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WCDA Leadership
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WCDA Current BOARD Members
Jessey Allen Jessey has been working in career development since she fell in love with it as a work study employee in a career center back in 2008 while studying Psychology at Central Washington University. Since then, she has developed a passion for interpreting career assessment results, teaching career development topics, facilitating workshops, and empowering clients with the tools to make them successful. Being the eldest girl in a mixed family of 11 children, she has had to learn certain leadership skills such as; communication, team work, inclusivity, and empathy starting at a very young age. She hopes to bring these skills and experience to help lead the WCDA team this year. |
Juliet Jones-Vlasceanu Juliet is CEO of Career Key (careerkey.org), a Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF) and a graduate of Princeton University and Seattle University School of Law. For 25 years, she has helped people navigate complex and intimidating systems in the world of work with greater confidence. For 10 years as a labor and employment lawyer, she advised individuals, unions, managers, and served as Legal Officer for the Washington State Patrol. In 2006, she changed careers to work with Career Key’s founder, her father and retired counselor educator from N.C. State University, Dr. Lawrence K. Jones, NCC. A member of NCDA for many years, Juliet has led Career Key’s transformation into a career well-being and education technology company. She lives in West Seattle with her husband and son. |
Chuck Zimchek The seed for my interest in career counseling was planted when I experienced the pain of a misfitting occupation and bloomed when required to teach a high school career exploration class. My interest in career development has not waivered since, over the past three decades. I have been happily employed as a career counselor at Central Washington University since 2012 and serve students in the College of the Sciences. I was part of the team that founded the new WCDA and am committed to seeing it continue to grow, flourish, and be a significant, unifying influence and resource for Washington’s career development professionals and the people they serve. |
| Carissa Bane Co-Treasurer/WCDA Northwest Chapter Leader Carissa has supported student success on Western Washington University’s campus since 2013. She is currently a Senior Career Counselor in Western’s Career Services Center and teaches a Career Preparation course each quarter on Western’s campus. She was part of the team that founded WCDA and continues to enjoy her involvement on the board and having the opportunity to interact with individuals from across the state. In her free time, Carissa enjoys adventuring outdoors with her partner, son, and energetic border collie. |
Aaron Woods WCDA Secretary Aaron started working at CWU as a career counselor in the Spring of 2020. Prior to moving to Ellensburg, Aaron grew up and lived in Oregon and had a 20 year career in the high-technology field where he was a technician, project and program manager for software systems at a silicon chip manufacturer. Aaron enjoys exercise, watching movies/TV/sports and doing home improvements. Aaron also enjoys learning about history through books and travel. |
WCDA Members-At-Large 2023-2025
| Katrina Whitney Member-At-Large Katrina “Kat” grew up in a military family, was a first generation collegiate athlete. She has been working in higher education and at Central Washington University for over 25 years in the areas of student services, equity, social justice, and career services. She has a passion for student success and creating opportunities for student growth and development. In her free time she enjoys being out in nature, crafting, and increasing her knowledge around mindfulness and personal growth. |
Judy Hopkins I wear many hats in my job at WSU, from coaching students one-to-one who seek jobs and internships to presenting on career topics across campus and teaching a career-related undergraduate course for students currently engaged in internships. Additionally, I work with employers and campus partners to develop internship programs and professional career development tools and training. I additionally serve on the ROAR Advisory Board, Washington state’s only independent living program for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs). |
 | David Lindstrom Member-At-Large David has managed and coached teams for over 20 years in the industries of public administration, healthcare, and higher ed. He is focused on creating interdependent cross-departmental relationships and is dedicated to building trustworthy leadership. He is currently directing Student Development and Career Services helping students focus on career, personal, and professional growth at Walla Walla University. While there, he has worked with multiple departments to create and grow a new department and focus on supporting professional staff, creating effective workflows and communicating clear goals. David enjoys providing direct career services and teaching classes. He is a certified resume writer with PARWCC and has done private resume contract work and is a certified MBTI practitioner. He is also a Trauma Specialist with ITR which allows him to provide trauma informed services, and assists him in his Title IX contract work. He enjoys and is supported by his wife, two adult sons, and three grands. |
 | Dale Larson Member-At-Large
Dale Larson has served as Internship Coordinator at Central Washington University since February of 2023 after filling the same post as a temporary employee for 4 months in 2022. A graduate of Western Washington University, Dale has also earned advanced degrees in both Divinity and Adult and Community Education. In addition to 8 years as an Assistant Professor of Practice in Youth Development for both Washington State and Oregon State Universities, Dale has 3 decades of experience as a parish pastor both in Washington and Indiana and has served on several non-profit boards and community advisory committees. |
Alexis Pappas Member-At-Large Alexis is passionate about career and technical education and is dedicated to helping students develop practical skills that lead to meaningful careers. She began her career in Human Resources before pursuing her true passion in Career Services. Currently, Alexis serves as the Career Coach at Olympic College. As a Global Career Development Facilitator and Certified Career Services Provider, she empowers students to explore their potential and achieve their professional goals. Outside of work, Alexis enjoys expressing her creativity through baking and crafting. |
Stephanie Leeper Member-At-Large Stephanie Leeper serves as the Title III Career Connected Curriculum Liaison at Clark College, where she leads initiatives that integrate career readiness and work-based learning into academic programs. She established the Virtual Career Hub, connecting students with employers and community partners to enhance career-connected learning opportunities. Stephanie collaborates closely with faculty on curriculum design, experiential learning, and workforce alignment. A national presenter at the National Association of Colleges and Employers Conference, she is dedicated to advancing equitable access to high-quality career pathways and supporting regional workforce development. Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences from Washington State University Vancouver. |
Diana Charnley Member-At-Large Diana (she/they) is a core faculty in the Master of Arts in Counseling program at City University of Seattle, where she teaches the career counseling course regularly. She also has a small telehealth caseload as a LMHC (WA) and LPC (MI). She works with adults and couples on mental health and career concerns. She is also a National Certified Counselor (NCC), Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS), and Board Certified Telemental Health (BC-TMH) provider through NBCC. She has been a member of NCDA for several years and participates actively in their Counselor Educator Academy program. She lives in Seattle with her partner and corgi. |
Interested in Leadership Opportunities? We're always looking for members to take on leadership roles within the organization and would be happy to speak with you about how you might serve WCDA. Board leadership elections happen annually in the spring. Please email us at info@mywcda.org to express interest. |
