All our instructors are seasoned career development professionals. Career Planning Academy uses only credentialed instructors who have specific and pertinent expertise and experience in the content that they provide. They are leaders in their field and have at least a Master’s degree. That’s why we can say Career Planning Academy provides professional development from the best in our field.
Marty Apodaca
(Category 1) Marty Apodaca, MA, LPCC, CCC, NCC, is a Senior Counselor at the University of New Mexico (UNM) Student Health and Counseling and former Career Development Facilitator at UNM Career Services. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in English and Master of Arts in Counseling at UNM. Marty is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in New Mexico and caries the certifications of Certified Career Counselor, attained from the National Career Development Association (NCDA), and National Certified Counselor, obtained from the National Board of Certified Counselors. He is a past president and current board member of the New Mexico Career Development Association.
Marty’s introduction to the Career Construction Interview (CCI) was in 2010 while working at UNM Career Services. He was instantly drawn to the tool and while studying the CCI he discovered his passion was in assisting people with their life stories. Marty then made the decision to enroll in UNM’s Counseling program and begin his new career journey. Marty attended the first Career Construction Institute in Boulder, CO and has served as faculty in two other Career Construction Institutes.
Marty is an alumnus of the NCDA Leadership Academy was a Trustee-at-Large for NCDA and is now President of the organization. Marty carries a passion for exploring the intersections of career and mental health issues and his devotion is in helping clients share, connect with, and develop authorship over their life narratives.
Cyndi Briggs
(Category 1) Dr. Cyndi Briggs, LCMHC(NC), NCC has been a professional counselor since 1998. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Guilford College (NC), her masters in community counseling from Wake Forest University (NC), and her doctoral degree in counseling from Oregon State University where she served as a counseling intern in the Career Services office. She completed her dissertation research on mentorship and presented at national conferences on the topic. Her research on mentorship resulted in publications in the Journal of Counselor Education and Supervision and the Journal of Women in Educational Leadership. She is a licensed clinical mental health counselor (LCMHC) in the state of North Carolina and is a national certified counselor (NCC).
Dr. Briggs teaches in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Walden University (online). In addition to mentorship, her research agenda includes veterans’ issues, women’s issues, addiction, and professional development. She has taught at Winona State University (MN), Oregon State University, the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, Wake Forest University, and Guilford College. She was awarded the Bernard L. Turner award for her dissertation committee work at Walden University in 2020, and the Faculty Excellence Award for the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Walden University in 2021. She was also awarded Chi Sigma Iota Outstanding Professional Award (UNCC) and the Delta Delta Delta Sorority Apple Pie Professor Award (Wake Forest University) in 2014. Dr. Briggs will complete her Masters in Instructional Design and Technology at Walden in May 2022 and serves as a Subject Matter Expert in course design in the School of Counseling at Walden.
Christian Chan
(Category 1) Christian D. Chan (he, him, his), PhD, NCC is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Counseling and Educational Development at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a proud Queer Person of Color. His interests revolve around intersectionality and the effects of oppression on career development and access to counseling. Dedicated to mentorship for leaders and scholars, he has actively contributed to over 80 peer-reviewed publications in journals, books, and edited volumes and has conducted over 150 refereed presentations at the national, regional, and state levels. He currently serves as Associate Editor for Teaching and Supervision in Counseling and Chair of the National Career Development Association Task Force for Revising the NCDA Multicultural Career Counseling and Development Competencies. He is a past-chair of the NCDA Committee on Diversity Initiatives and Cultural Inclusion and a selected member of NCDA Leadership Academy and NCDA Counselor Educator Academy. Dr. Chan was the recipient of the NCDA 2019 Merit Award. He received his PhD in Counseling from The George Washington University and a MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from The George Washington University.
Karen Chopra
(Category 1) Karen James Chopra, LPC, MCC, NCC, CCC is the founder of Chopra Consulting for Consultants (www.KarenChopraConsulting.com), which helps therapists, counselors, coaches and other consultants create thriving businesses. She also has a well-established career counseling private practice in Washington, D.C. (www.ChopraCareers.com), and has helped hundreds of clients with career exploration, job search and career management. A former U.S. Government trade negotiator, she is the author of Coaching Career Clients on Salary and Other Workplace Negotiations and numerous other articles on the business and practice of career counseling. MCDA has honored her with both their Outstanding Career Practitioner and Lifetime Achievement awards. She received her M.A. in Community Counseling from the George Washington University, and her B.A. from the University of Virginia. She also has a master’s degree from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service.
Malka Edelman
(Category 1) Malka Edelman, NCC, MCC, CRC, LMHC, CCSP has worked in higher education for over 27 years in both the fields of career development and disability services at the State University of New York at Farmingdale. She has been a frequent guest speaker to educators and parent groups on Long Island and NYC. She teaches Career Counseling in the Graduate Program at New York Institute of Technology and taught for 10 years at Hofstra University. She has served on the Advisory Council for the CDF curriculum for NCDA as member, chairperson and co-chair. Malka is president of Comprehensive Career Planning, Inc, an organization that provides a full range of career services to individuals as well as organizations. Contact her at malka.edelman@gmail.com.
Kathy Evans
(Category 1) Kathy M. Evans, PhD, Past President of the National Career Development Association, was an Associate Professor of Counselor Education at the University of South Carolina. She received a Master’s degrees in Psychological
and Rehabilitation Counseling from Teachers College, Columbia University, and her Ph.D. from
the Pennsylvania State University. Before receiving her doctorate Dr. Evans held career counseling positions in high schools, community and four-year colleges and universities as well as in a non-profit organization. She has been a counselor educator for over 25 years and has taught the career counseling course for 20 of those years. In addition she teaches doctoral courses in multicultural counseling/advocacy, supervision and pedagogy. Five years ago, she developed a graduate certificate program for Career Development Facilitators.
Dr. Evans has published extensively and decided to write “Gaining Cultural Competence in Career Counseling” because there were no available texts that helped students understand the synthesis of culture and career. For some of the same reasons, she also co-authored “Experiential Approach for developing Multicultural Counseling Competence” with Dr. Mary Fawcett of Winona State University.
Mary Ghilani
(Category 1) Mary E. Ghilani, M.S., NCC, has 28 years of experience in higher education. She retired from Luzerne County Community College in Pennsylvania as director of career services. Her areas of expertise include career assessment, career counseling, job search strategies, and retirement counseling. She is the author of How To Choose Your Major, Working in Your Major, Second Chance, 10 Strategies for Reentering the Workforce, Web-Based Career Counseling and numerous career-related articles. She can be reached at meghilani@gmail.com.
Brian Hutchison
(Category 1) Brian Hutchison, Ph.D., LPC, CCCE is a member of the core faculty in counselor education at Walden University. Dr. Hutchison received his doctorate degree in Counselor Education & Supervision from Pennsylvania State University and has worked as a career, school, and mental health counselor and clinical supervisor. Dr. Hutchison is the Past-President of the Asia Pacific Career Development Association (APCDA), Editor of the Asia Pacific Career Development Journal, and past Treasurer of the National Career Development Association (NCDA).
Brian’s scholarship is infused into three primary scholarship areas: international issues in career/ school counseling, career theory and practice integration, and counselor training/ education broadly defined. He has more than four dozen journal publications pertaining to school and career counseling theory, international career development, social justice and cross-cultural communication, and specific counseling interventions. Dr. Hutchison is a Contributing Editor for the book International Practices of Career Services, Credentialing and Training.
Brian’s career consultation and education work operates within the brand of Global Career Guy where he specializes in developing career education products and programs, on-line career coaching and mentorship, and web-based education and networking tools for global career professionals.
Keley Smith-Keller
(Category 1) Keley Smith-Keller, Ed.D., LPC, CCC is an adjunct professor at both Mount Marty University and the University of South Dakota, where she teaches research methods and career advising. She also works as a licensed professional counselor, a career counselor and a career coach. She is a former director of college/university career centers in three states. Dr. Smith-Keller received her doctorate degree in Adult & Higher Education and her master’s degree in counseling, both from the University of South Dakota.
Dr. Smith-Keller is the former co-chair of the Ethics Committee of the National Career Development Association (NCDA), as well as the former editor of the Ethics Committee’s regular column, Ethics in a Nutshell, published in NCDA’s professional magazine, Career Developments. Dr. Smith-Keller is active in South Dakota’s state organization for career professionals in higher education, where she chairs the organization’s annual Teacher Career Fair.
Dr. Smith-Keller’s research interests have focused on career maturity and effective academic/career advising in higher education.
Nancy J. Miller
(Category 1) Nancy J. Miller, MS Counseling (Career), Certified ACF21, Certified Life Coach/Trauma Informed Coach, and Certified NLP Practitioner is the founder of Creative LifeWork Design (www.nancyjmiller.com). She provides career and life coaching services to professionals and entrepreneurs for successful personal growth, career transitions, and career related trauma. She developed and managed a career center program that became a CSUS Counselor Education designated field study site where she trained and supervised graduate students to work with clients in crisis.
Nancy has been a Field Editor for the National Career Development Association while writing articles for Career Convergence web magazine and Career Developments print magazine. She has presented career related workshops and presentations for grants, California Career Development Association and National Career Development conferences, universities, government organizations, non-profits, and schools. Nancy authored several books including the career book, Fire Up Your Profile For LifeWork Success revised 2016.
Leanne Morgan
(Category 1) Leann Wyrick Morgan, PhD, LPC, CCCE, BC-TMH (Board Certified Telemental Health Provider) is a member of the Core Faculty in the School of Counseling at Walden University. She is a former Associate Professor of Counseling in the Counseling and Human Services Department at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs and served as the Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Counseling and Leadership Program Coordinator. She holds a B.A. in Communication from Purdue University, M.A. in Human Services and Counseling from DePaul University, and Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from The University of Northern Colorado. Her primary counseling experience is with adolescents and their families, both in the community and school settings. She is a former School-to-Career Coordinator and School Counselor at Thompson Valley High School in Loveland, CO. She is also a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Colorado, a National Certified Counselor (NCC), and Certified Career Counselor Educator (CCCE).
Robert Borgen Neault
(Category 1) Roberta Neault, PhD, CCC, CCDP, GCDF-i, is an award-winning leader in the career development sector, in Canada and internationally, served on the board for the Career Counsellors Chapter of CCPA and is currently past president of the Counsellor Educators and Supervisors chapter of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. Her Masters degree was in Counselling Psychology and her PhD in Educational Psychology; her research in both degrees focused on career development.
President of Life Strategies Ltd. and Project Director for the Canadian Career Development Foundation, Roberta is a counsellor-educator, career practitioner, researcher, author, keynote speaker, and corporate consultant who brings a holistic perspective to individual and organizational career development challenges. She has worked with diverse groups in more than 70 countries. Holder of certifications in counselling and career development, and with specific training in e-learning (e-course design, e-teaching, e-career coaching) and working with Indigenous populations, Roberta’s leadership in career development has been heralded by international organizations who have honored her with many awards.
Spencer (Skip) Niles
(Category 1) Spencer Niles, PhD is the lead creator of the Hope-Action Theory. He served as Dean (2013-2020) for the School of Education at the College of William & Mary. He now serves as Co-Founder of the THRIVE Research and Intervention Center and Professor of Counselor Education at W&M. Previously he served as Distinguished Professor and Department Head for Educational Psychology, Counseling, and Special Education at the Pennsylvania State University from 2000-2013. Prior to joining the faculty at Penn State, he served as Professor of Counselor Education at the University of Virginia from 1987-2000 where he was also Assistant Dean for the Curry School of Education. He served as a Visiting Professor at Johns Hopkins University from 2020-2021. He is President-elect of the Association of Counselor Education and Supervision, Past-President of Chi Sigma Iota International and was twice the President of the National Career Development Association (NCDA).
He is the recipient of the NCDA Eminent Career Award. He has received numerous awards from the American Counseling Association (ACA) including the Thomas Hohenshil Research Award, the Thomas Sweeney Visionary Leadership and Advocacy Award, the President’s Award, the David Brooks Distinguished Mentor Award, the ACA Extended Research Award, the ACES Legacy Award, and the Visionary Leader and Advocate Award. He received the Noted Scholar Award from the University of British Columbia. Niles is a Fellow of ACA and NCDA. He served as Editor for Counselor Education and Supervision and served as two-term Editor for The Career Development Quarterly as well as Editor for the Journal of Counseling & Development. He has authored or co-authored approximately 150 publications and delivered over 170 presentations at national and international conferences.
He has a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from The Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Education, Community Counseling from Lehigh University.
Elle O’Flaherty
(Category 2) Elle O’Flaherty, MA, JC, PCC found her calling, after 20 years as an attorney, in executive, ADHD, and career coaching. She specializes in working with executive teams and private clients for performance improvement. She regularly trains others on working with ADHD clients, coaching and mental health, and executive performance, among many other topics. Elle has double ICF-certified training in Executive Coaching from American University and ADHD Coaching through ADDCA. She is a PCC-level coach with multiple career coaching certifications through NCDA and the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches (PARW-CC). Her work has been published globally and she presented at NCDA’s 2022 Global Conference, with a forthcoming presentation for the 2023 Global Conference.
Elle holds a JD from the William & Mary Law School and a journalism degree from James Madison University. She is a recovering federal appellate attorney and former international trade negotiator. Weirdly, she’s also a subject matter expert on World Trade Organization dispute settlement.
Deirdre Pickerell
(Category 2) Deirdre Pickerell, PhD, CHRP, GCDF-i has over 20 years’ experience in the fields of career development, adult education, and human resource management. She has made significant differences within the career development sector – locally, nationally, and internationally – through innovative program design and selfless leadership, consulting, and mentoring throughout the sector. Deirdre is the 2014 recipient of the Stu Conger Award for Leadership in Career Development and Career Counselling
Edythe Richards
(Category 1) Edythe Richards, CPRW, GCDF, MBTI-MP, EQ-i, has been an educator for 20+ years, specializing in career development for over 15 of those years. She is a nationally-recognized expert on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and was one of the first 50 individuals worldwide to obtain the Master Practitioner credential. While Edythe has worked in private and public sectors, and in higher education for a number of years, her main interest in career development is helping midlife adults locate and sustain meaningful employment. She has a Maters in Counseling from Seaton University.
Edythe has been a featured speaker at many events in the greater Washington, DC Metro area, particularly in Arlington County, where she leads workshops and seminars on resume writing, career transition, and job loss. Edythe has a Master’s Degree in Counseling as well as several industry certifications, including Certified Professional Resume Writer, Global Career Development Facilitator, Emotional Intelligence, and Myers-Briggs Master Practitioner. Currently, Edythe works with MWAA in leadership development, training and coaching to equip teams with the tools necessary to manage change and improve employee engagement. She also oversees the website A Top Career(www.atopcareer.com) where she regularly blogs and produces podcasts. You can reach Edythe at edythe@atopcareer.com.
Janine Rowe
(Category 1) Janine Rowe, MSEd., LMHC, NCC, CCC, CASAC, CEAP, SAP is a doctoral student in Counselor Education at the University of Rochester, in Rochester, NY. She is a licensed mental health counselor, a certified career counselor, and nationally certified counselor in private practice in Rochester, NY, with a specialization in helping neurodiverse job seekers. She is currently a counselor at the University of Rochester Medical Center. She was most recently a career counselor and Assistant Director of Disability & Career Services at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) where she provided coaching and consultation services for job seekers on the autism spectrum and for recruiting partners.
She is the winner of the New York State Career Development Association (NYSCDA) Early Career Professional award (2014) and the RIT Presidential Award for Excellence (2018). Janine was a participant in National Career Development Association’s Counselor Education and Leadership Academies and is the previous Vice-President and President of the NYSCDA.
Janet Wall
(Category 2) Janet E. Wall,