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Contact Melissa Fannon, Director of Events & Strategic Partnerships
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Mark your calendar!
We’ll see you in Cleveland for the 2026 OPRA Great Provider Summit, May 7–8.
Looking to submit a speaker proposal? Please navigate to the "Sessions" tab to get details on how to submit your proposal.
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Contact Melissa Fannon, Director of Events & Strategic Partnerships
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Contact Melissa Fannon, Director of Events & Strategic Partnerships: mfannon@opra.org
OPRA 2026 Great Provider Summit - Call for Speaker Proposals
Setting the Stage
Cleveland is the city where rock & roll found its name—and where greatness is celebrated every day. Just steps from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, OPRA’s 2026 Great Provider Summit invites you to Get Ready for Greatness.
This year’s theme, Get Ready for Greatness - Building the Hall of Fame Providers of Tomorrow, celebrates the vision, leadership, and innovation that define truly great providers. Like the artists enshrined in the Rock Hall, Great Providers don’t wait for greatness—they build it through purpose, practice, and performance.
Join us as we turn up the volume on what it takes to lead in the next era of I/DD services—through strategic leadership, operational excellence, workforce investment, and advocacy that shapes the future of our field.
The Great Provider Playlist
Each conference “track” celebrates one of the Five Characteristics of a Great Provider—together, they form the soundtrack of excellence for the I/DD field. OPRA invites you to submit session proposals that are practical, forward-thinking, and equipped with concrete tools and strategies to help providers reach Hall of Fame–level impact and performance.
**Please Note: Sessions that promote specific products or services will only be considered for sponsored session tracks. For sponsored opportunities, contact Melissa Fannon at mfannon@opra.org.
Please align your proposal to the following tracks that best fit your session topic.
Track 1 - Come Together: Executive Leadership
- Great Providers Cultivate Strong Leadership and Partnerships
True leadership is about creating harmony—bringing people together around a shared vision and staying in rhythm even when the tempo changes. Proposals may explore leadership development, partnership models, and strategies for building resilient, mission-driven teams in a changing landscape.
Track 2 - One Way or Another: Program Design & Innovation
- Great Providers Deliver Person-Centered, Outcome-Focused Services
Innovation starts with imagination—dreaming big, designing boldly, and daring to try something new. Ideal proposals will showcase creative service models, cross-disciplinary approaches, and outcome-driven practices that redefine how quality and satisfaction are achieved.
Track 3 - Taking Care of Business: Business, Finance & Operations
- Great Providers Establish Strong Operational Foundations
Behind every headliner is a great crew. This track honors the rhythm section—the operational, financial, and compliance systems that keep everything running smoothly. Proposals should focus on sustainability, efficiency, and excellence in the business of delivering I/DD services.
Track 4 - We Are the Champions: Supervision & Workforce
- Great Providers Invest In and Support Qualified Staff
No hit record happens without the people behind the music. This track celebrates the workforce—the heart and soul of the organization—and the leaders who help them thrive. Proposals should highlight workforce recruitment, training, engagement, and wellness strategies that inspire and sustain teams.
Track 5 - I Won't Back Down: Advocacy & Innovation
- Great Providers Advocate and Innovate Continuously
Greatness doesn’t happen in silence. This track honors the change-makers—the providers who push boundaries, use their voice, and take the field to new places. Proposals should spotlight advocacy and innovation, from grassroots initiatives to statewide impact, and offer strategies for driving meaningful, lasting change.
Please click the link below to submit your proposal details for consideration. If you have any questions, please contact Sonya Summers at ssummers@opra.org.
