Are you ready for a new challenge and looking for a change in your coaching career? If so make time during the convention to take advantage of the complimentary career services offered to AVCA Convention attendees in the AVCA Career Center.
Career counselors will be available to meet one-on-one and discuss the issues most important to your individual career development. This includes tips for improving interview skills, identifying networking opportunities, building your personal brand, how to search for jobs and more. The career counselors will also be available to assist in resume writing and critique so bring your resume with you to the convention. In addition, Division I and Division II coaches are invited to meet with a legal expert to discuss contract language, negotiation strategy and other legal issues. Sign-ups for 30-minute career counselor appointments will be on a first-come, first-served basis in the Career Center located in Hall C of CHI Health Convention Center.
The Career Center will also include salary information that will be organized by division and by conference. The salary information will come from the 2021 AVCA Salary Survey that takes place in the fall (note AVCA conducts the salary survey every other year so the next salary survey results will be available in fall 2023).
In addition, the Career Center will have an area for posting open positions as well as posting resumes. Those who have an open position are encouraged to bring the job description to the convention or e-mail the description in advance to Becca Just at becca.just@avca.org. Job openings will be posted and assigned a job number. Those interested in applying will submit a resume to AVCA staff who will then give those resumes to the person who posted the job. A room will be available for those that would like to conduct an interview onsite. A separate area in the Career Center will be available for those coaches searching for a job who would like to post a resume.
Virtual convention attendees are invited to visit the Career Center booth inside the Expo. The Virtual Career Center will allow coaches to search job openings, post a resume, review salary survey information by division/conference, and schedule a 30-minute appointment with a resume career counselor over Zoom. Those registered for the virtual convention by the early-bird deadline of November 4 will receive an e-mail with a sign-up link for these counseling sessions. Appointments are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Please visit the Career Center booth to check for additional appointment openings.
Career counseling times are as follows (all Career Center activities are located in Hall C of CHI Health Convention Center):
Coaches seeking assistance with resume writing, resume critique, interviewing skills and general career development topics should schedule an appointment with Caitlin Feldmann or Seth Kleinwort. Coaches seeking assistance on sports industry specific career topics should schedule an appointment with Jona Braden. Division I or Division II coaches seeking advice on contracts or legal issues should schedule an appointment with Garry Rosenfield. Virtual convention attendees requesting resume or interviewing assistance should schedule an appointment with Rebekah Hawthorne. Please see the counselor biographical information below.
Thursday, Dec. 15
Caitlin Feldmann
Counseling: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Seth Kleinwort
Counseling: 1 – 5 p.m.
Jona Braden
Counseling: 1 – 5 p.m.
Garry Rosenfield
Counseling: 2 – 3:30 p.m. – Additional appointment times are available outside the 2 – 3:30 p.m. window as needed.
*Please note Garry Rosenfield’s counseling appointments are open to DI and DII coaches only
Rebekah Hawthorne (Virtual Convention Attendees Only)
Counseling: 2 – 5 p.m. ET
Friday, Dec. 16
Garry Rosenfield
Counseling: 12:30 – 3 p.m.
*Please note Garry Rosenfield’s counseling appointments are open to DI and DII coaches only
Caitlin Feldmann
Counseling: 1 – 5 p.m.
Jona Braden
Counseling: 1 – 6 p.m.
Seth Kleinwort
Counseling: 1 – 7 p.m.
Rebekah Hawthorne (Virtual Convention Attendees Only)
Counseling: 2 – 5 p.m. ET
Saturday, Dec. 17
Caitlin Feldmann
Counseling: 9 a.m. – Noon
Seth Kleinwort
Counseling: 9 a.m. – Noon
Jona Braden
Counseling: 9 a.m. – Noon
Rebekah Hawthorne (Virtual Convention Attendees Only)
Counseling: 2 – 4 p.m. ET
Jona Braden
Caitlin Feldmann
Seth Kleinwort
Rebekah Hawthorne
Career Counselors:
Jona Braden
Jona Braden is currently an Assistant Volleyball Coach and Physical Education Instructor at 2018 Division III national champion Emory University. Prior to her position at Emory, Braden served as the Head Volleyball Coach and Assistant Athletic Director at the Westminster Schools in Atlanta. Collegiately, she served as the Head Volleyball Coach at the University of Kentucky from 1998 – 2004 and at Butler University from 1983 – 1990. Jona has been an athletics administrator for seventeen years including three years as an Associate Athletics Director/Senior Woman Administrator and two years as a Senior Associate Athletics Director at Butler. Among her duties as an athletics administrator Jona was responsible for assessing and hiring head coaches along with mentoring and helping in the employment process of assistant coaches. In addition, Jona wrote one of the chapters in “The Volleyball Coaching Bible, Coaching Principles & Priorities: The Ups & Downs of a Season.”
Garry Rosenfield
Garry Rosenfield began working with Coaches Inc. in June 2012. Garry is a 2013 graduate of the Quinnipiac University School of Law, and also brings experience in sports communications. He attended law school immediately after his undergraduate work at the University of Connecticut was completed in 2010, and is from Upton, Massachusetts – a small town outside of Worcester. Garry plays a role in all legal work pertaining to client representation including contract advisement and negotiation.
Caitlin Feldmann
Caitlin Feldmann is the Assistant Director for Business Career Programs in the John P. Fahey Career Center at Creighton University, where she serves prospective and current students and alumni from the Heider College of Business in all areas of career and professional development. Her background spans many areas of higher education, and she enjoys teaching barre classes outside of her full-time career. She and her husband are proud Nebraska natives and recently welcomed their first son, who they are enthusiastically raising as a “Jaysker,” (at least when it comes to volleyball!)
Seth Kleinwort
Seth Kleinwort began working at Creighton University in 2019 as a Career Advisor. He helps with career advising, job/internship searching, resumes, personal statements, interviewing, and graduate school applications to students and alumni. He also oversees the First Destination Survey for Creighton, which facilitates recent graduates’ plans after graduation and the ROI of their education. Seth’s previous professional experience in Higher Education includes New Student and Family Programs and as a Resident Director. He lives in Omaha with his wife and two children, a two ½-year-old, and a newborn (as of late August!)
Rebekah Hawthorne
Rebekah Hawthorne is the Owner and Managing Editor of Flying Colors Success Services, a Pittsburgh-based company focused primarily on resume writing and editing. After a decade of working for “the big guys” in publishing, Rebekah redirected her editorial expertise toward individuals and small businesses. She has worked in resume writing and related services for five years and combines this experience with her editorial and graphic design expertise to create effective, stand-out resumes for her clients. A graduate of both the University of Virginia and Penn State, Rebekah lives on the Gulf Coast of Alabama with her husband, two daughters, and two obnoxiously cute puppies.
