Speakers:
George Hemcher, Career Development Coordinator, The Center for Performing and Cinematic Arts, Temple University
George Hemcher is the Career Development Coordinator for the Center for Performing and Cinematic Arts at Temple University, where he supports over 1,200 theater, film, music, and dance students through professional development programming and individualized career coaching. Previously, George served as Youth Opera Coordinator at Sarasota Opera, involved in youth and mainstage productions, educational outreach, and conducting, including assistant conductor roles for several notable works. He has sat on the board of the Fabulous Arts Foundation, advocating for LGBTQ+ artists, and on OPERA America's Community Engagement and Education steering committee.
An active pianist and coach, George currently works with OperaDelaware, including the world premiere of Derrick Wang’s Fearless, and serves as principal pianist for the Greater South Jersey Chorus. His past collaborations span respected organizations such as Delaware Valley Opera, Regina Opera, and DCINY at Carnegie Hall. With experience as a staff pianist and music director at institutions like Hofstra University and USDAN Summer Camp, George has performed in over 40 operatic productions ranging from Verdi to Britten. He holds a BS in Music Merchandising from Hofstra University and an MM in Piano Accompanying from Manhattan School of Music.
Veronica Scarpellino, Founder, Goldfinch Leadership
Veronica Scarpellino is an Executive Career Transition Coach, Creative Thought Partner, and the founder of Goldfinch Leadership. A former higher ed leader and formally trained artist turned certified coach, she specializes in helping professionals navigate career pivots and tap into their Creative Intelligence—the intersection of emotional intelligence, strategic action, and creative problem-solving. With over 20 years of experience, Veronica has supported artists, innovators, analysts, and changemakers as they reimagine their next chapter.
She holds the PCC credential from the International Coaching Federation and is a Board Certified Coach in Executive, Leadership, and Career Coaching. Veronica is also a member of Forefront: Powered by Marshall Goldsmith’s 100 Coaches. Her latest book, Second Draft: Rewrite Your Midlife Career with Creative Intelligence, offers practical tools for navigating transitions with purpose and originality.
Elisa Seeherman, Associate Director of Career Services, Penn State Great Valley
Elisa Seeherman is the Associate Director of Career Services at Penn State Great Valley, supporting students pursuing graduate degrees in business, engineering, data science, and AI. She previously served as the Director of Career Services at University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA from 1998 to 2024. In this capacity, she was responsible for the leadership and coordination of comprehensive career counseling and guidance for students and alumni pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees in creative disciplines in the visual and performing arts.
Elisa has a B.A. in Speech Communication from Ithaca College and an M.S. in Counseling and Human Relations from Villanova University. She is certified to administer and interpret the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), a tool that has been providing insight into individuals' strengths for decades, and also obtained a Certificate of Completion in Fundamentals of Human Resource Management.
NCDA CEUs: This program is eligible for 2 NCDA CEUs.
- CEUs are free for PACDA members and non-members
- If you attend the program live, simply complete the post-program survey and receive your CEU certificate.
- If you register for the program but do not attend live, you will receive an email with a link to the recording. Watch the recording and then complete the post-program survey to receive your CEU certificate.
- NCDA is the National Career Development Association (www.ncda.org/). See https://ncda.org/aws/NCDA/pt/sp/credentialing for information on NCDA credentials and Continuing Education requirements.
Act 48 credit:
PACDA and PSCA members: After the event, complete the post-event survey, then email ceu@thepacda.org to obtain your certificate of attendance, which you can then submit via the PSCA website.
Not a PACDA or PSCA member?: You may be able to obtain Act 48 credit. After the event, complete the post-event survey, then email ceu@thepacda.org to obtain your certificate of attendance. Submit this to the Pennsylvania Department of Education via your local education agency, which will have the final say on whether this program qualifies for Act 48 credit. Or, you may submit via the Pennsylvania School Counselor Association for $10.
