Now in it's third year, the Ohio Fed Leadership Summit is pleased to welcome you to the beautiful Hocking Hills region this May! The goal of the Leadership Summit is to create an opportunity for leaders in animal welfare in Ohio to come together and talk about what is happening in their communities, discuss ways they are currently addressing community needs, share ideas, and, hopefully, lay the groundwork for future collaborations.  We are excited to build upon the meaningful discussions we've had at past Summits and see where your collective thoughts guide us.

Day One will feature a 2.5-hour session titled Leading with Heart: Unlocking Communication through Emotional Intelligence. This interactive keynote session will explore how emotional intelligence and communication styles shape effective leadership in animal welfare organizations. (see details below). After the session enjoy an optional group hike or downtime before dinner with other leaders from around the state.

Day Two will consist of a mix of large group discussions and breakout sessions, offering attendees a choice of  topics chosen from those submitted by the registrants in advance. All sessions will be a free-flowing exchange of ideas where you can safely share your thoughts and ask questions among supportive colleagues.

Come prepared with things your organization has tried and questions you have for other leaders from around the state. 

REGISTRATION IS:

• Limited to 50 attendees from Ohio Fed Member Organizations (non-members: see below about our wait list)

• Open to leaders who hold top leadership positions within their organization (i.e. CEO/executive director, shelter director or the equivalent)

• Limited to no more than two people per organization

• $125 for the Full Summit; $50 for Thursday, May 14 ONLY; or $99 for Friday, May 15 ONLY
  

DISCUSSION TOPICS

We need your help in selecting topics for the breakout sessions in 2026. Past topics have included fundraising strategies, safety net programming, staff & volunteer recruitment & retention, burnout/compassion fatigue, and collaboration. Be sure to list the topics that you would like to discuss when registering!

AGENDA:

MAY 14, 2026

1:00 – 1:30 p.m.	Registration
1:30 – 4:00 p.m.	Leading with Heart: Unlocking Communication through Emotional Intelligence Sponsored by NACA/Maddie's This interactive keynote session will explore how emotional intelligence and communication styles shape effective leadership in animal welfare organizations. Participants will gain insights into their own communication tendencies while discovering how to better understand and connect with colleagues, volunteers, and stakeholders. Through engaging activities and real‑world scenarios, attendees will identify strategies to strengthen collaboration, reduce conflict, and build trust within their teams. By the end of the session, leaders will leave with practical tools they can immediately apply to enhance communication and elevate organizational culture. Meaghan Colville is a founder and the Director of Shelter Operations at Cincinnati Animal CARE (CAC) and an adjunct instructor in Southern Utah University’s Animal Services degree program. Prior to CAC, Meaghan was the Shelter Director at Clermont Animal CARE just outside Cincinnati and Shelter Manager at Ohio Alleycat Resource and Spay/Neuter Clinic (OAR). She began her career in animal welfare in 2010 in Los Angeles as a violence-prevention humane educator in L.A.'s most in-need communities and eventually as a volunteer coordinator while also volunteering in trap-neuter-vaccinate-return efforts in L.A. County. In 2020, Meaghan was part of the second cohort of the Best Friends Executive Leadership Certification program, was a 2019 graduate of Dogs Playing for Life Level 1, and is a certified humane agent in Ohio. Meaghan holds a certificate from the University of Texas, Austin in Nonprofit Management and holds a master’s degree in education from Canisius College and a bachelor’s in education from The Ohio State University.
4:00 p.m.	Check in
4:30 – 6:00 p.m.	Relax and explore the lodge or OPTIONAL group hike to Whispering Cave
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.	Dinner Buffet

MAY 15, 2026

8:00 – 9:00 a.m.	Registration & Breakfast
9:00 – 9:10 a.m.	Welcome
9:10 – 10:00 a.m.	Group Session #1 - Data Trends & Legislative Update
10:15 – 11:15 a.m.	Group Session #2 - Stronger Together Effective collaboration is one of the most powerful tools in animal welfare. When shelters, rescues, and community partners work together, we can share resources, reduce duplication, close gaps in care, and achieve better outcomes for pets and the people who love them. Together we’ll explore what meaningful collaboration looks like across the sheltering landscape, from communication and resource sharing to coordinated programs and regional partnerships. Members of the Ohio Fed Board of Directors will offer insight into how shelters of all sizes can strengthen their connections with peer organizations.
11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.	Group Session #3
12:15 – 1:15 p.m.	Lunch Buffet
1:15 – 2:15 p.m.	Breakout Sessions
2:30 – 3:30 p.m.	Breakout Sessions
3:30 p.m.	Wrap-Up & Farewell

REGISTER

ROOM BLOCK

A small room block is available for the night of May 14, 2026. To check availability, please call 800-282-7275 and refer to the group code OAWLS910. To avoid sales tax be sure to bring a tax exempt form when you check in!

NON-MEMBERS

If your organization is not a member of the Ohio Animal Welfare Federation, you can register for the Wait List for this event. If we can accommodate non-members, those on the waitlist will be contacted in the order they signed up. 

THANK YOU SPONSORS!

Presenting Sponsor:

Leadership Workshop Sponsor:

Gold Sponsor:

Bronze Sponsors: