators. This event, planned by the OCDA Government Relations Committee and their Committee Chair, Sarah JanTausch, allowed for attendees to share their experiences within the career development field and learn ways to advocate for the needs of career professionals and their clients/students.

Seen Above: Government Education and Engagement Day attendees and guest speakers in the State Room at the Ohio Statehouse.

Pictured left to right in back row: Michelle Norris, Jill Cates, Kaleigh Mahon, and Newton Kimberly. Pictured left to right in front row: Alicia Camak, Rachel Richardson, Julie Wirt, and Brad Barger.

Seen Above: OCDA Government Education and Engagement Day attendees holding the Proclamations from Ohio House of Representatives, Ohio Senate, and Ohio Governor's Office recognizing OCDA and National Career Development Month.

Pictured left to right in back row: Alicia Camak, Rachel Richardson, Jill Cates, and Sarah JanTausch. Pictured left to right in front row: Michelle Norris, Kaleigh Mahon, and Newton Kimberly.

Check out the Proclamations in the images below!

 

REGISTER TODAY: National Career Development Month Events

Register today for OCDA's exciting lineup of events celebrating National Career Development Month! Be sure to read more about each of these events and register by following THIS LINK!

SAVE THE DATE: 2025 OCDA Spring Conference

Save the date for OCDA's 2025 Spring Conference. The theme of the 2025 Conference is Seasons of Change in Career Development: Where We've Been, Where We Are, and Where We're Going.

The 2025 OCDA Conference will take place on Thursday, June 5th and Friday, June 6th 2025 in Ashland Ohio.

We cannot wait to network, learn, and celebrate 50 years of OCDA together!

OCDA August 2024 Newsletter

Cheers to a fantastic year with OCDA!

It's time to wrap up the 2023-2024 year and look forward to OCDA's 50th Anniversary Year!

A Thank You Message from the OCDA Past President, Christine Yancey

As I write this final submission for the OCDA newsletter, I am filled with a deep sense of gratitude and pride for the incredible journey we shared over the last twelve months. Serving as president for OCDA has been a true pleasure and has proven to be one of the most fulfilling and rewarding experiences of my professional life.

All that we have accomplished over the last twelve months is nothing short of amazing and I am in awe of the work being done to promote our profession. I am particularly proud of the progress we’ve made and continue to make in the areas of government relations, membership development, DEI, and professional development. There is still more work in store for 2024-2025, so stay tuned!

Throughout the year, our board and committee members rose to the challenge and facilitated programing that made meaningful strides in enhancing our profession and providing valuable resources for our members.  I would like to thank each one of them for their unwavering commitment and hard work;  it was my pleasure to be part of this very talented and dedicated group of individuals. We often say OCDA members are not just colleagues and partners, but we’re friends. 

As I stepped down at the beginning of July, I am confident that OCDA is in excellent hands with the leadership of Richard Fajardo, your President. Richard, along with Kaleigh Mahon, your President-Elect. Both Richard and Kaleigh already have plans for an exceptional year.

Finally, we have a very successful OCDA Annual Conference this year and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the event sponsors: College Central Network, You Science, On Demand Occupational Medicine, Interviewing.com, and Evergreen Mentorship. I’d also like to thank the presenters and participants who made this event so successful.

Lastly, I’d like to thank you, our members, whose enthusiasm, dedication, commitment, and contributions are the lifeblood of our organization.  It has been my pleasure to serve you and I look forward to seeing you at future OCDA events.

With best wishes,

Christine Yancey

Past-President, OCDA

Reflections from the OCDA 2024 Annual Conference
Strive to Thrive: The Impact of Wellness on Career Development

Thank you to all of our members in attendance, presenters, our sponsors and exhibitors, the OCDA board, and Ohio Dominican University for another successful annual conference! This year, we had a wonderful turn out of conference attendees, as well as both brilliant keynote speakers and break out session speakers who continue to inspire and revolutionize the work we do.

Take a look at some of the photos from this year's conference!

We are so grateful for this year's conference sponsors and exhibitors! Thank you for your invaluable support!

A huge thank you to our Gold Level Sponsor, College Central Network!

Click here to learn more about our Gold Level Sponsor - College Central Network

And another huge thank you to our Silver Level Sponsor, You Science!

Click here to learn more about our Silver Level Sponsor- You Science

Click here to learn more about our Exhibitor - Evergreen Mentorship

Click here to learn more about our Exhibitor - Interviewing.com

Click here to learn more about our Exhibitor - LDW Group, LLC

Click here to learn more about our Exhibitor - On Demand Occupational Medicine

A Welcome Message from OCDA 2024-2025 President, Richard Fajardo

Dear Members,

The summer has been flying by as we enter the month of August. Hopefully, each of you has been able to take some time to enjoy your favorite summer activities. Although I have not yet made it to a baseball or softball game, I have enjoyed seeing my favorite sports teams from Cleveland (the Guardians, the Cavaliers, and the Browns) using LinkedIn to promote their organizational successes and various career opportunities they offer. Much like other social media channels, LinkedIn continues to evolve, and hopefully for the better. 

Having attended a couple other conferences in June in addition to our annual conference in May (for those of you wondering, conferences with the National Career Development Association (NCDA) and the National Agricultural Alumni Development Association (NAADA)), I walked away with the ever-relevant reminder about the importance of 'refilling our cups'. I also reflected and thought about the metaphor of 'fuel'. Much has been said about the former in our professional realm. However, the 'fuel' metaphor is important because it often gets overlooked. Thinking of this in terms of vehicles, putting diesel fuel in a gasoline vehicle's gas tank can cause some extensive damage. Moreover, putting gasoline fuel in a diesel vehicle's gas tank can be even more devastating and dangerous. In either case, the wrong kind of fuel will not help a vehicle run and can hurt it.

In terms of 'refilling our cups' and helping others 'refill their cups', let us think about understanding what kind of fuel we run on and what kind of fuel other people around us run on. For example, I mentioned sports above, which may appeal to several people but might not be interesting for numerous others. While attending an Ohio State Women's Basketball NCAA Tournament game during a Friday workday brought much joy and inspired my work for the rest of that day, other people may find sporting events to be boring and de-energizing. With that said, although well-intentioned, advice and tips for success and growth are not always universally applicable. As members of various teams and groups, we must take the time to learn about what helps energize each person and keeps their momentum going. Giving someone the appropriate fuel can go a long way. A struggling hire or a struggling student might not be a 'lemon car' and may just need different fuel to operate. 

Remember that this 'fuel' metaphor is not just about our service to others. We also need to take care of ourselves, giving ourselves the fuel that we need to continue on our paths. Much like the people we serve, we are not 'lemon cars' or 'cars that are ready to be scrapped for parts'. Be sure to take the time to do activities that replenish you and make you feel like yourself - you deserve it! 

Richard Fajardo, LPC

Licensed Professional Counselor

OCDA President

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