Discover Your Possibilities
A Celebration of Career Development Month: November 2025
What would you like to do? All FREE sessions are virtual and you can join from anywhere! For more information, email Denise Grupp-Verbon.
Tuesday, November 4 at 11 a.m.
Jodi Stevens is a classically trained pianist and organist with 48 years of professional church music experience in the Cleveland, Ohio area. Mrs. Stevens has also been involved with area musical theater, Christian concerts, the music department at Lorain County Community College and the sale of Christian music for 20 years.
Her professional music career began in 1977 at Community United Methodist Church, Elyria and has included leadership roles at Christ the King Church, North Olmsted; Shepherd of the Ridge Lutheran Church, North Ridgeville; Bay Presbyterian Church, Bay Village; Hope Lutheran Church, Sheffield; and St. Paul Lutheran Church and School, Westlake where she has served as the Director of Contemporary Music since 2003.
Wednesday, November 5 at 9:30 a.m.
Emily Obereder is a seasoned graphic designer with over two decades of professional experience bringing visual communication to life. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Wittenberg University and a Master’s degree in Graphic Design from the Savannah College of Art and Design, combining artistic sensibility with design expertise.
Emily currently serves as the Senior Designer in the marketing department at Owens Community College. Additionally, she has taught graphic design courses as an adjunct professor at Owens for the past three years, where she enjoys sharing her experience and passion with the next generation of creative professionals.
Throughout her career, Emily has collaborated with clients across a wide range of industries, delivering thoughtful, impactful design solutions. Known for her creativity, curiosity and problem-solving mindset, she is especially skilled in brand strategy and identity systems—crafting sophisticated visual solutions from concept to completion.
Her client portfolio includes notable organizations such as ProMedica, United Way, The National Museum of the Great Lakes, The Magenta Mix, Hilton Hotels, Willy’s Salsa, Habitat for Humanity, Taco Bell, Old Navy and many others.
Emily lives in Sylvania, Ohio, with her husband, two daughters, and their pets. Outside of work, she’s an avid enthusiast of the arts, sports, and the great outdoors.
Wednesday, November 5 at 1:30 p.m.
Your Portfolio Career—What’s It All About?
Artists discover that they have many talents and interests, leading them to a career with a wide variety of income streams. What are yours? Uncover your Portfolio Career path while learning about Daniel’s professional journeys.
Host Daniel O’Connor has been a professional musician for most of his life. His career path has included performing, composing, managing and booking.
Wednesday, November 12 at 9:30 a.m.
Chris Shutters has done 9 World Tours and has fronted bands like ‘Mountain’ (Mississippi Queen), ‘Music of Cream’ as well as his own band ‘Chris Shutters Band’. Not only is Shutters a 2-time National Blues Champion (2007, 2017) but he also was on the US Blues Charts ranked at #10 with his album ‘Good Gone Bad’ (2020). That album reached #1 in Australia and Quebec.
He is now the guitarist and singer for Fleetwood Gold as well as the musical director of the band. They are ‘America’s # 1 Fleetwood Mac Experience’!
Chris is also currently the newest lead singer of the Grammy Award-Winning band Blood Sweat and Tears.
Email Chris Shutters to find the latest updates on music, tour dates and even his own shoe line!
Wednesday, November 12 at 11 a.m.
Toledo City Council Member, Sam Melden, grew up in the Toledo area and currently lives in West Toledo with his wife Lindsey and their three young daughters. He’s inspired by his daughters to do everything he can to build a community that will bring opportunities for the next generation to thrive.
Sam believes in hard work and servant leadership as two values to live by. Before he was elected to serve on Toledo City Council, Sam built his career in leadership roles with various non-profit organizations, including as the Executive Director of Food for Thought, Executive Director of the Servant Leadership Center, and Director of Growth and Advancement for Leadership Toledo and the Director of Strategic Engagement for The Ability Center of Toledo.
Sam has never been shy about hard work and solving problems, and service to our community is in his DNA. He’s committed to safe, strong and sustainable neighborhoods.
Tuesday, November 18 at 9:30 a.m.
Jodi Gore, LISW-S, MSW a Licensed Independent Social Worker with Supervision designation (LISW-S) and earned her Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Toledo.
She tells us: My professional journey began with an Associate’s Degree in Social Services Technology, followed by the completion of my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees—all while working full time and raising a family. These personal experiences have deeply informed me of my commitment to supporting students from all walks of life.
I have been a practicing social worker for over 30 years and have spent the past 11 years in higher education, four of which at Owens. My clinical background includes work with adults in long-term care, acute hospital settings, private psychotherapy practice and psychiatric care. I have also provided end-of-life support and worked extensively with individuals managing chronic and acute medical conditions.
In my psychotherapy practice for women, I specialized in supporting them through significant life transitions, including pregnancy, fertility challenges, grief and loss, relationship issues, and personal or professional identity shifts. My approach is strengths-based, trauma-informed, and grounded in empathy and cultural humility.
As an educator, I am passionate about bridging classroom learning with real-world experience. I strive to create a learning environment that is inclusive, practical and deeply connected to the values of the social work profession. It is an honor to teach, mentor and learn alongside the next generation of social workers.
Wednesday, November 19 at 9:30 a.m.
Todd Mitchell is the President and owner of Great Lakes Sound, Inc.
Based in Toledo, Great Lakes Sound has been in business since 1985 and specializes in providing professional sound, lighting and staging systems. “GLS” has a diverse customer base and provides services for events such as The Toledo Symphony Pops Series, Party in the Park Concert Series, The Solheim Cup, LPGA Dana Open, The Toledo Mud Hens Hensville, University of Toledo Commencement, Dayton Celtic Fest and the Toledo Museum of Art.
Todd has worked with several of our nation’s presidents, earning a certificate of appreciation from The White House Communications Agency for his superb attitude, professionalism and unique ability in providing critical communications for the President of The United States.
Todd is a graduate of The Musician’s Institute in California and is an accomplished guitarist. He is also an adjunct faculty member of Owens Community College and currently teaches Sound Engineering and Production.
He is married to his wife Julie, and they have two children. In 2022 they celebrated 25 years of marriage, even renewing their wedding vows in front of Elvis at the famed Graceland Chapel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Outside of work, Todd is an avid skier, enjoys cooking, listening to music and spending time with his family.
Friday, November 21 at 11 a.m.
Matt Melzak is the play-by-play voice of the Toledo Mud Hens and the Toledo Walleye. Matt has been the voice of the Toledo Walleye since its inception in 2009 and took over as the play-by-play voice of the Toledo Mud Hens in 2025.
He started his broadcast career in 2003 with the Toledo Storm and broadcasted over 1,500 professional hockey games including four All-Star games. Since joining the Toledo Mud Hens broadcast, Matt has been on the call for over 800 baseball games.
Monday, November 24 at 12:30 p.m.
Grant Hosler is the Director of Education at Graphic Media Alliance, a nonprofit serving the print industry in OH, MI and northern KY. A 2019 Media Production graduate from Bowling Green State University, he began his career creating commercial content at Evergreen Creative before joining NBC4i in Columbus as a news editor and camera operator during the pandemic.
He later transitioned to the nonprofit world, where he now helps students find scholarships, career paths and a home in the print industry.