Dear FCA Members,

As I officially begin my term as President of the Florida Counseling Association, I first

want to express my sincere gratitude to our outgoing President, Dr. Alecia Rodriguez,

for her leadership and dedicated service to FCA over the past year. Leading a

professional association is no small undertaking, and I deeply appreciate the time,

vision, and heart she has invested in advancing our organization. I also want to

recognize the many leaders who have served FCA throughout the years. Their

commitment, leadership, and volunteer spirit have built the strong foundation on which

we continue to grow, and I am honored to build upon their work.

Serving FCA has been one of the greatest privileges of my professional life. From my

earliest involvement in the association to serving as President-Elect this past year, I

have witnessed firsthand the generosity, passion, and commitment of our members.

Whether you are a student, counselor, counselor educator, supervisor, administrator,

retiree, or professional partner, each of you contributes to making FCA a vibrant

professional home for counselors across Florida.

As I look ahead to this year, my presidential theme is:

Courageous Engagement: Strengthening Counselors, Communities, and

Connections Across Florida

To me, courageous engagement means showing up with purpose. It means listening

with intention, leading with compassion, advocating with courage, and creating

opportunities for others to grow. It means building relationships, welcoming diverse

perspectives, and remembering that meaningful change happens when we work

together.

This year, my hope is that we continue strengthening FCA not simply by growing our

membership, but by deepening our connections with one another and expanding the

impact we have throughout our profession and across the communities we serve.

Together, I hope we will focus on three priorities:

Strengthening Member Engagement and Connection

Creating meaningful opportunities for members to connect, collaborate, and engage

with FCA throughout the year so that every member feels welcomed, valued, and

connected.

Developing Future Leaders

Supporting and mentoring counselors at every stage of their professional journey while

creating pathways for leadership, service, and professional growth within our

association.

Advocating for Our Profession

Continuing to strengthen our voice by embracing advocacy as an essential part of our

identity as professional counselors, not only during legislative sessions, but every day

through our work, leadership, and service.

One of the things I love most about FCA is that it has never simply been an organization

to me; it has always been a community. Throughout my own professional journey, FCA

has provided friendships, mentorship, opportunities to grow as a leader, and countless

moments of inspiration. My hope is that every member experiences that same sense of

belonging and discovers meaningful ways to become involved.

Whether you've been part of FCA for decades or recently joined us, I encourage you to

find your place this year. Attend an event. Volunteer for a committee. Mentor a student.

Present at the convention. Reach out to someone new. Share your expertise. Every

conversation, every volunteer role, and every new connection strengthens our

association.

None of this happens because of one person. It happens because of dedicated

volunteers who generously give their time, talents, and hearts to support our profession.

I am incredibly grateful to serve alongside our Executive Board, committee chairs,

division and region leaders, volunteers, and FCA staff. Together, I know we can

continue building an association that serves, supports, and inspires counselors

throughout Florida.

Before I close, I hope you'll make plans to join us at the 2026 FCA Annual Convention

this September. This year's convention theme, "Brave Hearts, Bold Voices:

Counselors Rising for Healing and Equity in Every Space," beautifully captures the

spirit of our profession.

In many ways, it also reflects the heart of this year's presidential theme, Courageous

Engagement. Courageous counselors don't work alone - they thrive in community. They

lift one another up, share ideas, challenge each other to grow, and lead with

compassion and purpose. Our annual convention is where that spirit comes to life, and I

hope you'll join us as we celebrate the brave hearts and bold voices that make FCA

such a remarkable organization.

I'd also love to personally invite you to the President's Reception. Whether this is your

very first FCA conference or you've been attending for years, I hope you'll stop by,

introduce yourself, reconnect with colleagues, meet new friends, and celebrate the

beginning of another exciting year together. And yes...we have a few fun surprises

planned for the evening, so you won't want to miss it!

As your President, I hope you'll know that my door, inbox, and conversations are always

open. I want to hear your ideas, celebrate your successes, learn about the challenges

you're facing, and discover new ways FCA can better serve you. This presidency isn't

about one person's vision… it's about what we can accomplish together as a

community.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your President. I am truly honored by the trust

you've placed in me, and I look forward to serving alongside each of you during the year

ahead.

Together, let's lead with brave hearts, speak with bold voices, and engage courageously

as we strengthen counselors, communities, and connections across Florida.

I can't wait to see what we'll accomplish together, and I look forward to seeing many of

you in September!

With gratitude,

Lotes Nelson, Ph.D., LCMHC-S, ACS, NCC

President

Florida Counseling Association