Exciting Opportunity for April 2026! **STIPEND PROVIDED**

OCDA is excited to announce a collaboration with the American Counseling Association to seek out professionals to provide career services (career consultations, resume reviews, career guidance, mock interviews, and social media marketing/digital footprint assistance (i.e. LinkedIn profile page, website assistance, etc.)) within their career center throughout the duration of the ACA conference. This conference will be taking place in April 2026.

Some details about this opportunity:

• **THERE WILL BE A STIPEND PROVIDED TO APPROVED PARTICIPANTS** More details about the stipend will be shared during an informational interview.
• Time Commitment: In-person - 2 days - Friday, April 10 and Saturday, April 11, 2026
• Location: Greater Columbus Convention Center, 400 North High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215
• ACA Conference Career Center Hours: Friday 8am - 5pm, Saturday 8am - 4pm

If you are located around Columbus, Ohio or are willing to travel for this opportunity, please complete THIS FORM. The deadline to complete the form is January 23rd, 2026. Please note that any information provided within the form will be shared with Danielle Irving, Manager of Career Development for the American Counseling Association who will then contact you for an informational interview.

Questions? Contact Kaleigh Mahon, OCDA President at mahonkaleigh@gmail.com and Danielle Irving, Manager, Career Development, American Counseling Association at dirving@counseling.org.

60th Annual Poetry and Art Contest

Have you been writing poetry, creating art, or just looking for some inspiration to be artistic? We our FINAL CALL for entries for NCDA's 60th Annual National Poetry and Art Contest! Below are the steps to participate.

ALL submissions welcome – please share with your students, coworkers, and your own families! 

Win a $25 Amazon gift certificate and an opportunity to win at the national level!

STEPS FOR ENTRY:
1 Reflect on the theme: The Evolution of Work: Careers in the Past, Present and Future.
2 View the brochure for more information on requirements for entry and inspiration. 
3 Share with anyone in your network who may also want to participate (students, coworkers, family) -- the contest is open to the public!
4 Create your piece of art! 
5 Submit your art and poetry State contest entries HERE by December 20th at 11:59pm.

Click here to watch the 2024–2025 National Poetry & Art Contest Promotional Video

OCDA November 2025 Newsletter

"Self-Care & Wellness for the Wayfinders"

A Message from OCDA President, Website Chair, & Social Media Co-Chair, Kaleigh Mahon

Dear OCDA Members,

Happy National Career Development Month! I hope that as we move into this holiday season you have the chance to get some well-deserved time for rest, relaxation, and the opportunity to pursue professional and personal activities of interest. OCDA has a number of robust presentations, available for both members and non-members, to support you in your professional development. In fact, expanding the focus of our presentation topics in order to meet the needs of each of OCDA’s constituency groups has been a priority in my goals as President. Some other areas of focus for my term as President have included/will include:

Enhancing the value of the OCDA membership and outreaching career professionals statewide

Developing new partnerships with other state CDA’s and maintaining strong relationships with current partner organizations

Finishing a thorough review and finalizing updates to OCDA By-Laws
- If you are interested in joining the review of the OCDA By-Laws, please contact committee chairs, Calvin Wagner (calvin.wagner@sinclair.edu) and Christine Yancey (christine.yancey@sinclair.edu)

Maintaining a strong connection with OCDA’s history through staying in contact with historical leadership, ensuring centralization and organization of records, and continuing our search of the missing OCDA “Archives Box”

I am immensely grateful that you have chosen to be a part of OCDA, and I hope that these initiatives make the organization even more beneficial to you. If you have any questions, would like to hear more about OCDA and the goals for this term, and/or would be interested in getting involved, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at ohiocda@gmail.com or mahonkaleigh@gmail.com.

Take care,

Kaleigh Mahon, LPCC, CDCA

OCDA President

Upcoming Events

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR EVENTS

Thank you for being one of our members! As a member, you receive many benefits, including access to Professional Growth and Networking Opportunities:

Continuing education credits (CEUs)

Discounts on trainings (Free-$5)

Meet other professionals through attending events

OCDA Spring Conference Announcement!

Block your calendars! Think through your presentation proposals!

The OCDA Spring Conference will be taking place from May 28th-May 29th in Lima, Ohio! More details to come! We look foward to seeing you there!

National Career Development Month NCDA Poetry & Art Contest

The OCDA board is excited to launch NCDA's 60th Annual National Poetry and Art Contest, a nationally recognized celebration held each November in honor of National Career Development Month.

This year’s theme, “The Evolution of Work: Careers in the Past, Present, and Future”, invites participants of ALL ages to reflect, imagine, and express their creativity through poetry or art.

This contest is a wonderful opportunity for students, professionals, community members, and Everyone alike to showcase their voices and visions while inspiring others to think deeply about how work shapes our lives, yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

The deadline for entries is Saturday, December 20, 2025.

We warmly encourage you to share this opportunity with your students, colleagues, networks, and communities. Together, we can inspire creativity, spark reflection, and empower others to dream about the future of work.

Have you been writing poetry, creating art, or just looking for some inspiration to be artistic? We have officially opened up our process for accepting entries for ! Below are the steps to participate.

STEPS FOR ENTRY:

1. Reflect on the theme: The Evolution of Work: Careers in the Past, Present and Future.

2. View the brochure for more information on requirements for entry and inspiration.

3. Share with anyone in your network who may also want to participate (students, coworkers, family) -- the contest is open to the public!

4. Create your piece of art!

5. Submit your art and poetry State contest entries HERE by December 20th at 11:59pm.

Thank you for your time, energy, and partnership in spreading the word. We can’t wait to see the incredible art of our community!

Click Here to Enter!

Government Relations Updates: Pulse on Ohio

OCDA's 3rd Annual Legislative Advocacy Day

 

On October 21, 2025, OCDA members gathered at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus for our annual legislative day. Throughout the day, attendees advocated for career development through meetings with legislators in the Ohio House and Senate, raising awareness of the impact of career development services across the state.

This event was instrumental in articulating OCDA’s priorities and advocating for policies that support career professionals and the clients we serve. We are proud of the energy, professionalism, and purposeful dialogue our members demonstrated throughout the day. In particular, this year’s diverse legislative meetings helped ensure that the concerns and contributions of career development practitioners across Ohio were represented. This year’s agenda offered strategic advocacy activity that reinforced OCDA’s role as a leader in policy engagement for career development in Ohio.

As we reflect on this year’s event, we encourage all members to keep the momentum alive:

Follow up with your legislative contacts, share your experiences, and continue to integrate advocacy into your professional practice. Together, we amplify the voice of career development across Ohio, making a real difference for our clients.

We look forward to building on this success in future years and continuing to strengthen the relationship between OCDA members and Ohio’s policy-makers.

If there’s a piece of legislation you would like highlighted in this column, Pulse on Ohio, from the OCDA Government Relations committee, please send it our way! We welcome suggestions from committee members for bills to track, analyze, or write about. Your input helps ensure we’re covering the issues that matter most to our members. Please email your suggestions Sarah and Newton.

Sincerely,

Sarah JanTausch & Newton Kimberly

Co-Chairs, OCDA Government Relations Committee

Ohio Career Development Association - Advocacy

   

   

Featured Career Resource:
Career Practitioner Conversations with NCDA!

Looking to stay current on career development trends and best practices? The National Career Development Association (NCDA) offers a podcast series called "Career Practitioner Conversations" that brings together industry leaders to discuss relevant topics for today's career practitioners.

The podcast covers a wide variety of topics, including conversations with industry leaders on issues relevant to career development professionals. Whether you're working in higher education, workforce development, or private practice, these conversations provide practical insights and research-based approaches to support your clients' career journeys.

Visit https://ncda.buzzsprout.com/ to browse all episodes and subscribe on your preferred podcast platform (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and more!).

Click Here, Learn More!

Thank you to our sponsors!

YouScience

OCDA's 2025 Conference Gold Level Sponsor

Empower Ohio's future with data-driven career discovery

YouScience helps fulfill OCDA's mission by aligning student talents with meaningful, in-demand career pathways. Together, we empower lifelong career development through data-driven guidance and purpose-driven decisions.

Contact ohiocda@gmail.com if you or your organization would like to help sponsor the 2026 conference!

Visit YouScience

If you have any ideas for membership email content, please email Co-Chairs Ryana Munford at 
munford.2@osu.edu & Taylor Lincicome at tslocum924@gmail.com

OCDA October 2025 Newsletter

"Fall Into Transformation"

A Message from OCDA President, Website Chair, & Social Media Co-Chair, Kaleigh Mahon

Dear OCDA Members,

As October comes to a close, we start to see shorter days, but we also have the opportunity to enjoy vivid colors in the leaves, crisp fall air, and potentially some down time within our personal and professional lives. As career professionals, most of us likely see a transition period towards the end of Summer and the start of Fall, but by the current point in the season, we likely see things balance out with our caseloads, pre-planned events, and other professional obligations. It’s at this point that I encourage each of you to give yourself a mindful moment (maybe even moments, if you’re feeling up to the challenge). Take this moment to reflect on all that you have achieved throughout 2025, the past few months, and even the past week. I would encourage you to celebrate yourself and make a commitment for the remainder of this year that you will take time to thrive both personally and professionally. Maybe this means picking back up a hobby (hello to my shelf full of puzzles), attending a training of interest, or even working towards a new credential. As always, OCDA will be here to support you on this journey, and with National Career Development Month around the corner, we have several exciting events planned for members to attend. I hope that you will consider joining us at these events and, remember, the work we do is hard and can often be draining mentally and emotionally, so I hope that this next month brings you some well-deserved rest and relaxation.

If I can give you one last message for this month’s newsletter it would be to never forget the difference you make in the lives of others.

Kaleigh Mahon, LPCC, CDCA

OCDA President

Upcoming Events

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR EVENTS

Thank you for being one of our members! As a member, you receive many benefits, including access to Professional Growth and Networking Opportunities:

Continuing education credits (CEUs)

Discounts on trainings (Free-$5)

Meet other professionals through attending events

National Career Development Month NCDA Poetry & Art Contest

The OCDA board is excited to launch the 60th Annual NCDA Poetry & Art Contest, a nationally recognized celebration held each November in honor of National Career Development Month.

This year’s theme, “The Evolution of Work: Careers in the Past, Present, and Future”, invites participants of ALL ages to reflect, imagine, and express their creativity through poetry or art.

This contest is a wonderful opportunity for students, professionals, community members, and Everyone alike to showcase their voices and visions while inspiring others to think deeply about how work shapes our lives, yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

We will include submission details in the next newsletter but wanted to get your creative juices flowing early! The deadline for entries is Saturday, December 20, 2025 – more details will be shared soon!

We warmly encourage you to share this opportunity with your students, colleagues, networks, and communities. Together, we can inspire creativity, spark reflection, and empower others to dream about the future of work.

Thank you for your time, energy, and partnership in spreading the word. We can’t wait to see the incredible art of our community!

Click Here to Learn More!

Government Relations Updates: Pulse on Ohio

Bill Coverage

Legislative Review: Enact the Hunger Free Campus Act

Bill Overview & Summary

Ohio House Bill 157 titled the Enact the Hunger Free Campus Act is a bill that was introduced by Representative Sean P. Brennan and Representative James M. Hoops on March 6th, 2025 and referred to the Workforce and Higher Education Committee on March 19th, 2025. This bill tackles student food insecurity impacting college students in the state of Ohio. If enacted, it would address hunger as a barrier to student and career success by setting up a new program called the Hunger-Free Campus Grant Program and Designation that would be overseen by the Chancellor at the Ohio Department of Higher Education.

The Connection to Career Success

Students struggling to meet basic needs can't focus on their studies, their internships, or their job search. Food insecurity is a significant challenge impacting student well-being, and research indicates it is strongly associated with adverse academic outcomes; for example, food-insecure students have been found to be over 40% less likely to graduate from college compared to their food-secure peers (Wolfson et al., 2021). This policy aims to remove the obstacle of food insecurity on campuses in Ohio.

Program Details

If the bill makes its way out of the Workforce and Higher Education Committee, passes both chambers of the Ohio legislature, and is signed by the Governor, the newly enacted program law would require the Chancellor to create a program where public and private colleges and universities in Ohio can apply to get two things: a formal "Hunger-Free Campus" designation and grant money to support their efforts. To earn the “Hunger-Free Campus” designation, colleges and universities will need to meet certain standards. The bill suggests the criteria could include things that directly impact Ohio’s college students including:

1. Creation of on-campus food access through a food pantry or a steady, reliable partnership with a local food bank to do regular distributions.

2. Colleges and Universities must provide resource navigation including information on applying for major public benefits like SNAP (food stamps) and Medicaid.

This bill, if enacted in its current state, would establish a foundational safety net, promote collaboration among partner organizations, and reduce hunger across college campuses in Ohio allowing students to focus on their educational pursuits and careers, not their next meal. The program is specifically designed to address significant non-academic factors that can impede student success. This approach shifts the focus beyond typical advising services, such as resume support, to prioritize the development of a stable foundation that is crucial for long-term achievement and positive student outcomes.

This bill has the potential to impact two of the Ohio Career Development Association’s constituency groups, including the “Higher Education Career Counselors/Coaches/Specialists” and the “Graduate Students/Counselor Educators & Researchers” groups. If you have questions about or would like to learn more about it, we recommend contacting your legislators by entering your address in the Ohio Legislator’s District Map site.

If there’s a piece of legislation you would like highlighted in this column, Pulse on Ohio, from the OCDA Government Relations committee, please send it our way! We welcome suggestions from committee members for bills to track, analyze, or write about. Your input helps ensure we’re covering the issues that matter most to our members. Please email your suggestions to Sarah and Newton.

Sarah JanTausch & Newton Kimberly

Co-Chairs, OCDA Government Relations Committee

Ohio Career Development Association - Advocacy

Featured Career Resource:
Health Care Careers Ohio - Help support our clients explore in-demand healthcare pathways!

Health Care Careers Ohio offers FREE resources to help clients discover diverse career opportunities in the healthcare sector!

Key features include:

Exploration of various healthcare career paths beyond doctors and nurses

Detailed profiles for in-demand roles like surgical technologists, radiologic technologists, respiratory therapists, registered nurses, and medical assistants

Information about both clinical and non-clinical healthcare careers, as well as educational and training pathways

Connection to major healthcare organizations in Ohio

Resources for both students exploring career options and professionals seeking career changes

Focus on stable, high-paying careers in a rapidly growing sector

This resource helps clients understand the wide variety of fulfilling healthcare careers available and provides practical guidance on entering this expanding field!

Click Here, Learn More!

Thank you to our sponsors!

YouScience

OCDA's 2025 Conference Gold Level Sponsor

Empower Ohio's future with data-driven career discovery

YouScience helps fulfill OCDA's mission by aligning student talents with meaningful, in-demand career pathways. Together, we empower lifelong career development through data-driven guidance and purpose-driven decisions.

Contact ohiocda@gmail.com if you or your organization would like to help sponsor the 2026 conference!

Visit YouScience

If you have any ideas for membership email content, please email Co-Chairs Ryana Munford at 
munford.2@osu.edu & Taylor Lincicome at tslocum924@gmail.com

OCDA September 2025 Newsletter

"A Network for Your Next Step"

A Message from OCDA President, Website Chair, & Social Media Co-Chair, Kaleigh Mahon

Dear OCDA Members,

I cannot believe that the Summer season is coming to a close already! For me, this has felt like the fastest Summer to date, but I am beyond excited for all that Autumn brings both within and outside of my work. For many of us, Autumn brings an influx of new students and clients. This means that we have the opportunity to forge new connections, hear stories of others’ lives, and get back to doing the career-related work that we value so deeply. While it can be easy to jump right back into the chaos of the back-to-school season, I just want to remind everyone to take some time to engage in activities that bring you joy. Our work is meaningful and impactful, and that is all the more reason to recharge through hobbies, self-care, engaging with community, and more so that we can bring our best self to this work each day.

For the OCDA Board, we are so excited to provide another year of professional development, networking, and opportunities for members! The Summer to Autumn transition means quite a few exciting updates. First, we have new Board members to introduce including Angie McGinnis, Michelle Norris, Sarah Grace McCollough, Newton Kimberly, Ryana Munford, and Felicia Wethington. We are so lucky to have them all join us and to share their expertise and ideas! It also means the kickoff of our annual Professional Development Webinar Series. If you did not make it to our first event on September 15th, there is no need to worry as we have many more exciting presentations to come! Lastly, we are paving the way to November, which is National Career Development Month! Each November, we have a number of exciting casual/networking events as well as professional development opportunities. More information on those events will be coming soon!

That being said, with the change of the season and the chaos of back to school, career fairs, new clients, I hope things “fall” into place for you all very soon.

Kaleigh Mahon, LPCC, CDCA

OCDA President

Upcoming Events

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR EVENTS

Thank you for being one of our members! As a member, you receive many benefits, including access to Professional Growth and Networking Opportunities:

Continuing education credits (CEUs)

Discounts on trainings (Free-$5)

Meet other professionals through attending events

An Update from OCDA Treasurer & Past President, Richard Fajardo

Dear Members,

A handful of members were temporarily impacted when we updated our membership classifications on our website/membership system. When members were renewing their membership as part of the newly merged "Professional" tier, their expiration/renewal dates were getting reset and moved earlier inadvertently. This has been fixed. Other past issues like time lost switching from "Student" to "Professional" status have also been fixed. Special shoutout to Dr. Millicent Simmelink for spotting the issue.

Please let us know if you have any questions or notice any discrepancies in your expiration/renewal date.

Thanks so much!

Best regards,

Richard Fajardo
2025-2026 OCDA Past President & Treasurer

Government Relations Updates: Pulse on Ohio

Welcome (and What’s Ahead for OCDA’s Advocacy)

It’s been a pleasure serving as your Chair of Government Relations over the past two years, and I’m excited to announce that this year, Newton Kimberly will be joining me as Co-Chair of the committee. Throughout the year, you’ll be hearing from both of us as we share updates on legislation, advocacy efforts, and useful tools to support your work.

What sets OCDA apart is our commitment not only to professional development but also to making sure our collective voice is heard. That means staying informed on legislation, engaging with policymakers, and ensuring our work makes a meaningful impact across the state.

The Government Relations Committee (GRC) plays a key role in this mission by advising the Board, tracking policy developments, coordinating grassroots advocacy, and collaborating with national efforts through our partnership with NCDA.

Getting Involved

Our advocacy is enhanced through your engagement. You don’t have to be an advocacy expert to make a difference. The GRC is always looking for new voices. You can involved by:

Attend 3rd Annual Legislative Advocacy Day

Join the OCDA Government Relations Committee and Board for the 3rd annual members-only legislative, advocacy, and networking day at the Ohio Statehouse. The program will include opportunities to hear from Ohio’s leaders and engage in meaningful dialogue about the state of career development in Ohio.

When: Tuesday, October 21st from 1pm-5pm

Registration: Please register for the event HERE

Share concerns or relevant legislation you’d like us to watch

Get involved with OCDA by joining a committee, including the GRC

Read this “Pulse on Ohio” column in each OCDA newsletter to stay informed

Advocacy isn’t a spectator sport. How can you get in the game?

Onward,

Sarah JanTausch & Newton Kimberly

Co-Chairs, OCDA Government Relations Committee

Ohio Career Development Association - Advocacy

Featured Career Resource:
Career Everywhere Community: Connect with Fellow Career Professionals!

The Career Everywhere Community from U-Connect offers a FREE platform for career services professionals to network and share best practices!

Community features include:

Open to ALL career services professionals - not just U-connect customers

Social networking platform designed specifically for career advisors

Weekly best practices, tactics, and strategies sharing

Focus on scaling career services impact across campus and beyond

Career Everywhere job board with 100+ open career services positions

Community discussions on embedding career resources into classrooms

Professional development opportunities and industry connections

Why it's valuable for career professionals:

The Career Everywhere movement enables modern career services professionals to scale the impact of their work by connecting with peers who share innovative strategies and solutions!

Completely FREE to join - perfect for staying current with industry trends and networking!

CHECK IT OUT HERE

Thank you to our sponsors!

YouScience

OCDA's 2025 Conference Gold Level Sponsor

Empower Ohio's future with data-driven career discovery

YouScience helps fulfill OCDA's mission by aligning student talents with meaningful, in-demand career pathways. Together, we empower lifelong career development through data-driven guidance and purpose-driven decisions.

Contact ohiocda@gmail.com if you or your organization would like to help sponsor the 2026 conference!

Visit YouScience

If you have any ideas for membership email content, please email Co-Chairs Ryana Munford at 
munford.2@osu.edu & Taylor Lincicome at tslocum924@gmail.com

ONE WEEK AWAY!

Join OCDA for a FREE professional development presentation titled:

Advocating for Career Development During Revolutionary Times

This event takes place on Monday, September 15th at 11:00am EST on Zoom.

REGISTER HERE

As presented at the 2025 NCDA Conference, presenters Sarah JanTausch, Kaleigh Mahon, and Michelle Norris will 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.

Presentation Objectives:

• Understand the role of career development practitioners in influencing public policy
• Learn effective strategies for creating and implementing local "Hill Days"
• Gain practical steps to engage with policymakers
• Understand ways to advocate for impactful changes in career development policies, regardless of the level of your current engagement
• Use your state CDA to build key relationships that support ongoing advocacy efforts

OCDA June 2025 Newsletter

A Message from OCDA President, Richard Fajardo

Dear Members,

It has been an exciting year celebrating OCDA’s 50th anniversary while continuing to grow our organization in its first year as an independent nonprofit organization. We certainly celebrated the year in style. In addition to a fabulous two-day annual OCDA Conference at Ashland University, we had our second annual OCDA Government Education & Engagement Day, two National Career Development (NCD) Month meet ups (in Cleveland and Columbus), and 15 workshops and webinars. Meanwhile, we established a partnership with the Pennsylvania Career Development Association (PACDA), maintained our connection with the Ohio Counseling Association (OCA), continued networking with the Ohio School Counselor Association (OSCA), and received recognition and shared our best practices at the annual NCDA Conference as “Established State CDA of the Year”. What a year we have had!

Heading into the 2025-2026 fiscal year, I am honored to pass the Presidential torch to Kaleigh Mahon. Kaleigh did an amazing job organizing this year’s conference and brings a unique skill set and fresh approach to the Presidency. Much like our conference keynote speakers, Marty Apodaca and Dr. Cynthia Marco-Scanlon, Kaleigh keeps the bridge connected between career development and clinical mental health.

I look forward to being a part of our next steps into the next 50 years of OCDA. Yes, 50, silly ‘5’ balloon that kept spinning on us at the conference! Perhaps ‘50’ is the new ‘20’? In any case, it is an honor and a pleasure to be a part of the evolution of the field of career development in Ohio.

Best regards,

Richard Fajardo

2024-2025 OCDA President, Archives Co-Chair & Website Co-Chair

Check Out Conference Highlights Here

(On desktop/laptop mode: Right click the below image and choose 'Open image in new tab' to see the below collage in its full size.)

OCDA would like to thank all of our 2025 OCDA Conference Sponsors!

GOLD LEVEL SPONSOR

YouScience

BRONZE LEVEL SPONSORS

Evergreen Mentorship

LDW Group LLC

NAME BADGE RIBBON SPONSOR

Navigator Career Solutions, LLC

PRINTING SPONSOR

Sign Solutions of Ohio

AD LEVEL SPONSORS

HRKyle Services

Career Therapy with Steffi

Ohio Counseling Association

OCDA's 2025 Conference Gold Level Sponsor

YouScience

Empower Ohio's future with data-driven career discovery

YouScience helps fulfill OCDA's mission by aligning student talents with meaningful, in-demand career pathways. Together, we empower lifelong career development through data-driven guidance and purpose-driven decisions.

The Ohio Career Development Association is proud to announce we’ve been named the 2025 Outstanding State Division Award at the National Career Development (NCDA) Conference!

Government Relations Updates

Join the OCDA Government Relations Committee and Board for the 3rd annual members-only legislative, advocacy, and networking day at the Ohio Statehouse. The program will include opportunities to hear from Ohio’s leaders and engage in meaningful dialogue about the state of career development in Ohio.

Registration is required.

Featured Career Resource:
Career Can Do Podcast: AI and the Future of Work!

This 19-minute podcast features MIT instructor Mark Herschberg discussing how to navigate career planning in the age of AI!

Key topics covered:

How to strategically adapt to AI automation in your field

Identifying which job tasks are high-value and hard to automate

The importance of discussing career plans openly with employers

Building "firm skills" that complement technical abilities

Creating concrete career development strategies vs. wishful thinking

LISTEN HERE

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

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.