2025 Annual Conference
Fostering creativity and wellbeing in career development
Friday, June 6, 2025, 9 am - 3:45 pm
Maine Municipal Association
60 Community Drive, Augusta, Maine
| Dirk Matthews, NCDA President-Elect |
Sabrina Woods, Career Coach and International Trainer |
Register and renew your membership below!
CONFERENCE AGENDA
8:30-9:00: Registration, Coffee & Networking
9:00-9:10: Welcome & Announcements
9:15-11:45 Morning Session: Dirk Matthews
Creative Adaptation in Career Development: Approaching our work creatively in response to rapidly changing times
Overview
Creativity is a misunderstood concept, often evoking the work of artists, filmmakers, and performers. Creativity's core is the ability to produce or implement original or alternative ideas. With the rapid changes in the workforce, implementing career theories and interventions requires creative approaches. In this presentation, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the creative process, identify creativity in their work, and learn new ways to support individuals' career development and mental health.
About the speaker
Dirk Matthews is the Interim Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations at Columbia College Chicago. He is a leader in development and career services and an educator. For the past 25 years, Dirk has provided career services in higher education and to adults while teaching film and career preparation courses for 26 years. He also trains career development providers seeking certification.
Dirk is also the President-Elect (FY26) of the National Career Development Association (NCDA), an architectural photographer, and a career services provider in his private practice.
Dirk received his master’s degree in organizational psychology from California Southern University and holds Certified Master of Career Services (CMCS) and Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF) certifications and is a Facilitating Career Development Instructor (FCDI). He has been published in several journals, including Career Developments, and has an extensive history of presenting on subjects ranging from film analysis and portfolio development to career development. His recent research focuses on the impact of the pandemic on organizations and creativity in the career development process.
11:45-1:00: Lunch & MCDA Annual Meeting
1:00-3:30 Afternoon Session: Sabrina Woods
Creative & Holistic Approaches to Foster Resilience and Self-Care for You and Your Clients / Students
Can stress harm your productivity and effectiveness at work? Unfortunately, the answer is yes. When we feel heightened stress, our sympathetic nervous system goes into that fight or flight state. In this state, our brains are foggy, and we see fewer options. This means our problem-solving abilities are compromised.
On the flip side, shifting a little focus to your well-being can put you in a more calm, clear-headed, optimal place. This mind-set shift (and activation of the parasympathetic nervous system) can help you not only to be more effective during your everyday work, but also help you to be more focused, creative, and even a better teammate. Join us for a hands-on, experiential session to explore this topic and engage in some positive psychology and mindfulness-based practices to bring you back to your "best self".
Beyond building our resilience to manage stress better, we’ll segue into creative techniques and mindfulness-based tools to use during your client / student coaching sessions.
Creative Activities and Topics will include:
- Get a Boost from Your Past – When our self-esteem is dipping, we can use this exercise to gain more confidence and renewed energy.
- Face Your Fear, Free Your Energy – Explore your worst-case scenario and face those fears, as a means to getting unstuck and freeing up that energy that is being wasted on worry.
- Bull’s Eye Exercise – An insightful and innovative tool for decision making, whether that be choosing a major, deciding on a career path, or debating a job offer.
About the Facilitator
Sabrina Woods is a holistic career coach and international trainer with 20 years in the higher education field within career services at universities including Northeastern, Harvard and the University of London. In her private practice, her joy comes from tapping holistic and mindfulness-based practices while helping people with major career and life transitions. Sabrina also facilitates workshops, staff retreats and train-the-trainer sessions ranging from the Myers Briggs to Mindfulness to Building the Foundations for Career Advancement. Her workshops combine her insights, enthusiasm and infectious energy. Sessions have been taught in the US, UK and Middle East for organizations ranging from MIT and Princeton to Cook County Health (hospital in Chicago) to Vanguard. She is also Past President of the Career Counselors Consortium based in Boston. When she's not coaching or training, you can find Sabrina on the bike path, reading about neuroscience or making muffins (morning glory are a favorite!). See website and Linkedin for more details.
3:30 Closing & Adjourn
