From the President's Desk - July 2022

Greetings OCA Members and Supporters,

I am honored to serve as president for the OCA and I’m looking forward to this coming year. The OCA is near and dear to my heart, as I have been involved since I was a clinical mental health counseling student. I hope to continue to represent and serve the organization that has given so much to me. My leadership style is one of service. As a servant leader I will be attentive to our members' needs, placing members first and helping to empower them. I hope to motivate, guide, and provide hope through a caring environment and positive working relationships. 

This past year in the president-elect role, I have worked closely with DoHee and the OCA executive committee to focus on increasing communication and interactions with members, expand diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, as well as increase legislative and advocacy efforts. I will continue these efforts, as well as work to expand OCA’s overall membership and increase PAC activities.

At my professional core, I identify as a counselor. I believe that each counselor is unique and can bring their individual voice to the table. It is important to me to see the OCA continuously work on promoting inclusivity and collaboration, especially during these challenging times in our profession. This will require a collective effort from leadership, members, and supporters alike. I encourage all members and supporters to consider where they can lend their voice to OCA, whether that be through volunteering for a committee, serving in a leadership position, or reaching out to current OCA leadership to share an idea or suggestion. There is room for all at OCA’s table, so I hope you will join me!

All the best,

Staci Tessmer, OCA President