Our local group was founded in 1996 as the Philadelphia Chapter of the International Association of Career Management Professionals. IACMP had been formed in 1994 to address the need for professional skill development among career services professionals and to enhance the visibility and credibility of the career management profession. Philadelphia joined chapters in Chicago, New York City, Boston, DC, San Francisco, Dallas, Kansas City, Atlanta, London, Amsterdam and Australia. Members of our Philadelphia Chapter attended annual IACMP conferences held across North America and Europe, bringing best practices and program ideas back to the local Chapter.

A rebranding effort led to a name change in 2003 to Association of Career Professionals International. Over the next ten years, many ACPI chapters struggled to survive changing economic times. We are proud that our Philadelphia network remained strong and viable.

In 2019, the leadership initiated the formation of a state organizing committee to form the Pennsylvania Career Development Association, a continuation of our mission to provide cutting edge professional development programs and opportunities for connecting with colleagues.

We salute our past Presidents: Pat Coulter, Co-presidents Phyllis Mufson and Beth Wilson, Maribeth Renne, Gale Gibbons, Jane Finkle, Helen Richardson, Hudson Whitenight and Kim Neubauer.