As one of the NRWA’s original founders, Vivian Belen was extraordinary. A dedicated volunteer, she helped build the NRWA from the ground up and firmly believed in our mission as a nonprofit, member-driven organization for resume writers.

To honor Vivian’s selfless commitment to the NRWA and recognize other volunteers who have followed in her footsteps, the NRWA created the Vivian Belen Award. Past Belen Award recipients exemplify everything she believed in:

• Adherence to the Code of Ethics she helped to create.
• Commitment to fairness and integrity.
• Advancement of the NRWA's mission to mentor and educate.

In 2022, the NRWA recognized an individual for their commitment to the values that Belen brought forth as a founding member: Kathy Keshemberg.

Kathy Keshemberg is a Nationally Certified Resume Writer (NCRW) and Nationally Certified Online Profile Expert (NCOPE).

For more than 3 decades she has developed resumes and LinkedIn profile content and provided job search coaching. Her company, A Career Advantage, serves job seekers in all industries and at all levels, primarily focusing on mid-management, blue collar, and entry level candidates. While based in Wisconsin, her passion is travel which is possible with a virtual business model. In the early 2000s her home base was a 5th wheel trailer which allowed her to work from many U.S. destinations. In late 2019 she spent 6 weeks in Australia and New Zealand, and is anxious to embark on more extended international trips.

Kathy served on the original board of directors of the NRWA when it became a national association, was one of the first NCRWs, and planned six NRWA conferences. She has been a grader on the Certification Commission for years, and has recently tackled several special projects including co-writing new test profiles and collaborating with a team to revamp the NCRW Study Guide.

Believing in the value of the NCRW credential, she is committed to protecting the integrity of the Certification Commission and continuing to train and develop graders and leadership.