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Steps to Organize the
Asia Pacific Career Development Association

In December, 2009, when Soonhoon Ahn visited Dr. Huei-Ling Peng, Dr. Yao-Ting Sung, and Dr. Shelley Tien at the National Taiwan Normal University, they discussed the concept of creating an Asian-Pacific Career Development Association and agreed that such an organization would fill an important need. In May, 2010 Dr. Julia Park and Mr. Ilkng Huh of Korea also agreed that this concept had value and a brainstorming meeting should be held in San Francisco in conjunction with the 2010 NCDA Conference. Twenty Four NCDA members met on June 29, 2010 to form this association, including 10 from China (2 from Mainland, 6 from Taiwan and 2 from Hong Kong), 3 from Japan, 2 from Korea, and 9 Americans, including Cheri Butler, President of NCDA, and Alberto Puertas of NCDA International Committee. It was agreed that Soonhoon Ahn should form a Steering Committee to advance the organization, which included Satomi Chudasama and Marilyn Maze as well as others.

At NCDA in San Antonio in 2011, another organizational meeting was held with fifteen people attending. Attendees responded to a survey, voted to adopt the name Asia Pacific Career Development Association, the website URL AsiaPacificCDA.org, and a 2-tier organization that has organizational members and individual members. We also discussed the country of incorporate and chose the USA for convenience. As a virtual association, there really is no central location.

At NCDA in Atlanta in 2012, a mission statement, objectives, and bylaws were adopted, dues were set, and the first election was held. The following officers and committee chairs were elected:

  • Soonhoon Ahn, President
  • Satomi Chudasama, Treasurer and Membership Chair
  • Marilyn Maze, Secretary and Executive Director
  • Richard Knowdell, Professional Development Chair

This small band of organizers push forward with constant communication about the details. By October, 2012, APCDA had incorporated, adopted a logo, and established a website and a bank account. It took another 22 months to receive our non-profit certification due to IRS workflow problems. Dues from our first paid member, Jodilyn Kunomoto at the University of Hawaii, were received in September, 2012.  Also at NCDA in Atlanta Eunmee Hwang, President of the Career Consultant Forum, agreed to host the inaugural APCDA in Seoul.


Our inaugural conference in Seoul on April 3-5, 2013 drew over 100 attendees representing Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, US, and Vietnam. We held another organizational meeting at NCDA in Boston in July selected the following Country/Region Directors:


And Committee Directors:


Our first newsletter was published in August, 2013, with articles contributed by our new Country/Regional Directors. Since then, our membership and conferences have continued to grow and we have added many new Country/Regional Directors. Please click on Contact Us to see the names of the people currently serving on the APCDA Board.

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