Our Team

Our Team

Our long-time commitment to ongoing research and development is at the core of Kuder’s experience, innovation, and what sets us apart in the industry. Backed by a world-renowned faculty and staff, we continue to pioneer innovative solutions for the educational and career assessment marketplace.

• Phil Harrington — President
• Catalina D’Achiardi-Ressler, Ph.D. — Vice President of Research
• Donald G. Zytowski, Ed.D. — Director of Research
• JoAnn Harris-Bowlsbey, Ed.D. — Executive Vice President of Development
• Nancy S. Perry, MSEd. — Senior Consultant

Phil Harrington — President

As founder and president of Kuder, Inc., Harrington brings over 25 years of experience, commitment to excellence, and vision to the position.

In an effort to provide an improved quality of assessment, career guidance, and educational planning for students and adults, Harrington established Kuder, Inc in 1997.

Under Harrington’s leadership, the company has experienced significant growth and continues to serve as the industry voice and resource for issues surrounding education and career planning.

His intuitive grasp of the needs facing the many marketplaces Kuder serves, uniquely positions him as a key advocate for customers around the world. He remains a driving force behind the company’s ability to identify the needs of individuals, educators, businesses, and government agencies.

Harrington received his entrepreneurial start from Iowa DECA, and had a successful career in the financial services industry prior to focusing on quality career assessment and planning options. He specializes in consulting with educational institutions and government agencies to create innovative, focused solutions to meet their specific business requirements. Harrington works to develop and execute marketing strategies and establish cooperative business relationships to further the mission of providing satisfying career resources and opportunities for students and adults.

Harrington also directs the research, development, and evaluation of new assessment and career development products and services. He has conducted countless professional presentations and public speaking engagements on the subjects of career assessment and career learning system evaluation across the nation and is a frequently sought-after speaker.

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Catalina D'Achiardi-Ressler, Ph.D. — Vice President of Research

Dr. Catalina D'Achiardi-Ressler is a native of Bogotá, Colombia. She came to the United States in 1995 to pursue a bachelor’s degree in psychology at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa. After graduating from Loras, Dr. D'Achiardi-Ressler went on to earn her master’s degree in counseling psychology at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois, where she also completed her doctorate in the same area. Dr. D'Achiardi-Ressler’s 12-month pre-doctoral internship brought her back to Iowa in 2004. She joined the Student Counseling Service as a Staff Psychologist and Coordinator of Research & Career Exploration Services in August of 2005 after the completion of her doctorate.

Dr. D'Achiardi-Ressler served as a research consultant for Kuder, Inc. since September of 2004 and recently joined the company full time as Vice-President of Research in 2007.

In addition, Dr. D’Achiardi-Ressler has had extensive research and practice experience in the field of vocational psychology, she has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in psychology at Drake University, Southern Illinois University and Iowa State University. She is an ad hoc reviewer for the Journal of Career Development and has published and presented in several professional conferences over the last eight years. Dr. D’Achiardi-Ressler was the recipient of the 2005 Donald E. Super Research Fellowship from the Division 17 of the American Psychological Association for outstanding research in the area of vocational psychology.

Education

• Ph.D. Southern Illinois University—Carbondale (2005)
• M.A. Southern Illinois University—Carbondale (2002)
• B.A. Loras College (1999)

Professional Affiliations

• American Psychological Association, Divisions 17 & 45
• Society for Vocational Psychology
• National Latino/a Psychological Association
• Psi-Chi

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Donald G. Zytowski, Ed.D. — Director of Research

Donald G. Zytowski, Ed.D., holds 40 years' experience in counseling and teaching at Washington University in Saint Louis, Missouri, and Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. In 1971, Dr. Zytowski joined Dr. Frederic Kuder as an associate, serving eventually as developer of Kuder’s several interest inventories, adding scales to his assessments, and writing interpretive aids. In addition, Dr. Zytowski has published extensively in the field of vocational psychology including numerous chapters and articles on vocational theory, interests and work values, and the history of vocational guidance. Dr. Zytowski is also a licensed psychologist in the state of Iowa and a diplomat in counseling psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology since 1975.

In 1990, Dr. Zytowski retired from Iowa State University, but he continues his work in the career counseling field. He received the Extended Research Award from the American Counseling Association in 1991 and the National Career Development Association’s Eminent Career Award in 1993. Dr. Zytowski was also named “Distinguished Senior Contributor to Counseling Psychology” in 1995. He is a fellow of the American Psychological Association and a recipient of their pinnacle Leona Tyler Award for Scholarly Contribution to the field of Counseling Psychology.

In addition to his consulting role with Kuder, Inc., Dr. Zytowski has also served, in the past, as a consultant to multiple organizations including: ACT/DISCOVER, CTB/McGraw Hill, the U.S. Department of Defense, Riverside Publishing Co., the Bureau of Indian and Northern Affairs, Dominion of Canada, Science Research Associates, and the Veterans Administration Hospitals in Knoxville & Iowa City.

Education

• Ed.D. Washington University (1965)
• M.S. Washington University (1957)
• A.B.Ed. Harris Teachers College (1952)

Professional Memberships

• American Psychological Association, Divisions 17 & 5
• Society for Vocational Psychology
• American Counseling Association
• Association for Assessment in Counseling
• National Career Development Association
• Sigma Xi

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JoAnn Harris-Bowlsbey — Ed.D., Executive Vice President of Development

JoAnn Harris-Bowlsbey, Ed.D., has enjoyed a long and distinguished career in the field of career development, including positions as high school counselor, director of guidance, university professor, career counselor in a university counseling center, developer of DISCOVER® (a computer-based career planning system), and Executive Director of ACT’s Educational Technology Center. She is currently Executive Vice-President of Development for Kuder, Inc., and in that role works extensively with state departments of education and labor in the conceptualization and implementation of career planning websites that serve as a virtual center for both students and adults across the life span as they engage in educational and career planning.

Dr. Harris-Bowlsbey is the author of many journal articles and several books. Most recently, she developed national and international versions of the Career Development Facilitator curriculum. She is a past-president of the National Career Development Association and a recipient of its Eminent Career Award.

Education

• Ed.D. Northern Illinois University (1972)
• M.A. University of Wisconsin (1955)
• B.S. Wheaton College (1953)

Professional Memberships

• National Career Development Association
• American Counseling Association Governing Council (Board of Trustees & Representative) Editorial Board for Career Development Quarterly (1990-2002)
• National Career Development Association, president (1996-97)
• American Counseling Association (ACA), member and chair of Inter-Professional and International Committee (1993-94)
• International Association of Educational and Vocational Guidance (IAEVG)

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Nancy S. Perry, MSEd. — Senior Consultant

Nancy S. Perry is an experienced educator and counselor, having served as a teacher, junior high and high school counselor, and State Guidance Supervisor with the Maine Department of Education. In 1993, she moved to Washington, DC, to work for the National Occupational Information Coordinating Committee to manage the production and implementation of the “Get a Life” Career Development Portfolio, which she developed. As a career development specialist, she went on to manage the Career Development Training Institute—a national institute without walls. Ms. Perry recently retired as executive director of the American School Counselor Association.

Ms. Perry has also served the counseling profession in national leadership positions. She has held several positions with the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), culminating with the presidency in 1991-92. She chaired the American Counseling Association Task Force on the Status of School Counseling, was a member of the College Board Research and Development Committee, and the National Advisory Committee for the DeWitt Wallace-Reader's Digest project, "Counseling for High Skills."

Ms. Perry is the author of numerous publications, including "Program Guide: Planning to Meet Career Development Needs of School-to-Work Transition Programs”. Her latest work, “Helping Students Plan Careers: A School-to-Careers Guide for Counselors”, was published by the Association for Career and Technical Education.

Education

• B.A. Rice University (1956)
• MSEd University of Southern Maine (1975)

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