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Staff Bios |
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Linda Danter, Ph.D., Executive Director, returned to the Center staff in January, 2009. A
graduate of Ohio University and The Ohio State University, she brings more than 30 years of experience
in program development and service delivery, as well as executive leadership and administration within
the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. Her primary responsibility is to lead the overall
direction of the Center. She focuses on ensuring that the quality and quantity service goals are met;
promoting NDCC programs and services in the community; fund-raising to support the Center's work;
maintaining appropriate financial controls within the organization; and working with the Board of
Trustees to see that the mission of the organization is carried out.
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Paula (Polly) Dix, Volunteer Coordinator, joined NDCC as an Office Volunteer in August 2011. She received her undergraduate degree from Ursuline College in Cleveland, and a master's degree in Journalism from The Ohio State University. At NDCC Polly is responsible for recruiting and maintaining volunteers to maximize the effectiveness of New Directions' programs and services. She also helps with special events the Center organizes throughout the year. Prior to joining NDCC, Polly had many years’ experience in the field of Public Relations, and also spent 15 years as a Journalism instructor at Ohio State University, where she taught both news writing and public relations courses.
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Amanda Fox, LPC, CPRW, Career Counselor/Program Manager, joined the Center as a clinical counseling intern in 2005 as part of her graduate training. She earned her master's degree in Counselor Education at The Ohio State University in 2006 and joined the Center full-time shortly after. She is currently working on becoming an independently licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, and recently received a certification as a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW). She provides group program instruction and individual career counseling at the Center. She is also responsible for program coordination, evaluation and curriculum development.
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Cynthia Kazalia, Placement Specialist, is a graduate of Bowling Green State University and brings
more than 20 years of experience in employment placement, marketing and referral source development to
the Center. She joined the NDCC staff in October 2006 and is responsible for coordinating placement
efforts for graduates of the New Directions Program, as well as the other regular, on-going programs.
Cynthia works with the Career Counselors to determine the appropriate path for each client based on
their performance and job readiness, as demonstrated during the course of the program. She also oversees
media relations for the Center's programs and services.
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Meredith Anne Kitts, Office Administrator, joined the NDCC staff in November 2006. Meredith, a
graduate of the University of Kentucky, has more than 12 years of experience as both an educator and an
administrator/manager with several business entities. As Office Administrator for NDCC, she has internal
fiscal responsibility for a variety of tasks such as bank deposits, handling of accounts payable and
receivable, reconciling bank statements, providing information for accountants to complete the annual
audit and IRS 990. She also prepares and oversees mandatory agency filings such as Workers' Compensation,
Unemployment Compensation, charitable solicitation permit forms, bank signature cards, filings with State
Attorney General/Secretary of State offices. Meredith also oversees the NDCC donor data base (data entry,
maintenance and reports), and payroll reporting.
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Raeanna O'Brien, MA, LPCC-S, Director of Programs and Services joined the
staff in March 2011. A graduate of The Ohio State University, she earned her Master's
Degree in Clinical Counseling and is licensed as a Professional Clinical Counselor
with supervisory endorsement. She comes to us with over 10 years of experience
working as a helping professional within the public, private, and non-profit sectors
where she has served in leadership roles, prepared and delivered presentations and
workshops for local businesses, and restructured programs and processes to improve
service delivery. Raeanna is responsible for program development, recruitment, and
outreach, working closely with the program committee and program staff to ensure
client career needs are being met in accordance with the organization's mission and
vision.
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Rosanna Tabler, Office Assistant, first came to NDCC as a client of the AARP
Senior Employment Program in spring 2008. She worked as a receptionist, answering
the phones and greeting clients and donors when they came to the building. In May
2010, she joined the NDCC staff as a part-time Office Assistant. Rosanna studied
two years at Central State University in Business Administration and has worked more
than 25 years in Central Ohio as a secretary and assistant.
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Linda C. Warden, Development Director, a graduate of The Ohio State University, joined the NDCC
staff in December 2006. She brings more than 30 years of experience in fund development and management
to her position at the Center. Linda coordinates all efforts for fund raising and donor relationship
development. This includes grant writing, organizational outreach to new donors and sponsors, as well
as organization and event management for the organization's fund raisers.
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Contract and Consultant Staff Bios |
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Chandra Bell, Ph.D., LPCC-S, Career Consultant/Program Instructor, is a graduate of The Ohio University’s Higher Education Administration Doctoral Program. She earned her master’s degree in Community Agency Counseling at The University of Dayton and is licensed as a Professional Clinical Counselor with the supervisory endorsement. Chandra is employed full-time as the Director of Career Services at Columbus State Community College. She has also served as an adjunct instructor at The University of Dayton in the Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions Program. Prior to her career in higher education, Chandra worked for nearly a decade in the financial industry in various leadership capacities.
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Amy Brown, LPC, Career Consultant/Program Instructor, has been affiliated with New Directions Career Center since 2007 during her clinical counseling internship. Amy earned her Master's Degree in Counselor Education at The Ohio State University in 2008 and joined the contract staff at New Directions in 2009 as a program instructor. Amy currently enjoys leading classes in the four week New Directions program for women in career transition. Amy is also a counselor in private practice at Beacon Center for Counseling in Westerville.
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Diane Higginbotham, MEd, LPC, Career Consultant/Program Instructor, earned her
Master's degree from the University of Dayton in 2008. She joined NDCC in 2011 as a
Contract Career Consultant. Diane works full-time as the Scholarship Manager for The
Columbus Foundation, where she has been employed since 2000. Diane is also an adjunct
instructor at Columbus State Community College where she facilitates a class on
transitioning into college called Freshman Seminar.
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Allison Jones, MA, LPC, Career Consultant/Program Instructor, earned her master's degree at The Ohio State University and completed an internship with New Directions Career Center. She currently teaches components of the Advanced Career Techniques and Creating Career Options programs at NDCC, covering topics including résumé and cover letter writing, job searching skills, and interviewing techniques, and salary negotiation. She is a full-time career counselor at The Ohio State University where she helps undergraduate and graduate/professional students with any aspect of career development, including self-assessment, career exploration, reality-testing, goal setting, and implementing career plans.
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Beth Sertell, MBA, Career Consultant/Program Instructor, earned her Master's of Business Administration degree from Texas Woman's University in 2005. She joined the New Directions staff in 2010, after serving both as an intern and a volunteer. Bringing more than 12 years of experience in both the public and non-profit sectors, Beth's primary responsibility is to lead a variety of classroom-related programming throughout the NDCC curriculum. Specializing in mental health counseling, Beth is currently pursuing her Masters of Social Work from The Ohio State University and is also an adjunct instructor at Ohio University where she teaches women's and gender studies.
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