NEC (New England Consortium-NCDA State CDAs) Virtual Conference 
Using Career Navigation to Build Trust and Ethics in Today’s Landscape
Presenter Bios and Session Descriptions

Keynote Talk (30 minutes including 10 minute Q&A)

Dr. David Reile, Ethical Leadership: How to Walk the Walk

Being a leader isn’t always about being in an elected or appointed position. Many of the best leaders are those who simply do what needs doing when it needs to be done. Participants will learn about a variety of leadership styles and the ways in which we can all be ethical leaders.

Brief Speaker Bio: Dr Reile is a licensed psychologist; NCDA Certified Career Counselor (CCC);  ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC); and executive coach with 30 years of education and experience in career planning and psychological consultation. Conference Presenter, Author, Consultant, Former NCDA President. He holds a Ph.D. in counseling psychology with a specialization in psychological assessment from Howard University. David co-manages an organizational development and consultation firm, the Career Development Alliance (CDA), with his wife, Dr. Barbara Suddarth, and both have been active in moving career development forward in India.

David brings highly respected leadership experiences as an NCDA Board Member and Past President (2016-17). He has served NCDA in numerous ways including Chair of the Ethics Committee (2004 – 2009). He is currently the Associate Chair of the Ethics Committee where he has assisted in revising and editing the new NCDA Code of Ethics. In addition to his professional work and affiliation with NCDA, David has contributed to career development globally through his non-profit foundation. His ethics, competence, authenticity, humility and demeanor inform his efforts to effectively work with just about any individual or group in the capacity of serving as a ‘valued collaborative team member’ and an ‘outstanding inspirational collaborative team leader!

Presentation I (40 minutes)

Dr. Jonique Childs, Embracing Ethics of Care Models and Framework to Support First-Generation College Students (FGCS) Career Development

This presentation will explore the ethical models of intersectionality and ecological validation frameworks for supporting vulnerable populations like first-generation college students (FGCS) by addressing their multiple intersecting identities (race, social class, legal status) to promote career exploration in higher education settings while validating their unique experiences within the institution.

Brief Speaker Bio: Dr. Childs is a former Assistant Professor, College of Education Student Development Program, UMass Amherst, a Conference Presenter, Researcher & Author. Member, Massachusetts  CDA. Dr. Childs holds a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from the University of Iowa with graduate minor in Multicultural Education & Cultural Competency; is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) & Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC). She also holds dual MSEd degrees in school and clinical mental health counseling with an emphasis in career development. Jonique brings a variety of deep rich experiences working with individuals/groups from diverse ethnic backgrounds including adolescent at-risk youth, high school students, undergraduates, graduate students, and older adults, clinical mental health counseling and the national suicide prevention hotline. Her research includes numerous peer-reviewed publications and national /international presentations that investigate the psychosocial needs of First-Generation Students of Color in K-12 and post-secondary education, career development and decision-making, multicultural education, cultural competency, social justice advocacy practices, leadership characteristics, and mental health awareness. Jonique brings a strong sense of personal passion and advocacy about her ‘calling’ to make a difference in the lives of others and will also be presenting her research, "Intercultural Competence and Global Learning for Career Success“ at the 2026 Annual NAFSA Conference & Expo in Orlando FL.

Presentation II (40 minutes) 

Erica Mattison, Helping Clients Trust Themselves: Storylistening as Ethical Career Navigation

This session will explore and demonstrate storylistening as a framework that integrates reflection, clarification, and exploration in ethical career navigation, including distinguishing between over-directing clients and facilitating shared sense-making through client stories to help clients identify strengths, values, interests, and emerging possibilities, while building self-trust. 

Brief Speaker Bio: Erica Mattison, MPA, JD, is the CEO of Erica Mattison Coaching & Consulting, Conference Presenter, Consultant & Author. Member, Massachusetts  CDA. She is a National Career Development Association Certified Career Coach, Master Certified Life Coach, and SkillScan Certified Coach.

Erica helps clients build rewarding careers through strengths-based narrative assessment. She brings an impressive variety of educational accomplishments and over 25 years of extensive work experiences and powerful advocacy serving individuals and groups as a coach, facilitator and speaker, and she is the author of Clarifying What Matters: Creating Direction For Your Career. Erica skillfully combines her psychology (BA), public administration (MPA), law  training (JD), and her former work experiences, including being an MBA Career Coach at Boston University's Questrom School of Business, to offer individual and group consulting, workshops, private coaching and courses, including "Clarify My Direction" and "My Best Fit.”

Round Table Discussions (50 minutes, Repeated in Sessions I & II)

Colleen Conway-Nobert, Creating an Ethical Personal Narrative that Reflects Your Value to Employers

Attendees will leave with strategies they can immediately use to support themselves and job seekers in communicating who they are and what they offer with clarity and confidence. Self-understanding is the foundation of an ethical personal narrative, and translating that understanding into clear spoken and written communication is critical to finding the right employment fit. Explore how to build positive, productive and effective descriptions that highlight your value, and avoid information that can work against landing the job.

Brief Speaker Bio: Colleen Conway-Nobert is the Founder & Principal of Career Fit for Life; and the Director, Career Branch, of Strengths Performance Centre – Gorham, ME | Ottawa, ONT; Conference Presenter, Consultant, Author. She is an active member of the Maine CDA. Colleen holds an MSEd in Educational Leadership, University of Southern Maine; BA, Fine Arts Drama, Saint Michael’s College; and Senior Career Coach, Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF); Facilitating Career Development (FCD) - NCDA;  School Career Development Advisor (SCDA) - NCDA; NCDA article Career Convergence – Clarity Before Strategy: Helping Clients Define Fit; former Adjunct Faculty at Southern Maine Community College teaching career, life and study skills; and Cooperative Education Coordinator at Lake Region Vocational Center-Naples, ME directing career readiness program and establishing partnerships with community and business leaders to expand employment pathways. 

Colleen is a veteran career development professional and Executive Coach with more than 25 years of important employment experiences including helping youth and adults navigate career exploration, transition, and long-term professional growth. She brings her unique understanding about the challenges facing both youth and adults struggling with making career-life decisions, especially those seeking the ‘right Career fit’ based on reflective practices and self-discovery that translates into actionable plans and alignment with individual goals and market opportunities. Colleen works with professionals, students, and career changers to build clarity, confidence, and direction in their careers through strengths-based coaching and structured career development strategies

Trish Slatin and Lex Levin, Time-Money Optimization: A Systems Approach to Ethical Career Navigation and Sustainable Work–Life Balance

This session introduces Time Money Optimization ® (TMO), a systems‑based methodology that reframes time as a universal currency and empowers people to make aligned, ethical career decisions using guiding principles to help clarify priorities and integrate time and financial choices for greater work–life balance. Participants will learn actionable strategies that enhance self‑efficacy, well-being, resilience and long‑term career success useful for service providers and their clients. Both presenters have a combined total of about 65 years of exceptional work experiences that informs their current efforts individually/collectively with their clients. 

Brief Speaker Bios: Trish Slatin is President & Founder/ Symbionics, LLC; Financial Systems Consultant; Certified Professional Coach, Center for Coaching Certification; Certified Professional Bookkeeper, American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers; a Conference Presenter & Author, and member, Massachusetts  CDA. She holds a BA in Marketing, University of Maryland College Park. Symbionics, LLC is a privately-held, Woman-Owned Small Business providing in person/virtual consulting, coaching and training designed to create essential financial office systems and integrate them with operational and marketing efforts for individuals considering starting their own private practice and small business owners. Trish is also Vice-President, UMCP Chapter of the American Marketing Association; a QuickBooks Pro Advisor, Intuit; a Volunteer Mentor and Workshop Presenter for SCORE; author of “Coaching for Time Money Optimization” book chapter, and Former Adjunct Professor at Howard County Community College and Anne Arundel Community College. 

Trish brings her impressive credentials and numerous work experiences to educate and empower clients to make pro-active and well-informed business decisions. She facilitates clients ’ awareness of challenges, and helps them design and put in place sustainable solutions that harmonize financial systems and operational goals, that take businesses to the next level.

Lex Levin is a Certified Federal Resume Writer, Trainer/Career Coach, Consultant, Conference Presenter & Former U.S. Foreign Service Officer. He holds an M. Phil. in Russian & East European Studies. He is Principal, Lex Levin, LLC, a Professional Specialist in Federal Resumes and ECQ Narratives, Private Sector Resumes, LinkedIn Profiles, and Interview Preparation; a Trainer/Career Coach. Lex is Co-presenter of “Ten Steps to a Federal Job” seminar to Federal jobseekers has taught job search and career coaching presentations for up to 30 diverse jobseekers per class. He is Writer/Editor/Analyst of NCSEJ, Washington, D.C., and served as a Political Officer, Office of Russian Affairs; Deputy Consul General in the U.S. Embassy in Prague, Czech Republic; a Political/Economic Officer, U.S. Consulate General in St. Petersburg, Russia; and General Services Officer in the U.S. Embassy in Minsk, Belarus.

Lex brings his unique valuable education and impressive professional national and international work experiences as a writer, editor and consultant, including his expertise with resumes, narratives and interview preparation, to enable clients to secure referrals, interviews and job offers across diverse Federal and Private Sector Resumes, LikedIn Profiles and more, using a highly personal, customer-centric methodology for clients. 

Dr. David Reile The Values of Leadership

We are needed as leaders in our own community, and through our values we demonstrate our leadership style. Participants will learn about the role of values and how to be the most impactful leader we can be in our circle of influence.

(Bio above in Keynote section)