Pennsylvania Career Development Association upcoming events

PACDA: Intentional Networking (Wednesday, October 28, 2026)

Wed, 28 Oct 2026 16:00:00 GMT

PACDA PRESENTS

Intentional Networking

Wednesday, October 28, 2026, Noon-2 PM Eastern (Zoom)

Description

Networking is essential to career development and job-search success, but it can also go wrong. For career professionals, the opportunity is twofold: to strengthen our own ability to build purposeful, reciprocal professional relationships and to offer clients and students practical guidance that helps them avoid common networking missteps.

In this session, Ed Samuel will share strategies for networking with greater intention before, during, and after an interaction. He will share insights about the four (4) Network Tiers, the 95% rule of networking, and re-visiting win-win/win-lose. Ed will recommend the two (2) things a job seeker must have in hand while in a job search and will help us guide our students / clients about:

The one thing that can damage a networking opportunity and how to salvage it when bad news is delivered;

How to assess and expand their networks;

Preparation for in-person networking opportunities;

Approaching outreach and referrals thoughtfully; and

Following up in ways that build trust and sustain relationships.

Participants will leave with actionable ideas to “walk the talk” in their own networking and better equip the clients and students they serve to build connections that support long-term career success.

Presenter Bio

Ed Samuel: Linkedin

Ed Samuel holds a BA summa cum laude in Business Administration from Wilmington University. He is a certified consultant in the DISC personality assessment for individuals and teams, New Horizons (retirement), and is both an assessment consultant and trainer in Career Direct, a holistic career assessment and strategy methodology. Ed is a multi-hyphenate professional, including career coach, resume writer, published author, nationwide public speaker, and faith/work leader.

He founded SamNova, Inc (samnovainc.com) more than 16 years ago and leads a team that delivers AI-enabled career advice to global clients, including career assessments, resume writing, Linked profile support, interview prep, networking support, targeted job searches, beating the ATS systems, attacking the hidden job market, landing a job 55+, and those making career pivots. He has nearly 29K connections on LinkedIn, has coached nearly 2K individuals (with 500+ testimonials), and has lead his international team in completing 1600+ career assessments. This is one of more than the two dozen workshops / seminars he delivers annually and he has been featured in well-known media including The Wall Street Journal, AARP magazine, Fox Business News, and cable TV. He published “Optimize Your Resume – Dos and Don’ts” in 2019 and will be releasing a book on networking later this year.

Ed launched his career with 19 years at Digital Equipment Corporation in Accounting and Customer Operations. He then spent 11 years leading operations with well-known firms such as Stride-Rite, Mead West Vaco, and UBS, where he as a licensed financial advisor (Series 7, 63). Ed then led recruiting at several Greater Philadelphia organizations, including WL Gore and Robert Half. He won the Eastern Region’s "New Recruiter of the Year in 2008" as part of Global Recruiters Network. Ed leads a bi-weekly faith/work small business forum and a non-profit ministry in stewardship with Crown Financial as a US Ambassador.

Meet the Author at the Pyramid Club Zoom: Semi-Annual Women's Author Panel (Thursday, October 29, 2026)

Thu, 29 Oct 2026 22:00:00 GMT

Semi-Annual Women's Author Panel

October 29, 2026 | 6:00PM

At The Pyramid Club

We look forward to another great opportunity for networking, conversation, and meeting talented local authors at the Pyramid Club! Enjoy delicious light bites, a glass of wine, and the beautiful view of our city from the 52nd floor of the Mellon Building.

Our esteemed guest authors:

Ann Wax — BE Your Own Lifeguard: Resilience

Dr. Adena Johnston — Growing Forward: Adaptive Talent Management

Nicole Stephenson — UNAPOLOGETIC: Boldly Lead the Career You Deserve

Susan Redding — Finding Your HERO Within: Awaken the Confidence, Courage & Purpose Inside You

Mary Fran Bontempo — The Responsible Woman Trap: How to Release What Should Be and Make Room for What Could Be — Coming Fall 2026. Visit Author's Website

Barbara Edelston Peterson — Kvell: A Word You Should Know

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PARKING GARAGES

The Pyramid Club offers discounted parking at both Sonesta Hotel and Standard Parking Garage "1700" across the street.

Sonesta Hotel offers Valet Service while Standard Parking Garage is Self Park.

Discounted tickets are provided at the Pyramid Club Reception desk.
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ARRIVAL INSTRUCTIONS

The Pyramid Club is located in the BNY Mellon Bank Center at 1735 Market Street. Before arriving please make sure you bring a form of Photo ID. Upon entering please show your Photo ID to the Security booth in the lobby and sign in. Take the elevators up to the 51st floor. There you will see the Entrance to the club. You may either walk up the Spiral Staircase or there is another elevator to the 52nd floor. Our Receptionist will then direct your Private Event Room. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CLUB ATTIRE

Business casual is recommended in all areas of the Club. Please no sneakers or flip flops.

More Information and Registration

PACDA Members: register at a discount using the promo code in Member Resources.

Jump Start Your Job Search: Workshop (Saturday, October 31, 2026)

Sat, 31 Oct 2026 13:00:00 GMT

Christ Church, Joseph's People, et. al

Presents:

Jump Start Your Job Search Workshop

Overview

A full day interactive in-person workshop to jump start your job search and your career.

An interactive day of information, ideas and networking to provide help and hope in your job transition and for your career

Mindset is Everything - Soyica White will help you to shift from a fixed to a growth mindset with several concrete techniques for staying resilient through the rejection and setbacks of a job search. You will leave with a personal action plan and the opportunity to build your confidence as you navigate your career path.

Making Waves: A Career Pathing Guide to Stand Out, Stay Employable, and Sail Ahead – Theresa Hummel Krailinger will help job seekers regain clarity, momentum, and confidence in a challenging employment market. Rather than focusing on quick fixes or job-search gimmicks, Theresa reframes the job search as a career-ownership journey; one where individuals learn how to advocate for themselves, communicate their value, and make intentional choices about what comes next.

Networking over lunch with fellow participants and speakers

Network Your Way to Success – Amy Dinning unlocks the key to networking. Networking is the most important skill you can develop for your job search. In this interactive presentation we will discuss what networking is, why do we network, where to network, important networking tools, and networking to-dos and don’ts. It is important that you become comfortable with networking for a successful job search.

Networking Time to meet new connections

LinkedIn: Creating an Authentic and Meaningful Profile – Corey Crapella will assist us in learning how to build a LinkedIn profile that reflects your true professional brand, making you stand out to recruiters and employers. Your LinkedIn profile helps you to be found by recruiters.

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and the workshop begins at 9 a.m. The formal part of the workshop will end at 4:00 p.m. Snacks and sandwiches will be provided; if you have special food needs, please bring your lunch.

Please register online and pay with a credit card. We are unable to take walk-ins. Please note that online registration will close on Thursday, October 29 at 5 pm.

For more information or questions, contact Amy Dinning at amydinning@juno.com.

The event is sponsored by:

Christ Church, Joseph’s People, Association for Talent Development (ATD), CPENG, Great Careers Network, Greater Philadelphia Veterans Network, Hire One (a Chester County Economic Development Council initiative), PA Career Development Association

Registration & More information: Click Here

Beacon Networking For Life: Reset & Reframe: Shedding Past Job Trauma for a Fresh Start (Tuesday, November 03, 2026)

Tue, 03 Nov 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Reset & Reframe:
Shedding Past Job Trauma for a Fresh Start

Tuesday, November 3, 2026

12:00pm-1:30pm EDT

Starting a new job should feel like a clean slate. But if you've left a toxic workplace or a difficult manager behind, you might find old habits sneaking into your new role:

Over-explaining simple decisions because you used to be micromanaged
Feeling a spike of panic every time a manager says "got a minute?"
Working late into the night just to feel "safe"

These aren't poor work habits, they are survival tactics. And carrying them into a healthy environment can hold you back from actually enjoying your fresh start.

Join us for Reset & Reframe: Shedding Past Job Trauma for a Fresh Start, an interactive virtual workshop designed to help you unlearn past defenses, recalibrate your professional trust, and step into your new role with confidence.

About Our Presenter:

Elisa Seeherman (https://www.linkedin.com/in/elisaseeherman/) 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.

More information and registration Here

Meet the Author at the Pyramid Club Zoom: Curtis Jenkins "Vision to Reality!: A Bold Roadmap to Thrive in the Age of AI, Remote Work, and Career Reinvention" (Friday, November 06, 2026)

Fri, 06 Nov 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Meet The Author: Curtis Jenkins "Vision to Reality!: A Bold Roadmap to Thrive in the Age of AI, Remote Work, and Career Reinvention"

November 6, 2026 | 12:00PM

At The Pyramid Club

The job market has changed. Traditional career advice no longer guarantees success, AI is reshaping industries, competition is fiercer than ever, and many professionals are wondering what it really takes to build a meaningful and lasting career. In Vision to Reality, A Bold Roadmap to Thrive in the Age of AI, Remote Work and Career Reinventions, award-winning project leader and business strategist Curtis L. Jenkins reveals why so many people struggle to gain traction in today's workforce—and provides a practical roadmap for turning ambition into measurable success. Drawing from decades of leadership experience, the experience of job search industry professionals, and the proven principles behind his Realization Framework Experience®, Curtis helps readers move beyond uncertainty by identifying their vision, creating a strategic plan, overcoming obstacles, and executing with confidence. Whether you're launching your career, changing industries, pursuing a promotion, starting a business, or rebuilding after an unexpected setback, this book offers the tools to move from where you are to where you want to be. Filled with real-world stories, actionable strategies, and practical frameworks, Vision to Reality isn't simply about finding your next job—it's about creating a career and life built with purpose, clarity, and intention. Stop waiting for the perfect opportunity. Create it. Your vision starts here, and your reality begins with the next step.

More Information and Registration

PACDA Members: register at a discount using the promo code in Member Resources.

PSCA: 71st Annual Conference (Wednesday, December 02, 2026)

Wed, 02 Dec 2026 13:00:00 GMT

71st Annual Conference

Penn Stater Hotel, State College, PA

December 2 - December 4, 2026

This year, we are bringing together an incredible lineup of educational thought leaders and practitioners to provide you with actionable, real-world strategies:

Dr. John W. Hodge (Opening Keynote) on practical solutions to foster resilience and buffer the risk factors holding students back.
Terri Tchorzynski (Closing Keynote), former National School Counselor of the Year, on redesigning systems to break the cycle of burnout and reactivity.
Dr. Carolyn Stone (Pre-Conference Workshop) providing a vital deep-dive into legal literacy, ethical practices, and confidentiality in school counseling.

Why You Can’t Miss This:

Earn Continuing Education: Access top-tier professional development with Act 48 hours, NCC hours, and up to 6 CEUs available.
Dynamic Breakouts: Choose from a robust schedule of breakout and poster sessions tailored to current educational realities.
Network & Connect: Collaborate with peers from across the state during our evening social events and networking luncheons.

Lock In Early-Bird Savings

Register by October 15, 2026, to take advantage of our early-bird discount. Plus, you can save even more on your registration fee by becoming a PSCA member today!

REGISTRATION AND MORE INFORMATION: https://ncyionline.org/conferences/pascac/#home

MACCA: 56th Annual Conference: Resilience & Transitional Change (Thursday, December 03, 2026)

Thu, 03 Dec 2026 13:00:00 GMT

"MACCA is seeking approval to offer Resilience & Transitional Change for continuing education credit. Please check back for updates."

PACDA members register at a discount using code in Member Resources