History of the Michigan Career Development Association

 In a letter dated July 30, 1969 to the National Vocational Guidance Association (NVGA) the state division for Michigan was formed.  The President of National Vocational Guidance Association was Donald Super.  George E. Leonard (from Wayne State University) was President became the first President of the Michigan Vocational Guidance Association (MVGA).

 One responsibility of the state division was to maintain a membership of at least 20 persons who also had membership in the national organization (NVGA).

 Former American Counseling Association (ACA) President, and retired Oakland University Professor, Jane Goodman, indicated that she joined MVGA around 1970 and was on the Executive Board as the Adult Representative.  During that time period MVGA held a two-day conference at Weber’s in Ann Arbor.  Usually a few hundred people would attend the conference.  All the Michigan winners to the National Career Development Association Poster and Poetry Contest were invited to that luncheon with their parents and their school counselors.  Plaques were given to the winters and an Olympic athlete would place patriotic ribbons around the winner’s necks.

 Loren Anderson was President of MCDA in 1985-1986 .  He was a counselor at the Mt. Pleasant Technical Center.  Loren and his wife served as the Poster and Poetry Chair for many years.  They currently own Print Tech Printing Company in Mt. Pleasant.  That firm distributed a yearly career calendar with winning entries from the Poster and Poetry contest as the visual for each month.

 Michigan Career Development Association has maintained its status as the second largest membership division of the Michigan Counseling Association.  In the past ten years we have held a one-day conference at Oakland Community College’s Orchard Ridge campus usually in the spring.  The current vision of MCDA is to get around the state of Michigan coming to where you are.  We would love you to join us with membership. 

The mission/vision statement for MCDA is:

To promote career planning and development across the lifespan, resulting in personal satisfaction and success for our students, clients and constituents, through these five strategies: Learning * Networking * Advocating *Supporting *Collaborating

Below is the list of known Presidents of MCDA.  If you can help us fill in the missing blanks, we would sure appreciate it!    info@mi-mcda.org

1969                            Michigan chapter of National Vocational Guidance Association (NVGA) formed

1970-1971                   George E. Leonard

1971-1972                   Thelma Vriend

1972-1872                   Don K. Harrison

1973-1974

1974-1975                   Howard H. Splete

1975-1976                   Julie Miller

1976-1977                   Thelma Urbick

1977-1978

1978-1979

1979-1980

1980-1981

1981-1982

1982-1983

1983-1984

1984-1985                   Jane Goodman

1985-1986                   Loren Anderson

1986-1987                   Don Mroz

1987-1988                   Tom Kage

1988-1989                   Sue Haughey

1989-1990                   Cindy Weber

1990-1991                   Margaret (Peggy) Kennedy

1991-1992                   Bill Heise (deceased)

1992-1993                   Judith Hoppin

1993-1994

1994-1995                   Janice Green

1995-1996                   Nancy Monday

1996-1997                   Sara Horace

1997-1998                   Marsha Boettger

1998-1999                   Tyrone Holmes

1999-2000                   Rhonda Brown

2000-2001                   Pam Micallef

2001-2002                   Helene Koenig

2002-2003                   Nancy Thelen

2003-2004                   Wilma Fellman

2004-2005                   Nannette McCleary Shaw

2005-2006                   Mary Skalsky

2006-2007                   Jean Sullivan

2007-2008                   Interim President: Mary Skalsky

2008-2009

 Last Updated: 03/20/2008