FAQs

Modify Your Registration

Already Registered?

If you have already registered for the Conference and need to modify your registration, email Melissa Fannon: mfannon@opra,org

Cancellations, Substitutions & Transfer Policies

All requests for cancellations, substitutions and transfers must be made by 11:59 pm EST on April 17, 2023.

Cancellations: Registrations canceled on or before April 17, 2023, will be fully refunded, less a $50 administrative fee. No refunds will be issued on or after April 17, 2023.

Substitutions: All registrants are entitled to one no-cost substitution provided that (1) the substitution request is submitted in writing via email to mfannon@opra.org  and (2) the registration is transferred to another employee of the original registrant’s organization. Registrants are not permitted to substitute someone from a different organization in their place.

I submitted a session proposal. When will I hear wither it's been accepted?

Speakers selected will be notified on or before Friday, March 10, 2023.

Who exhibits at the conference?

OPRA Conferences are the premiere gathering of community-based I/DD service providers and the community of practitioners that support these providers. The organizations that exhibit at the Conference offer products and services that are relevant to leaders at all levels of the organizations that comprise the Conference audience.

Can I receive continuing education credits for attending?

Yes, OPRA is happy to provide continuing education credits upon completion of mandatory evaluations after each attended session.  Information on how to request credits will be made available onsite at the conference

General Conference Questions?

Contact Melissa Fannon, Events Manager: mfannon@opra.org

Agenda-At-A-Glance

HEADLINE SPONSOR

Thank you for a great conference!

**On-site registration is unavailable**

The OPRA Spring Conference is THE place to network, engage around the latest issues facing providers, find resources to benefit your organization and learn from first-rate speakers. 

REGISTRATION INCLUDES:

• Keynote presentation and legislative update
• 20+ breakout sessions
• The chance to connect with many leading companies in the Exhibit Hall
• Breakfast and Lunch included
• Food Stations at the OPRA Party included
• Events: Exhibitor Happy Hour and the OPRA PARTY!

Modify Your Registration

If you have already registered for the Conference and need to modify your registration contact Melissa Fannon: mfannon@opra,org

Conference Headline Sponsor

Questions?

Contact Melissa Fannon, Events Manager at mfannon@opra.org

Sponsors/Exhibitors

THANK YOU SPONSORS!

HEADLINE SPONSOR

KEYNOTE

ENTERTAINMENT

PLATINUM

GOLD

SILVER

LUNCH

BRONZE

Questions?

Contact Melissa Fannon, OPRA Events Manager: mfannon@opra.org

Hotel & Travel

Nationwide Hotel & Conference Center

Main Location Host Hotel

Alternate Hotel

Hyatt Place

7490 Vantage Dr / Columbus, OH 43235

For reservations please visit their website: Hyatt Place Website

Room Rate: check with hotel as the block is full

HOST HOTEL

Nationwide Hotel Tax Exempt:

• The method of payment must be directly from the exempted entity (a credit card or check from the organization.)  It cannot be a personal credit card or cash as that is a reimbursement rather than direct pay.  
• As Nationwide is in Lewis Center in Delaware County, all guests are subject to the local 9% tax.  (There is a tax-exempt form that can be found online for Delaware county but that is for the hotels over in the Polaris area that are annexed by City of Columbus.  Delaware county does not exempt at all).

NATIONWIDE HOTEL TAX EXEMPT GUIDE

NATIONWIDE HOTEL TAX FORM

Nationwide & Hyatt Place Parking

Parking is self-park and complimentary.

Sessions

 Click Here to View Conference Session Descriptions

2023 OPRA Spring Conference Schedule - Day 1 Thursday, May 18
9:00am - 9:30am	WELCOME - Peter Moore, OPRA President & CEO
9:30am - 10:30am	Session 1 Keynote Interview: Ryan Shazier Two-Time Pro-Bowl NFL Linebacker & Resilience Speaker			Sponsor	Sponsor
Visit the Exhibitors 8:00 am to 4:15 pm in the Exhibit Hall!
	DAY & EMPLOYMENT	HEALTHCARE	RESIDENTIAL WAIVER	WORKFORCE	TECHNOLOGY
Breakouts 10:45 am - 11:45 am	Session 2	Session 3	Session 4	Session 5	Session 6
	Leading with Laughter:  How Humor Can Improve Your Work Life	An Overview of OhioRISE Session Presentation	Relationship & Safety Non-Escalation/De-Escalation Techniques Session Presentation Session Handout	Assessing the Needs of Direct Support Professional Workforce: Data and Stories for Advocacy Session Presentation	Embracing Technology: The Future of Staffing Session Presentation
	Speakers	Speakers	Speakers	Speakers	Speakers
	Rebecca Sametz & Jill Riegelmayer Vocational Guidance Services	Nick Miller, Kelly Smith, Chris Gandelot & Katie Currier, Aetna OhioRISE	Thomas Dean Swartz The Academy for Professional Development	David Ellsworth, Christine Brown, Kayla Alvis, Lauren Hackenberg & Jaimie Albert OSU Nisonger Center	David Ilg & James Finley THS Remote Support Services
11:45am - 1:00pm	Attendee Lunch				Lunch Sponsor
12:45pm - 1:45pm	Exhibitor Lunch
	DAY & EMPLOYMENT	HEALTHCARE	RESIDENTIAL WAIVER	WORKFORCE	TECHNOLOGY
Breakouts 1:00pm - 2:00pm	Session 7	Session 8	Session 9	Session 10	Session 11
	From Facility to Community Despite COVID 19 Pandemic Session Presentation	Providers to Family: Transition of Care in Patients with Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities Session Presentation	Top Citations and Compliance Review Prep Tips Session Presentation	Supervisor Skills: Addressing Off-Track Employees Session Presentation Session Handout	Technology for Independent Living: The Person-Centered Process from Technology Exploration to Implementation Session Presentation Session Handout
	Speakers	Speakers	Speakers	Speakers	Speakers
	Jennifer Marshall, Kathy Ramey & Kurt Lofton Goodwill Columbus	Frances Kokos, Cleveland Clinic	Heida Hill & Michael Marshall Nineteen Services	Debra Easley Academy for Professional Development	Emily Danciu-Grosso SimplyHome
	DAY & EMPLOYMENT	HEALTHCARE	RESIDENTIAL WAIVER	WORKFORCE	TECHNOLOGY
Breakouts 2:15pm - 3:15pm	Session 12	Session 13	Session 14	Session 15	Session 16
	Laughing Your Way to Better Employment Opportunities Session Presentation Session Handout 1 Session Handout 2	Health Issues: Who and When to Call Session Presentation	The Impact of Specialized Telehealth on Individuals with I/DD & Their Circles of Support Session Presentation	Unique Workforce Strategies: Hiring People with I/DD Session Presentation	Building Better Support: The Power of a Thoughtful Website for Ohio Disability Providers Session Presentation
	Speakers	Speakers	Speakers	Speakers
	Robert Snow & Nick Doyle The Improvaneer Method	Deb Maloy, Tarrytown Expocare Pharmacy & Kathy Brown, DDNA	Wendi Patterson, Station MD & Lisa Reed, RHDD	Bethany Toledo, OADSP, Deedra Olney, Life Builders & Angie Finck, Licking County Board of DD	Justin Reed Beachcliff Technologies
3:15pm - 4:15pm	EXHIBITOR HAPPY HOUR!
8:00pm - 10:00pm	OPRA PARTY				Entertainment Sponsor
2023 OPRA Spring Conference Schedule - Day 2 Friday, May 19th
Visit the Exhibitors from 8:00am - 12:00pm
DAY & TIME	LEADERSHIP	HUMAN RESOURCES	ICF	DSP/WORKFORCE
Breakouts  9:00am - 10:00am	Session 17	Session 18	Session 19	Session 20
	Part I Succession & Strategic Workforce Planning: 5 Steps to Ensuring Leadership Continuity Session Presentation	Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Wage & Hour Regulations Part I Session Presentation	The ‘Right’ To An Effective Human Rights Committee Session Presentation	Why Am I Still Here? Session Presentation Session Handout 1 Session Handout 2
	Speakers	Speakers	Speakers	Speakers
	Stacy Sufka Gladegy Consulting, LLC	Nelson Cary Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease, LLP	Angela Rapp Kennedy CQL | The Council on Quality and Leadership	John Silfies & Dan Lyons Silfies Media
	LEADERSHIP	HUMAN RESOURCES	ICF	DSP/WORKFORCE	SPONSORED
Breakouts 10:15am - 11:15am	Session 21	Session 22	Session 23	Session 24
	Building, Promoting and Protecting Your Brand Session Presentation	Leave/Accommodation Issues Under FMLA and the Americans with Disabilities Act Part II Session Presentation	Guardianship, Supported Decision-Making and Other Alternatives: What Providers Need to Know Session Presentation	Breaking Free: Overcoming Helplessness and Frustration in the DSP Workforce Crisis Session Presentation	Part II: Selecting the Best Executive Candidate for Your Culture Session Presentation
	Speakers	Speakers	Speakers	Speakers	Speakers
	Tom Speaks & Phil Herman The Impact Group	Adam Borgman Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease, LLP	Kristen Henry, APSI & Derek Graham, Resch Root Phillipps & Graham, LLC	Scott de Fasselle, Craig de Fasselle, Blitz Creative & Michelle Madden, IOPC	Stacy Sufka Gladegy Consulting, LLC
	LEADERSHIP	HUMAN RESOURCES	ICF	DSP/WORKFORCE
Breakout Sessions 11:30am - 12:30pm	Session 25	Session 26	Session 27	Session 28
	Beyond Tokenism: Self-Advocates Being Meaningful Board Members	Equal Employment Opportunities: Harassment & Discrimination Issues Part III Session Presentation	ICF Update Session Presentation	Proven Practices for Confronting DSP Workforce Issues Session Presentation
	Speakers	Speakers	Speakers	Speakers
	Bill Krebs Keystone Human Services	Michael Griffaton Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease, LLP	Melessa Behymer & Gary Brown Brady Ware	Angela Rapp Kennedy CQL | The Council on Quality and Leadership
12:45pm - 1:45pm	LUNCH & LEARN Session 29 Legislative/State Updates, The Success Group				Session Sponsor