Conference Schedule

Times and events are preliminary and subject to change.

Saturday, December 1

3:00 PM - 6:00 PM -- Registration Open

Sunday, December 2

8:00A - 6:00P -- Registration Open
9:00A - 12:00P -- Preconference Workshop - Nuts & Bolts for Career Professionals ($50.00)
9:00A - 12:00P -- Preconference Workshop - Nuts & Bolts for University Recruiting Professionals and Employers ($50.00)
9:00A - 12:00P -- Preconference Workshop - Developing a Campus-wide Competency Development Initiative ($50.00)
9:00A - 12:00P -- Georgia State University J. Mack Robinson College of Business & Georgia Tech University Site Visit ($30.00)
12:30P - 3:30P -- Preconference Workshop - Emerging Leaders Preparing for the Road Ahead, Administrative KG Session ($50.00)
2:00P - 6:00P -- Exhibit Set Up
2:00P - 3:30P -- Career Management Technology Meet-Up
4:00P - 5:00P -- New Member/First Time Attendee Orientation
4:00P - 5:00P -- Director's Think Tank (hosted by the Admin KG; Pre-register only)
5:00P - 6:30P -- [email protected] Sessions (Sign up during registration)
7:00P - 9:00P -- President's Reception

Monday, December 3

6:30A - 7:30A -- Wellness Activity
7:00A - 5:00P -- Registration Open
7:30A - 8:45A -- Presidents' Breakfast (State ACE/Consortium Leaders Only)
8:00A - 9:30A -- Exhibit Area Open
8:00A - 4:15P -- Silent Auction Opens
7:30A - 8:45A -- Attendee Continental Breakfast
8:45A - 9:15A -- President's Welcome & Conference Kick-Off
9:15A - 10:15A -- Opening Keynote
10:30A - 11:30A -- Breakout Sessions
11:00A - 4:00P -- Exhibit Area Open
11:30A - 1:00P -- Lunch/Business Meeting/Awards
1:15P - 2:15P -- Breakout Sessions
2:15P - 2:30P -- Networking Break in Exhibit Hall
2:30P - 4:00P -- Hot Topics Roundtables
4:15P - 5:00P -- State Networking Meetings
5:00P - 7:00P -- Metro Atlanta Chamber Happy Hour Networking Social, co-sponsored by GACE & Georgia State University (RSVP during registration)
5:00P - Until -- Evening on your own

Tuesday, December 4

6:30A - 7:30A -- Fun Run
7:00A - 5:00P -- Registration Open
7:00A - 8:15A -- Attendee Continental Breakfast
7:00A - 11:00A -- Exhibit Area
7:00A - 2:30P -- Silent Auction
8:15A - 9:15A -- Breakout Sessions
9:30A - 10:30A -- Breakout Sessions
10:30A - 10:45A -- Networking Break in Exhibit Hall
10:45A - 11:45P -- KG Meetings
11:45P - 1:00P -- Lunch
1:30P - 4:30P -- Exhibit Area
1:15P - 2:45P -- Interactive Presenter
2:45P - 3:00P -- Networking Break in Exhibit Hall
3:00P - 4:00P -- Breakout Sessions
6:30P - 10:30P -- Evening Event

Wednesday, December 5

7:00A - 1:00P -- Registration Open
8:15A - 9:15A -- Breakout Sessions
9:30A - 10:45A -- Closing Speaker (Includes Breakfast Buffet)
10:45A - 11:00A -- Closing Remarks
11:00A -- Hotel Check Out
11:45A - 4:00P -- Employer Site Visit to Turner Studios ($50.00, includes lunch)
12:00P - 2:00P -- Employer Site Visit to Maximus ($30.00, includes lunch)

Event Descriptions

Preconference Workshops:

Nuts & Bolts for Career Professionals (Sunday, 9AM - 12PM)

If you are a newer professional to the Career Services field or you just need a refresher, the Nuts and Bolts Workshop for New Professionals will provide you with practical insights, strategies, and tools to equip you for various roles within a career center. The workshop will consider the latest trends in career coaching; the use of technology; innovative programming; the incorporation of career competency education; and much more that comprises the state of the art 21st Century. You will learn how to position yourself to be a successful new professional for the future.
Presenters: Jay Killough and Toni McLawhorn

Nuts & Bolts for University Recruiting Professionals and Employers (Sunday, 9AM - 12PM)

If you are a newer professional to the University Recruiting field or you just need a refresher, the Nuts and Bolts Workshop for New Professionals will provide you with practical insights, strategies, and tools to equip you for various roles within the recruiting role and share tips on engaging with SoACE, career centers and college students. The workshop will consider the latest recruiting trends; the use of technology; innovative programming; the incorporation of social media; and much more. You will learn how to position yourself to be a successful new professional for the future. The program will also give participants the opportunity to engage with a panel of other small and large employer recruiters and public/private college employer relation staff.
Presenters: Marcus Everett, Enterprise

Emerging Leaders Preparing for the Road Ahead (Sunday, 12:30PM - 3:30PM)

Successful leaders understand the ever changing nature of their industry and the importance of preparing for the road ahead. Join us at this SoACE pre-conference session designed to equip emerging career services leaders with the competencies, strategies, and networks needed most to successfully execute their roles. We will dig into real-world case scenarios and hear from a panel of current career services leaders. Plan to learn from others and share your experience with various leaders in the field as we cover hot topics to help emerging leaders navigate the challenges facing their organization and campus community.

This session is hosted by the SoACE Administrative Knowledge Group.

Presenters: Ja'Net Glover, University of Florida; Vicki Hamby, University of South Carolina

Georgia State University J. Mack Robinson College of Business, Career Advancement Center & Georgia Tech University Site Visit (Sunday, 9AM - 12PM)

Georgia Tech provides a technologically focused education to more than 25,000 undergraduate and graduate students in engineering, computing, sciences, business, design, and liberal arts. The Institute has many nationally recognized programs, all top-ranked by peers and publications alike, and is ranked in the nation’s top 10 public universities by U.S. News and World Report. Degrees are offered through the colleges of Design, Computing, Engineering, Sciences, the Scheller College of Business, and the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts. Georgia Tech strives to define the technological research university of the twenty-first century and be leaders in influencing major technological, social, and policy decisions that address critical global challenges through our motto of “Progress and Service.”

The Center for Career Discovery and Development is the central hub at Georgia Tech for career education and resources. We help students from all majors not only get work but learn How Work Works^SM. Our mission includes a commitment to innovation and excellence that helps students discover their sense of purpose, develop 21st century workplace competencies, and position themselves for satisfying and successful careers in a complex world. In collaboration with campus and global community partners, we support a broad spectrum of career directions, including: employment in private, public, and non-profit sectors; pursuit of graduate studies, professional school, and prestigious fellowships; entrepreneurship and innovation; research; and service activities.

Developing a Campus-wide Competency Development Initiative (Sunday, 9AM - 12PM)

Competency development is essential for student success for life after graduation. Institutions are shifting their campus-wide culture by intentionally mapping student learning in the curriculum and co-curriculum to competency development. Based on four foundational and universal pillars, this session will engage attendees in exploring approaches and strategic planning for designing their own unique approach to campus-wide competency and career readiness. No matter what type or size of institution, this workshop will be scalable and applicable for all institutions. So bring your preferred morning cup of whatever to get going to participate in this engaging and interactive program designed to provide you with a meaningful strategy and helpful tools.

Learning Outcomes:

Attendees will:

Learn four foundational pillars to begin and/or advance a campus-wide competency development initiative.
Assess the current status of competency development on their unique campus.
Design strategic action plans to advance a campus-wide competency development initiative.
Engage in discussion of best practices, experiences, and lessons learned.

Presenters:
Dr. Kristin Walker, Associate Director of Analytics and Initiatives, Clemson University
Kristin has 15 years of experience in education and fraternity/sorority life. She earned her B.S. in English from Radford University, and her M.Ed. in Counselor Education and Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Clemson University. Kristin currently serves as the Associate Director of Analytics and Initiatives at Clemson University’s Center for Career and Professional Development. In addition to coordinating the center’s competency initiatives and assessment, she oversees the areas of graduate programs, off-campus internships, and social media. Kristin teaches in Clemson’s masters and doctoral programs and has been a volunteer and board member of her sorority, Alpha Sigma Tau. Through her professional and volunteer roles, Kristin has traveled to and worked with students at over 40 college campuses. Her research interests include career development, fraternity/sorority life, and STEM education.

Tim Harding, Associate Dean of Career Development and Engagement, The University of Tampa
Tim has 28 years of experience in the higher education field with the majority of focus being on career development. He earned his B.A. in Religion from Anderson University (Anderson, IN), and his M.S. in College Student Personnel Administration from Indiana University. He currently serves as an Associate Dean of Students in the University of Tampa Division of Student Affairs overseeing career services, leadership and community engagement, and Fraternity/Sorority Life. He is a past-president for SoACE and for the Career Development Professionals of Indiana. He is currently serving on the NACE Board of Directors as a Director-College. His interests are in the infusion of career readiness and competency development throughout the curriculum and co-curriculum.

Career Management Technology Meet-Up

Whether you use Handshake, GradLeaders, 12Twenty, Purple Briefcase, or Simplicity, the Technology Knowledge Group knows that you want to get the most out of your investment. During this special session, participants will break out into small groups and interact with company representatives as well as each other to learn about best practices, tips and tricks, and implementation ideas. This session is a great opportunity to connect with likeminded members and learn more about these platforms!

Director's Think Tank

The Directors’ Think Tank provides an informal, open forum for Director’s and others in career services with administrative responsibilities to discuss relevant topics and issues facing today’s career centers and share ideas and solutions for success.

[email protected] Sessions

Something new!! 5 @ 5 Sessions – Would you like to get five new ideas in an hour? Join us at 5:00 pm for these innovative sessions where you can choose a topic and hear from five expert speakers about new ideas, resources, programs, etc. centered around that topic. After each speaker presents a brief talk, attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions and share their ideas. 5 @ 5 attendees will leave this fast-paced session with five different perspectives and ideas to bring back to their organization.

If you would like to attend one of the free 5 @ 5 sessions, please indicate the topic during registration.

Diversity & Inclusion (hosted by Diversity & Inclusion Committee)
Experiential Education (hosted by the Experiential Education KG)
Assessment in Career Services (hosted by the Assessment KG).

Metro Atlanta Chamber Happy Hour

The SoACE ERKG and EKG are thrilled to partner with the Metro Atlanta Chamber, GACE, and Georgia State University for this Happy Hour Networking Social.

This is a great opportunity for career services staff to connect with our own SoACE employers and Atlanta based employer guests to spark some great recruiting relationships. RSVP to attend.

Date: Monday, December 3rd
Time: 5pm-7pm
Location: Metro Atlanta Chamber Board Room - 191 Peachtree Tower 191 Peachtree Street Northeast #3400, Atlanta, GA 30303

Fun Run (Tuesday, 6:30A - 7:30A)

Looking to get some fresh air and exercise to start the day? Join your friends for the annual SoACE Fun Run and Walk! This year, we’ll follow the route suggested by the hotel, which will take us through a few city blocks before reaching the Freedom Park Trail. Runners and walkers of all speeds are welcome. We will identify a turn-around point for a 3-mile there-and-back route. As always, please shorten (or lengthen) your route as appropriate.

Why not commemorate your run/walk with a cool t-shirt? The first 10 fun run registrants will receive a free shirt. If you are not one of the first 10 to register and would like to purchase a shirt for $20, you may add it as an option during the conference registration process. We’re looking forward to another great memory! Please direct any questions to Charlie Wilder at [email protected].

Turner Studios Site Visit (Wednesday, 12P - 3P)

Details forthcoming, agenda overview below:

Greeting and recruiting panel for campus and entry-level programs
Tour of Turner Studios and our 100-acre Techwood Entertainment Campus
Lunch and/or meet and greet/panel with several managers from the internship program