Economic Engagement & Opportunity Conference

presented by eecd

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Date | Time

Wednesday October 15, 2025 at 8 a.m.

Location

The Conference Center at OCLC

Parking is free and located at the front and rear entrances of the center.

This location is accessibility-friendly in nature. Should you or a colleague need accessibility accommodations, or would like to learn more about what’s available, please contact AJ at aj@distincteventplanning.com

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Conference Schedule

8am - 4pm

Registration, Continental Breakfast & Networking

8:00 – 9:00 AM

Get ready for a great conference!

Welcome: Leadership Remarks & Opening Keynote

9:00 – 10:00 AM

Our keynote will kick off the day with encouraging and enlightening remarks.

Morning Concurrent Sessions

10:15 – 11:15AM

A variety of morning sessions will be available for attendees to select. Please see the page dedicated to those sessions and be prepared to make a selection when registering.

Lunch

11:30 – 12:45 PM

We're pleased to welcome an assortment of cultural performances during lunch.

Afternoon Concurrent Sessions

1:00 – 2:00 PM

A variety of afternoon sessions will be offered to attendees to select. Please see the page dedicated to those sessions and be prepared to make a selection when registering. Morning and afternoon concurrent sessions are subject to capacity limits, please register as early as possible!

Closing Keynote

2:15 – 3:00 PM

This panel highlights the stories of local women small business owners, their strategies for overcoming barriers, and their vision for inclusive economic growth. It ties directly into National Women’s Small Business Month by centering women’s leadership, resilience, and impact in Central Ohio.

Networking Reception

3:15 – 4:00 PM

Conclude the day with an opportunity to network with those you met and continue to converse on the day's topics and learning objectives.

Choose Your Track

This year, you’ll be able to choose smaller sessions that are meant to feel more personal and hands-on. These sessions are grouped into learning tracks, so you can focus on one area and keep building your knowledge step by step.

Workforce Development

Building skills and pathways for a thriving workforce.

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Economic Engagement Track

Growing opportunity for small businesses and local partners.

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Every Resident , Every Day

Strengthening services and connections for our community.

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Learning Track Breakout Sessions

Creating Pathways for Untapped Talent

How to recruit and train underrepresented groups (formerly incarcerated individuals, immigrants, vets, people with disabilities, etc.)

Organizational Leadership

Building inclusive leaders who can manage change and inspire diverse teams.

Procurement: Contracting with Intention

Exploring how intentional public procurement can increase access for small, minority, and women-owned businesses.

Equity Gaps in Entrepreneurship

Tackling barriers to funding, mentorship, and market access for BIPOC, immigrant, and women entrepreneurs.

Aging Forward: Building Inclusive and Respectful Communication in Health and Human Services

Partnering with Nonprofits to Strengthen Communities

Strategies for leveraging nonprofit partnerships to deliver services more effectively and equitably.

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Please note that when you register, be prepared to make your breakout session selections, as sessions will have attendance caps this year. Keep this in mind if you’re filling out a registration for a colleague: make sure you know which sessions a colleague would prefer before you go to complete the registration.

Meet the Speaker

NEW! Cultural Learning Labs

This year we are also offering two hands-on cultural learning labs designed to help you better support diverse communities and strengthen your ability to lead with cultural awareness.