Serving People with Developmental Disabilities
OACB 36th Annual Convention: General Information Download the Full Program The OACB 36th Annual Convention will take place December 4-6, 2019, at the Hilton Columbus at Easton (3900 Chagrin Drive, Columbus)! Five years have passed since Ohio’s county boards of DD received a federal mandate to transition nearly all Medicaid-funded direct services to private providers. With that transition now complete or nearly complete in all but a handful of counties, many boards are starting to ask important questions about the future role they will play in the lives of the people and families they serve. No longer able to rely on their former direct service programs’ legacy of goodwill, boards have two choices: commit to continuously improving and evolving customer service operations to meet the ever-changing needs and expectations of their growing and diversifying customer base, or maintain the status quo and risk being replaced as the most important force for positive change in the lives of the people with developmental disabilities they serve. OACB believes the new, primary role of county boards as customer service (case management) organizations offers them more opportunities to support people with developmental disabilities than ever before. To seize these opportunities, county boards must be prepared to ask important questions.
Continuing professional development units will available through OACB and DODD for qualifying sessions. Friday's programming will be from 8:30 a.m. to Noon.  Registration/Cancellation Deadline: 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 27
Changes or cancellations made after the deadline will be billed at full price.
Registration is free for people with developmental disabilities and up to one accompanying support professional per person. Qualifying attendees can register in MemberConnect or click here for a designated registration page.
2019 Keynote Speaker: Alison Circle
 OACB is pleased to announce that the opening keynote address for the 36th Annual Convention will be delivered by Alison Circle, Chief Customer Experience Officer (CXO) for the Columbus Metropolitan Library (CML). CML circulates 17.3 million items each year to the greater Columbus area from 23 branches and has been recognized three times as the #1 large-population library system in the U.S. by Hennen's American Public Library Ratings. It was named Library of the Year by Library Journal in 2010. Circle has led the library’s experience strategy since 2012 and has developed CML’s award-winning Customer First Philosophy that drives CML’s customer-facing approach. Circle has more than 25 years of marketing experience. For 13 years, she served as National Marketing Director for Minnesota Public Radio, then was Creative Director and Account Director at Jack Morton Worldwide, a global branding agency. In 2004 she joined CML as Director of Marketing and Strategic Planning. In 2012 she was promoted to Chief Customer Experience Officer (CXO) where she serves on the Executive Leadership Team and oversees 23 library locations and staff as well the Data Analytics team.  Based on attendee feedback from the 2019 Spring Conference, Annual Convention lunch services will be buffet-style, and attendees will have the option to "opt out" of lunch service. For those attendees who decide not to eat in the ballroom during lunch, individual registration fees will be credited $25 per day of attendance (up to a maximum of $50).
Continental breakfasts are automatically included with all registrations, and all guests are welcome to refreshments on all three mornings of the Annual Convention.
Note: Because Friday of the Convention will be a half-day, lunch will not be provided. The Convention will adjourn after the Friday morning general session.
 Event Location: Hilton Columbus at Easton 3900 Chagrin Drive, Columbus, OH 43219 (map) Telephone: (614) 414-5000 Reduced Room Rate: The Hilton Columbus at Easton will offer a reduced room rate of $191 per night plus tax for attendees of the OACB 36th Annual Convention. Book your room by calling the Hilton and mentioning OACB to receive the discount. Click here to visit the Hilton's website. Use the three-letter group code "OAC" when searching rooms for the dates of the Convention to display the discounted rate.
The Hilton Columbus at Easton will only reserve two rooms per purchase order, with the names of guests staying in each room required at time of booking. No multiple reservations will be accepted under one name. If you have booked a room at the reduced event rate and need to cancel your reservation, please call Ann Neu at (614) 431-0616.
Alternate Hotel: OACB has reserved a second block of rooms at the nearby Springhill Suites (1 mile from the Hilton) at a reduced rate of $152 per night plus tax. Click here to reserve a room at the Springhill Suites or call 888-236-2427 and mention OACB.
See the map below for other nearby hotels:
If you have booked a room at the reduced event rate and need to cancel your reservation, please call Ann Neu at (614) 431-0616. We will ensure that the room you no longer need will be made available to other attendees at the lower conference rate.
Vendor tables and program ads will once again be offered at the Annual Convention. If you have purchased a vendor table at the event and have questions in the week leading up to the event, please contact Ann Neu (aneu@oacbdd.org).
Vendor Table Pricing
One Day: $400
Two Days: $650
Three Days: $850
Program Ad Dimensions and Pricing
  Ad Artwork Deadline: November 10 at 12 p.m.
Vendor Table Registration Deadline: November 27 at 12 p.m. | ||||||||||||||||
