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Career Coaching + Advising Summit

Designed to strengthen the practice of career coaching and advising across Central Indiana.

The Career Coaching + Advising Summit is a one-day gathering of career advisors, educators, workforce professionals, and industry leaders designed to strengthen the practice of career coaching and advising throughout Indianapolis.

Led by EmployIndy, the workforce development board for Marion County, the summit reflects our commitment to improving the systems and supports that help learners and workers make informed career decisions.

Wednesday, April 22, 2026

8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

@ Ivy Tech Culinary & Conference Building
2820 N. Meridian St.
Indianapolis, IN 46208

Register

Our approach is grounded in EmployIndy’s career advising framework, which emphasizes:

  • Helping individuals understand their career options through clear, accessible information.
  • Supporting informed decision-making with tools and resources that connect learning to labor market opportunities.
  • Guiding transitions between education, training, and employment with practical, personalized advising.

SCHEDULE

8:00 – 8:30 AM | Registration & Breakfast
Ballroom

8:30 – 9:00 AM | Welcome & Opening Remarks
Ballroom – Ken Clark, President + CEO, EmployIndy

9:00 – 9:45 AM | Keynote
Ballroom – Kathleen Mathers, Principal, Education Strategy Group

9:45 – 10:30 AM | Fireside Chat – Student Panel
Ballroom – Moderator: Dr. Andrew Buckle

10:30 – 10:45 AM | Transition & Intro to Breakout Sessions
Ballroom – Shaylinn Aleman, Manager, Strategic Initiatives, EmployIndy

10:45 – 11:45 AM | Breakout Sessions – Round 1

  • Room 1-121 (K–12): Transforming College & Career Readiness: Begin Before High School!
  • Room 2-120 (Practitioners): Working with Industry to Build High School Pathways
  • Room 3-118  (Postsecondary): College & Career Readiness Support with College Students

11:45 AM – 12:45 PM | Lunch & Midday Keynote
Ballroom – Melissa Leavitt, Vice President of Quality Coaching, Strada Education Foundation

12:45 – 1:45 PM | Breakout Sessions – Round 2

  • Room 1-121 (K–12): Scaling High-Quality Work-Based Learning: Systems, Structures, and Strategies from an Urban District
  • Room 2-120 (Practitioners): Making Labor Market Information Work: Practical Strategies for Advisors and Career Coaches
  • Room 3-118 (Opportunity Youth): Supporting Workforce Outcomes for Young Professionals Impacted by Foster Care
  • Room 4-119 (Veterans): Helping Veterans in Their Recovery with Career Counseling and a Range of Return-to-Work Services

1:45 – 2:25 PM | Breakout Sessions – Round 3

  • Room 1-121 (K–12): ILI College Prep & Coaching Programs: Empowering Students from High School to College
  • Room 2-120 (Practitioners): Reframing the Modern Career Journey: Coaching the Multifaceted Professional
  • Room 3-118 (K–12): Growing Futures: Cultivating Career Pathways Through Community Agriculture and Youth Empowerment
  • Room 4-119 (Opportunity Youth): Coaching Opportunity Youth to Workforce Outcomes: Practical Advising Beyond the College Pathway

2:30 – 3:10 PM | Breakout Sessions – Round 4

  • Room 1-121 (K–12): Indiana Commission for Higher Education: 2026–2027 FAFSA and Indiana Pre-Admissions — Your Path to College
  • Room 2-120 (Practitioners): Career Alignment in Action: Tools for Effective Career Advising
  • Room 3-118 (K–12): Embedding Career Coaching into a Comprehensive School Counseling Program: Aligning Practice with the ASCA National Model (5th Edition)
  • Room 4-119 (K–12): Building Career & Technical Education Programs that Maximize Student Outcomes

3:15 – 4:00 PM | Afternoon Workshop & Networking Activity
Ballroom – Inspire Success: From Insight to Action

4:00 – 4:30 PM | Closing Plenary
Ballroom – Nate Klinck, Executive Vice President of Programs, EmployIndy

SESSIONS

Learn how key program quality indicators influence student outcomes in career pathways. This session will unpack the CTE team’s Program Quality Report and key data elements – Credentials of Value, Dual Credits, Work-Based Learning (WBL) participation, Graduation Placement, and earning concentrator status. Presenters will highlight how these opportunities within each career pathway can support student goals and success.

PRESENTER
Mikayla Moore, Program Manager, Indiana Commission for Higher Education
Linsay Osos, Director for Programming, Indiana Commission for Higher Education
Sam Rourke, Assistant Commissioner,  Indiana Commission for Higher Education

This 45-minute session trains workforce professionals and career advisors to integrate clients’ strengths, values, and RIASEC themes into career counseling. Participants learn to apply the RIASEC framework, connect personal attributes to career options, and guide clients in developing actionable career plans. The session provides practical tools to enhance self-awareness, alignment, and career satisfaction for both students and adults.

PRESENTER
Kate Jones, School Counselor, Orleans Jr/Sr High School
Debbie Gries, Migrant Education Program Coordinator, Southern Indiana Education Center (SIEC)

This interactive session equips career coaches and advisors with practical strategies for supporting Opportunity Youth who are not on a college pathway. Participants will explore workforce-first coaching practices, engage in hands-on activities, and leave with tools to help young adults move from career conversations to meaningful employment outcomes.

PRESENTER
Jeermal Sylvester, EMBA, CYC-P, Director of Workforce Development, Adjunct Instructor, Saint Jospeh’s College

In this session, you will learn more about the program, hear about successes and ways to partner.

PRESENTER
Nicole Oglesby, Program Director, IU Indianapolis
Crystal Clark, Program Manager, IU Indianapolis
Ruth Ann Hankins, School Liaison, IU Indianapolis

Learn how to integrate career coaching into a comprehensive school counseling program aligned with the ASCA National Model (5th ed.). This session provides practical tools for embedding Career Discovery Meetings, aligning CCR services with ASCA Student Standards, and strengthening Tier 1–3 delivery. Walk away with strategies and a clear implementation pathway to enhance career readiness and equitable access for every student.

PRESENTER
Aimee Portteus, Executive Director, Inspire Success
Shannon Mount, PhD, LCSW, Director of Career Coaching Initiatives, Inspire Success

Discover how Mae’s Paige Garden transforms community agriculture into a hands-on career development model. Founder Nicole Woods shares how her youth garden and transportation nonprofit teach entrepreneurship, leadership, and workforce readiness through growing food, serving families, and mentoring youth. Participants gain tools to integrate experiential learning and access solutions into their own career coaching efforts.

PRESENTER
Nicole Woods, Founder & Director, Mae’s Paige Garden / Can We Ryde Inc.

Hear about the VHA Vocational Rehabilitation Department at Roudebush VAMC, available programs, and ways to partner. 

PRESENTER
Thomas Roundtree, CRC, LMHC Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, Roudebush VA Medical Center

Learn how ILI’s College Prep and Coaching Programs support students from high school through college. These free programs provide one-on-one guidance on college applications, financial aid, career planning, scholarships, internships, and community resources. Education Specialists and College Coaches empower students to overcome barriers, plan coursework, and pursue postsecondary success.

PRESENTER
Ligia Zosel, Director of College Access and Tobacco Program Director, Indiana Latino Institute
Clara Revelo, College Program Coordinator, Indiana Latino Institute

Please join this session for programmatic updates with the Indiana Commission for Higher Education (CHE) on Indiana Pre-Admissions: Your Path to College and the 2026-2027 FAFSA. This session is designed to be a broad overview and will conclude with time for a Q&A. Counselors and school staff can always contact [email protected] for CHE support if you miss this session!

PRESENTER
Victoria Phair, Postsecondary Transitions Manager, Indiana Commission for Higher Education

Learn how to confidently use labor market information to guide students and job seekers. This session covers key data sources, practical interpretation tips, and common pitfalls to avoid. Participants will explore free LMI tools, real-world examples, and strategies for applying labor market trends in advising and program planning. Ideal for anyone who supports career decision-making or workforce development.

PRESENTER
Kristen Barry, KB Strategies
Mara Klaunig, Senior Director of Workforce Strategy, Ascend Indiana

The modern workforce is evolving beyond linear career paths. This session equips coaches with strategies to guide multifaceted, creative, and neurodiverse professionals toward purpose-driven success. Through storytelling, reflection, and practical tools, Andrea Kelley, CEO of Living in Pursuit, shares frameworks for helping clients identify transferable skills, embrace their full identity, and navigate nontraditional career journeys with clarity, adaptability, and confidence in an ever-changing world of work.

PRESENTER
Andrea Kelley, Founder, Living in Pursuit

Panelists will discuss IPS’ multi-year strategy to increase access to WBL experiences—including internships, clinical placements, school-based enterprises, and industry-aligned capstone projects—and highlight the district’s 5% growth in student participation from 2023–24 to 2024–25. The conversation will explore practical approaches to preparing students for success, such as leveraging tools like Xello for career readiness planning, implementing districtwide tracking and monitoring systems, and establishing clear expectations for employability skills and on-site professionalism.

PRESENTER
Jenny Berry, CTE Pathway Director, Indianapolis Public Schools
Angela Henry, WBL Engagement Manager, Indianapolis Public Schools
Charmaine Wardell, WBL Coordinator, Indianapolis Public Schools
Ezalea Allen, WBL Coordinator, Indianapolis Public Schools
Taria Butler, WBL Coordinator, Indianapolis Public Schools
Maxine Butler, WBL Coordinator, Indianapolis Public Schools

Discover practical ways to support the career goals of young professionals with foster care experience. This session explores common challenges faced by young people aging out of care and provides strategies for authentic engagement, effective referrals, and career coaching practices that promote independence. Participants will leave with actionable tools to enhance how they assess and respond to workforce barriers.

PRESENTER
Hannah Swogger, Assistant Director of Career Readiness, Foster Success
Sydney Hylton, Program Coordinator – Workforce Readiness, Foster Success

The term “K-12” education gets used a lot…but really our culture focuses on 9-12 education, especially when it comes to postsecondary experiences and planning. With the advent of the new high school diploma, it is critical that we shift the postsecondary focus BEFORE high school! Come and learn how IPS is supporting middle school students with intentional postsecondary exposure through college visits, early high school credits, and more!

PRESENTER
Aaron Munson, Director of Middle School Academies & Pathways, Indianapolis Public Schools

Learn how Ivy Tech Community College has worked with leading employers to build educational pathways for students for the jobs of tomorrow.

PRESENTER
Andrew Buckle, Executive Director, K-14 Initiatives, Ivy Tech Community College
Amanda Eberly, Executive Director K-14 Recruiting and Transition at Ivy Tech Lafayette
Katie Lash, Vice President for K-14 and Strategic Partnerships, Ivy Tech Community College

SPEAKERS

Ms. Allen serves as the Work-Based Learning Coordinator at George Washington High School, bringing more than 20 years of experience in education to her work supporting students and developing meaningful career pathways. She is deeply committed to helping students connect classroom learning to real-world opportunities that prepare them for post-secondary success.


Ezalea is a proud graduate of Purdue University. Her academic background and professional experience have shaped a strong passion for career readiness, workforce development, and student advocacy.


Outside of her professional role, Ezalea is the mother of two daughters and places a high value on her Christian faith, family, and community. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and spending quality time with her children, nephews, and godchildren.

Kristen Barry has worked in workforce development for over 15 years and has a strong focus on creating equitable access to high quality career pathways for all residents. She specializes in research and policy, strategic planning, process improvement, and strategic partner facilitation. Currently, Kristen serves as Policy Director for Southern Indiana Works, as well as engaging with workforce development and education partners on freelance research and strategic facilitation projects. Previously, Kristen has worked for both State and local workforce development boards also spent nine years working in workforce and economic development consulting. She worked with workforce development boards, community colleges, state agencies, and more in over 25 states in projects ranging from strategic planning for state agencies, to data analytics, to serving as a One-Stop Operator for several local workforce development boards. Kristen holds a Master of Public Affairs in Policy Analysis and Economic Development as well as a Bachelor of Science in Nonprofit Management from the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University Bloomington.

 

Email: [email protected]

Dr. Jenny Berry serves as the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Pathway Director for Indianapolis Public Schools. An advocate for public education for over 30 years, she began her career in 1993 as a special education teacher at Fordson High School in Dearborn, Michigan.

 

Dr. Berry holds a B.S. in Special Education (1993) and an M.A. in School Counseling (2000), both from Western Michigan University. She also earned administrative licensure as a CTE Director through Ball State University (2019) and as a Special Education Director through Indiana University (2009). Most recently, she completed her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of Southern Indiana in May 2025.

 

Her professional passions include expanding access to high-quality CTE programs of study, promoting equity and inclusion for all learners, and creating meaningful career-connected learning experiences through strong industry and community partnerships.

 

Email: [email protected]

Dr. Andrew Buckle has over 20 years of experience working in education, both at the K-12 and higher education environments, currently serving as the executive director of K14 initiatives for Ivy Tech Community College’s Indianapolis campus. In his current role, Andrew oversees a team that enrolls nearly 13,000 high school students annually in concurrent enrollment programing, partnering with more than 80 high schools, 400 teachers and many community partners.

 

Email: [email protected]

Adult education students in class at Warren Central

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

Ms. Butler is a Work-Based Learning Coordinator for Indianapolis Public Schools, assigned to Crispus Attucks High School. Taria is a licensed School Counselor with over 15 years of experience working in education. She is able to use her extensive skills as a school counselor to support students within their pathway and with their post-secondary goals.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

Amanda Eberly is the Executive Director of K14 Initiatives at Ivy Tech Community College’s Lafayette campus, where dual credit and dual enrollment programming serves nearly 6000 students in 27 area high schools. She holds a masters and bachelor’s in Agriculture Education from Purdue University and is pursuing a doctoral certificate in Community College Leadership at Old Dominion University. In former career lives, she was a high school teacher, extension educator, non-profit membership manager and small business owner as well as an Ivy Tech College Connection Coach and Director of Development. She and her husband have four young adult children and are looking forward to empty nesting.

Debbie Gries is a Certified Career Advisor and experienced educator with over 35 years in PreK–12 education. Her time in a variety of roles including teaching, school administration, migrant student education, and career coaching, provides her with a unique, comprehensive perspective on preparing students for a meaningful future. Debbie holds a B.S. in Elementary Education with a minor in Special Education from Indiana University and an M.A. in Educational Administration from Oakland City University. Beyond the classroom, she has worked with Girl Scouts and actively contributed to educational leadership through service on the IDOE Federal Programs Advisory Board and the Indiana Afterschool Network’s Provider Council and Board of Directors. Committed to helping students create purposeful pathways to their future, she leads teachers while helping students develop the self-awareness and confidence needed to reach their full potential and thrive in their chosen career.

Ruth Ann Hankins is a School and Learning Support Liaison for the IU P-12 Student Success Corps, Indiana University Indianapolis. In this role she oversees hired Tutor/Mentors as they work to support students with math and English Language Arts studies in Pike Township Middle Schools in Marion County. In her prior role she oversaw college students who were employed to provide college and career readiness support to students in seven Indianapolis Public School middle schools.

 

Ms. Hankins is a native Hoosier, having lived in several Indiana Communities – Corydon, Greenfield, Winchester, West Lafayette and Indianapolis. She is a graduate of Purdue University and has worked for Indiana University since April 2019.

 

In her free time, Ms. Hankins enjoys family activities, camping, reading historical fiction, gardening, hiking, movies, Jazzercise, and musical theatre.

Ms. Henry is the Work-Based Learning Manager for Indianapolis Public Schools, where she leads districtwide efforts to expand high-quality career-connected learning opportunities across four high schools. In this role, she works closely with students, school leaders, and community and industry partners to ensure meaningful work-based learning experiences are accessible, equitable, and aligned with students’ postsecondary and career goals.


Angela holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology from Indiana University, an Education degree from Marian University, and a master’s degree in Higher Education from Ball State University. Her educational background and professional experience reflect a deep commitment to student development, workforce readiness, and educational equity.


She is an active leader in the community, serving on the boards of the Alpha Mu Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, and Ivy Endowment, Incorporated. Angela also serves as Vice President of the Alpha Mu Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.
Outside of her professional and service commitments, Angela enjoys traveling with her adult children and participating in a book club.

Sydney is originally from Illinois and has lived in Indianapolis throughout her time at IUI. She recently earned her Masters in Homeland Security and Emergency Management. She has worked with Foster Success previously as a Graduate Mentor in the Catalyst Summer Bridge Program. She has been a lifeguard since high school. Last summer, she worked for Horizons at St. Richard’s, a summer camp program aimed at helping children from low-income and impoverished families become confident swimmers and improve their reading and math comprehension skills over a span of 6 weeks.

 

When beginning college, she discovered a passion for protecting other people and uncovered a drive to bring equity and inclusion into an often-overlooked area of disaster preparedness and recovery responses. Often, amid unexpected emergencies, people in underserved and impoverished areas around the globe are disproportionately affected by such disasters. She aspires to help facilitate response and recovery efforts for inevitable manmade and natural disasters for the communities in most need.

 

In her free time, she enjoys being outside, spending time with family and friends, as well as participating in self-care activities like journaling and meditating.

Kate Jones has been the school counselor for Orleans Jr/Sr High School for five years. She has a Bachelors Degree in Journalism/Secondary Education with a minor in English from Franklin College, a Masters Degree in School Counseling from Indiana University, and a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership from Western Governors University. Prior to working at Orleans, Jones was a journalism and English teacher in grades 7-12 at Paoli Jr/Sr High School and Scottsburg Middle School and a school counselor in grades K-4 and grades 9-10 at East Washington Elementary School and Eastern High School. She has served on numerous non-profit boards in Washington and Orange counties over the years and is currently on the boards of the OC Service Council, Team Peace, and Team OC. She is a certified Career Coach and passionately works to help students find their strengths and perfect post-secondary plan.

 

Email: [email protected]

Andrea Kelley is the Founder and CEO of Living in Pursuit, LLC, a strategic consulting and social impact firm redefining how purpose and innovation intersect in business. She leads a multidisciplinary team that designs and implements initiatives across workforce development, leadership training, and creative economy ecosystems.

 

Under her leadership, Living in Pursuit has expanded into four core divisions—Coaching, Consulting, Impact & Legacy, and The Network—with a mission to connect purpose, people, and power through strategic transformation.

 

With over a decade of experience in strategy, program design, and community innovation, Andrea partners with organizations, corporations, and thought leaders to drive measurable impact and create new pathways for talent, creativity, and sustainable growth.

 

Email: [email protected]

Mara Klaunig serves as Senior Vice President of Data Strategy at Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC), where she leads data-driven research and strategy initiatives that connect Indiana’s advanced industries to the education and workforce ecosystem. Her work focuses on translating complex labor market, occupational, and credential data into actionable insights that inform education and training pathways as well state and regional workforce strategy.

At IEDC, Mara is leading the development of a cross-sector effort designed to clarify workforce needs as Indiana’s advanced industries adapt to rapidly changing technologies. This work supports employers, educators, and policymakers by identifying priority occupations, skills, and talent gaps in the workforce today while providing a shared framework to guide workforce investments and partnerships.

Prior to joining IEDC, Mara held senior workforce analytics and research roles at the Indiana Department of Workforce Development and the Governor’s Workforce Cabinet, where she led the redesign of Indiana’s Top Jobs methodology and the development of the Credentials of Value model, both of which guide funding decisions for state education and training programs. She holds a master’s degree in public affairs with a concentration in economic development from Indiana University.

Dr. Katie Lash is our statewide Vice President for K14 and Strategic Initiatives. A former teacher, principal, and service center director, she is now based in Ivy Tech’s Systems Office where she supports local campuses by leading statewide K12 partnerships focused on dual credit pathways, and partnerships with middle and high schools.

Mikayla Moore currently serves as a CTE Program Manager at the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, where she oversees more than 15 pathways across six career clusters, ensuring program quality and alignment with state standards and postsecondary institutions. Previously, Mikayla worked as a School Counselor at Whiteland High School, supporting over 500 students in academic planning, social emotional development, and postsecondary readiness. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Arts & Science from Indiana University of Bloomington and a Master’s degree in Counseling from Indiana Wesleyan University. Mikayla is passionate about providing students with opportunities to succeed and discover paths that align to their academic and professional goals.

 

Email: [email protected]

Shannon Mount, Ph.D., a Senior Consultant at Inspire Success, brings 20+ years of experience in public education, counseling, and professional development. A licensed clinical social worker and experienced trainer, she applies deep expertise in career development, Strengths-based coaching, and systems implementation to support schools in building effective, sustainable career coaching models.

With over 20 years of experience in education, Aaron Munson, Director of Middle School Academies & Pathways, has worked with IPS middle schoolers for 13 years. In 2023, Aaron’s school counseling program in IPS received national recognition as a Recognized American School Counselor Association Model Program–a first in IPS history. In IPS, Aaron has worked in neighborhood schools, magnet schools, and is now leading district initiatives in the Postsecondary Readiness Department in IPS Central Office. Aaron has earned several notable awards including the prestigious Lilly Endowment Scholarship, the Outstanding Future Music Educator of the Year, and most recently earned the Elementary School Counselor of the Year for Indiana.  Aaron received all of his education and certifications from Butler University: a bachelor’s in music education, a master’s in school counseling, and his Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) certification. Aaron stays connected in the college of education at Butler as an adjunct professor.

 

Email: [email protected]

Email: [email protected]

Adult education students in class at Warren Central

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

Victoria Phair serves as the Postsecondary Transitions Manager for the Indiana Commission for Higher Education (CHE), where she oversees initiatives that help students transition from high school to college through Indiana’s Pre-Admissions and the state FAFSA strategy. She holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Washington and a Bachelor of Science in Sociology and Social Work from Bradley University. Prior to joining the Commission, Victoria worked in the Division of Student Life at The University of Alabama, developing retention and leadership programs, and directed the Lewis J. Burger Center for Leadership and Public Service at Bradley University. Her background also includes work in community mental health, supporting individuals and families through treatment courts and case coordination. Victoria is passionate about expanding access to higher education and empowering students to thrive academically and professionally.

 

Email: [email protected]

Aimee Portteus, Executive Director brings extensive experience in supporting educators and student success through her work at Inspire Success. She has been an integral part of the development and implementation of comprehensive school counseling programming, championed statewide career coaching initiatives, and provided responsive support to meet the evolving needs of school counselors across Indiana and beyond. Her leadership has been instrumental in designing systems and resources that empower schools to create more intentional, aligned, and impactful student support services.

 

Email: [email protected]

Adult education students in class at Warren Central

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

Adult education students in class at Warren Central

Mr. Roundtree has been employed as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor with Roudebush VA Hospital for over 15 years. Prior to that I worked for Veterans Benefits as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor for 4 years.

Upon my discharge from the Marine Corps, I held some customer service and warehouse jobs having no idea of a direction. After clearing my cobwebs out and with family direction, I started and finished history degree at IUPUI. I loved the education; however, was discouraged from pursuing further educational studies in history by my professors at the time. Tried law school for a year and a half part-time and discovered that I would not be suited to such a profession. Switched to Masters of Social Work program for a year part-time when I discovered the Vocational Rehabilitation program at University of Wisconsin-Stout. I could go up for a year and half to complete Masters degree with emphasis in work evaluation with promises of many job opportunities at the time. That was accomplished and I have ever been grateful for the program and glad I made that decision. So, as can be seen, finding a career can take some time at times!

Family and I spent about 4 years working up at University of Wisconsin-Stout as I was employed as a Vocational Evaluator and Resource Counselor. We relocated back to Indianapolis and I worked in area of non-profit rehabilitation services as a Vocational Evaluator and Rehabilitation Director for a few years before moving into the field of private, for-profit rehabilitation and working for companies such as Crawford Healthcare as a Vocational Consultant and Upjohn Healthcare as a Vocational Counselor/Supervisor. During these years I had become a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and later a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. At the private healthcare companies, I provided vocational counseling and assessments in workers’ compensation and long term disability cases. I also provided vocational expert testimony in Social Security Disability cases for a few years. Then, with my brother’s suggestion and a couple friends, I applied at the VA.

 

Email: [email protected]

Adult education students in class at Warren Central

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

Hannah Swogger serves as Assistant Director of Program Delivery at Foster Success, a role that sparks her passion for supporting young adults with experience in foster care on their journey to career readiness and financial empowerment.

 

Hannah has over a decade of experience, focused primarily in career development and nonprofit communications. For seven years, she worked in career services at Marian University, where she first discovered her interest in employment practices that invite and support a diverse workforce.

 

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Marian University and a Master of Science in Strategic Leadership and Design from University of Indianapolis.

 

Outside of her time at the office, Hannah enjoys walking her dog, watching Ted Lasso, and giving endless pep talks about work-life harmony and self care.

 

Email: [email protected]

Email: [email protected]

Adult education students in class at Warren Central

Ms. Wardell is a Work-Based Learning Coordinator with Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS), where she connects high school students to meaningful career exploration, internships, and postsecondary opportunities. With a strong commitment to equity and student success, she works closely with educators, industry partners, and community organizations to ensure students gain real-world experience that prepares them for college and careers. Charmaine is passionate about supporting urban youth and creating pathways that empower students to thrive beyond the classroom.

Nicole Woods is a social entrepreneur, farmer, and community advocate with over 20 years of experience in transportation and workforce-connected service. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Mae’s Paige Garden and Can We Ryde Inc., Indianapolis-based organizations addressing food insecurity, transportation barriers, and workforce readiness through community agriculture and youth empowerment. Nicole leads hands-on, paid garden and service programs that integrate entrepreneurship, leadership development, and financial literacy while serving families across multiple Indianapolis neighborhoods. Her work centers on building sustainable career pathways rooted in dignity, access, and community care.

 

Email: [email protected]

Ligia Zosel is an accomplished bilingual educator and leader with extensive experience in education, youth empowerment, and public health initiatives. She began her career as a Bilingual Preschool Teacher in Guatemala and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Media and Communication, and she is currently working on a second bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Ligia has served as a Teacher, Spanish Tutor, and Assistant Director at a bilingual school in Seattle before joining ILI, where she leads programs that expand college access and support tobacco prevention for youth and communities throughout Indiana.
Deeply committed to community engagement, Ligia volunteers as a motivational speaker for the Catholic Church, inspiring youth through culturally responsive mentorship. Known for her adaptability and strong interpersonal skills, she effectively leads programs that meet community needs while achieving grant compliance and organizational goals. As Director of College Access & Tobacco Prevention Programs, Ligia provides strategic leadership for grant-funded initiatives, managing operations, supervising staff, building partnerships, and expanding student and family engagement.

 

Email: [email protected]

STUDENT PANEL

MODERATOR

Dr. Andrew Buckle
Executive Director K14 Initiatives, Ivy Tech Community College

STUDENT PANELIST

Ailana Woodard
Ivy Tech Indianapolis

Major or Area of Study: Psychology

Career Interests or Aspirations: School Psychologist or Child Therapist 

STUDENT PANELIST

Maegen Spears
Ivy Tech Indianapolis

Major or Area of Study: Business/ Entrepreneur 

Career Interests or Aspirations: Photography Assistant / Business owner 

STUDENT PANELIST

Liliana Valdez
Franklin College

Major or Area of Study: Accounting

Career Interests or Aspirations: Accounting and Real Estate 

STUDENT PANELIST

Magnim Apou Alemo
Ivy Tech Indianapolis

Major or Area of Study:
Biotechnology

Career Interests or Aspirations: Manufacturing Lab Tech

STUDENT PANELIST

Omavi Banks

Major or Area of Study:

Career Interests or Aspirations:

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Kathleen Mathers
Principal, Education Strategy Group

Kathleen Mathers, Principal, leads the career readiness portfolio at ESG. Her work specializes in designing demand-driven career pathways that offer focused career advising, high-quality industry aligned work-based learning experiences, early postsecondary opportunities, and culminate in high-value credentials to put more learners on a path to economic and career success. She led ESG’s Credentials of Value expert workgroup in 2018, led the development of ESG’s Building Credential Currency Toolkit, and has supported states and communities in their efforts to define, identify, and incentivize attainment of high-value credentials. Prior to her work at ESG, Kathleen served as Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement in Georgia, a P-20 research, policy, and accountability agency; as the Director of the Math Science  Partnership Program for the Georgia Department of Education; as the Vice President of Education for a non-profit science center; and as a classroom teacher in Atlanta.

Melissa Leavitt
Vice President of Quality Coaching, Strada Education Foundation

Melissa Leavitt is Vice President of Quality Coaching at Strada Education Foundation. In this role, she partners with postsecondary institutions and organizations to strengthen the connection between education and opportunity through career-focused coaching and guidance. She joined Strada in 2017, and her areas of expertise include career-connected learning, student support, students’ perspectives on postsecondary education, and alignment between postsecondary education and workforce development. In 2023, Melissa convened the Quality Coaching Advisory Group, which brought together leaders, researchers, and practitioners from across the postsecondary education ecosystem to create a set of principles and priorities for education-to-career guidance. Before joining Strada, Melissa previously held roles in research, communications, and development in the education and social impact sectors. She has a Ph.D. from Stanford University, where she began her career teaching literature, writing, and service learning.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The Career Coaching & Advising Summit brings together educators, career coaches, advisors, workforce professionals, and community partners from across Central Indiana to explore best practices in career advising. The event focuses on improving how we support students and adult learners in making informed career and education decisions.

This summit is designed for professionals who support students and job seekers in navigating education and career pathways, including:

  • Career coaches and advisors
  • K–12 educators and counselors
  • Postsecondary advisors and faculty
  • Workforce development professionals
  • Nonprofit and community organizations
  • Employers interested in talent development

The summit will take place on April 22, 2026 at the Ivy Tech Culinary & Conference Center in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Participants will experience:

  • Keynote presentations from national leaders in career advising
  • Breakout sessions highlighting best practices and innovative programs
  • A student panel sharing real experiences with advising and career exploration
  • Opportunities to network with professionals across education and workforce sectors

Registration details will be listed on the event registration page. Early registration is encouraged as space may be limited.

Yes. Breakfast and lunch will be provided for all attendees during the summit.

Yes. Free parking is available directly in front of the building for all attendees.

Business casual attire is recommended.

For questions about this event, please reach out to Shaylinn Aleman, Manager, Strategic Initiatives, at [email protected].

CONTACT US

For questions about this event, please reach out to Shaylinn Aleman, Manager, Strategic Initiatives, at [email protected].