MEET OUR SPEAKERS
JP MICHEL
Founder and CEO, SparkPath
Session: The Challenge Mindset: How to Transform Career Development
JP Michel is on a mission to change the way we prepare people for their careers. He is the founder and head coach at SparkPath and creator of the challenge mindset. JP's work on careers has been featured on the BBC, CBC and TFO. Since 2009, he has leveraged his experience coaching high-performing leaders to help hundreds of high-school students develop their potential, set meaningful career paths, and accomplish their goals. JP has an MSc in industrial-organizational psychology from the University of Manchester and is the recipient of the 2017 Outstanding Career Professional award from the Career Professionals of Canada.
check out jp's ted talk to learn more about his session:
Bethani Burkhart
Director of Career and Academic Development, Hiram College
Session: Using Your Data to Create Resources
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​Bethani is the Director of Career and Academic Development at Hiram College. At Hiram, Bethani works with students from all 29 majors offered at the college. She is passionate about the Liberal Arts and loves the small college community! Bethani is also Adjunct Faculty in the Communication department at Hiram. Bethani got her Masters in Humanities with a concentration in Communication from Tiffin University in 2016 while working full-time at Ohio Technical College as the Senior Career Services Coordinator. Bethani loves the outdoors and is attempting to kayak all 50 states!
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learn more about bethani's session:
ANDY WEYAND
Associate Director of Career Services, Kent State University College of Business Administration
Session: Guest Speakers and a Microphone: Using Podcasting as a Mobile Learning Opportunity
Andy joined Kent State’s College of Business Administration in January 2018 and leads the student career advising program, which includes student advising, curriculum, resources and events, as Associate Director for Career Services. With experience in developing career-readiness programs at multiple universities, Andy enjoys collaborating with employers, faculty, staff, and alumni to design and deliver high-impact learning for students as they move onward in their career journey. Andy is also an avid podcasting enthusiast and worked professionally in radio as an audio production director and on-air host, prior to his higher education career. He completed his education at Baldwin Wallace University (BA in Broadcasting) and Indiana State University (MS in Student Affairs & Higher Education).
learn more about andy's session:
JEREMY BANTA
Instructor, Logistics Engineering Technology, Columbus State Community College
Session: Networking for Success
(A Work in Progress...)
Jeremy Banta is a full-time Faculty member and Coordinator of the Supply Chain Management Program at Columbus State, and recently-retired Army Lieutenant Colonel with over 30 years of experience in civilian and military logistics. His military career includes 15 years full time service in the Ohio National Guard as a senior logistician and deployments to Iraq and Kuwait, and hurricane relief in Louisiana and Nicaragua. Jeremy earned a dual BA in Marking and Logistics, from OSU, and an MBA from Franklin University, and attended the US Army Command and General Staff College. He serves the logistics industry by serving on multiple local school and organizational advisory boards, as well as being a Board Member at Large for the Warehouse Education and Research Council (WERC).
learn more about jeremy's session:
AMY THOMASON
Career Advisor, Kent State University College of Business Administration
Session: Dispelling Student Myths about Career Readiness
Amy Thomason brings over 20 years of experience working as a human resources professional and career coach with expertise in recruiting and talent development. She shares this as a Career Advisor for students in the graduate programs in the College of Business Administration at Kent State University. She is committed to helping others achieve their career potential by using her coaching, mentoring, and collaboration skills as a trusted advisor to the students and alumni she serves. Amy earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Grove City College and a Master of Science degree in Human Resource Management from the University of Akron.
ANKIT SHAH
Career Consultant, Lhota Office of Alumni Career Management, The Ohio State University
Session: Artificial Intelligence and the Evolving Workforce
Ankit has more than seven years of experience in the career management field within the lens of P-20. He has advised students and alumni at two liberal arts colleges and at a community college. Now, due to his diverse educational and professional journey, he is able to use all of his experiences to work with the alumni to assist with their diverse careers in the Office of Alumni Career Management at The Ohio State University.
Ankit holds a BS in Early Childhood Education from University of Toledo and a MEd in Higher Education Administration from North Carolina State University. He is currently pursuing another graduate degree in Workforce Development & Education at The Ohio State University.