OCDA May 2026 Newsletter
"Hidden Gems"
A Message from OCDA President, Website Chair, & Social Media Co-Chair, Kaleigh Mahon
Dear OCDA Members,
I cannot believe that it’s May already, and the annual OCDA Conference is only about a week away! If you have not done so already, I highly encourage you to take a look at all that OCDA has to offer at this year’s conference. The agenda is jam packed with a diverse set of breakout sessions, networking opportunities, time to explore downtown Lima, and a workforce development panel! The OCDA Board and a number of OCDA members, who volunteered to assist with conference planning, have worked tirelessly for months to bring this conference to fruition for career professionals to enjoy.
This year, the OCDA Board has also been able to receive pre-approval from the National Career Development Association (NCDA) to offer their CEUs at the conference in addition to Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist (CSWMFT) CEUs. Attendees have the opportunity to earn up to 6 NCDA CEUs and up to 4 CSWMFT CEUs! We know that many OCDA members hold credentials through NCDA and often look to OCDA for CEUs, so we are immensely excited to make that process easier for this year’s conference and professional development events moving forward.
Finally, I would like to thank each and every one of our presenters, panelists, Board Members, committee members, and conference volunteers. Without your support for OCDA, we could not bring such an exciting conference of this scale to our membership. I am so grateful for the opportunity to share knowledge, network, and grow as professionals each year at the conference, and I know that our members are as well!
If you have any questions at all about OCDA or the upcoming conference, please do not hesitate to reach out to me via email at: mahonkaleigh@gmail.com or via the OCDA email: ohiocda@gmail.com.
I look forward to seeing you all next week in Lima!
With gratitude and excitement,
Kaleigh Mahon, OCDA President
Attention 2025 Conference Attendees
A Message from Yourself Last Year to Yourself Now
Richard Fajardo
2025-2026 OCDA
Past-President & Treasurer
Dear 2025 Conference Attendees:
It was great having you at the conference in Ashland last year to celebrate our 50th Anniversary! If you remember from our Friday Opening Session reflection for last year's theme, "Seasons of Change in Career Development: Where We've Been, Where We Are, & Where We're Going", we wrote ourselves letters to be opened one year later. I know I have mine physically tucked away in a particular drawer at home ready to be opened when the day comes. I hope you enjoy and are inspired by your past words for your current self! Likewise, I hope that you have exciting and joyful plans for the future! I look forward to seeing you at this year's conference if that is part of those fun plans!
Best regards,
Richard Fajardo
2025-2026 OCDA
Past-President & Treasurer
Hidden Gems Along the Journey
In the work of career counseling, some of the greatest rewards come from the moments that might otherwise go unnoticed. A client experiences an “ah ha” moment and suddenly sees themselves or their future in a new way. A student gains confidence after recognizing a strength they had overlooked. These quiet victories remind us that meaningful growth often happens one conversation at a time.
There are hidden gems for counselors, too — taking a brief pause between sessions, stepping outside to feel the sun on your skin, or reflecting on the small ways we make a difference every day. When we slow down enough to notice these moments, the work feels lighter, more joyful, and deeply rewarding.
The small wins matter. They keep us grounded, connected, and remind us that even the simplest interactions can have a lasting impact.
This month’s newsletter is filled with hidden gems to discover — from celebrating our award winners and nominees to exploring helpful tools, resources, and, of course, all the excitement surrounding the conference! Read to uncover more hidden gems like this one:If you find this message, show it to the check-in desk at the conference for an extra chance to win a door prize.
Upcoming Events
Thank you for being one of our members! As a member, you receive many benefits, including access to Professional Growth and Networking Opportunities:
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Continuing education credits (CEUs)
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Discounts on trainings (Free-$5)
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Meet other professionals through attending events
Part 3 of 3: From Moments to Momentum, Making An Advocacy Habit
Effective advocacy is ongoing; it isn’t a single phone call; it’s a professional relationship built on trust. In Part 1, we talked about why your voice matters. In Part 2, we mapped out the 136th General Assembly. Now, we look at how to weave advocacy into the fabric of our work as career development professionals to create long-term systemic change for Ohioans.
Become a Trusted Resource
The goal of advocacy is for a legislative aide to think of career development professionals and the hard work of OCDA when they have a question about the workforce.
- Build Trust: Take initial steps to establish a relationship with legislators and their aides so that your knowledge has a more powerful impact. Attend a legislator’s office hours, engage in local events in your district, attend OCDA’s legislative day, or any other way to introduce yourself and begin engaging.
- Stay Organized: Organize your talking points and the data that can support them before reaching out. Having clarity and maintaining information can help make these interactions more casual and provide clear and concise conversations centered on our clients!
- The Update: Every few months, send a brief "view from the ground" email to your representative’s office as it relates to direct legislation. What is the number one hurdle your clients are facing right now? Is it childcare? Transportation? Tech literacy? Don't just reach out when a bill is bad; reach out when you see something working well in your role! If they are looking for an official statement, please refer them to the OCDA GRC or NCDA GRC.
The Power of In-Person Site Visits
Nothing changes a legislator’s perspective like seeing the work in action. It’s one thing to read a brief about "workforce barriers"; it is quite another to watch a client navigate a confusing, multi-layered digital application on an outdated computer terminal. When legislators step into our offices, they see the exact friction points and celebration points that impact our clients!
- The Invite: Invite your State Representative or Senator to visit your office and see the important work being done on a daily basis
- The Impact: Let them meet the people behind the numbers, as meeting the clients served by legislation can have a drastically different impact than the legislation alone. From higher education to those changing careers and re-entering the workforce, and everyone in between, meeting these clients can have a profound impact on our representatives.
Amplify Your Voice Through OCDA’s Government Relations Committee!
Advocacy is a team sport, and we want you on our team!
- Join the Committee: Engage more deeply with our Government Relations Committee, when we speak as a unified body of career professionals, our leverage in Ohio is amplified. Email Sarah or Newton if you are interested in joining a meeting, as we would love to showcase the collaborative work we do every month.
Conclusion: A Thriving Ohio
Advocacy is the bridge between a client’s struggle and a legislator’s solution. By moving from occasional contact to a consistent, professional presence, you ensure that the future of Ohio’s workforce is built on reality, not just theory.
Are you interested in putting knowledge into action? Join us for the 4th annual OCDA Legislative Day!
Keep the conversation going! If you are interested in learning more about our committee’s work, attending future meetings, or joining us for events, please email either Sarah or Newton and we would be happy to connect with you!
Onward,
Sarah JanTausch & Newton Kimberly | Co-Chairs, OCDA Government Relations Committee
Ohio Career Development Association - Advocacy
Conference Agenda
There's Still Time To Register!
Still trying to decide whether to attend the 2026 OCDA Conference? No worries! Make an informed decision by checking out our lineup of Keynote and breakout session presenters on the newly released OCDA Conference Agenda!
From presentations about AI to data collection and use to Brain-Based Career Development, this year's Conference features 16 incredible breakout presentations, a Workforce Development Panel, and a Keynote presentation by NCDA'S Mary Ellen Earnhardt!
Follow THIS LINK to view the OCDA Conference agenda.
We can't wait to see you next week!
REGISTER HERE
Celebrating our Award Winners
We are proud to recognize this year’s award recipients for their outstanding contributions to career development, student success, and professional excellence. Their leadership, innovation, and commitment to supporting students and colleagues continue to make a meaningful impact across our community. Award recipients will be officially recognized at the upcoming OCDA Conference on Day 2. Congratulations to all our outstanding nominees and winners!
Outstanding Graduate Student Award
Alex Arnett
Bowling Green State University
Career Innovator Award
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Dean Pidcock
Ohio University
Career Innovator Award
Sarah JanTausch
SRJ Coaching & Consulting
Bob Windle Leadership Award
Glenda Neff
University of Cincinnati - Clermont
Career Readiness Champion Award
Dr. Krittika Grau
Case Western Reserve University
Featured Career Resource:
Go Government Career Guides
If you're not already familiar with GoGovernment.org, it's time to bookmark this free resource! Built by the nonpartisan Partnership for Public Service, the GoGovernment Career Guide organizes federal job opportunities by field rather than by agency, making it easy to connect your clients' existing skills to real government roles. From Data Science and Engineering to Creative Arts and Social Sciences, all 16 guides include job series codes for USAJOBS searches, sample positions at specific agencies, and plain-language descriptions of what the work actually looks like.
Start on the main hub at gogovernment.org/career-guides/ and have your client browse the categories to find 2–3 that match their background. From there, each guide links directly to live openings on USAJOBS.gov, so you can go from exploration to application in a single coaching session.
Click Here Learn More!
Questions? Something else to add? Contact the Newsletter Co-Chairs, Ryana Munford at munford.2@osu.edu or Taylor Linicome at tsclocum924@gmail.com
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