October 3, 2018

The Midwest Region of the American Counseling Association held a Leadership Development Academy September 28-30, 2018 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  Over seventy current and emerging leaders of the thirteen midwest state counseling branches attended to develop their leadership skills in the counseling profession.  Refresh’s Chief Brand Ambassador, Joyce Marter, currently serves as Chair of the Midwest Region of ACA and headed the committee which organized the event.

Participants learned everything from how to run a meeting, how to use technology to run their association, how to better engage both mental health and school counselors, to handling fiduciary responsibility. Attendees also enjoyed morning yoga, a lively social and evening actives in the downtown Sioux Falls area.  Many thanks to leaders of the South Dakota Counseling Association hosting the event and making it a great success, especially Executive Director Rebecca Christiansen.

Marter enjoyed facilitating the opening welcome, presenting along with Midwest Governing Council Representative, Dr. Michele Kerulis, on Motivating & Mentoring Volunteers.  She also presented on “The Psychology of Success”, a keynote presentation she has provided for ACA and has been asked to provide for the Missouri Counseling Association and the Maine Counseling Association in 2019.  Marter also served on a leadership panel and facilitated the Midwest Region Business meeting, which had attendees from Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Nebraska.

For highlights of the conference, please click here.