MCDA Past Presidents

In 1971, MCDA became the new name for the existing Minnesota Career Professional Organization. Prior to this date, the organization was named MVGA (MN Vocational Guidance Association). The following list of the organization’s past presidents was created by Dean DeGroot and Barb Krantz-Taylor in 1999 and is updated each year. Learn more about MCDA’s history and past award recipients by clicking below.

Years Served President Employer
1971-1972 Martin Dockman MN Dept. of Economic Security
1972-1973 Dr. Phillip Haber Twin Cities B’nai B’rith Career & Counseling Services
1973-1974 Joseph Hetah Minneapolis Public Schools
1974-1975 Horace Olson Jackson Area Vocational Technical School
1975-1977 Frank Tekautz MN Dept. of Economic Security
1977-1978 Roger Rasmussen Wilmar Area Vocational Technical Schoo
1978-1979 Betty Neuwirth Robbinsdale Public Schools
1979-1980 Dr. Richard Manley Perkins Family Restaurants
1980-1981 John Pedeszew Medtronic, Inc.
1981-1982 Steven Frantz MN Dept. of Education
1982-1983 Dr. Sunny Hansen University of MN
1983-1984 Phillip Penn St. Paul Public Schools
1984-1985 Carol Weeks (Lowe) Macalester College
1985-1986 Dr. Gary Donaldson Center for Counseling & Stress Management
1986-1987 Cindy Schultz
1987-1988 Bruce Roselle PDI
1988-1989 Susan Reyelts
1989-1990 Terri Teeson
1990-1991 Marlys Dickmeyer
1991-1992 Darleen Ellingsen
1992-1993 Kevin Nutter University of MN
1993-1994 John Eckberg John Eckberg & Associates (Betty Olson & Associates)
1994-1995 Rich Murray St. Cloud State University
1995-1996 Mark Larson Employers’ Association
1996-1997 Jeanne Bailey Allina Health Systems
1997-1998 Barb Krantz-Taylor University of MN
1998-1999 Dave Baker University of St. Thomas
1999-2000 Carolyn Hildebrandt Health East
2000-2001 Dean DeGroot Innerview Consulting
2001-2002 Jean Tollefson Private Practice
2002-2003 Kate Schaefers University of MN
2003-2004 Janet Pelto University of MN
2004-2005 Becky Hall University of MN
2005-2006 Shelia Cunningham-McComb State of MN (DEED)
2006-2007 Nancy Fraasch OI Partners
2007-2008 Nancy White Dakota County Technical College
2008-2009 Paul Timmins University of MN
2009-2010 Irene Rossman CPI
2010-2011 Carmen Croonquist Adler Graduate School
2011-2012 Janet Pribyl University of MN–Duluth
2012-2013 Shelley Jensen-Decker Private Practice
2013-2014 Darren Kaltved University of MN
2014-2015 Jennifer Rosand University of MN
2015-2016 Victor Massaglia University of MN
2016-2017 Kim Marrone Right Management
2017-2018 Denise Felde Minnesota State Colleges & Universities
2018-2019 Gordon Helle Strategic Education Inc.
2019-2020 Donna Bennett Donna L. Bennett, LLC
2020-2021 Sharon Balke Strategic Education, Inc.