2025 Spring Conference

Register here

Registration is open until April 18, or until capacity is reached. 

Pricing:

Member: $59

Non-member: $89

Retirees, students and job seekers: $45

Member panelists, speakers: $45

8:00 -8:30 am          Check-in, breakfast treats, networking

8:30- 9:00 am            Welcome from Normandale and MCDA membership announcements (President)

9:00 – 10:00 am         Keynote: Dr. Kareem Watts

10:00 – 10:10 am      Break

10:10– 11:20 am      Session 1: Breakout sessions and Careers in Career Development panel

11:20 – 12:15 pm    Lunch & Networking

12:15- 1:25pm Session 2: Employer panel

1:25  – 1:30pm         Break

1:30 – 2:40 pm         Session 3: Breakout sessions  

2:45 – 3:30 pm Awards & Closing

We’re thrilled to welcome keynote speaker Dr. Kareem Watts, also known as Kareem Elevated. A Hip Hop Artist, Poet, Educator, and Diversity Practitioner. Through resilience in the face of adversity, Kareem became Dr. Watts in May 2024, proving that reinvention isn’t just possible—it’s necessary for growth. His arts-based research focuses on hip-hop pedagogy (HHP) for Black college student success.

Bio: Dr. Kareem Watts (aka Kareem Elevated) is a Hip Hop Artist & Poet, Educator, and Diversity Practitioner with over 16 years of experience as a musician and higher education administrator, including his work as an adjunct professor. He currently serves as the Director of the Hedgeman Center at Hamline University and is the former President of the Minnesota Chapter of the American College Personnel Association (MN ACPA). Through resilience in the face of adversity, Kareem became Dr. Watts in May 2024, proving that reinvention isn’t just possible—it’s necessary for growth. His arts-based research focuses on hip hop pedagogy (HHP) for Black college student success. In 2024, Dr. Watts had the privilege of presenting his research at his first international conference, the 7th Annual European Hip Hop Studies Network in Ireland. The final chapter of his dissertation study features his new album, Flo-etic Storytelling Mixtape Ch.5. A poet and storyteller at heart, Kareem aims to decolonize higher education, promoting equity and inclusion to empower marginalized students and professionals for success and belonging.

From Career Counseling to AI Coaching: The Evolving Role of Career Advisors.

Amy Meyer, Academic Advisor & Career Counselor, Winona State University

Careers for Career Professionals

This panel will answer the question  ‘Where do career professionals work?’  Each panelist will represent one of the five common work settings of career practitioners:  Higher Education, Nonprofit, Government, Private Practice, and Outplacement.  We’ll learn about the clients they serve, the services they provide, current trends, the qualifications needed to work in these settings, and hear their own personal stories!  We’ll allow time at the end for questions from the audience.

Moderator: Brandon Beaulieu, GoodWill Easter Seals 

Panelists: 

• Denise Felder, University of Minnesota 
• Andrew Larson, HIRED (DWP, Hennepin County) 
• Cindy Larson, State of Minnesota CareerForce 
• Dean DeGroot, Self-Employed, Innerview Consulting 
• Shelley Jensen Decker, Ascend 

Well-Being at Work – Building Individual and Organizational Resilience. 

Beth Johnson, Owner, Redtail Communications

Career Play: Counseling Strategies for Wonder, Choice, and Joy

Vic Massaglia, Director of Career Center, School of Public Health

Michael Stebleton, Professor, College of Education and Human Development

Abby Wilfert, Graduate Instructor, University of Minnesota

Job Search Success: The Employer Perspective

An employer panel of five (5) recruiters representing a variety of industries and organizations will share information on their hiring processes, current job market and future employment needs.  We’ll be asking them how we can help coach candidates to stand out from the crowd of applicants!

Join us to gain insight into how recent events are impacting changes in the workplace, including DEI policy shifts, government spending decreases, and AI’s impact on job postings and roles.

Skills-Based Hiring Practices: A Powerful Design for Job Seekers and Career Counselors

Allen Mavis, Senior Specialist, Goodwill Easter Seals/Consultant, Facilitator, Minnesota Skills Based Hiring Accelerator 

Bridging the Gap: Using eLearning to Enhance Career Development

Vic Massaglia, Director, Career Services; Jaimie Eibs, Adhora Madhuri, Anya Mukraj, Jadyn Pye, Students, University of Minnesota, School of Public Health 

Using Humor and Metaphorical Thinking in Career Development 

Darren Kaltved, Associate Director, Career Services, Anya Mukraj, Student, of Public Health, University of Minnesota

Supporting Uniquely-Wired (Neurodivergent) Individuals 

Donna Addkison, ADHD Coach (Business, Career, Life and Academics), Wither & Tynes, LLC

Accordion Content – Test

Our conference will be held at the Partnership Center of Normandale Community College 

Driving Directions to Normandale 

Normandale Campus Maps

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