Events & Workshops for Professional Growth

Join Erica Mattison, MPA, JD for public events designed to support career clarity, leadership development, meaningful connection, and practical next steps.

Whether you're looking to grow your network, expand your skills, unlock your creativity, or pause to reflect, we've got events for you.

Upcoming Events

Maine Career Development Association Annual Conference

When: Monday, June 22, 2026
Where: St. Joseph's College of Maine, Standish, ME
Registration is required.
Facilitator: Erica Mattison, MPA, JD
Conference Theme: Building Connections and Understanding Across Career Development

"What Makes Career Development Partnerships Work?"

Career development work depends on strong partnerships among career professionals, employers, schools, agencies, community organizations, and the people they serve. Yet partnerships can be challenging when stakeholders bring different goals, assumptions, timelines, language, and definitions of success.

In this interactive workshop, participants will use a hands-on, inquiry-based reflection process to explore what makes career development partnerships work. The session will include elements of the LEGO SERIOUS PLAY method to support metaphor, storytelling, communication, and shared understanding.

Participants will:

• recognize factors that support effective partnerships in career development settings;
• explore strengths they bring to partnerships with employers, schools, agencies, clients, students, or job seekers;
• practice an inquiry-based reflection process that includes hands-on activity, storytelling, and group dialogue;
• examine how shared goals, communication, role definition, and mutual value contribute to successful partnerships;
• identify ways an engaging group activity can support advising, counseling, coaching, employer engagement, workforce programs, classrooms, or team development

Professional Growth Day

What to Expect at the Professional Growth Day

When: Wednesday, June 24, 2026 | 10:00 AM
Where: The Substation, Roslindale, MA
Complimentary

Open to members and non-members

Join us for a free Professional Growth Day at the gorgeous Substation in Roslindale Village. Open to members and non-members alike, this welcoming experience is designed to help you connect, reflect, get inspired, and take thoughtful next steps.

Enjoy coffee, conversation, creativity, coaching, and coworking in a beautiful community space. You can grow your network, explore what matters to you right now, sign up for a focused coaching session, participate in a hands-on creative activity, or try out coworking for the day.

The programming is intentionally flexible to match your busy schedule. Whether you stay for the full day or stop by for an hour, we’ll be excited to welcome you.

Schedule for the Day

9:00am–5:00pm | Coworking
Try out coworking at Substation for $0 and learn more about the new Solopreneur and Small Business Memberships.

9:30am–10:00am | Coffee Connections
Stop by for 10+ minutes to participate in a fun, structured conversation and get to know others in the space. Coffee and Exodus Bagels provided.

10:00am–12:30pm | 1:1 Next Step Coaching Sessions
Sign up for a focused 20-minute coaching session with Erica Mattison to talk through a professional challenge, opportunity, decision, or next step.*

1:30pm–2pm | Creativity Session
Join a 30-minute LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® activity to explore creativity, fresh thinking, and new perspectives through a hands-on reflective experience.

 *Late afternoon coaching sessions added to meet demand. Book your coaching session.

Past, Present, Future Retreat

When: Friday, July 17, 2026 | 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Where: Jamaica Plain, MA
Registration: $295 per person
Limited to: 5 participants

Registration closes Tuesday, July 14, or sooner if all seats are filled.

The Past, Present, Future Retreat is a personal and professional development retreat designed to help you reflect on where you have been, reconnect with what matters now, and clarify meaningful next steps.

The retreat includes guided reflection, thoughtful conversation, hands-on activities, coffee, tea, light snacks, and all retreat materials. We’ll take a mid-day lunch break, and participants are welcome to bring lunch or purchase something nearby.

This retreat qualifies as professional development. If your employer offers professional development funds, you may be able to use those dollars toward registration. Please check with your employer about eligibility and reimbursement requirements.

Events with Mission-Driven Organizations

We partner with organizations in Greater Boston and around the US and North America to host engaging events. A few of our recent event hosts include:

Examples of Erica's Past Speaking Engagements

Monday Job Seekers Connection: Confident Conversations - Preparing for Meaningful Connection

When: June 1, 2026 | 11AM -12:30PM ET
Where: Harvard Ed Portal, 224 Western Ave., Allston, MA
Complimentary, but registration is required.
Facilitator: Erica Mattison, MPA, JD

Feeling nervous about networking is common, whether you are starting out, seeking your next opportunity, or bringing substantial experience and reintroducing yourself in a changing professional landscape.

This interactive workshop helps participants move beyond the pressure to “sell themselves” and approach conversations in a way that feels more natural, genuine, and even enjoyable.

With a focus on curiosity, connection, and practical preparation, the session will help job seekers build confidence for outreach, networking events, and career conversations while recognizing that meaningful connection matters far beyond the job search itself. Participants will leave with tools they can use right away and a more grounded, human way to connect.

Engaging Events for Your Community

Explore how we engage groups through:

Workshops

Keynote Talks

Meet Erica Mattison

Erica Mattison, MPA, JD, is an executive, career, and life coach who facilitates professional development experiences for purpose-driven professionals, leaders, teams, and organizations.

Through coaching, workshops, retreats, and interactive events, Erica helps participants reflect, connect, clarify what matters, and identify thoughtful next steps. Her approach combines practical tools, meaningful conversation, and engaging activities designed to support leadership development, career clarity, and personal growth.

Erica’s background spans government, higher education, sustainability, communications, and organizational leadership. She brings a grounded, thoughtful presence to events that helps people feel more relaxed, prepared, and confident as they explore what’s next.

More about Erica

Seeking a Speaker or Facilitator for an Upcoming Event?

Are you looking to engage your members, students, employees, or community? We'd love to learn more. We can design a customized experience aligned with your needs and goals.

We typically book several months in advance, so we encourage you to start the conversation early by completing the below interest form.