About Us

Committed to the Success and Professional Development of New Mexico

The New Mexico Career Development Association (NMCDA) serves professional counselors and human development specialists employed in schools, colleges, rehabilitation agencies, corrections, mental health areas, private business, and private industry. The purpose of the NMCDA is to promote a greater understanding of the meaning of work and vocation, to foster career development over the lifespan, to establish and improve the standards of professional service in the field of career guidance in New Mexico, and to enhance communication and cooperation among all career development professionals.

NMCDA is a division of the New Mexico Counseling Association (NMCA) and a branch of theNational Career Development Association. NMCDA offers professional development opportunities and social events throughout the year for its membership. In addition, NMCDA offers free community workshops on implementing successful job search strategies.

President - Heather Ver Brugge

Heather Ver Brugge is a Career Development Facilitator, Sr. at the University of New Mexico (UNM) Office of Career Services where she empowers students, alumni, faculty, staff and retirees to make effective career decisions and achieve career goals. Heather has a Master’s degree in Counseling from UNM, and is a Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) and Certified Career Counselor (CCC). Heather is the Career Services liaison to the College of Arts & Sciences, including Health Sciences, and to the Veterans and Military Resource Center. She is also the liaison to UNM’s Accessibility Resource Center (ARC) and the campus coordinator for the Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP), a federal program that helps students with disabilities connect with public and private sector employers. Heather has worked extensively with college students on the Autism spectrum as they acquire the professional communication skills needed for job search and career success.

Membership Chair - Sharon Ipes

Sharon moved to NM almost 5 years ago from southern CA when she joined the Central New Mexico Community College as an Achievement Coach for the School of Math, Science & Engineering. In her current role, Sharon continues to motivate & teach students successful study strategies as well as pursuit of their career/academic goals. Sharon has worked as a Career Center Director and Career counselor for 15 plus years. She has found that career counseling is her favorite area in assisting students. After moving to NM, she wanted to connect with others colleagues of like minds so she joined the NMCDA board as a general member a few years ago.

She is Nationally Certified as a Career Counselor & Counselor through NBCC and has been a member of NCDA for at least 15 years. She also serves as a member of the NCDA Awards Committee. She has a M.A. in Family Counseling and an Education Specialist in Counseling & Counselor Education.

Sharon’s life calling is to assist students in reaching their goals and to meet each student where they are helping them to move forward towards attainment of their dreams or passions.

Treasurer - Charles Lehman

Charles manages an economic consulting company in Albuquerque, NM and is a charter member of the New Mexico Career Development Association. He has served on the NCDA Board of Trustees.

Website Editor - Marty Apodaca

Marty Apodaca is a Senior Counselor at the University of New Mexico (UNM) Student Health and Counseling and former Career Development Facilitator at UNM Career Services. He earned his Master of Arts in Counseling and is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in New Mexico and caries the certifications of Certified Career Counselor and National Certified Counselor. He is a past president and current board member of the New Mexico Career Development Association and serves as a co-associate editor for the Features section of Career Convergence.
Marty’s introduction to NCDA came when he attended the 100th anniversary conference in Boston and immediately was drawn to the people who made up the organization. He is an alumnus of the NCDA Leadership Academy Class of 2017 and enjoys sharing his knowledge and dedication for career counseling through presenting locally and nationally. He has served as faculty in two Career Construction Institutes and has been published in both career and mental health journals. Marty carries a passion for exploring the intersections of career and mental health issues and his devotion is in helping clients share, connect with, and develop authorship over their life narratives.

Professional Development Chair - Sarah Clawson

Career Educator passionate about assisting students and clients in finding a useful professional outlet for their skill sets. Certified to interpret the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and the Strong Interest Inventory and trained at the advanced level in Motivational Interviewing. Certified Global Career Development Facilitator and Offender Workforce Development Specialist. Avid pursuant of professional and personal development and instigator of positive workplace interactions.