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 exhibit at the conference?

Exhibitor and Sponsor guide will be posted under our Exhibitor/Sponsor tab in February 2023. It is expected to sell out again!

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

Click HERE for Conference Registration

OPRA Spring Conference: May 18 - 19, 2023

**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

Click HERE for Conference Registration

Conference Headline Sponsor

Questions?

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

Sponsors/Exhibitors

Sponsor/Exhibitor Registration

Join us to showcase your products and services. Conference attendees are experienced, high level decision makers from across Ohio.

CLICK HERE to Register

2023 OPRA Exhibitor and Sponsor Guide

Dates & Times

Wednesday, May 17

Setup
TIME will be announced on April 1

Thursday, May 18

Breakfast and Breaks located in the Exhibit Hall

Conference & Exhibitor Hours
Thursday, May 18
8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Happy Hour with the Exhibitors
Thursday, May 18
3:15 pm - 4:15 pm

OPRA Party
Thursday, May 18
8:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Thursday, May 18

Breakfast and Breaks located in the Exhibit Hall

Conference Hours
9:00 am - 1:45 pm

Exhibitor Hours
9:00 am - 12:30 pm

THANK YOU SPONSORS!

HEADLINE SPONSOR

KEYNOTE

ENTERTAINMENT

PLATINUM

GOLD

SILVER

RELAXATION LOUNGE

LUNCH

BRONZE

Questions?

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

Hotel & Travel

Nationwide Hotel & Conference Center

Main location Host Hotel

CLICK HERE FOR NATIONWIDE HOTEL RESERVATION

Room Rates: $143 Single or $153 Double

Rate unavailable after April 17th.

Alternate Hotel

Hyatt Place
7490 Vantage Dr. / Columbus, OH 43235

Click here for Hyatt Place Reservation

Room Rate: $109

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

2023 OPRA Spring Conference Schedule - Day 1 Thursday, May 18
9:00am - 9:30am	WELCOME - Peter Moore, OPRA President
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!
	LEADERSHIP	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	Relationship & Safety Non-Escalation/De-Escalation Techniques	Assessing the Needs of Direct Support Professional Workforce: Data and Stories for Advocacy	Embracing Technology: The Future of Staffing
	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 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
	LEADERSHIP	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	Providers to Family: Transition of Care in Patients with Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities	Top Citations and Compliance Review Prep Tips	Supervisor Skills: Addressing Off-Track Employees	Technology for Independent Living: The Person-Centered Process from Technology Exploration to Implementation
	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
	LEADERSHIP	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	Emerging Clinical Trends	The Impact of Specialized Telehealth on Individuals with I/DD & Their Circles of Support	Unique Workforce Strategies: Hiring People with I/DD	Building Better Support: The Power of a Thoughtful Website for Ohio Disability Providers
	Speakers	Speakers	Speakers	Speakers
	Robert Snow & Nick Doyle The Improvaneer Method	Deb Maloy Tarrytown Expocare Pharmacy	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 - 11:30am
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	Part I Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Wage & Hour Regulations	The ‘Right’ To An Effective Human Rights Committee	Why Am I Still Here?
	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	Leave/Accommodation Issues Under FMLA and the Americans with Disabilities Act Part II	Guardianship, Supported Decision-Making and Other Alternatives: What Providers Need to Know	Breaking Free: Overcoming Helplessness and Frustration in the DSP Workforce Crisis	Part II: Selecting the Best Executive Candidate for Your Culture
	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	ICF Update	Proven Practices for Confronting DSP Workforce Issues
	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