Welcome to the 2022 Spring Conference

Conference Agenda 

Friday, April 22, 2022

8:00 am- 4:30 pm

Boise Airport Best Western Inn

2645 Airport Way

Boise, ID

This conference is the perfect opportunity to reunite, network and share what is going on around the state!

8:00-8:30 AM Check in, Registration, breakfast snacks & coffee

8:30  Welcome and Opening Remarks by Garrett Nilsson, ICDA President

8:45-10:15 Keynote: The Future of Work

Lakeisha Matthews MS, CCSP, NCDA President Elect

Join us for this engaging discussion! Lakeisha will be addressing the increasing transitions that are upon us all to adapt to the future of work. The future is now!

Bio: Lakeisha Mathews is the President Elect of the National Career Development Association and is Director of the Career and Professional Development Center at the University of Baltimore and is also the owner of a career coaching business called Right Resumes & Career Coaching, LLC which she launched in 2012.

Mrs. Mathews holds several industry certifications as a Certified Career Services Provider (CCSP), Certified Professional Career Coach, Certified Professional Resume Writer, Global Career Development Facilitator, Certified Business and Employer Services Professional, and is certified to teach Etiquette to Adults and Professionals. She received her M.S. in Human Resource Development from Towson University and a B.A. in Communication from the University of Maryland College Park. Lakeisha is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Education in Higher Education Leadership and Innovation from Wilmington University.

Lakeisha is committed to the field of career development and has served on several association committees. In 2011, she was elected as president of the Maryland Career Development Association. Under her direction MCDA was honored with the 2012 NCDA Southern Region Award. In 2016, Lakeisha co-authored a chapter in the book Find Your Fit, published by the Association of Talent Development.

Lakeisha is a native of Baltimore, MD and seeks to give back to the greater Baltimore community by serving on non-profit boards and supporting workforce programs. Lakeisha has provided pro bono employability skills training to disadvantaged youth and currently partners with the Baltimore City Youth Works program and Cristo Rey Jesuit High School to provide work opportunities for at-risk youth.

Of most importance is Lakeisha’s student-centered approach to career services. Hearing student success stories continues to be the favorite part of her job as a Higher Education Administrator, Educator and Career Coach!

10:15-10:30 Networking Break

10:30-12:00 Unprecedented Recruitment Strategies

Panel of Idaho Employers

Several Idaho employers will share insights and answer questions about current recruiting practices and what they are looking for in candidates.

The following employers will be on our employer panel, We appreciate them taking the time to be with us for this engaging panel.

Panel:

Amazon- Maria Benitez, Staffing Coordinator 

Lamb Weston- Zach Seale, Executive Recruiter

Micron- Melanie Lewis, Manager NA University Relations

Pet IQ- Reneé La Fayette, BBA, RACR, Talent Acquisition Partner

Simplot- Lauren Schulz, Regional Talent Lead

St. Alphonsus- Michele Theiss, RACR, Senior Talent Acquisition Partner

12:00-1:00 Catered Lunch and Networking Time

1:00-2:00 Idaho Next Steps Career Information System

Sara Scudder, Career Information Senior Program Manager

Sara will introduce and review the Next Steps Idaho website and features for accessing Idaho's Career Information System resources.

Bio: Sara Scudder earned her undergraduate degree in Political Science at Auburn University in Alabama, and she obtained a Masters in Economics from Cal State University – East Bay’s business school. Upon graduation Sara began working for a survey research firm. Her predisposition for numbers and patterns led to rapid promotion and eventual notice by the Idaho Department of Labor. Over the next decade, she honed her skills in career development, team building, marketing, and systems training. While at Labor, she was tasked with the implementation and promotion of a two statewide AmeriCorps projects and the Idaho Career Information System (CIS). Sara followed this work to the Idaho State Board of Education, where she manages all outreach activities as well as Next Steps Idaho, Direct Admissions, Apply Idaho, and Scholarship Idaho. She lives in Boise with her husband and two sons.

2:00-3:00 Using the Strong Interest Inventory Effectively

Lance Erickson, Brady Cook, Jeff Christensen, and Jared Anderson

The Idaho State University career services team has years of experience using the Strong Interest Inventory, one of the most popular career assessments used at college campuses across the country. They will share insights about using this tool to find career direction. All conference attendees will be given access to complete the Strong Interest Inventory before the conference. (except those registering after 4/15 or same day)

Bios:

Jared Anderson is the Job Location & Development Coordinator at ISU Career Center. Jared spent 17 years in the Army as a Korean linguist, Interrogator and Instructor. He has earned a Bachelor’s degree and most recently a Juris Doctorate degree. Jared works with employers to find interesting ways to network with students and teaches a Career & Life Planning class to help students identify potential career choices.

Brady Cook has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Master of Counseling degree with an emphasis in Student Affairs. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Idaho focusing on career counseling, career development, and student affairs work in higher education. Brady has experience in several higher education fields including Academic Advising, Center for New Directions, TRiO Student Services and is currently a Career Counselor at Idaho State University’s Career Center. With a solution-focused perspective in counseling Brady enjoys helping people focus on the positive in their lives while assisting them to advance their dreams into reality.

Jeff Christensen has a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work, and a Master’s degree in Counseling from ISU. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Idaho focusing on career counseling, career development and mental health. He has been at the ISU Career Center as a full-time Career Counselor for 8.5 years where he enjoys working with students to help them with their career development needs. He finds balance in his life by also doing handyman work on the side. He plays a lot of sports and helps coach his 2 kids in volleyball, basketball, and flag football.

Lance Erickson is the Director for the Career Center at Idaho State University. He has worked at the Career Center for 18 years in several capacities. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from BYU, and a Master of Counseling degree from ISU emphasizing Student Affairs & College Counseling. He also earned his doctorate from ISU in Higher Education Administration. Lance is a Licensed Professional Counselor, and he loves helping students achieve academic and career success in their lives.

3:00-3:15 Networking Break with snacks

3:15-4:15 Reskilling and Upskilling

Cammas Freeman, Founder & Executive Recruiting Partner at Stackrock Talent10

Learn how to help clients reskill and upskill to stay relevant in the changing and agile future of work.

Bio:

4:15-4:30 Closing and Check out for CEUs

6 CEU hours will be awarded for attending the full conference, Must sign in and out on CEU sheet at registration desk and complete conference evaluation form available at the registration desk.

4:45-5:15 ICDA Membership and Board Meeting (all are welcome to attend)

Let us know if you have any questions!

  idahocareerdevelopment@gmail.com